City Hub 6 November 2014

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November 6, 2014

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beastly return

The old Acadamy Twin stages a comeback with the new production of Dr Moron

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Australia First Party contests Marrickville seat

BY Chris Sutton Australia First Party chairman Dr James Saleam has announced he is running in the Marrickville West Ward by election on November 15th.

Dr Saleam has been a prominent figure in the Sydney far right since the 1970s, but believes that this election could be a turning point for his party and movement.

“We’re looking to get a high profile group of political activists who actually take on the greens and far-left domination in inner city Sydney politics at street level,” he said.

“I don’t belong to either of the major political parties which are stooped in corruption in the state.

That’s what’s required in the inner city politics in particular: people who are essentially clean. In this poll I’m saying I’m a clean candidate.”

Dr Saleam said he intends to “stand as a protest vote, representative of the thousands of disaffected residents of Marrickville and indeed for disaffected Australians”. He reserves special mention for the Greens, who he calls “sparring partners”.

“Any criticism of immigration in the Greens’ mind is racism and therefore they look to the other side.”

Susan Price, a Socialist Alliance candidate for the 2015 NSW state election, received a leaflet from the AFP in her mailbox.

“I was pretty horrified. I opened it up and had a read of what the AFP have got to say. I was quite shocked to see that they are running in the by election and I’m quite disgusted by the thought of the racist platform that they’re campaigning on,” she said.

The leaflet proposed a process of cleansing Marrickville City, something that Ms Price believes could be disturbing rhetoric for neighbours.

“It invokes all sorts of images. For those residents who came to Australia as migrants after the Second World War and beyond, it conjures up all sorts of negative imagery.”

Ms Price said the AFP has a very concerning agenda for Marrickville.

“Jim Saleam makes it quite clear in his lectures that he’s ready to conduct a culture war in Marrickville and to get support from people to do that. He’s against environmentalism and against a welcoming policy towards refugees.”

She said she believes anyone should be able to contest an election, as it’s up to the public to decide whether the candidate is worth supporting.

“I think the public is intelligent enough that when they get a leaflet like this in their mailbox to make up their minds pretty quickly about the character of the AFP and their candidates, whoever they may be.”

Ms Price said nobody has denied Dr Saleam the right to freedom of speech.

“At the end of the day it’s up to those of us who are humanitarian-minded, anti-racist and who are interested in building a kind of suburb in Marrickville and Sydney that welcomes refugees.”

AFP posters have been placed throughout Marrickville. They read: “Refuse entry to refugees, expel every refugee who has arrived” and “no money for parasites, Australia for Australians”.

AFP also created a campaign against international students studying in Australia, which read: “Overseas students go home! No visas and no jobs for these would-be migrants”.

“I hope they don’t win, but obviously they decided that this is an opportunity to put their political platform forward and to measure what kind of support there might be for it. One way the residents of Marrickville west ward can take a stand is to actively support campaigns for refugees,” said Ms Price.

City Hub recently published an article about a white supremacist group spreading a new racist campaign to the inner city suburbs of Sydney. The group, called Squadron 88, distributed anti-Semitic flyers and delivered racist literature to letterboxes, and

are believed by some to be linked to the AFP and a large neo-Nazi organisation in America.

Dr Saleam said he doesn’t expect to win the by election and “would be pleased with 100 votes; ecstatic with 200”. He said he wants to find Australians who follow the beliefs of the AFP and is committed to building an activist structure in the three municipalities of inner Sydney.

He refuted claims that he has racist views.

“I don’t give a damn. It is an entirely falsely crafted argument. In the Greens case it’s a moral whip with

which to beat gutless people, and I’m not one of the gutless people.”

Ms Price said she welcomes the opportunity to stand against Dr Saleam.

“To take people like Jim and the AFP out politically is ultimately how we are going to defeat these sorts of xenophobic nationalists, and I would say they are absolutely racist,” she said.

Other candidates for Marrickville west include Labor’s Daniel Barbar, Liberal’s George Andrade and Justine Langford from the Greens.

Candidate Jim Saleam

Union disappointed with response to Barangaroo bomb threat

ABN 48 135 222 169 Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Group Manager: Chris Peken Group Editor: Lucia Osborne-Crowley Contributors: Chris Sutton, Christopher Harris, Joe Bourke, Elliott Brennan & Carmen Cita Arts Editor: Emma Salkild Live Music Editors: Chelsea Deeley & Alexandra English Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan Advertising Managers: Toni Martelli, Robert Tuitama & Mike Contos Design: Joanna Grace Cover: Scott Whitehair - James Berkley as Doctor Moron Email: question@alternativemediagroup.com Advertising: sales@alternativemediagroup.com Contact: PO Box 843 Broadway 2007 Ph: 9212 5677 Fax: 9212 5633 Web: altmedia.net.au

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BY lucia osborne-crowley A bomb threat caused the evacuation of the construction site at Barangaroo last week.

On Wednesday, October 29, the NSW Police received a phone call regarding a suspicious object at the site. All workers on the site were evacuated.

“At about 6.45am, a triple 0 call was received and information provided regarding an object at an inner city construction site.

As a precaution, all personnel at the site left the area. A search was conducted by specialist police,” a NSW Police spokesperson told City Hub. The spokesperson also said that nothing of interest was located by specialist police on the site.

The evacuation sparked serious concern among workers and unionists due to the length of time that passed between the emergency call being received and the personnel being removed from the site.

While the call was received at 6.45am, the workers on site were not evacuated until 9am.

“Bomb threat called in at 6.45am and workers not evacuated until 9am??? Safety first Lend Lease?” the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

CFMEU state secretary for the

NSW branch Brian Parker told City Hub that the union believed developer Lend Lease, rather than the NSW Police, were to blame for the delay.

“We certainly think the police responded efficiently. They were doing their job and they did it well.”

He said Lend Lease’s response was disappointing because the developer did not consult with workers or the union.

“Lend Lease needed to consult with us a lot more. They try to keep these things very quiet, but we needed to be involved to make sure no-one was placed at risk,” he said.

“One thing we are very upset about is that the safety committee on site wasn’t informed of all the

issues relating to the bomb scare and they should have been part of that process. This created confusion about time, length and details of the scare.”

“Lend Lease have failed in their duties. Someone could have been seriously hurt or killed.”

Mr Parker said this then created heightened tension among workers as the safety committee was not able to effectively inform workers of the situation as it developed.

According to Mr Parker, this is an ongoing problem between Lend Lease and construction workers.

“There are been other instances in the past in which Lend Lease have failed miserably in their duties to make the safety committee and

workers aware of any risks they are facing,” he said.

“It is certainly an ongoing issue. Safety problems have arisen at Barangaroo on a consistent basis. We feel they are very poor communicators.”

Lend Lease refuted this, saying the evacuation was undertaken in a timely manner.

Safety is our number one priority and we took the precautionary step of evacuating the site. Given the detailed discussions that occurred with the NSW Police over the course of the morning, our view is that this evacuation was the right thing to do, and that it occurred in an appropriate, timely and safe manner,” a spokesperson said.

Photo: Transport for NSW

Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

Copies are also distributed to serviced apartments, hotels, convenience stores and newsagents throughout the city.

Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, City Hub takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions.

The construction site at Barangaroo

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TAP Gallery ordered to stop operating as a theatre

Photo: pukkaproductions.com.au

BY Elliott Brennan The City of Sydney has told the operators of Darlinghurst-based community arts centre the TAP Gallery that they are no longer permitted to use the space as a theatre. The closure has forced the cancellation of an upcoming benefit for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.

This revelation comes after an inspection by the City of Sydney determined the space failed to meet fire safety standards in July.

The building was constructed in 1896 and has never been extensively renovated, but a City of Sydney spokesperson explained that the fire safety concerns were not the sole reason for the immediate

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closure.

“There were also issues identified with the venue’s approval to operate as a performance space. A separate Order under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act was issued in response,” the spokesperson said.

This Act prohibited the use of the space for any performance use after the 4th of November.

The venue’s manager, Lesley Dimmick, said she had no idea that the venue was in breach.

“We had a very big shock last Tuesday (October 28) when we went into a meeting and they asked us to put in a new

development application (DA),” she said.

“When we moved in here in 1993 we were approved to run a community arts centre. If you look up the meaning of community arts centre online, you’ll see that it’s a visual and performing arts centre for the community.”

“So we’ve been doing that. We’ve been doing visual art and performing art.”

Ms Dimmick had been given a two stage fire compliance plan by the council and had already completed the first stage when she was told about the DA. “We’ve made all the doors push outwards, we’ve done a huge clear out of accumulated paintings that we’ve since

removed because they saw the storage of the paintings as a fire risk, and we’ve put non-slip material on both our exits,” she said.

“The second stage, which had to be finished by Christmas was going to be far more expensive, but now we don’t know what will happen.”

Following the request for a new DA, the council had promised help the gallery to attempt to ensure that a production of ‘Playing Rock Hudson’ would go ahead and which would benefit the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation and help to provide assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. “Unfortunately, the company touring the show has decided to cancel their Sydney season as they felt that moving to another venue at short notice was not practical,” a spokesperson said.

The production’s Director, Cameron Lukey was in the middle of rehearsals when he was informed that the TAP theatre space had been shut down.

“We’d been rehearsing since the start of October and planning for several months before that,” he said.

“The money had been invested, the time had been invested, we had already started sourcing the costumes, and we’d already bought the set material – all of that stuff was ready to go. It was last minute and it was just shattering to be completely honest.”

Ms Dimmick believes that council’s approach as a whole to the arts community has been half hearted.

“They say there are no new premises on the horizon, but we all know the city of Sydney owns a lot of property in this area

and often they’ve put people in there on peppercorn rent.”

One building that Ms Dimmick was particularly angered by was the iconic T2 building for which the TAP gallery lodged a DA in 2010 to make their new home. At the time council told Ms Dimmick that their acquisition of the building would not affect her DA but only weeks later informed her she could not move in.

This essentially forced the TAP to stay put and the T2 building has remained empty. In March, council passed a motion to turn the building into a bike hub.

Mr Lukey shared Ms Dimmick’s concerns when reflecting on council’s attempts to find them a new space.

“I think it also brings up a broader issue that there are so few venues in Sydney.

Almost all of the theatres are curated, so there’s really no spaces for hire left – the TAP was one of the last,” he said.

“I know from speaking to the council that that’s something they’re aware of – that independent theatre is going to die.”

A petition addressed to Lord Mayor Clover Moore asking that the TAP Gallery be able to continue to run as a performance space has been shared on Facebook, even attracting the signature of the Former Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke.

“I was introduced to independent theatre at the TAP. It guarantees new performances can find an audience and helps foster creativity and new content. This venue matters,” he said in a statement on the site.

Opposition continues against CBD and South East Light Rail

BY Joe Bourke Community action groups opposing the Sydney CBD and South East Light Rail (CSELR) are becoming more outspoken in their opposition to the project.

Community groups People Unite Surry Hills (PUSH) and Stop This Light Rail (STLR) have both been campaigning against the construction since the plan’s announcement.

Convenor and spokesperson for PUSH and member of STLR Venietta Slama-Powell said that the group first set out with the intention of working with the government and community, but this proved to be useless.

“Unfortunately, all of the concerns that have been expressed have been fobbed off and in

some cases treated with derision from the project team, although the questions asked have been legitimate,” she said.

“We have been to great lengths to engineer some alternatives which have proven to be futureproof, unlike their current design, and they’ve given us no reason as to why this wouldn’t work, so we believe that this project is being driven by other interests than that of the public.”

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said earlier in the year that the community had made a positive impact on the proposal, bettering the overall project.

“The NSW Government has undertaken significant community and stakeholder consultation to better understand the needs of the

An artist’s impression of the CBD and South East Light Rail

community and our customers as light rail moves towards construction and future operation,” the Minister said.

But, with construction looming residents are concerned about the prospect of the demolition of 69 homes, affecting 100 people, and the proposed light rail track through the narrow Devonshire St. Member of STLR and PUSH David Siebert is a resident of Devonshire St and said that he, like many others, can’t seethe positives from the Light Rail’s installation.

“We’ve had a number of transport engineers on the project that have looked at it and they’re scratching their heads as to where the benefits are coming from for this,” he said.

“People along the street have already moved out due to the project, but one house is having a lot of trouble being sold at the moment because it’s where the station is supposed to be.”

Ms Powell said that the Light Rail will be detrimental for many reasons, not just the residents displaced from the area. “[The construction includes] the loss of 150 residents’ parking spaces, the loss of over 200 trees, the loss of green space, and an impact on the churches and parks,” she said.

“We’re also really concerned about the traffic and the subsequent safety concerns for pedestrians along the whole route and how emergency services will be able to access the densely populated and narrow streets in and around Surry Hills.”

Both Ms Powell and Mr Siebert maintain that the State Government and Transport for NSW have ignored the community group and resident’s attempts at dialogue regarding these concerns.

According to Ms Powell, action groups are continuing to grow, with more members of a diverse range of demographics presenting themselves to take action.

Many of these new members will attend a meeting at Randwick Boys High School scheduled for Thursday November 6 at 6.30pm.

Residents and industry experts are expected to voice concerns and plan their action against the route.

news in brief Woollahra beaches become smoke-free

Woollahra Council and the Cancer Council of NSW have made all beaches in the Woollahra local government area smoke-free.

Woollahra Council voted to enact a smoke-free policy on all of the council’s foreshore.

As of October 1, smoking on any Woollahra beaches will be met with a $550 fine.

“This ban will protect beach users from exposure to second-hand smoke, stop children seeing people smoke (which may influence their decision to smoke as adults) and reduce environmental damage from cigarette butt littering,” a council statement read.

“Community attitudes towards smoking have changed.

Beaches are a place for relaxation and recreation. We don’t want to see children connecting healthy recreation with the habit of smoking.”

Leichhardt Council officially overhauls planning system Leichhardt Council has overturned its approach to assessing development applications by replacing councillors with an

independent panel.

Until now, councillors have been responsible for assessing and approving any development applications lodged with council. Following the reform, councillors will have no role in this process and instead an independent panel of experts will assess all development applications.

Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous opposed this reform.

“One of the reasons we were elected is because there’s a trust that we will ably and properly represent our local communities, particularly in planning decisions,” Mayor Porteous told City Hub in June.

Labor councillor and ex-Mayor Darcy Byrne is supportive of the changes.

“This is one of the biggest reforms in the history of Leichhardt Council,” said Cr Byrne.

“For a local government, so renowned for slow processing times, to embrace greater transparency and take the politics out of planning is a huge step forward.”

“This reform has been specifically endorsed by ICAC and is the strongest anti-corruption measure ever adopted by Council.”

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according to the Government’s own assessment has a sound financial outlook for the next three years. In fact the State Government could learn a lot from what many local Sydney councils are getting right,” Cr Porteous said.

Minister for Local Government Paul Toole acknowledged that every local government area is different.

Last Friday, October 31, he released a “toolkit” to local councils, by which they may assess their needs and priorities as well as suitability for amalgamation.

“The Minister has stressed it is up to councils to map out their future and now is the time to be honestly consulting with their communities,” a spokesperson for the Minister said.

Minister Toole is remaining positive about the

Local Government Minister Paul Toole

Cartoon: Peter Berner

BY Chris Sutton Leichhardt Council has joined a list of inner city councils that have expressed their opposition to the state governments local government amalgamation proposal, called Fit for the Future.

Leichhardt Council voted last week to oppose the State Government’s plans to amalgamate local councils because of the financial burden it would put on residents and ratepayers in the local government area.

The NSW Government has stated that the local government amalgamations will benefit councils financially, citing the fact that many councils are struggling in this department.

Leichhardt Council has refuted this, saying it is in a healthy financial position.

“Leichhardt Council remains opposed to any merger with its neighbouring councils and continues to support local government reform initiatives through regional and sub-regional resource sharing/strategic alliances and sector wide cooperation,” the council said last week.

Greens Mayor Rochelle Porteous highlighted the need for councils to question the State Government’s findings.

“We are hearing claims that amalgamations will deliver lower rates, greater savings and that councils under 250,000 people are not financially sustainable.”

“This is untrue. Firstly, due to the way rates are calculated, for a council like Leichhardt, mergers with other nearby councils would most likely result in higher rates for our residents.”

“Also, amalgamations cost a lot of money, and there is strong evidence with recent NSW amalgamations that councils, their staff and ratepayers keep paying that cost for years.”

“Leichhardt Council is financially sound and

possibilities for councils and residents.

“This is councils’ opportunity to design their own improvement plan and set their vision for the future, using the extensive work of the Independent Local Government Review Panel as an important starting point.”

The stance of the government on council amalgamations as not being forced came into question a fortnight ago, after NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance told a business breakfast audience that forced amalgamations would be inevitable.

“I think eventually we’re going to have to pull out the stick. We have offered up the carrot first, we’re going to have to pull out the stick.”

The government has since distanced itself from those remarks, and is maintaining that amalgamations will not be forced.

Councils have to the end of June next year to submit proposals on how they plan to respond to the Fit for the Future reforms.

Photo: Facebook

Leichhardt Council joins list of local governments against amalgamations

Photo: Facebook

University students demand action on sexual assault

Sydney University students rally against the university’s response to sexual harassment complaint

BY Lucia OsborneCrowley Students at the University of Sydney have staged a protest against the university for its response to an incident of sexual harassment that occurred on campus this year.

University student Alexander Wright recently shared an explicit photo of a female student with his peers.

The woman in the photos complained to the university, which reportedly took several weeks to respond.

The woman said she felt abandoned by the university following her complaint.

The incident became more controversial when the university compelled student newspaper Honi Soit to redact the name of the perpetrator from its article in order to protect him.

A protest was held at the university campus on Thursday, October 30. Students gathered with signs condemning the universities response.

A 2011 National Union of Students survey found that one in ten university students had experience sexual assault on campus and one in three had experience sexual harassment.

“Services like a hotline for anonymous reporting of sexual harassment on campus should

Council rejects overdevelopment at George Street

BY Christopher Harris Leichhardt Council and the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) have rejected a proposal to redevelop 22 George Street in West Leichhardt.

The decision was made by the JRPP during a meeting at Town Hall on October 23 as the panel turned down a massive residential development of the former Kolotex site.

The industrial site has been through various rezoning applications since 2006, involving state government and local council.

The Greenland Holdings Group, an international property developer,

Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous

lodged an application to construct 288 residential units, 2 commercial tenancies and 272 underground car parks.

Mayor of Leichhardt Rochelle Porteous told City Hub high contamination levels, lack of employment opportunities and increased traffic conditions were reasons behind the rejection.

“The most significant (reason) was obviously the contamination.

But there were a number of other issues that were also raised by the JRPP. Particularly important was the issue about the transition of scale of the buildings to the surrounding area in terms of

the privacy issues that weren’t addressed.”

A spokesperson for the JRPP informed City Hub that the Leichhardt Council’s assessment report outlined reasoning for the refusal and was utilised by the panel.

The statement outlined four reasons of refusal: the possibility of high-level contamination, the lack of adequate sunshine, suitability for residential use and the aforementioned scale.

“Greenland has not appealed the panel’s decision,” the spokesperson said.

Greenland’s vision for the site on George Street was “to create a high quality, contemporary and landscaped residential community that addresses the amenity of the surrounding community”.

“The design has been carefully considered to improve the outcomes for existing and incoming residents in a range of areas,” read the website.

Greenland stated that a full traffic study had been undertaken along with community and council consultation during the planning process.

Cr Porteous believes the failure to achieve projected employment figures was a major issue in plans. The rezoning indicated approximately 125 direct and 238 indirect jobs would be generated, but the refused proposal would have “created 8 jobs at most” according

to Cr Porteous. Finding work for residents was the basis for rezoning the site, as well as providing housing as part of the council’s strategy.

“There needs to be retention of employment generating lands in the site. In no way was it being realised by the current development application.”

“It is more profitable to convert into residential, but it is a very poor outcome at the end of the day for sustainability of the local area.”

Save Our Suburbs (SOS) Leichhardt is campaigning against overdevelopment.

“Whilst we support the notion of sensible development, we’re rallying the community of Leichhardt as we’re concerned about many aspects of the Kolotex-Labelcraft development proposal on George Street,” a spokesperson said.

“If approved, the KolotexLabelcraft development will be the first 8 storey block to go up in Leichhardt. The highest we have now is only 2 storeys. Then imagine what’s next.”

Cr Porteous is clear when discussing the needs of Leichhardt.

“We want to see more housing in the area, but we want to see that housing being primarily affordable.

That is the sort of housing we actually need, not top of the range apartments. We need to be retaining at least part of our employment lands and we’re losing them at a very fast rate. It is great concern I think.”

be readily available, as well as an immediate point of contact for harassment that occurs in residential colleges or at university-run events such as faculty balls and dinners which occur at this time of year,” said one of the Sydney University Student Representative Council’s sexual harassment officers, Georgia Carr.

“Harassment can be subtle, or it can be labelled as a ‘joke’ or even as flattery, but sexual harassment can be incredibly pervasive and should be taken seriously by the entire university community.”

Protest organiser and spokesperson Phoebe Maloney told City Hub she hoped the protest would draw attention to the issue.

“We made demands of the university in terms of how they treat sexual assault and harassment cases in the future and we hope they will listen,” said Ms Maloney.

Ms Maloney also said she thinks the university is working towards changing its approach to sexual assault cases in the future.

“I know the university is currently trying to work with students on developing a survey to figure out the number of sexual assaults that do happen

on campus. It seems that now that this has happened, they are willing to listen to students and hopefully draft a policy that does condemn sexual assault and harassment on this campus,” she said.

Ms Maloney said there is current no university policy addressing this issue.

The university did take action to remove Mr Wright from his position as Resident Liason in one of the university’s residential colleges, however many fellow students believe this was not a strong enough response.

Following Thursday’s student protest, the Board of the University of Sydney Union decided on Friday, October 31st to strip Mr Wright of his Union membership. This action also expels him from any clubs or societies he is a member of and precludes him from joining any clubs or societies in the future.

According to Ms Maloney, students are demanding that a robust policy structure be put in place by the university to deal with all complaints about sexual harassment, sexual assault and intimidation.

They are also demanding a review be conducting of the university’s response to all complaints of this nature that have been lodged in the past.

Seniors unsatisfied with Gold Opal

BY Lucia OsborneCrowley The NSW Government last week announced that pension rates will be available on all Opal cards beginning Monday, November 3.

The pensioners’ card, called the Gold Opal, will cap transport fees at $2.50 per day.

“The new Gold Senior/ Pensioner Opal card means eligible customers won’t pay more than $2.50 a day for travel on trains, buses, Sydney Ferries and light rail when it is rolled out,” said Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian.

“From Monday November 3, seniors and pensioners can access all the benefits of the Opal card – including the convenience of never having to queue for a paper ticket again. Gold Opal customers can use cash to top up their card with as little as $2.50.”

While pensioners and seniors have welcomed the addition of the Gold Opal, they remain concerned about the ease of access of the Gold card and of the Opal system in general.

“Pensioners welcome today’s announcement that they will be able to get a Pensioner Opal Card and pay no more than $2.50 per day for their public transport”, said Charmaine Crowe, Senior Advisor Research & Advocacy at the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW. “But the issue remains that pensioners will not be able to top-up their cards at train stations.”

“Many pensioners don’t want to top-up their Opal card automatically for fear that they may overdraw on their account and be charged exorbitant bank fees.”

“Pensioners can top-up their card at some retailers, but often these are kilometres away from train stations.”

The CPSA has requested that the NSW Government remedy this problem immediately.

“CPSA calls on the NSW Government to ensure that top-up facilities are available at all train stations so that pensioners are not caught out when they go to travel”, said Ms Crowe.

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The Island of Doctor Moron

By Carmen Cita Paddington’s abandoned Academy Twin cinema begins its new life as The New Olympia Theatre this week, as playwright and retired drama teacher Chris Dockrill revives the space with a bizarre rock musical called The Island of Doctor Moron.

The epic production is set on a mysterious South Sea island, a place inhabited by half-beast humans and Voodoo Rastafarians, and ruled by the maniacal Doctor Moron (pronounced Mor-own), whose twisted mission is to ‘bring out the beast’ in us all.

“I was distantly inspired by the image of strange, mutated creatures in The Island of Dr Moreau, but this is not quite a musical version of the H. G. Wells novel,” the playwright says, with more than a hint of irony.

Dockrill says the show is a spectacle that will take Sydney by surprise in the same way that Rocky Horror Picture Show did, forty years ago.

“I think visually, you know, with big shows like this, there is so much happening in this production that you almost don’t know where to look,” he explains. “People who have been sneaking into rehearsals for a peek have been blown away – literally gobsmacked.”

When Dockrill first set out to find a home for his production, he did not anticipate that building that home would become part of his project. But when he laid eyes on the musty remains of the Oxford Street space, his imagination quickly filled with possibilities.

The former cinema has been empty since 2010.

“The previous tenants took everything,” he continues.

“They ripped out all the seats and fittings – everything.

So for us it was like having a blank canvas.”

“It’s been locked up for four and a half years. So when we first opened the doors, we felt like tombraiders. The dust had really settled.”

For many people, retirement represents extra time to spend in the garden, or traipse around the country in a campervan. But when Dockrill’s teaching career drew to a close, he had shipwrecked mutants on his mind.

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Dockrill first unleashed his Doctor Moron saga in 1998 at Kempsey High School, north of Port Macquarie, where he was head of English and Drama.

The show was met with rave reviews and Dockrill knew that he would bring it back to life one day on the professional stage, bigger and better.

Holding on to that dream, the ambitious retiree has raised $500,000, enough to produce and stage the musical at a standard that rivals the best Off-Broadway shows. With an eclectic cast of 28 seasoned performers, Dockrill’s magnum opus has taken on an extra dimension.

“The cast are at the point now where they really own it – it’s a tipping point where the power and control shifts from me, the director, to them,” Dockrill says. “They’ve stepped over that tentative line and it belongs to them.”

This seems to be substantiated by Dockrill’s tendency to refer to cast members by their character names - even when they are offstage and out of costume.

Dockrill explains that music and dance are integral to the appeal of the show, illustrating his point with spontaneous impersonations of some of the show’s kookier characters – such as Voodoo Valma; Brother Bob, the preacher; and Rubber Gloves, the whipcracking, leather-clad slave auctioneer.

“I write musicals to have fun,” he explains. “If you’re after something deep and meaningful, look somewhere else.”

And Dockrill is not alone in his dream to put Doctor Moron back on stage – it is a bit of a family affair. “My wife Lynn is the musical brains behind this. I write the lyrics and she builds a melody around it,” he says. “The score crosses over genres, from folk to jazz to rock to blues; we both really love rock and blues.”

“The theatre is like a recording studio, with acoustic paneling – so, from a sound point-of-view, it’s a dream come true. There has been a lot of work to do, to bring

the space back to life, but there was no compromise on set design.”

Dockrill has spent two thirds of his six-month lease on the restoration, decking out the space with 250 imported seats, a stage that measures ten by seven metres, a four metre high gantry, and flying catwalks.

With opening night slated for November 4, cast and crew are ready and raring for a one-month season at The New Olympia Theatre. If the madcap musical is well received, Dockrill hopes to extend the lease for another season.

Actor Jack Thompson has come forward as an enthusiastic Patron for the production, urging audiences to partake in the Doctor Moron experience, and encouraging sponsors to get behind the initiative.

And it seems the local community supports the project too. “This area has been crying out for it. When we had the doors open, while we were working on the space, ten minutes wouldn’t go by without someone coming in to thank us, and sharing their memories of the space,” Dockrill says. “It has been a revolving door of people from the neighbourhood letting us know that they appreciate what we’re doing.”

Nov 4-Dec 6, The New Olympia Theatre, 3 Oxford St, Paddington, $53-88, ticketmaster.com.au

EAT & DRINK

The Golden Sheaf This leafy courtyard is where the Eastern Suburbs set congregate after the Randwick races or the AFL.At sunset, the outdoor space is alive with chattering birds above the chatting crowds.Watch the fairy lights come up over a schooner of imported Sierra Nevada Pale $ - mains less than $15

$$ - mains between $15-$22

EASTERN SUBURBS & BEACHES

Charing Cross Hotel The light, coastally inspired interior is a delightful surprise, especially considering the unassuming pub exterior. Relax in a wicker chair in the stylish, baby blue dining room as you explore a drinks list that hits the trifecta - great cocktails, wine and on-tap craft brew. A Locals Drop ($17) blending white rum, ruby grapefruit and Campari helps reduce the excesses of Chef Matt Kemp’s Crispy Pigs Head ($14), pressed into fat, crumbed batons. A relative cheapie - Sant Josep White Garnacha ($36/bottle) - is opulent enough to accompany Roast Pork Neck ($30) with crackling, radicchio, honey and

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By Jackie McMillan ($8.50) or an Aussie Vale IPA ($7.20) in the lively space.

And despite the affluence of the suburb Double Bay, you won’t find yourself having to double pay at the popular Sheaf Bistro.Whether you try pub classics, or the lighter Asian-inspired offerings, you’ll find the portions generous, and the prices comparable with other pubs.

In terms of the classics, look no further than the everpopular Beef Fillet ($29.50) decked out with aioli, onion jam and jus. It’s a hearty slab of beef with a surprisingly good accompaniment in the form of a crisp mushroom risotto cake. If that all sounds too heavy, the Salmon and Tuna Sashimi Salad ($22) is piled high with baby spinach, cucumber, pickled ginger and pumpkin crisps cresting a generous amount of raw fish. Handmade Pumpkin Tortellini ($18) balance the sweet orange filling with mustard fruits and a nutty beurre noisette. My only complaint: even drinking at the top end of their wine list, the Simonnet Febvre Petit Chablis ($50/bottle) indicated there’s plenty of room for improvement.

429 New South Head Road, Double Bay (02) 9327 5877 goldensheaf.com.au Pub Bistro $$-$$$ $$$ - mains between $22-$30

pears, without destroying a simple plate of Swordfish ($28) with juicy cucumbers, pink grapefruit and perilla.

81 Carrington Road,Waverley (02) 9389 3093 charingcrosshotel.com.au British, Pub Bistro,Wine, Cocktails $$$ Ribs & Burgers Few things encourage a diner to messy excess more than a prominently featured hand-washing station, and, at Bondi’s Ribs and Burgers, it holds pride of place. Lucky; as it’s pretty much impossible to tuck into their trademark Pork Ribs ($29) and not end up covered in sticky-sweet barbecue sauce. But why stop there? Equally slide-off-the-bone tender, are the enormous Beef Ribs ($27), and herb and lemon marinated Lamb Ribs ($24), but, as the name

$$$$ - mains over $30

suggests, ribs are but one part of the experience.The Wagyu Burger ($18) is also a treat; well charred, sauced, and freshened up with salad.With generous portions and infrastructure to deal with mess, don’t resist channelling your inner Flintstone.

79/61-67 Hall Street, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 4887 ribsandburgers. com.au Burgers, Modern Australia $$-$$$ North Bondi Fish Last year North Bondi Italian closed its doors and no one could imagine this neck of Bondi Beach ever being the same.That was until North Bondi Fish moved in. Stick to the theme and order the Fish and Chips ($29), or branch out with the Mussels ($25) that include a refreshing Stone &

Popolo This is a confident restaurant that knows what it is, which is more than I can say for Google Maps, which seemed to struggle with displaying where it is.You’ll find it tucked behind a new residential development in the courtyard across from the BMW car dealership.

The wine list, mostly populated by Southern Italian Wood beer. Grilled Prawns ($35) are whoppers but need their own side to balance the salty sea creatures.

Crab Linguine ($30) gets it spot on, the lime and chilli offsetting the sweet crab flavour. End with cocktails – the Beachside Fizz ($16) fancy vodka soda with almond syrup – and a Cheese Platter ($25) to watch the sun go down.

120 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 2155 northbondifish.com.au Seafood $$ INNER WEST

Annandale Hotel The new-look Annandale Hotel allows canines in the courtyard styled like an Aussie back deck.

Even kiddies are welcome, except

wines from below latitude 41 degrees north, need not be bewildering.Wine-savvy staff are well versed in matching wines to drinkers.When asked for an easydrinking red, they produced a lovely 2013 Pietradolce Etna Rosso ($72/bottle).With tea and cherry notes, this Sicilian wine, made from Nerello Mascalese grapes, has its closest analogy in pinot noir (just with more minerality).As such, it suits the Pecorino Timballo ($19), a firm, baked cheese dish presented on a board with pear custard.This Italian answer to the cheese souffle is so good, some Popolo regulars pop in after dinner just to enjoy it. Napolitana-style pizzas baked in their wood-fired oven are also menu highlights, particularly if the Burrata Panzerotto ($23) is on. It’s a plump belly-shaped pizza pocket stuffed with creamy-centred mozzarella, tomato and basil. Seasonality clearly matters here, with spring asparagus – Asparagi ($9) – dressed with fig vincotto on the specials. It’s the perfect foil to a textbook Octopus Ragu Risotto ($24).

50 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay (02) 9361 6641 popolo.com.au Italian $$$

in the front bar, which retains some of the Annandale’s sticky carpet charm - at least around the edges. A far cry from the crowded, sweaty, live band days, there’s now elbowroom to spare as you quaff a Kosciusko ($6.50) and tuck into a toastie from their interesting list. I tried Fontal ($12) with duck sausage, bacon jam and pickled leek.

Traditional pub goers will appreciate the steaks, schnitzels and two fully customisable roasts. Free Range Chicken ($20) with duck fat gratin, gravy and seasonal greens will silence a monster appetite.

17 Parramatta Road, Annandale (02) 9550 1078 annandalehotel.com Pub Bistro,Wine $$ Daisy’s Milkbar The Beach Boys on the speakers, pin-up girls taking orders, a cordial

station, jars of sweets and gingham curtains… If this place was any cuter I’d be sick. This inner west café is the perfect old-fashioned milk bar. Think shakes, Jaffles and sundaes - but with a modern twist. Greg’s Jaffle ($6) is loaded with bolognaise, while Uccella’s packs pulled pork inside its golden, white bread pocket. Breakfast – like Zucchini and Corn Fritters ($16) - are served all day, alongside great milkshakes like Honeycomb, Malt and Golden Syrup ($5). Kick dessert old school with the Salted Caramel Banana Split ($14), best shared with your sweetheart.

340 Stanmore Road, Petersham (02) 8065 3466 daisysmilkbar.com Breakfast, Café $-$$

EAT & DRINK

Zigi’s Art Wine Cheese Bar

By Ryan Kennedy “Welcome to the house of looove.” Fedora cocked jauntily, and all dapper white shirt, black suspenders and bon mots, Zigi is quick to make you welcome at his eponymous bar. Testament to his background, the menu is dubbed ‘Ausraeli’, and the signature dish is GREATER SYDNEY SoCal Led Emmett, General Manager of SoCal, provides an expert introduction to the liquid aspects of The Golden State.With my lips tingling from Chica Chipotle ($17) that teamed chipotleinfused reposado tequila with Mezcal and a chipotle salt rim, Led introduced me to his list. It’s heavy, as you’d hope, in Californian wines. A man after my own heart, Led categorises pinot noir between feminine and “smells like my bedroom after sex”. Bliss Pinot Noir ($60) is one of the former, but for a quaffable red, it is not without roundness and balance. It lends itself to liberal, chilled applications against crisp Sriracha Chicken Quesadillas ($20), as you watch moonrise in the open-roofed space.

Everything I know about eating ramen, I learned from Tampopo, a Japanese cult film about a single-minded obsession for the perfect noodle soup. Reciting the steps quietly, I entered this new Central Park store. It’s the Japanese chain’s second Australian venture; and, decked out in black, red and blonde wood, it’s a stylish (if brightly lit) space. A raucous kitchen chorus heralded my arrival, blending with an equally chaotic avant-garde jazz soundtrack. Both

Bowery Lane This Manhattan-style offering brings together the city’s unique sense of fashion with art deco glamour, leather booths, dapper staff and not a single hot dog on the menu!

Sophistication is paramount, like Yamba Prawn Sliders ($16), zesty and fresh with fennel slaw. Share some Manchego Croquettes ($14) with smoked chilli aioli, they are the perfect cocktail complement – and trust me, the cocktails here are serious business. Take Bowery Lane’s Pharmaceutical Stimulant

Felafel Prawns ($21). They’re crisp and warmly spiced, and perfectly matched by the earthy and colourful Beetroot Mille-Feuille ($18). Handmade Labne Cheese ($15) is a rich and simple classic; and Sous Vide Lamb ($20) is compellingly tender on a bed of buttery Israeli couscous. Wine of the Moment ($12) comes by the glass, with two reds and two whites always on hand. Standouts are the full and fruity Curious Creatures Riesling ($59/bottle) and the Cirami Saperavi Riverland ($69/bottle), a profoundly dark and engaging red. In the shadow of a huge lavash sail and strewn with dried fruit, the Occeli al Malto d’orzo e Whisky ($20/1, $46/3) cheese has the smoke and spice of whisky, while the washed-rind Époisses AOC oozes in all the right ways - rich with plenty of funk. With rock and roll tunes, and walls a pastiche of art, newspaper and magazine cutouts, the link through everything is Zigi. And if you ask him what’s the secret? “Loooooove!”

86 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale (02) 9699 4222 artwinecheesebar.com.au Bar,Wine $$

1 Young Street, Neutral Bay (02) 9904 5671 socalsydney.com.au American, Bar, Bar Food $$-$$$ All Good Things Eatery As well as delivering a bonzer brekky, Kingsgrove’s hippest café is open for dinner, every Thursday to Saturday night. Plan your meal around the sweets - the Watermelon Granita with Feta Ice Cream ($12) epitomises Sydney summer. Precede them with small or large share plates of Modern Greek food, like Loulou ($14), crisp tempura battered feta-stuffed zucchini flowers or oven-roasted Queensland Prawns ($22). Standout Octopus ($15) has its char-grilled tentacles artfully entangled with dollops of lemongrass yoghurt foam. As ethical meats are all from Feather and Bone, it was impossible to pass up Organic Goat Backstrap Carpaccio ($18),

Ippudo Central Park

ROCKS & CBD

By Jackie McMillan

presented simply with ponzu, wasabi and lily pads of avocado puree.

Shop 9-11 Mashman Avenue, Kingsgrove (02) 7903 0198 facebook.com/ allgoodthingseatery Modern Greek $$ DARLO, KINGS X & SURRY HILLS Golden Age Cinema & Bar I’m very taken with this gorgeous bar, complete with electronically controlled curtains that silently glide to reveal a mirrored stage and microphones.

The Maple Pecan Old Fashioned ($18) made on smooth Bulleit Bourbon suits the space, but if you’re sleepy-tired and planning a flick, their espresso martini Paramount House ($19), uses beans from Paramount Coffee Project

mask the happy sounds of zuzotto – the correct way of slurping or ‘inhaling’ ramen.

Pickled cucumber – Goma Q ($7) – prepares the palate.When your Shoyu Ramen Special ($21) arrives, take a moment to appreciate its beauty, before adding fixings from your side plate – a flavoured soft-boiled egg (fun to split and enrich the broth), seaweed sheets, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, shallots and chashu – simmered pork belly.While eyeing off those wonderfully moist pork slices, devour the noodles. Enjoy the mix of flavours against the springy wheat noodles, and then drink some of the broth. If you like more intensity, the Akamaru Shinaji Special ($24) includes miso and garlic oil. Finally, and decisively, select one of those glorious pork slices. Drain it using a small tap on the side of your bowl then savour – it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for!

Central Park RB07, Lower Ground Floor, 28 Broadway, Chippendale (02) 8078 7020 ippudo.com.au Japanese $$-$$$

($16), a tonic that is sure to cure any ailment with its cold drip coffee injection. Of course you can still get your New York Cheeseburger ($20), and it is sublime, cooked medium and oozing with juicy goodness.

Shop 1, Level 4, 1 O’Connell Street, Sydney (02) 9252 8017 bowerylane.com.au American, Cocktails $$ Bistro Mint Stolen Rum flamed at the table then liberally applied to a Rum Baba ($14) is just a taste of things to come, explains Sebastien Lutaud, Restaurant Associates’ General Manager of Culinary Services, with a Stolen Rum bar is a likely addition to

this already attractive venue.

Lapping up Sydney sunshine and a gloriously dry 2013 Triennes Nans les Pins Rose ($81/bottle) on the stately balcony, I muse that there are already plenty of reasons to visit, including the updated Coq au Vin ($32) with smoked speck, carrot and Shiraz. ‘Sot-l’y-laisse’ ($10) – they’re chicken ‘oysters’ for the linguistically challenged cooked in burnt butter, shallots and crisp sage are another.

Upstairs, The Mint, 10 Macquarie Street, Sydney (02) 9232 2293 bistromint.com.au Modern French,Wine $$$$

Pei Modern

By Alex Harmon It takes a strong restaurant to knock down previous tenants, The Woods, but Mark Best has cleared the trees – and a few walls – in the Four Seasons to bring his famous Melbourne bistro to town. It’s relaxed fine dining, where you can share, or go ‘cray cray’ with mains. We conquer the Tiger Prawns and upstairs. Dip into (another) interesting Ned Brooks wine list against snacks like Tiger Sharks ($10) - canned anchovies – or Szechuan Popcorn ($5).

The 2012 Ngeringa Growers Series Rousanne ($65/bottle) makes an affable companion to movie-inspired toasties like The Spielberger ($9.50) – basically your Reuben – to The Big Cheese ($8).They’re small, so you’ll also need a Gelato Messina Sundae ($8)…

Lower Ground, 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 ourgoldenage.com.au Bar, Cocktails, Bar Food $ Devon By Night Chef Zachary Tan has kept dinner at this popular cafe distinctly casual.

He’s dishing up Malaysian-influenced hawker snacks, dressed up with the same premium ingredients that make

Slow Cooked Pineapple ($24), summer tropics on a plate – barbequed with sweet and salty sea layers.

From the ‘Clean and Green’ we take the La Luna Goat Cheese Custard with Asparagus ($18), cooked perfectly, but a little less of the green and more of the cheese would have suited this diner. Cheese fiends like me must indulge in the Ricotta Dumplings ($30), served with kale and hazelnuts. I could eat it any time of the day; it’s like fine-dining comfort food.

As tempting as the hanging chickens look from the kitchen, it was the Rangers Valley Wagyu Rump ($46) that sold it for me, flame-grilled and mouth-watering with harissa and charcoaled onion. Contender for most Instagrammed dessert of the year goes to the Chocolate Tart ($17). With thin shards of chocolate layered upon chocolate ganache, a delicate base and a rather unusual eucalyptus sauce, perhaps this bushranger-chic dessert is a nod to the nearby Rocks? Regardless, it works.

Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George Street, Sydney (02) 9250 3160 peimodern.com.au Modern Australian $$$$

Chef Jacqui Ektoros’ morning menus so special. So expect to find heady Manjimup truffle slices adorning Chinese Egg Custard ($29), and fleshy lobster tails slathered with Kewpie mayonnaise inside buttery brioche in an individual Lobster Roll ($15.50).

Drink from a concise but cleverly chosen list of alcoholic beverages like the 2012 Mitchelton Marsanne ($17/ glass) or Echigo Koshihikari Rice Lager ($12). End with the poor man’s ‘snow egg’ of Coconut Jelly, Guava Sorbet and Freeze Dried Pineapple ($11).

76 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (02) 9211 8777 devoncafe.com.au Pan-Asian, Café $$$

ROCKS & CBD Danjee This large, spruced-up Korean

FOOD NEWS

restaurant is found down an alleyway running between Event Cinemas and La Guillotine. Dipping into the wine list is a pleasure, particularly against crisp seaweed snacks, dotted with salt and sugar. French wines, like the 2012 Causse Marines ‘Les Greilles’ Gaillac Blanc ($65), lend themselves to the cuisine beautifully. Kimchi and Mung Bean Pancakes ($14) are great foils to explore your collection of side dishes (banchan). Du Bu Seon ($9) arrive as dainty tofu sandwiches, stuffed with enoki, garlic chives and green chilli. They contrast well with the charcoal notes of Danjee Sutbul Bool Go Gi ($35) - marinated, grilled mince - or Charcoal Spicy Pork Hocks ($38), presented two ways.

1/7 Albion Place, Sydney (02) 8084 9041 danjee.com.au Korean,Wine $$$-$$$$

By Jackie McMillan Last month I popped along to Giant Dwarf Theatre for Sydney Craft Beer Week’s Gala Opening Night 2014, the first of more than 100 events across 40 venues celebrating a week of craft beer. Joining massive crowds – the queue stretched a block down Cleveland Street – I tasted my way across (most of) the twenty breweries present. My favourite beer was The Grifter’s Big Sur West Coast IPA, tasting of pine, citrus and tropical fruits, and weighing in at 6.7% ABV. I also finally got to wrap my lips around one of those iconic Mary’s burgers – amazing – but my greatest discovery at this event was Beer Days. They’re a super-cool company where you sign up to get a beer box delivered to you monthly or quarterly, featuring four craft beers, with the option of adding on two (often international) upgrades. Unpacking your craft beer bounty is great fun, especially when you see they include a few tasty food products – The Unexpected Guest Maple Roasted Almonds and The Darling Jerky Co. jerky – to make your household beer tasting (complete with tasting notes) even more special.

A box sets you back between $55-$85 dollars depending upon how many of each beer you want. After trying their October selection, I’ll certainly be keeping my eyes peeled for Temple Brewing Bicycle Ale, a refreshing summery quaffing beer made with 7 different types of hops. www.sydneycraftbeerweek.com www.beerdays.com.au

Bar Fly

By Viv McGregor

White Rabbit Launch Down the Rabbit Hole we go… I’m at the launch of the new White Rabbit Belgian Style Pale Ale for Sydney Craft Beer Week 2014. Zoe from Little Creatures tells me they chose the Work-Shop because the space appealed as a venue to encourage everyone – not just “beer geeks” – to come and try their latest venture. There’s a nice sense of community as people enjoy free beer and food and – oh, lordy – a ukulele class in the creative art space and warehouse venue that is the Work-Shop. It’s actually all quite lovely and relaxed, and the beer is getting favourable reviews from everyone I harass for their opinion. It won’t overtake their Dark Ale for me, but it does hover interestingly between a Belgian white and an Australian pale: strong yeast elements meeting a bit of spice and citrus. And one slightly tipsy woman tells me she thinks “the label is nice,” so that’s a win for White Rabbit all round.

Work-Shop, 80 George Street, Redfern whiterabbitbeer.com.au

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Blue/Orange Joe Penhall’s award-winning dark comedy is a brilliantly funny play that allows stark insight into both the complexities of psychosis and the vulgarities of the psychiatric profession.

With one psychiatric theory is the terrifically whacky head consultant Robert, “Dr Groovy” (Sean Taylor) with his R.D Laingian psychobabble who thinks psychiatric patient Christopher (Dorian Nkono) is well and ready for discharge. But newbie intern Bruce (Ian Meadows) is convinced he has been misdiagnosed, needs new drug therapy and more months

Cyrano de Bergerac Edmond Rostand’s timeless play about expectation, identity and the power of words and beauty, seems especially relevant in today’s age of online personas, catfishing and Tinder.

“It’s funny how we curate our personas based on how we think people will perceive them,” observes Eryn Jean Norvill, the production’s Roxanne.

“What we project in the world isn’t necessarily true and may not find us the honest and real connections that we’ve been looking for. In the play Cyrano hides behind his ugliness, and behind someone else’s good looks. Christian hides behind his wit and passion, and my character hides behind the idea of what she thinks it

inside. Subjectivity abounds as Chris is seen as a victim of ethnocentrism, misunderstood because of his Jamaican background. Possibly even his outlandish delusions could be based on fact.

Set in a British psych ward and with a basic, clinical set design dominated by a huge modern-art piece that actually glows orange.

Blue/Orange’s three actors are gifted in their delivery of this massive poke at an insane status quo. (MS) Until Nov 29, Ensemble Theatre, 78 Mc Dougall St, Kirribilli, $3060, ensemble.com.au

is to be a woman, or in love. And in the end of the play, all that stuff, all those shadows and masks disappear and drip away because they’re not important.”

Also starring Richard Roxburgh, Julia Zemiro and coupled with an incredibly timely message, Norvill promises theatregoers an exciting night. “It has elements of fairytale and picture book, but also tragedy.

It’s got sword-fighting and theatre, and war, and…the love triangle.

There are so many elements of the story that are complex but in the end it tells a simple story of people searching for connection.” (SW) Nov 11-Dec 20, Sydney Theatre, Pier 4 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $50109, sydneytheatre.com.au

The Camelot Lounge in Marrickville will be transformed into an American 1950s Speakeasy to tell the tale of exotic dancer Little Egypt and her infamous club.The concert drama illustrates a thrilling, upbeat, and fast-paced theatrical show from Sydney’s hottest performers.

“We’re taking the audience into the club,” says writer, producer and star of the show, Lucian McGuiness, “so rather than musical theatre, it’s more like a concert tied together by all this theatre and dance.We really try and engage the audience to take part in the story and get up and dance!”

Little Egypt’s Speakeasy is the next step in evolution from their original show, Little Egypt’s Burlesque, which premiered at the

Cirque du Soleil has another hit on their hands with Totem.

Billed as a “fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind”, the production uses trademark aerials, acrobatics and gravitydefying stunts to enthral audiences.

Over two acts the origins of humanity are explored using colourful costumes, simple but creative set design, and mesmerising live music. It’s a beautiful piece that explodes with energy from the amphibious origins through to the futuristic quest for outer space.

Though, with the ever-expanding roster of Cirque du Soleil productions around the world,

the standards for a Cirque show are so high now that it feels like there is an element of innovation lacking in Totem.The performers are allowed to shine individually – and it should be said that their feats are outstanding but it’s a daring balancing act within itself to walk the line between individuality and overall cohesiveness.

A Cirque du Soleil extravaganza is nothing to be sneezed at and always enjoyable, and Totem is no different. (LL) Until Jan 4, 2015,The Grand Chapiteau, Entertainment Quarter, 122 Lang Rd, Moore Park, $79-236, cirquedusoleil.com

a&e

Photo: James Green

Little Egypt’s Speakeasy Sydney Fringe Festival in 2010.The show will include a combination of well known music form the era, a hilarious script and rip-roaring vocal performances.

“There’s a number of pop songs about Little Egypt, most famously recorded by The Coasters originally and then by Elvis Presley. My attraction to this project started with that particular music, the music from the ‘50s,” says McGuiness.

The blistering rhythm and blues, hot and naughty routines, and uproarious dialogue make this production a mustsee. (CT) Nov 6-9, Django Bar, Camelot Lounge, 19 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville, $35, stickytickets.com.au/camelot

Cirque du Soleil - Totem 16 STAGE Acting Arts Editor: Emma Salkild Music Editor: Jamie Apps 17 SCENE For more A&E stories go to 18 SCREEN www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the on Twitter at 19 Soundsconversation @AltMediaSydney

Contributors: Alexis Talbot-Smith, Anita Senaratna, Carmen Cita, Ciaran Tobin, Craig Coventry, Erika Vass, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Hannah Chapman, Jamie Apps, Leann Richards, Leigh Livingstone, Marilyn Hetreles, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Michael Muir, Michelle Porter, Nick Jewlachow, Peter Hackney, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Ruth Fogarty, Sharon Ye, Shauna O’Carroll, Siri Williams

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Anton Chekhov was 21 when he began writing his first play, Platanov.

130 years later, ATYP has taken on the classic. Actress Geraldine Hakewill, says the adaptation is full of emotion.

“What’s most exciting is that it feels like as an audience member you’re stumbling upon very intimate moments with characters, as if you’re hearing private conversations at a party,” Hakewill says. “The way we’re staging it will enhance that feeling and I think for audiences, that’s really exciting.”

“Chekhov manages to write dialogue that forces you to mine the depths of it,” she continues. “The characters are

all very flawed and complicated which means you have to explore all those things within yourself as an actor. To have the chance to play characters that are so multidimensional is very rare.”

When first written, the play was five hours long and has resulted in many different adaptations over the years.

Hakewill believes Chekhov’s lasting relevance lies in his universal issues.

“What I love about his plays is that they’re still products of their context, but the themes still resonate today because above all, they’re so human.”

(GF) Nov 5-22, ATYP, Pier 4/5 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, $30, 9270 2400, atyp.com.au

New Breed

photo: Peter Greig

Platanov

Five emerging Australian choreographers have been given the opportunity to create works with Sydney Dance Company. New Breed is a new three-year program designed to support some of Australia’s finest generation of choreographers with the help of Sydney’s best dancers.

“They all come from a different place,” says up-and-coming choreographer and dancer Cass Mortimer Eipper.

“Everyone has a different approach in not only how they put their work together but what the catalyst for their work is and its inspiration.”

The initiative is made possible thanks to an extraordinary level of support from

Brazouka

photo: Egomedia

Rekindling her passion for dance, Pamela Stephenson-Connolly is the inspiration and motivation for the electric and vibrant dance show Brazouka.

Based around the hardship of Braz Dos Santos’ life, Stephenson-Connolly has woven Brazilian dances that are essential and thrilling and haven’t been seen outside of Brazil before.

Some of these dances include the sensual and secret lambada, capoeira, samba and Rio Zouk which will leave audiences dancing in their seat and in the isles.

This ‘rags to riches’ story combines traditional Brazilian dance moves with contemporary pop music that are relatable to Australian and international audiences.

“Australian audiences will love this show as they will be able to see the passion in the Brazilian dancers as they create an inclusive environment,” says Stephenson-Connolly. It follows a story line encapsulated by the props, sets and costumes, but

HAUS THEATRE &

PERFORMANCE EMERALD CITY Sydney in the ‘80s was a party. It gave us lycra, MTV, and a raging economy that ended in the recession ‘we had to have’. It was the ‘greed is good’ decade, with rampant consumerism, materialism and where success was measured in real estate – preferably with a harbour view. Cut to today and things change – there is much less lycra – and David Williamson’s Emerald City is as relevant as ever.

“Even though it was written 30 years ago, we all believe it’s absolutely relevant to today because we are having the exact same conversations,” says Kelly Paterniti (Home and Away, Packed to the Rafters) who plays Helen, the free-spirited girlfriend of a hack writer.

Our most performed playwright, 12

Williamson’s central characters are decent people, wrestling with their worst selves. In his sharply satirical sights are the worst excesses of materialism and compromise that the harbour city can serve up. Dual Helpmann-winner, Mitchell Butel, Lucy Bell (All Saints, Crownies) and the redoubtable Marcus Graham make a stellar cast. In a splash back to the decade, set design is by iconic ‘80s pop artist Ken Done, whose work was so evocative of the time.

(GW) Until Dec 6, SBW Stables, 10 Nimrod St, Kings Cross, $32-49, griffintheatre.com.au HARVEST This sprawling comic play follows four generations of a Yorkshire pig-farming family as they fight to protect their livelihood over the course of the 20th Century.

Harvest depicts 100 years in the Harrison family and how they have survived throughout the decades.

The epic tale written by Richard Bean, the celebrated writer of One Man,Two Guvnors, infuses quirky humour and a deep understanding of family and human nature. Although the family faces hardship throughout the years, Harvest reveals the ironic and dry humour of the characters.

The humanity, humour and storytelling have mass appeal to the audience and who doesn’t love an underdog story? (CT) Until Nov 8, New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown, $17-32, newtheatre.org.au MIRACLE CITY Resurfacing for the first time since its original 1996 inception, this musical has been developed and at a very relevant time. It’s about hypocrisy and looking at oneself to find out what you believe. “Whether that’s organised religion, or your partner, you have to look to yourself,” says co-producer Richard Carroll. “It’s the only musical

more so the emotion, excitement and enthusiasm inside each and every dancer.

Kicking off the Australian tour in Perth earlier this week, Stephenson-Connolly was humbled by the standing ovation and is confident that the rest of the Australian tour will have the same effect. (EV) Nov 13-16, Enmore Theatre, 118 Enmore Rd, Newtown, $59-141 (meet and greet), premier.ticketek.com.au

Imagine being confined to a room the size of a cellar with your family. Now imagine that to leave means to risk not only your own life and but the lives of everyone you hold dear. HAUS explores the concept of this reality, with a Polish family seeking shelter in a cellar to escape persecution during WWII. It asks audiences to consider what life would really be like under these conditions and to keep in mind that for some, this has been reality.

Directed by Neil Khare and written

by Dimitrios Armatas, the play was inspired by Armatas’ fascination with WWII history, the story of Anne Frank, and also partly by his own Greek grandmother’s history of being forced to live underground with her family to escape the Italian army.

that I know which plays out in real time,” he continues.

Performed in conjunction with a liveto-air American Televangelist show and with wonderful musical direction and concept by Max Lambert, the ‘miracle’ is about to take Sydney on a wild theme-park ride.

Starring a host of Australian theatre royalty including Mike McLeish, Blazey Best, Hilary Cole, Marika Aubrey, Josie Lane, Cameron Holmes along with Peter Kowitz and Esther Hannaford, this unique Australian gem has been dusted off, and is sure to entertain a new generation of audiences. (RBM) Until Nov 16, Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point, $44-49, hayestheatre.com.au NOVEMBER SPAWNED A MONSTER and V.D. The 2014 season at The Old Fitzroy is heating up in the lead-up to summer with fantastic one-man shows of love, humour and friendship. Actress Eliza

the Balnaves Foundation.They have committed $100,000 a year for this year and the next two years to support the future of contemporary dance in Australia by nurturing the next generation of young choreographic talents.

“I think everyone will take away a lot of food for thought,” says Eipper. “There is a lot of powerful imagery, strong messages and some incredible dancing.”

The talented quintet of choreographers and dancers will explore a rich diversity of ideas and reveal some exceptional and versatile contemporary dances.

(CT) Nov 5-8, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh, $35, sydneydancecompany.com/newbreed

The entire play is set within a single room, which allowed the Armatas and the actors to get creative with their storytelling. “It was a challenge and a benefit,” says Armatas. “The claustrophobia meant that the characters understood what these people would have been going through…but it didn’t allow for outside thoughts.”

Fundamentally, Armatas’ play centres around love, loss and family. “[It’s about] how you can’t stand being around each other but for the greater good and survival, you have to stick together and use everyone’s skill to make sure you live to see tomorrow.” (SW) Nov 5-15, King Street Theatre, 644 King St, Newtown (Enter on Bray St), $15-$27, 0423 082 015, trybooking.com

St John commands the stage in the hilarious and honest production of V.D., a show that explores 35-yearold Sophie’s journey of love, enlightenment, self-discovery and a love of gin. “It’s really funny and poignant and a lot of audience members will come up and say, ‘Wow were you reading my diary? That was my life,’ ” says St John. Relatable to both men and women, the show explores Sophie as she falls in and out of love, struggles in a new job and travels to India. November Spawned a Monster follows the journey of William, (James Wright), who decides to go on a holy pilgrimage to Manchester in honour of his idol, Morrissey. “It’s about a troubled kid looking for answers and the meaning of life,” says Wright. (SOC) Until Nov 15, Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo, $18-47, sitco.net.au WICKED Steve Danielsen joins seasoned Wicked stars Jemma Rix

(Elphaba) and Lucy Durack (Glinda) as the award-winning musical returns.

Asked what it’s like joining a team who have been performing Wicked for years, Danielsen says Rix and Durack have been very welcoming and working together is “amazing”.

“I love it and I don’t really just have to say that either, this show really means a lot to me,” he says.

Despite debuting over a decade ago, Wicked:The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz is still one of the most popular musicals in the world.

With the whole cast working hard to deliver the best performances they can each and every night, Danielsen says that the “incredible sets and costumes” will make it “really hard not to like this show”.

(LL) Until Dec 31, Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket, $69-114, wickedthemusical.com.au

THE NAKED CITY

Blues in the Bottle - Anna Culliton Jugs can be symbols of abundance and happiness and none is more exuberant than the empty one that resonates with a tuneful sound.

In Blues in the Bottle, Anna Culliton rejoices in the marvellous versatility of the jug as an instrument.

Her ceramic pieces are reminiscent of a bygone age when celebration was as simple as some homemade drums, a rolled back rug and a couple of lively neighbours.

Yet the intricate design of her work belies its rustic themes.These colourful and enticing sculptures

Celebrating Women In Jazz

consist of exquisitely crafted figures in brilliant colours perched atop the large blue pitcher. Culliton’s people play accordions, take off their shoes and rest a while, walk the dog, and hug each other in a tired embrace.

In short they indulge in the activities of the everyman accompanied by a symphonic song.

Altogether, these unique works are an imaginative and tangible exploration of the joy of a musical life. (LR) Until Nov 8, NG Art Gallery, 3 Little Queen St, Chippendale, FREE, ngart.com.au

Reveal Shazia Imran

By Coffin Ed, Miss Death & Jay Katz In just a short three-year period the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival, presented by SIMA and the Sydney International Jazz Festival, has established itself as one of the major events on the Sydney music calendar. As Sydney saxophonist, composer and band leader Gai Bryant explains: “The importance of this festival is to celebrate the talents of women musicians, composers and bandleaders.

The best barometer of its success is the diversity of the current program and the length of the festival. Beyond the publicity for individual musicians it allows us to be visible as musicians who happen to be women instead of being pigeonholed as ‘just’ female players.”

Running from November 5 through to November 12, at both Foundry 616 and the Sound Lounge, as well as a free outdoor event at the Seymour Centre, this year’s Fest has drawn together an extraordinary lineup of talent, both homegrown and from abroad. As joint artistic director Joanne Kee enthused: “This year our headliner artist Dee Alexander joins us from Chicago with her musical director Miguel De La Cerna for her Australian debut.We’re also thrilled to showcase the talents of local artists such as Sandy Evans, Judy Bailey and the Sirens, to name just a few.This year we also feature Sydneysiders Hannah James, Jann Rutherford Gai Bryant and Lisa Parrott (who now resides in NYC).”

SIMA has been running a Young Women in Jazz workshop program for over ten years. “Founded by Sandy Evans, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the increase in women in the jazz scene over the years and the Festival is a natural progression to celebrate this growing depth,” Kee continues.

Headliner Dee Alexander is strongly tipped to be the next Ella Fitzgerald and

this is a unique opportunity to catch her in an intimate club setting. Next time around it will probably be the Opera House. Dee arrives with impeccable credentials and is among the premier vocalists and songwriters in American music today.

Saxophonist Lisa Parrott, who calls herself an ‘Aussie New Yorker’ is back in town to catch up with her with long time musical buddies Cameron Undy, Carl Dewhurst and Simon Barker.

Hannah James will launch her new album Triliphony this Thursday night and pianist, vocalist and composer Sarah McKenzie, currently residing in the US, will give her only Sydney performance to mark the launch of her latest ABC recording.

Three-time ARIA award-winning pianist and composer, Andrea Keller, will team up with Miroslav Bukovsky on The Komeda Project.The work was commissioned especially for the festival with an eight-piece ensemble celebrating the life and work of pioneering European jazz composer Krzysztof Komeda, most famous as the composer for a number of Roman Polanski and Ingmar Berman films.

Gai Bryant’s dynamic 18 piece Palacio de la Rumba Big Band are bound to ignite the Foundry on Sunday, 9 November, as they explore the infectious Cuban sounds of rumba, danzon, bolero and tonada. In recent years Gai has formed a strong association with the acclaimed Cuban percussion master Justo Pelladito and the great news is that he has flown all the way from Cuba to be part of this concert. Palacio de la Rumba merges the cream of Sydney’s Latin and jazz music communities and that combination of musicians has allowed Gai to combine complex rhythmic layering with the excitement of strong jazz solos. Not all jazz is just for sitting down and listening and this is a wonderful opportunity to hit the Foundry’s dancefloor and celebrate one of Sydney’s most engaging and inspiring music festivals.

Check out all the details at www.sima.org.au

Shazia Imran’s Reveal, takes well-known urban images and turns them into brief glimpses of the light beneath their skin.

The artist describes herself as a self-taught impressionist and the influence of the movement is evident in her technique and medium.

These water colours are unique perspectives on well-known environments. This is particularly true of the Sydney pieces which eschew the conventional use of brilliant colours. In Sydney, 2014, the artist portrays a slice of street life in the grey mists of dawn.

The shining reds of cars and traffic signals loom in the blackness, while the straightedged architecture forms a sharp cage seeking to capture the reflected gleam. It is an unusual and playful look at a familiar scene.

These paintings are commercial, decorative and thoughtful. The artist’s vision of archetypal places provokes a knowing nod of recognition while simultaneously acknowledging the contradictions within. (LR) Until Nov 10, Gaffa Gallery, 281 Clarence St, Sydney, FREE, gaffa.com.au

Pop to Popism

Andy Warhol,Triple Elvis © Andy Warhol Foundation

Leaping off the whitewashed walls in an exuberant rainbow of colours and design, Pop to Popism is a thrilling ride through the annals of a an art revolution.

The straight red lines and golden lettering of Warhol’s soup cans is matched only by the vibrancy of his magnificent Marilyn Monroe.

The latter a piece that has been reproduced in countless books and billboards which cannot capture the sheer enthusiasm of the original.

For these works are not only familiar they are witty, wry and funny. Lichtenstein’s, Look Mickey, is a twisted colourful take on the ubiquitous mouse, whilst his distressed female characters have been the prototype of advertisements and anime.

And the Australians are here too. Little known in context

of the pop movement, but for the first time presented next to their North American and European contemporaries.

The swirling reds and oranges of Brett Whitely give way to Martin Sharp’s and Tim Lewis’ Still life, a parody mashup of Warhol and Van Gough.The Australian contribution in no way suffers by sharing walls with their foreign cousins, they seem equal members of a family which had no fear.

Pop to Popism is a heart racing roller coaster of visual stimulation and intellectual provocation. Above all it’s fun, insouciant and a stunning record of the themes which underpin much of modern creative experience. (LR) Until Mar 1, Art Gallery of NSW, $10-20, artgallery. nsw.gov/exhibitions/pop-topopism

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Interstellar

Science Fiction enthusiasts will not be disappointed in Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic offering Interstellar, an ambitious and highly-crafted film which effectively combines a family melodrama and an intergalactic space adventure.

Set in the near future, Earth is slowly dying as its resources are depleting. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) embarks on an expedition to the stars in search of other habitable planets.

McConaughey delivers a remarkable performance as

the father who decides to leave his children to save humanity and is supported by a high-calibre cast including Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine and Matt Damon.

Adversely, storytelling technics falter in the second half of the film which leads to confusion, further compounded by long and intricate references to quantum physics, worm holes, the theory of relativity and space time travel.

Ultimately, Interstellar is a visual spectacular in which audiences will believe they have been transported to the far reaches of the universe. (MM) WWWW

Love, Rosie Love, Rosie follows two best friends who grew up together.The story is simple - they’ve always been in love but never seem to get the timing right.

One thing that sets this film apart from its contemporaries is its portrayal of the lovers’ obstacles; it is not overdramatised nor dwelt on.

Although by the same token, the incredible friendship of Rosie (Lily Collins) and Alex (Sam Clafin) appears to be underdeveloped and not as

My Mistress Trying to escape the grief of a recently dead father, Charlie discovers Maggie – a mysterious woman of esoteric profession.

A film about a 16-year-old male falling in love with an S & M mistress could have been merely salacious and tawdry but director Stephen Lance has fashioned a complex and quite subtle tale that might be summarised by an inversion of a Dylan line: “Your debutante knows what you want, but I

A Long Way Down

know what you need.”

With a cast that includes Rachael Blake, no one puts a foot wrong. The choice of French actress Emmanuelle Béart as the dominatrix is inspired; watching her in any film is an ideal way to overdose on oestrogen – a highly addictive substance.

This is an intelligent film for adults (the kind Rachel Ward has been criticised for) and the best Australian film seen for a while. (MMu) WWWW Four total strangers meet atop a building on New Year’s Eve, each with the intent of jumping to their death.

What possessed the very talented Toni Collette, Sam Neill and Pierce Brosnan to be involved in this film? That the audience can feel anything for Collette’s character speaks volumes about her acting ability but says nothing for the role she’s been given; ditto to the rest of the cast – whose motivations are unconvincing.

Anyone whose family has been

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES At first glance this may seem like a Taken clone in that it stars Liam Neeson and centres around an ex-cop who now hunts down criminals with his “particular set of skills”, however, this is a more cerebral than action-oriented affair.

Set in a rain-soaked, gloomy and grey New York circa 1999, the environment and cinematography help to build the suspense and tension of this serial killer thriller.

Despite following typical crime cliches, this film overcomes its flaws and could potentially be the start of a new franchise for Neeson. (JA) WWW½ BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL 2014 The 16 new films include epics set during the war and a host of highly anticipated flicks featuring stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Kit Harrington and Pierce Brosnan.

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Testament of Youth centres on a freespirited woman who overcomes prejudice, wins an Oxford scholarship and pursues a literary career, but chaos ensues with WWI; Mr Turner deals with the artist who painted with light itself (which also won two awards at Cannes, including Best Actor for Timothy Spall); ’71 covers the ‘the troubles’ in Northern Ireland – Jack O’Connell (Skins) plays a young British soldier, separated from his unit, who must find his way through the mean and deadly streets; and moving film What We Did On Our Holiday (starring Billy Connolly) looks at the dynamics of a couple going through divorce who take their children on a holiday reunion to Scotland. Six from the 60s has six standout classics from the influential era. (MMu) Until Nov 26, Palace Norton St, Leichhardt & Palace Verona, Paddington, $19.50-150 (10 film pass), britishfilmfestival.com.au

JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL The list of films which promise to lay bare the soul of a fascinating culture include a variety of award-winning features, documentaries and shorts such as The Good Son, which tells of a man seeking sexual re-assignment;The Outrageous Sophie Tucker about a vaudeville star of ‘20s; and The Farewell Party which is set in a retirement home where the residents build a euthanasia machine to help a friend. Zero Motivation follows three female army clerical staff battling boredom in menial work; the ironically-named The Decent One uses new material to profile the architect of the final solution – Heinrich Himmler; and The Dove Flyer details the final years of the Jewish community in ‘50s Baghdad before the expulsion to Israel.

Alfred Hitchcock was one of the team that assembled German

unrelenting as the producers would have us believe.

The film flitters quickly between setbacks and milestones. However, despite some of the conventional restraints of the genre, the obligatory cheese is disarming in the hands of Collins and Clafin.The latter, who is reminiscent of a young Hugh Grant is cast perfectly opposite the bright-eyed Lily Collins.

Even though the characters are wanting in complexity, the film is charming and has its moments of authenticity.The two leads share a very believable chemistry. (SY) WWW½

John Wick America has a thing about Russia doesn’t it? The villains here are Russian mobsters. The ‘hero’ of the title (Keanu Reeves) is a former hitman who has ‘retired’ due to the love of a good woman – who subsequently dies and leaves him a puppy as a memento of their love. The canine is killed, and his ’69 Ford Mustang stolen – both by the Russian thugs, which prompts a totally unjustifiable orgy of revenge.

I should have counted, but Wick apparently scores 84 deaths. It’s like one of those violent video games – and just as meaningless.

In fact, Wick was added as a character to the videogame Payday 2. The Co-Directors, former stuntmen themselves, could be praised for the fluidity of the numerous fight sequences.

There’s talk of this being the first instalment of a franchise – if that’s the case, heaven help us. Keanu deserves better.

(MMu) W½

touched by suicide knows it to be a tragic and highly sensitive topic, but this film’s treatment of suicide seems fatuous and superficial. So, not only is this an ordinary film, it could even be described as an irresponsible one.

Taking a semi-comic approach to a serious subject is a dangerous path and it hasn’t worked here.

Perhaps the original book tells the story more appropriately.

No doubt there are better films to see at the British Film Festival.

(MMu) W Concentration Camps Factual Survey which had massive amounts of footage documenting the horror of the concentration camps – a project which was shelved and not completed … until now.The result is Night Will Fall. (MMu) Until Nov 16, Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction, jiff.com.au THE JUDGE Robert Downey Jr flexes his acting chops in this outstanding drama with Robert Duvall. It is something to behold – the frustration and tension constantly bubbling beneath the surface is electric.

The Judge is a moving drama guaranteed to keep audiences on the edge of their seats with suspense.

Every role is expertly cast and Duvall is sublime as the stubborn, righteous, crank at the centre of the film.

To find fault with such a gripping narrative is tough but for the sake of

balance, a weak subplot or two could have been omitted and it wouldn’t have affected the flow of the film at all. (LL) WWWW THE SKELETON TWINS Twins Maggie (Kristin Wiig) and Milo (Bill Hader) become separated as teenagers and end up estranged.

When we meet them they’re thirtysomething and haven’t communicated for a decade. After a suicide attempt, Milo accepts his sister’s invitation to stay with her.

A synopsis might detail the events of this wonderful film but would give you no idea of the emotion, warmth and humanity at the heart of it, not to mention the pain and the sadness, but there’s also a great deal of fun and humour. Ultimately, it’s a positive and life-affirming work, one that will give hope to viewers – and that’s why it must be seen. So well written and so well acted. (MMu) WWWW

THE LITTLE DEATH Josh Lawson makes his directorial debut with this offbeat comedy that explores the sexual relations and fantasies of a group of neighbours and friends. Unashamedly it delves into sexual and social taboos, as behind closed doors ‘normal’ couples discover what lengths they will go to for that fleeting ‘la petite mort’ – the little death.

With an ensemble cast of Australian talent, each character is well rounded and expertly acted.

Lawson’s writing displays quick wit and a love for awkward comedy.

Without losing the characters to caricature, Lawson unravels hilarious exploits in a genuine manner.

The comedy won’t be to everyone’s taste but with a charmingly authentic treatment it is a subtle reminder that it’s okay to be weird.

(ATS) WWW

Joe Bonamassa – Different Shades of Blue Joe Bonamassa’s album is so good in it’s organic and a naturally grown variety of blues. It’s rough and edgy, filled with advice learned the hard way and a musical soul that’s been through its share of tough times.

It’s many layered like a collage dipped in honey and slathered with oil.The dark soul residing in Different Shades of Blue calls out to the dark corners everywhere, revelling in past battles and scars that have all but healed.

Skating over old pains, this album freshly rips and heals with a combination of medicine and an almost unhealthy dose of guilty reminiscence. (SP)

Daniel Lanois – Flesh and the Machine Best known for his work with artists like U2, Neil Young and Peter Gabriel, Canadian producer Lanois is also a highly accomplished solo artist in his own right.

Flesh and the Machine, his seventh or eighth album depending on how you count them, is classic Lanois, bearing all the hallmarks of the spacey, ambient, somewhat electronic soundscape that once led Rolling Stone to declare him the “most important record producer to emerge in the Eighties”.This is a somewhat nebulous album but one that rewards with repeated listens, with new sonic textures revealing themselves in time. (PH)

Starting out from humble beginnings as an acoustic duo busking to make ends meet as they travelled the country,Winter Moon have since come along in leaps and bounds to now be recognised as one of the best live acts currently touring.

The band now resembles the more traditional rockn-roll outfit with Milly Moon (vocals), Jake Winter (guitar), Gareth Scott (drums) and Phoebe Neilson (bass) making up the full cast. Listening to their tracks it is clear the likes of Led Zepplin, Janis Joplin, The Black Keys and Jack White have all been early influences on members of the band.

“We all bring a certain something to each song we write together,” says Winter. “For me personally it’s the classic rock artists that I grew up loving and the music that got stuck in my soul.”

The band has recently released their debut EP which they recorded in two halves in two different studios that presented some of its own challenges and benefits.The first two tracks were recorded last year with Michael Badger, of The Demon Parade, on production and mixing.

“This was basically our first real recording experience in a decent studio with really talented people so that was great.” continues Winter.The

LIVE WIRE

Ezekial Ox: After announcing his solo ambitions in January, Ox has had a phenomenal year which has seen him support the likes of Boots Reily and King of The North. Following on from this live success Ox has written, recorded and mixed his debut EP Raw Styles. The EP has been gathering increasing support from Triple J and community radio stations around the country.

To celebrate this success Ox will be heading out on the

second half was then recorded at Birdland Studios in Prahran with ten-year veteran Rob Long. “Working with Rob was incredible because he knew the studio inside and out and exactly the sound we were going for. It was certainly interesting using two separate teams but I think they came out quite similar. All in all it was a really positive experience.”

Most importantly though as a band that has staked their reputation on the promise of legendary live shows they are now set to tour in support of the EP. Winter described the bands mindset regarding live performances as the most important thing.

“Recording in the studio is so fleeting whereas performing live is a more immediate and transcendent experience with so much buildup to the time on stage where you just have to give it everything you’ve got.”

Fans are sure to be pleased with the bands plans given the excitement level shown by Winter when asked how the band is feeling ahead of the tour.

“We’re super excited.We tend to get a bit theatrical and jazz up the stage with psychedelic scarves, lamps and flora arrangements.” (JA) Nov 8, Captain Cook Hotel, 1/162 Flinders St, Paddington, 9360 4327

Sydney Live Music Guide

road with his brand of punk-hop/cabaret in an extremely high-energy show.

Thu, Nov 6,The Vanguard The Mark of Cain: Set to tour nationally for the first time since March 2013 in support of newest single Grey-11. Live outings by the band are few and far between so inevitably when they happen they muster all of their energy into raw, intense and powerful performance with no dull moments.

Fri, Nov 7, Metro Theatre

The Art: In a rare Australian performance, this will be their first and only show here in almost a year.The Art bring their world-renowned live rock show to Sydney. Not only will this event feature a performance by the band but the entire venue will be transformed into a into a miniature creative convention with two stages, nine bands and multiple stalls for creatives to showcase their art.

Sat, Nov 8, Oxford Art Factory

Pepa Knight: Jinja Safari co-frontman Pepa Knight is yet another artist with solo career aspirations after announcing the release of Hypnotized Vol. 1. This EP is the first volume of songs off Knights debut album set for release in 2015. Having already captured the hearts of listeners with psychedelic pop singles Rahh! and Clams the EP and tour are both highly anticipated.

Sun, Nov 9, Newtown Social Club

Winter Moon Tori Amos: Hot off the heels of her 14th studio album American singer, songwriter, pianist and composer Amos return down under to perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the course of her 22-year career Amos has won numerous awards and crafted some beautiful tracks which will come to life with the Orchestra backing.

Wed, Nov 11, Sydney Opera House

Axe Girl: The pop-punk trio from WA are excited to be heading out on tour in support of their debut record. Funding for the record was by fans through a Pozible campaign which speaks to the quality of the trios music and the passion and loyalty they have generated within their fans.

Bringing a fun filled surf-punk vibe with catchy pop hooks, this is guaranteed to be an enjoyable night out.

Wed, Nov 12, Frankie’s Pizza