It’s true that I spend a good deal of my time looking for, creating projects for, promoting new writing talent. In the last 3 years I have created 3 independent projects (Metamor/phases, Brand Spanking New, Stories from the 428) and a script development hothouse (Off the Shelf) culiminating 64 opportunities for writers/directors/actors to develop/practice/ showcase their art. In the middle of all of this- working a full time job, maintaining my relationship and writing for myself and for a company in Canada when I can. I’ve tried to create opportunities that I would want – places of experimentation, colleagiate regard as opposed to competition, places where work can be written, developed and produced within a year (yes- how novel!). How delighted I was when Phil Spencer contacted me about putting a little something forward for Cut and Paste! Read more

The team from Stories from the 428 are looking for approximately 20 actors of all ages, looks and backgrounds to join us for a two week season at Sidetrack Theatre in March 2010. Read more

It was May last year when I starting thinking about Sidetrack Theatre. I took a half day off from my day job to meet with Don Mamouney and to ask him about the theatre. A couple of weeks prior I had gone to the theatre with Jonathan Wald to see Wayne Tunks’ latest production. Sidetrack had remained a “venue for hire” after it’s funding was cut- and seemed to have occasional shows on- but nothing that splashed loudly in the print media or on the web. It is the theatre which I am geographically closest to. If Belvoir is Mr Waites’ “local”, then “Sidetrack” is certainly mine. Read more

In the last three days- two independent seasons have be launched… BSHARP and GRIFFIN INDEPENDENT unveiled their curatorial picks of the “independent scene” for 2010. Read more

For scholars of Opera/Stravinsky/theatre/Ancient history- there is alot to unpack in this production of Oedipus Rex & Symphony of Psalms… alot about subversion of the text- the placement in time and place- about authorship of performance- about innovation as opposed to honouring the origins of a story. Peter Sellars- known for his radical retellings of some of the great/ancient/ epic stories of the theatre /Opera (and for his very shortlived position as the head of the Adelaide Festival of Arts which ran for a year)- is a superstar in the world of theatre direction. For those who follow director’s works and their career- this is a big deal. For those who love Stravinsky- this production is a big deal. For those who love Opera- this production is a big deal. Read more

FOR ARTISTS 25 and under…..

Beginning Tuesday February 2
Theatre & Invention – Training & Devising with Michael Pigott

Theatre & Invention is a training module that looks at how everyone has the capacity to generate theatrical texts. The workshop is based on a devising process created by Michael Pigott where you will explore skills that link the mind, body and the imagination – skills that enable you to become a performer who is present and invested in a moment of performance. Meeting weekly on a tuesday night from 6-9pm from Feb 2 – March 24 at Shopfront – Contemporary Arts & Performance. For more information visit www.shopfront.org.au

Normally $160 *Special offer $120

To take advantage of this offer simply call Shopfront on 9588 3948 and mention “SPARK”

Sustainability is something I have been thinking about alot lately: in relation to the environment, to culture, to practitioner development, to the philosophies behind the explosion of festival culture, my own practice in the theatre. Triggered by a conversation I had with Ash Dyer- a performance maker who I have known for years who has been developing and producing performance works for sometime, he mentioned that he sometimes wonders how much longer he can sustain creating work in Australia. I think about that for myself too- and I think about that question for all the practitioners out there who are squeezing projects in around their day (or night) jobs- who forego the luxuries of a bourgeois life that are so readilly advertised- who are delaying marriage or having babies or having a holiday until they are more financially stable- artists who are all deserving chasing the same limited available residencies or grants… Read more

Just a really quick note as I am about to prepare to address the beautiful, splendid, vibrant, diverse and talent group of practitioners I have been building for “Stories From the 428.” I’ll talk about more in a second- But first I thought I would explain what my old Artshub columns are doing up front on this website. Read more

First published www.artshub.com.au April 2007

There are a few moments in time when I have walked into a foyer, into an industry do with my only pair of high heels on (I usually am seem in Blundstones or scuffed mary-jane’s: to the point where a friend of mine is convinced I have been the foot/shoe model for City rail’s “mind the gap before boarding” poster) feeling like I am ready to pounce into sparkling action, dazzling all in my path with my razor sharp wit. Other times I feel I have as much charisma as a beige plaid sofa left in an alley way, waiting to be marked by stray cats or claimed by desperate students. Read more

First Published www.artshub.com.au March 2007

Being in the business of the theatre is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle choice. The choice results in a certain self-righteous smile when paying your rent at the bank and the clerk asks you if you want to consider a mortgage. “No,” you think to yourself… “I am not of the 2.4 kids/car/mortgage/$100 haircut every second Wednesday variety of person, ” and as you confidently stride out of the bank, your shoulders start to slope, your head bows and your heart feels a heavy dullness as you realize that, that in itself, shows something of the transience of what you do. Read more