SmartArts

Richard Watts chats with Director and CEO of Melbourne Art foundation Maree di Pasqual about the new Melbourne art fair, Producer of the ACMI series 'Mania' Helen Simondson and polishes off the morning withQueensland Theatre Director Sam Strong and actor Chong Lee to chat about the co-production 'Noises off' presented in collaboration with MTC.

Richard sits down with Melbourne festival Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway for 'Tree of Codes, Artistic Director Angharard Wynne Jones for season 2 of Arts House and Tamblyn Lord to discuss his one man show Call of the Ice, playing at La Mama Courthouse Theatre.

Richard Watts is joined in this podcast by the Curator for VCA Dr. Elizabeth Gower and Artist Tai Snaith for VCA's 9x5 NOW, Chief theatre critic for the Age Cameron Woodhead discusses MTC's Macbeth, and Artistic director for the Australian ballet David McAllister chats about his rendition of the classic 'Sleeping beauty'.

This week on Smart Arts we are talking comic books Bernard Kellio, Dr Christopher Heathcote talksDiscovering Dobell. Sam Leach and Kylie Stillman about their upcoming exhibition, magicians Peter and Bambi Heaven on their show 'The Magic Inside'and Ben Ladendirector of 'Little Big Shots' film festival for kids.

Richard Watt's live broadcast from the National Gallery of Victoria's Van Gough exhibit. Interviews feature NGV senior curator Ted Gott, Dr. Anthony White discussing The myth of Troubled Genius and weekly guests for Art Attack, Ace Wagstaff and Tai Snaith.

Fraught Outfit's boldInnocence Trilogyhas its final installment realised in 2017. Split into two parts,Book of Exodus continues to focus on the identities of young people, the theatremakers again working with a cast of children and teenagers. Director and co-creatorAdena Jacobsand co-creator and dramaturgAaron Orzech join Richard to discuss the somewhat paradoxical process of working with ancient texts and young people.

Irish directorJohn Butler's latest film,Handsome Devil, is released this week in Australia. Richard speaks to the filmmaker about his coming-of-age film,which explores adolescent embarrassment, male friendship and courage in your own identity, and whether it's possible for a teenage boy to be passionate about sport and also be gay? (hint: it is.)

The Flinders Lane Gallery continues to host its series for emerging and unsigned visual artists,Exploration. Gallery Director and curator of the exhibitionClaire Harris, along with two of the featured artists,Holly PearceandRyan Pola, enter the studio to talk about the inspiration for the exhibition and the artists' work.

Combining the worlds of contemporary dance and competitive hip hop,Nick Power'sCyphertakes the rituals of the hip hop world and places them in a somewhat unfamiliar context. Nick joins Richard to talk about the development of the show and the culture of hip hop.

Spencertakes contemporary Australian suburbia and presents it back to us in a comedy of recognition about family and football.DirectorSharon Davisand actorJane Cliftondiscuss this lovingly crafted show by Katy Warner andthe speech patterns and vernacular of Australia - and do we really sound like that?

Charlotte Dayis the latest person to curate an exhibition for Arts Project Australia, promoting the artwork of people with an intellectual disability.Let's Danceis a celebration of movement in visual art and traces the history of dance and dancing through to its form today.

This week's podcast features the return of 'Drawn Out', our monthly comics segment withBernard Caleo. Bernard introduces us to new Australian indie comicEyes Too Dry by Jessica Tavassoli and Alice Chiplin, described as "a graphic memoir about heavy feelings". Richard and Bernard discuss old Doctor Who, new Flintstones andDark Hope Essence, the latest in the Dark Hope series with a story by Sabine Schmidt and illustrated by Philip Spinks.

Curator of the Monash Gallery of ArtStephen Zagalajoins Richard to talkUnder the sun:Reimagining Max Dupain's 'Sunbaker'. This 1930s imageiswidely recognised as iconic to Anglo-Australian culture and in this exhibition 15 contemporary Australian artists from diverse ages, gender and ethnic backgrounds are invited to respond to the photograph. The results are a mixture of sculpture, photography, abstract and faithful, examining the current culture of Australia in relation to this classic image.

It's almost time for the Melbourne Cabaret Festival again, and this year stalwart of Australian cabaretDolly Diamond is taking the reins as Artistic Director. Dolly joins Richard to give a preview of the wide girth of the festival this year, as well as her particular interests in cabaret as an art form. Fabulous!

The big news on the Melbourne art scene this week is the move of Gertrude Contemporary from Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, to High Street, Preston South, echoing the move of many artists and organisations over the past few years from the CBD's fringe to suburbs further out. Artistic DirectorMark Fearyis in the studio to discuss the reasons for the move, positives and negatives and the final exhibition at the original 200 Gertrude Street address,The End of Time. The Beginning of Time.

Awakeningis an adaptation of the 1891 German playSpring Awakening,dealing with issues of teenage sexual awakening and society's discomfort with it.Daniel Lamminwonders how a 130-year-old play is arguably more relevant than ever in 2017 and discusses themessage and intention of the production to contemporaryAustralian youth of all genders and orientations.

Yirramboi First Nations' Arts Festival opens May 5. One of the productions not to be missed isChasing Smoke, an offshoot of theBLAKflip masterclass program, encouraging Aboriginal andFirst Nations' people to get involved in circus arts.Davey Thompson (Circus Oz BLAKflip manager), Chasing SmokeDirector Natano Faanana and performer Lara Croydontalk the show's inception and theniche that Indigenous arts and circus occupy in this production.

Today's podcast starts with an 'Art Attack!' from Ace and Tai. This fortnight's top exhibition is Claire Lambe'sMother Holding Something Horrific, a sculpture and mixed media exhibition at ACCA.

Next up isPaul Capsis in the Broadway classicCabaret. Paul and Richard discuss the new production and its development, cast and crew and the relevance of this dark musical to contemporary society.

Red Stitch's latest production is Will Eno's The Realistic Joneses, and directorJulian Meyrick and actorElla Caldwelljoin Richard in the studio to talk about the themes of the show, Red Stitch's 2017 season and the theatre scene in Australia.