Standing Room Only for Sunday 24 February 2019

 

12:38 Edith and George - photographs separated by a century

A hundred years separate the portraits of Pacific communities taken by George Robson Crummer and Edith Amituanai.

Their work now hangs side by side at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, offering us the chance to compare and contrast their styles and their worlds.  George Crummer's work hasn't been exhibited before while Edith's work spans the past few years.

It's a huge year for Edith.  She's got a second exhibition opening in Wellington in a few weeks, a survey show covering her 16 years of work, and another opening in Canada of more recent photographs taken of family members in Las Vegas

Lynn Freeman visits Edith at the gallery during the installation of Edith and George: In our sea of islands.  The exhibition is currently showing at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington.

12:50  How long does it take to make a friend?

An experiment to see if the cast of a play can make friends with their audience in just an hour is the latest project by the country's only theatre company involving people who are - or have been - homeless.

As part of the Auckland Fringe Festival, the Hobson Street Theatre Company  is working with the Street Choir on That's What Friends Are For.:

It's directed by Professor Peter O'Connor from the University of Auckland. He's worked with survivors of natural disasters like the Christchurch earthquakes to help people - especially children - work through the trauma.

Lynn Freeman talks with Peter, and with one of the actors, Richard.

That's What Friends Are For premieres on Tuesday at the Basement Theatre as part of the Auckland Fringe, before heading to the fringe festivals in Wellington and Dunedin.  

1:10 At The Movies

This week Simon Morris reviews On the basis of sex, The front runner and Colette

1:31 Erin Shepherd makes theatrical dreams come true

Last year, Dunedin's Fortune Theatre was shut down so suddenly that many productions were left scrambling to find alternative venues.

This weekend the city's theatre practitioners are being asked what they want to see replace the Fortune.  It's part of a 300-thousand dollar City Council and Creative New Zealand-funded review that's being handled by Melbourne-based company Charcoal Blue.

They're the firm involved in designing the Waikato Regional Theatre for Hamilton.

Charcoal Blue is home to expat Erin Shepherd, who worked as a production and stage manager here before moving away.  Lynn Freeman asked Erin first about venue-strapped Dunedin, where nine months of consultation is now underway:

1:47 Graham Young's painted journey

Images of Central Otago's high country, from remnants of its gold mining era to small settlements nestled into the distinctive landscape, are captured in paintings by Graham Young.

The Auckland-based artist has a nostalgic edge to his work.  Battered old VW vans, loved but rough cribs, and weather-beaten boatsheds hold as much appeal as our idyllic beaches and bush.

Graham's latest book is called New Zealand A Painted Journey, a combination of paintings and written reflections on his travels around the country.

Lynn Freeman asked Graham about his first impressions of New Zealand when he arrived here from England:

New Zealand A Painted Journey by Graham Young is published by New Holland Publishers.

2:06 The Laugh Track - Josh Davies

Levin-born comedian Josh Davies has another distinction in the world of comedy.  He's almost entirely blind.  Understandably that's a big part of his show, which he describes, disarmingly, as "what it's like to grow up with less working eyes than you're supposed to have".

Josh Davies' show Look I'm Blind! opens on the 5th of March as part of the New Zealand Fringe in Wellington.  Lynn Freeman talks to him about his life, turning to comedy and the pressures to represent his community.

Josh's Laugh Track picks include John Robins, James Acaster, Danielle Ward and TV sketch show Aunt Donna.

2:26 The New Zealand Wars on screen

Over the past 90 years our TV and film makers keep returning to the New Zealand Wars - sometimes triumphantly, sometimes with mixed success..

Now Otago University Associate Professor Annabel Cooper has revisited all these projects and the people who made them in a book called Filming the colonial past.  The range is impressive - from pioneer filmmaker Rudal Hayward's first, silent version of Rewi's Last Stand in 1925 to Geoff Murphy's epic Utu, James Belich's landmark documentary series The New Zealand Wars, though to the ambitious and expensive TV drama The Governor from the 1970s...

Annabel Cooper talked to many of those involved in these films, first talking with Lynn Freeman about Rudal Hayward's two versions - silent and talking - of Rewi's Last Stand.

Filming the Colonial Past The New Zealand Wars on Screen by Annabel Cooper is an Otago University Press publication.

2:47 From New Zealand to Dubai - Brandy Scott's radio trip

Former senior producer of RNZ, Brandy Scott is now hosting her own show on Dubai's only talk radio station.

She's also just published her first novel, Not Bad People, which follows a friendship under intense pressure.

It's New Year's Eve. Three thirty-something women - Aimee, Melinda and Lou - best friends for decades, let off sky lanterns filled with resolutions: for meaning, for freedom, for money.

As the glowing paper bags float away, there's a bright flare in the distance. It could be a sign of luck - or the start of a complete nightmare that will upend their friendships, families and careers?

Brandy Scott is back home for the launch of Not Bad People and joins Lynn Freeman in a rather different RNZ Wellington studio to the one she remembers!

Not Bad People by Brandy Scott is published by HarperCollins.

 

 

3:06 Drama at 3 - two new series, Fall of the Shah and Appointment with Samarra

Fall of the Shah is a 9-part BBC drama series about the Iranian Revolution that changed the world, 40 years ago. It's written by Steve Waters and narrated by Dame Diana Rigg.  Episode 1: 'An Island of Stability'.

Appointment with Samarra is a thriller in six parts by New Zealand writer Stuart Hoar.

3.50  Live cross to Te Matatini

 

Music played in this show

Artist: Silk Road Ensemble
Song: The Shingashi Song
Composer: Trad
Album:
Label: Sony
Played at: 12.58

Artist:  Lisa Stansfield
Song: Marvellous and mine
Composer: Moris-Stansfield
Album: So Natural
Label: Arista
Played at:  1.06

Artist: Sharon Shannon (and Marvel)
Song:  What you make it
Composer: Brown-Christie
Album: The Collection
Label: Daisy
Played at:  1.40

Artist:  Return to Forever

Song: Captain Marvel
Composer: Corea
Album: Light as a feather
Label: Polydor
Played at: 1.58

Artist: Clinton Fearon
Song: Marvel not
Composer: Fearon
Album: Heart and soul
Label: Sterns
Played at: 2.04

Artist: KToo
Song:Short stay at Jackson Bay
Composer: Ikin
Album: Land of West
Label: Private
Played at: 2.14

Artist: KToo
Song: Charlie Douglas
Composer: Ogle-McLoughlin
Album: Land of the West
Label: Private
Played at: 2.20

Artist: The Marvelettes
Song: Twistin' postman
Composer: Holland
Album: Second helpings
Label: Ace
Played at:  2.30

Artist: Bing Crosby
Song:Too marvelous for words
Composer: Whiting-Mercer
Album: Come dancing in the 30s
Label: Yesteryear
Played at: 2.58

Artist: The Marvels
Song:  Passing Strangers
Composer: Mann-Mitchell

Album: Trojan Records box set
Label: Trojan
Played at: 3.04

Artist: Lightning Seeds
Song:  Marvellous
Composer: Broudie

Album: Like you do
Label: Epic
Played at: 3.58