Standing Room Only for Sunday 26 June 2016

12:40 Artist James Gilbert-Mayne and 4 Finger Fandango

Usually we think of technology and robots achieving tasks much faster than people. But Wellington artist James Gilbert-Maine is building a robot that is slowing down the ultra fast process of inkjet printing. He's calling his machine of robotic steel and rimu limbs, which will release a drop of ink at a time, Four Finger Fandango.  Lynn Freeman visits James' workshop.

12:50 The Drawbridge Art Dynasty

One of New Zealand's artistic family dynasties is about to showcase the work of three generations of painters, printmakers, sculptors, photographers, architects and jewellers. In all 10 members of the Drawbridge, Ashken, Lindsay and Wild family tree are showing their work in a survey show.  Lynn Freeman spoke with artist John Drawbridge's widow, sculptor and jeweler Tanya Ashken, with their son Tony Drawbridge, and first,John's great-niece Harriet Wild.

1:10 At The Movies

This week Simon Morris talks to New Zealand International Film Festival Director, Bill Gosden, about the programme for 2016.

1:33 Jason Te Kare and Rawiri Paratene

Twenty years ago Jason Te Kare was a nervous new actor making his debut in Hone Kouka's play, Waiora - Te-u-ko-pai. Also in the cast was the hugely experienced Rawiri Paratene. Fast forward to now and Waiora is being restaged in Christchurch, Jason's new script Glimmer is about to open and Rawiri will perform in both Te Reo Maori and English in the Briar Grace Smith play, Purapurawhetu. Justin Gregory got the two together to talk about the state of Maori theatre in 2016 and to take them back to Waiora.

1:50 Sound Designer and Inventer, Tom Dennison

Creating a synthesiser with potatoes as the main ingredient is one of the recent challenges jazz composer, musician and sound designer Tom Dennison set himself. Tom made the spud synthesiser for recent play The Potato Stamp Megalomaniac.  He's also designed the sound for a new show called Ain't That A Bitch and is working on several film scores.  Lynn Freeman asked where the spud synthesiser idea came from...

2:06 The Laugh Track - actor Chris Parker

Chris Parker is about to appear at Wellington's Bats Theatre in a show called Milky Bits.  Among Chris's selection are John Early, Rhys Nicolson and Saturday Night Live.

2:25 Film Director John Carney on Sing Street

Irish writer-director John Carney sprang to fame in 2007 with the surprise hit movie Once, about two struggling musicians in Dublin.   He hit again with the more star-studded Begin again.  Now he's back to his indie roots with another not-quite musical called Sing Street. It's set in the mid-80s, the story of a high school band at Dublin's Synge Street Catholic Boys School - John Carney's old alma mater.   A star-struck Dan Slevin compared nostalgia with John over a dodgy phone-line...

2:40 Fiona Sussman's new novel The Last Time We spoke

Crime stories regularly dominate what the news media offer us, as well as TV , movies, and most of all, bookshelves full of crime stories. But writer Fiona Sussman takes a step back in her new novel, The last time we spoke, to examine the full stories and emotions of a family and the young man who destroys their lives. Carol Reid, her husband and son are the victims of a vicious home invasion.  Ben, one of the attackers, ends up in jail and eventually, comes face to face with Carol, who offers help rather than hatred.  Lynn Freeman talks to Carol about The last time we spoke...

2:49 Dancer and writer Marianne Schultz on Maori Stage Performance

"Little Maori Maid, Goodbye!" was written by Percy Flynn in 1915 for the Maori Opera Company's production, Hinemoa. It's one of the productions that Auckland dancer, academic and writer Marianne Schultz examines in her book about Maori performance on stage and screen. She goes further, looking at how Maori extravaganzas - both here and overseas -  helped to shape New Zealand's identity.   Mostly Marianne was interested in Maori influence on Pakeha popular culture - and vice versa. She tells Lynn Freeman that it was the death of Sir Howard Morrison that got her thinking along these lines:

3:06 Drama at 3 Passing Through (Part Two)

The second part of  the live theatre recording, of Mervyn Thompson's autobiographical one-man show Passing Through.  The first part covered the period from Thompson's first encounter with the theatre in the 1950's through to the end of the 1970's.  Now he recalls his most political period.  

3:50  Art Of Etiquette: Opera