SmartArts

Richard Watts OAM (!!!) is back in the studio after taking a mental health reset. He’s back, and he’s got the best of Melbourne’s performance, art and comedy for you to fill your diary with.

First up, Bernard Caleo is in for Comic Books Chat, telling us about all the fabulous local creators we should know.

Anne-Louise Sarks and Nikki Shiels, talk about MTC’s A Streetcar Named Desire - which they are dubbing “theatre at full throttle”! Don’t miss out, tickets available here.

Curator, Beckett Rozentals, joins to chat about a new exhibition exploring the creative partnership between pioneering abstract artists Grace Crowley & Ralph Balson. Now showing at the Ian Potter Gallery until September 22.

Melbourne comedy duo Jon & Jero (Jon Walpole & Jeremiah Detto) are in the studio to get us across their show in the La Mama Kids program ‘The Forgotten Tales’, a new improvised show for children - perfect for our little funny ones on school holidays.

New Zealand comedian, playwright and performer, Abby Howells on her Australian tour ‘La SoupCo’ as part of Replay festival at Comedy Republic. If you missed it the first time around, go see this comedy Doctor on July 5!

Plus, as always (every fortnight) Anne-Marie Peard is in with theatre reviews galore.

Welcome back, Richard!

Steph Teitelbaum fills in for Richard Watts this week for chats with Lara Thoms, the Executive Director of experimental theatre collective APHIDS about their 30th birthday; Young Australian Broadway Chorus talent James Pringle and Charlie Abbot-Higgins stop by to talk about bringing Shrek JR to life on stage; Open House Melbourne's Chief Curator Tania Davidge highlights all the big moments of the 2024 festival program; and regular theatre reviewer Anne-Marie Peard stops by to talk through her recent highlights.

For one week more, Oliver Coleman keeps the seat nice and toasty for resident SmartArts host, Richard Watts. And what a cracking show to end the run!

Writer Georgia Ketals & scent artist Erin Adams tell us about Recollection, a unique play that offers a sensory experience. Based on a story about a mother trying to recreate her late daughters smell, it’s an aromatic journey that guides the audience by the nostrils. The show is on at Fortyfivedownstairs from the 26th of June until the 7th of July - get tickets here.

Moira Finucane & performer Piera Dennerstein, on the latest Finucane & Smith production The Exotic Lives of Lola Montez. In this chat we hear about the trials and tribulations of these effervescent artists while learning about the history of theatres original bad girl… The show will be on from 20th to 30th of June at Chapel Off Chapel - and Piera delights with a performance from the show!

The CEO of Arts Access Victoria, Caroline Bowditch on 50 years of Arts Access Victoria, ‘The Collective!’ a month long exhibition celebrating AAV’s past, present and further throughout July for Disability Pride Month. We hear about the origins of the orginisation in prisons, hospitals, residential care and how it has evolved to bring art to hundreds of people every week.

Plus, writer and director Francis Greenslade & actor John Leary are in the studio to talk their show The Platypus premiering at Theatre Works from 19 June - 6 July. John divulges what it’s like to become the leading man, and Francis brags about his perfect marriage.

Back to fill the enormous SmartArts shoes of Richard Watts OAM is resident funny guy, Oliver Coleman.

Kicking off the show is Tai Smith with the latest visual arts reccs - think cutesy wholesome for the Under Five Windows exhibition at A Reading Room, collaging fun at the Ripped - a Punk Collage Workshop, and writing extravaganzas at Alta Forma.

Multidisciplinary artist, Lisa Waup, tells us about her experience creating fashion for the Piinpi: Contemporary Indigenous Fashion exhibition which is now showing at Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre. On until November 17, go and see the inspired and revolutionary wearable art made by First Nations artists right around the country.

Lucy Guerin, dancer and choreographer, shares her experience creating her latest performance for RISING 2024, One Single Action. In this piece, “two dancers traverse a narrow path, in and out of sync, in conflict and in harmony”. The opening show is June 13 and there are 4 performances happening over that weekend - get in quick, tickets are selling fast.

Then, Carita Farrer Spencer, director at the National Circus Centre (NICA) joins Oliver to give all the goss on the NICA third year students ensemble show, Famous. This narrative circus performance is running from June 14-22 at the NICA Centre in Prahan! Find tickets here.

Plus, theatre’s darling, Anne-Marie Peard, serves up a multitude of fun, funky, experimental, fascinating and interactive shows happening all around you right now.

Welcome back to another instalment of SmartArts! Oliver Coleman is steering the ship for you again and boy are we in for a cruisy ride...

First up, CLIPPED music video festival director Samuel Bright and James Tran going Oliver to talk all things CLIPPEDKilda, music video festival championing the underrepresented creative community behind music videos! If, like Oliver, you dedicated Saturday mornings to hours and hours of RAGE… this cinema style screening of music videos will be right up your alley…

Director Tom Healey comes in to talk through his latest production, Red Stitch’s Blackout Songs. It is a two hander performance which explores love, addiction and memory. Open from June 5, tickets are available here.

Then, we get a MIFF 2024 First Glance programming announcement, by Artistic Director Al Cossar! He discusses highlights of first films confirmed for opening night, music on film gala and other premieres to pencil into your diary.

Plus, much treasured theatre goer and reviewer, Anne-Marie Peard, tells us all the hottest stuff hitting our stages this week!

Oliver Coleman takes the SmartArts seat this week, and he’s keeping it toasty for the next few weeks while Richard is on break.

Tai Snaith comes in for Art Attack to talk all things Melbourne Design Week and Melbourne’s thriving design scene. Oliver and Tai recommend finding an art opening and going along!

Mark Poston, event creator and friend of Shannon Michael Cane, gives us a look into the life of times of his dear friend, and tells us about the upcoming RISING event in his honour. Shannon Michael Cane, Someone Great - A Celebration is an exhibition, a remembering, and a party. Limited tickets still available.

Artist Michelle Hamer’s latest work, I’m A Believer, is an exploration into chronic health issues and gendered language in the health system, as well as a lack of access and erasure for people experiencing difficulty getting a diagnosis or even help. The exhibition is showing at the Linden New Art Gallery - with the opening night event happening on Saturday, June 1st and showing until August 25th. The Victorian Government Inquiry into Women's Pain submissions can be made here.

Plus, artist Melanie Lane and composer Chris Lane (AKA Clark) discuss their collaboration RISING Festival 2024. Arkadia is a mythic dance opera that imagines life and afterlife in a garden of paradise - how divine! Find tickets here.

Oslo Davis fills in for Richard Watts for a jam packed show. Oslo chats with Mark Kilmurry, the Director of Neil Simon's 'The Odd Couple' at the Comedy Theatre, and John Gethin Lewis, the Creative Director of a new exhibition at ACMI called 'Beings'.

Also joining Oslo on the show is Geelong Gallery Senior Curator Lisa Sullivan who breaks down new exhibition 'Cutting Through Time' and Comedian Tom Ballard drops by to talk about organising a fundraising event called Comedy in the West in Yarraville.

This week, Dan & Steph Teitelbaum take the SmartArts reins and gallop effortlessly into another episode... this episode (as always) is jampacked with recommendations, artist deep dives and what's coming up in Melbourne's performing arts scene.

Tai Snaith gives a raving review of ACCA’s current exhibition Oui Move In You by artist Laure Prouvost for Art Attack.

Director Gavin Webber, from the Queensland based dance-company ‘The Farm’ comes into the studio to talk all things Hold Me Closer Tony Danza - an immersive dance production at Monash Performing Arts Centre running from May 1-3, 2024. Any one itching to be part of a dance off à la Michael Jackson's Beat It should not miss this one...

Arts Wellbeing Collective’s Head of Program Jim Rimmer joins the team to discuss the launch of Navigate Well a free resource/career guide for arts sector workers especially gig workers & freelancers.

Anne-Marie Peard comes in to share all the theatre you should be seeing around Melbourne over the next couple of weeks - including an immersive dining experience? Delicious…

PLUS Drag and visual artists, The Huxleys, beam in to tell all on their new exhibition as part of Southside Festival 2024 (May 10-19), Gender Fluids - exploring the gender fluidity of sea creatures.

It’s that time of year again… Melbourne International Comedy Festival! You can’t escape it… so let’s embrace it, with two fabulous comics joining Richard on the program. But he's got art and theatre covered too, of course!

Kicking off with comedian Darby James whose kooky cabaret, ‘Little Squirt’ (formerly SpunkDaddy), turns the big but rarely discussed topic of sperm donation into a naughty, risqué and sincere performance. Catch Little Squirt at the Malthouse Theatre, until April 21.

Comedian Nathan Hugh Robért comes on to discuss, ‘Tiny King’, a stand-up comedy hour about height, power and living with hemilpegic cerebral palsy. Nathan’s show is running from the 9-21 April at The Dove Club.

Artist Pia Johnson calls in to talk about her exhibition ‘Re-Orient’ at the Immigration Museum, which launched on Saturday March 16 and is running until April 11. The collection is a site specific work exploring how we understand transnational communities and their histories.

Producer Emma Khamis talks us through the magic of Monkey Baa Theatre’s production of Possum Magic. After celebrating 40 years of Possum Magic in 2023, try your mightiest to take a child to the enchanting stage renditions Mem Fox and Julie Vivas’ beloved picture book. The show runs from April 5-7 at the Alexander Theatre at the Ian Potter Centre of Performing Arts.

Join Richard Watts in the studio with Liz Knowles, the new Executive Director of Arts Project Australia about their upcoming 50th Anniversary, Tai Snaith for the fortnightly review of current Melbourne exhibitions, and Director Charlotte Rogers and Hazel Pigrim on their production called Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons. Richard is also joined on the line with John Richards, the Festival Director of the Bendigo Pride Festival, Ros Abercrombe, the Executive Director of Regional Arts Australia chatting about the 2024 report of State of Australian Regions, and Effy Increna, the Director of a new production at the Substation called Akaraka.