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Don Giovanni12:39 Don Giovanni 

While the range of operas being performed seems to be getting smaller and smaller, the weird and wonderful things singers get asked to do in them continue to grow. In New Zealand Opera’s production of Don Giovanni, they snort cocaine, fight each other, get set on fire – and also pole dance. All while singing beautifully, of course. Justin Gregory asks director Sara Brodie if there’s anything she wouldn’t ask a singer to do. 

12:50 Toronto Film Festival

Alexander Bisley reports in from the Toronto Film Festival to tell us how New Zealand’s films are faring in this hugely competitive and potentially lucrative event for filmmakers. 

Alexander Bisley and Gael Garcia Bernal
Alexander Bisley and Gael Garcia Bernal

1:10  At the Movies with Simon Morris

Simon reviews three thrillers – Before I Go To Sleep, The Keeper Of Lost Causes and Housebound.

1:34 Gerard Johnstone

Gerard Johnstone, the director of the new horror/comedy Kiwi feature film Housebound.   

Christopher Finlayson and Jacinda Ardern1:47 Policies for the arts 

The arts spokespeople for the two main political parties outline their policies for the arts and entertainment sector. Chris Finlayson and Jacinda Ardern discuss their priorities and big ideas for the creative industries.

For information see National’s Arts, Heritage and Broadcasting Policy and Labour’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy.

2:05 The Laugh Track

Actress Fern Sutherland who’s starring in a new New Zealand cop drama The Brokenwood Mysteries.

Fern Sutherland as Kristin Sims courtesy South Pacific Pictures
Fern Sutherland as Kristin Sims courtesy South Pacific Pictures

2:26 David Long

In-demand composer for film, TV, dance works and his own bands, David Long, reflects on what’s next as he settles in to a year-long residency at the NZ School of Music.

david long main

Jackie Ballantyne2:38 Books

Today’s writer is Jackie Ballantyne from Dunedin, who sets her latest novel The Silver Gaucho in a country she adores – Argentina.

2:49 Hand Shake Two

Gut instinct, intuition, and accessing the belly of creativity may sound a bit abstract, but according to Dutch contemporary jeweller Ruudt Peters it is here that the creative process begins. He has been paired up to mentor Wellington-based jeweller, Amelia Pascoe as part of Hand Shake Two, an online mentorship programme where selected mentees can develop their practice. So how does the online process work, and how valuable is mentorship in the development of our emerging artists? Sonia Sly investigates.  

Amelia Pascoe and Ruudt Peters

3:05 The Drama Hour

Two Shakespearean monologues from Bardfest – we have Sasha Delamere and Jeffrey Thomas both performing monologues from The Two Gentlemen Of Verona. Then we have the conclusion of The Children Of The Poor adapted for radio by Mervyn Thompson from the novel by John A Lee. We’re playing The Children Of The Poor in memory of the late Ian Gordon who was the technical director on this iconic play.