City Hub 20 July 2017 by Alt Media

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city hub 20 JULY 2017

Something’s rotten in Powerhouse may remain in Ultimo after all the State of NSW BY ALEX EUGENE Australia is more corrupt than 12 other countries around the globe, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark. We’ve been ranked 13th by Transparency International, the global coalition working in 80 countries worldwide, fighting against corruption in governments. Michael Ahrens, Director of Transparency International Australia, spoke at last week’s legendary Politics in the Pub gathering in Surry Hills, to discuss and build awareness around the need for a federal level ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption). Mr Ahrens said that while it was good we were high on the list, it was alarming that Australia had dropped out of the top ten and showed signs of continuing to fall. Third world and communist countries ranked the lowest on the list, with North Korea coming in last. Lee Rhiannon, Greens Senator for NSW had been billed to speak at the event, but at the last moment was called away to Palestine and did not make an appearance. Though disappointed audience members yelled out for an explanation, Geoffrey Watson SC said he was pleased to take Ms Rhiannon’s place. Mr Watson said that currently, Australia only had “a few poorly funded, poorly integrated” anticorruption agencies, who did a good job but were no substitute for a federal ICAC. He said corruption was without doubt, the most serious crime “on the face of the planet”, which allowed other forms of crime to thrive, such as the world drug trade. Mr Watson said conservative estimates put the cost of corruption at around $3 trillion annually, more than twice the value of Australia’s economy. Several prominent Australian business people and politicians were named in the shocking exposure of the 2015 Panama Papers, a collection of documents leaked which named over 11 million offshore accounts worldwide that were used for

Geoffrey Watson SC Credit: Supplied

illegal purposes, including fraud, tax evasion, and sidestepping international sanctions. More recently, a former Australian of Year finalist was accused of rorting over $600 million when she was chief executive of an Immigrant Women’s Health Service and a Non-English Speaking Housing Women’s Scheme. A national ICAC investigated and exposed the scandal this year. Big organisations and political groups needed to be under the eye of a federal watchdog, Mr Watson said. Because corruption routinely takes place in secret and amongst knowledgeable people, it often managed to fly under the radar of ordinary legal powers. A properly funded federal ICAC would be able to override this, and ideally would conduct all its investigations publicly - as accountability and transparency were exactly what corruption thrived on avoiding. Senator Lee Rhiannon said in a recent statement “confidence in the political process is low, with the public increasingly cynical of the idea that politicians represent their interests over corporate interests.” She has formerly committed to supporting a Senate submission to set up a National ICAC, which the Greens have tried to get through Parliament in the past, but so far have been blocked by Liberal, National and Labour MPs.

BY ALEX EUGENE Protestors who have been rallying to save the Powerhouse Museum from being relocated to Western Sydney could emerge victorious this week. Channel 9 News reported on Tuesday night that plans had been canned to relocate the cultural icon to Parramatta. Instead, the government will apparently fund an extra branch of the museum at the site, to be known as the Western Sydney Powerhouse Museum. The project is expected to cost around $500 million. But a spokesperson for the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences would not confirm that the plans were definite, and refused to comment when contacted by City Hub. The Baird Government announced in 2015 that the Powerhouse Museum would be relocated to Parramatta, which immediately enraged community members. They were quick to assemble an advocate group known as Save the Powerhouse, who over time gained almost 4000 supporters and have relentlessly lobbied to stop the relocation of the historic venue. But the news about halting the relocation did not escape the group’s scrutiny, who announced via social media that the change of plans still short-changed Sydneysiders. The group alleged that the building of the new Western Sydney Powerhouse would stamp out much-needed plans to re-invigorate a nearby Parramatta district. The Cumberland Hospital precinct was slated to receive a new “cultural complex”, which could now be off the table after the museum plans changed. “This is far from a “win” for Parramatta, where hopes for a new cultural complex in the Cumberland Hospital precinct were dashed last week at the Parramatta Council meeting. The only hope now is that an independent Council will be elected in September, which will seek to

Jamie Parker Greens MP for Balmain supports the Powerhouse Museum staying at its Ultimo site. Credit: Supplied

overturn the Administrator’s decision,” said a spokesperson for the group on social media. “The fight to ‘Save the Powerhouse’ has partially succeeded, although we need far more detail,” they said. Jamie Parker, Greens MP for Balmain said that overall, the new project was a win for Ultimo residents. “Western Sydney deserves an iconic cultural facility that reflects the spirit of that region without selling off the Powerhouse in Ultimo. This has always been about a real estate deal to generate cash for the government rather than a considered cultural investment in Western Sydney,” he said. Lindsay Sharp, the founding director of the Powerhouse Museum, said he wasn’t cracking open the champagne yet. “This is no great step forward. This planning is an absolute mess. We support the building of a museum at Parramatta, but it is all being driven by the wrong reasons,”he said. Mr Sharp said just because the museum would not be relocated was no guarantee that it might not be “flogged off” in the future.

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BY ALEX EUGENE Around a hundred activists gathered outside the Sydney News Corp office last week to blow the whistle on the Daily Telegraph’s latest faux pas. The paper ran a front page infographic blasting young people as having “only themselves to blame” for their illnesses- including being same-sex attracted. After social media exploded condemning the move, the newspaper issued what Greens MP Jenny Leong described as a “half apology”, citing an editorial mistake caused by being thrown together “minutes before deadline”. James Breko Brechney from the DIY Rainbow Group, who helped organise the rally said “We didn’t get an official response from the Telegraph, but everyone was polite moving in and out of the building while we were chalking and speeches were being delivered.” The problem with News Corp glossing over this as a “whoopsie” moment, waving it off as a drop in the ocean amid their Murdoch agenda of more important things to do, is that it belittles the very real damage it could have caused in that short moment. We’ve known for a long time that LGBTIQ people are much more susceptible to depression, suicide and a range of other health dangers - three times more likely than their hetero-normative counterparts. The National LGBTI Health Alliance has conducted significant research that shows these frightening statistics are directly related to experiences of stigma, prejudice, discrimination and abuse on the basis of being LGBTI. It comes as no surprise then, that the Australian Human Rights Commission reports that almost half of all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people hide their sexual orientation or gender identity in public, for fear of violence or discrimination. In fact, young people aged 16 to 24 years are most likely to hide their sexuality or gender identity. In this homophobic climate, when a statewide newspaper is then delivered to thousands of doorsteps framing same sex attraction as an illness, who knows how many relationships, families and friendships are going to see it as the final straw? Media and news are there to start conversations. But if it triggers the wrong conversation, if it delivers a front-page announcement that it’s ok

Over a hundred protestors blocked the Daily Telegraph’s office entrance last week after they ran a queerphobic front page. Credit: DIY Rainbow

to discriminate against a quarter of our young people, the real backlash is likely to be worse than some rainbow chalk drawings on a footpath. There might be a young man who won’t speak to his parents for the next ten years because of this. There might be a young woman who has moved out of home because she can’t bear the isolation any more. The impact on people’s lives is real. “The young people [the Telegraph] have bullied and vilified in this situation don’t need this kind of damage done to their well being, and that’s the health concern that we should be worried about,” said Jenny Leong, Greens MP for Newtown who attended and spoke at the rally. “They need to realise the damage that this kind of stuff put in print does to our young LGBTIQ people. It has real life impacts, especially for people living in regional and rural areas, or living with families that don’t accept the diversity of our community. It’s not just a way to sell newspapers,” she said. The latest figures show that at least 61% of LGBTI young people have experienced verbal homophobic abuse- so adding a printed version of that is NOT ok. city hub 20 JULY 2017

Indigenous surf club catches wave BY MEL SOMERVILLE A Randwick surfing club is calling for donations from the public to help support surfing programs and events for Indigenous youths. La Perouse Board Riders Indigenous Corporation (LBRIC), an Indigenous Surfing club established in 1959 has been incorporated and hopes to raise money for surfing programs that will both promote and sustain the club for the future. Sean Longbottom, 40, who has been part of the club since he was ten years old said “we’re planning to get a weekend down at Maroubra Beach and if we time it right… get the club kicked off next year, with an aim for monthly competitions and an end of year presentation with trophies.” “We’ve just had a container donated that we put down at The Land Council at La Perouse, plus about 15 boards that were donated to us by Bondi Rescue. We’re working out of the container, using it to store our boards. The boards are damaged, and we want to get a professional in to show the kids how to do small repairs and then use the boards for practice,” he said. The club is hoping to raise $50,000 towards developing the club for young members, using the funds for training, trailers and equipment. By becoming a corporation, the group has been able to begin applying for government grants to help rejuvenate the club. Interest in the club has grown- this year 20 members went to the Bell’s Beach National Indigenous Surf Titles, double the number of the previous year. Nook Ryan, 70, is the oldest member and a founder of the original La Perouse Boardriders

The La Perouse Indigenous Boat riders club has served six generations of young people to date. Credit: Supplied

Club. Mr Ryan still surfs and said “I started surfing at Maroubra when I was 11, in 1959… the club is important because it steers the kids in the right direction. We work with them and teach them about the water conditions. I’ve been working with six generations doing it. A lot of the kids who have come through me own their own houses, 70% of them are tradesmen with families now.” LBRIC hopes that “through surfing, [we]

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will prevent the increase of depression, obesity, drug abuse and incarceration in our community, while also promoting a fun, healthy lifestyle in the La Perouse area.” The group has registered with the Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) and enlisted the help of Ryan Holloway, National Sales and Partnerships Director at the Academy of Sport in Narrabeen.

Mr Holloway said “we’re trying to promote the fundraising and to help the La Perouse Boardriders Club strategically develop a plan.” “We register clubs like La Perouse Boardriders Club with our association, loaning out DG R [Deductible Gift Recipients] status so they can go out and raise tax deductible funds for their sporting purposes. We provide them with a platform, website, donation portal, we put them in touch with the right people, we loan our expertise on how they can put fundraising elements in the events they have planned,” he added. Mr Longbottom has been in talks with Surfing N SW and is hoping himself and three of the clubs six directors will be able to complete a Level 1 Surf Coaching Course which will allow them to run ‘Learn to Surf ’ programs. Mr Longbottom said “one of our objectives was to start a surf club in our own community, mixing culture and surfing. We’d have camps, go down to the Royal National Park, spend a couple of days surfing, diving, fishing, looking at some sites, learning ocean awareness. The program will improve our cultural knowledge and promote health and well-being through ocean activities. “ “My father got the club started with a few close mates and relatives when I was 10. They partnered with Eastern Zone Aboriginal Health and were doing a lot of road trips away, surf trips and competitions, pretty much what we do now…there was a lot of ground work for all that, finding sponsors, the pressure of it all got a bit much. I thought it would be good to start it up again with my mates and cousins,” he said.

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Wheely late: bike sheds backtracked for Redfern BY GEORGIA CLARK Almost three years after they were initially promised by the state government, the cyclists of Sydney’s inner west are still awaiting the installation of secure bike sheds at Redfern station. The sheds were slated for installation almost two years ago, but were backtracked by Transport NSW despite being rolled out at other stations across the state. The bike sheds are an initiative of the Transport for NSW Bike and Ride program, which is designed to encourage locals to use the more sustainable transport alternative. The plans, which were unveiled in early 2015, are set to provide 50 dedicated bike spaces to offer cyclists a secure way to store their bikes at one of Sydney’s main transport hubs. But two years later, as Caringbah and Gosford stations welcome their bike sheds, one of Sydney’s busiest transport hubs is left behind. Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong, said that the government needs to prioritise investing in sustainable public infrastructure over private developments. “We have seen so many plans and so much government consultation happen around that area since but we’re really concerned to see that despite the fact that, at the same time, other suburbs have announced bike sheds that are being built we still haven’t seen the Redfern one appear.” According to Bicycle NSW, the sheds are being incorporated into the heritage works in the area, and won’t be installed until

March 2018. A spokesperson at Transport for NSW said the previous date of installation was stretched out due to additional design considerations. “Transport for NSW is working collaboratively with other government agencies to ensure the proposed bicycle storage facilities take into consideration the sensitive heritage aspects surrounding Redfern Station, as well as meeting the needs of cyclists. Detailed design is currently being undertaken,” they said. Although Redfern was listed as one of the first nine locations to receive the sheds due to demand and patronage, the sheds at Caringbah were delivered much earlier, with the Council opening the Opal-activated shed to the public last month. But some members of the community feel they were kept in the dark about the new installation date, with no public updates about the revised plan. Ms Bell said the cycling infrastructure is crucial to help Redfern station accommodate a large amount of commuter-traffic passing through the area. “We see Redfern as a vital link, with a large proportion of commuters changing at Redfern to reach their final destination. Everyday we see large numbers of bikes parked at Redfern station and can only assume the addition of secure bike storage would do a lot to encourage more  Secure bike sheds promised by the government for inner west train stations are over two years late. Credit: Supplied

people to consider using a bike as part of their commute to help reduce their total train travel, and potentially could reduce the high volume of commuters changing trains there every day,” she said. But according to Ms Bell, the cycling community should look forward to a number of other developments, with the state government currently rolling out a number of projects that are welcome for the community. “We currently liaise with the NSW State Government on a number of projects with bicycle infrastructure being the predominant focus… Recently, Minister Constance announced a $62m budget for walking and cycling projects to be funded in the 2017/18 budget year…We also have continued to liaise on WestConnex with a view to ensuring cycling infrastructure is included in the development,” she said. With more people choosing to cycle in denser, urban areas in NSW, the roll-out of infrastructure that supports cyclists is crucial. According to Ms Leong, the state government need to shift their development priorities and focus on delivering public infrastructure. “We need to be seeing the government prioritising investment in sustainable public transport solutions in our city… They’re privatising land just to one area, but at the same time, they can’t get the basic public infrastructure right. It’s reasonable that the community starts to question what their motives are and what their priorities are,” she said.

Skating on thin air: Council fines young rebels BY ALEC SMART The City of Sydney plans to step up patrols around the immediate vicinity of the Anzac War Memorial and Pool of Reflection to deter skateboarding on the site – which many see as sacred - following complaints from War Memorial staff. At a recent Council meeting in June, Councillor Christine Forster raised the issue, declaring “it is not an appropriate place to be skating. It is a major Anzac memorial and is supposed to be a place of quiet contemplation and reflection.” Rangers can issue penalty notices of $110 to skateboarders over the age of 16 who defy instructions to leave the premises. However, Cr Forster suggested a ‘move-along’ approach might be more effective, as no fines have been issued in the last 18 months, despite it being a popular space for skaters to converge and perform board tricks. Mick, 33, a regular skater at the War Memorial, reveals he has, in the past, been fined by police for skating too close to the monument. Nevertheless, he remains unfazed by any new threat of eviction. “My friends and I have been skating by the Memorial for over 20 years. I live nearby on Oxford Street, and I’ve skated here since I was 13. We ride on the flat ground by the pool because it’s a good area to perform tricks. We don’t do any damage and look out for other people in the park; we’re respectful,” he said. Mick denies he has had any recent encounters with the Hyde Park rangers. “They used to be very aggressive, chasing and tackling us if we weren’t fast enough running away. Now they’re more chilled, but I haven’t seen any this year.” 6

city hub 20 JULY 2017

City of Sydney Council wants to deter skaters from using the ANAZC memorial in Hyde Park as a gathering point. Credit: Alec Smart

Fellow board riders Kenji, Mark and Luke, who also skate regularly by the Pool of Reflection, added that they had not encountered park rangers recently. A sign erected by the Council to deter skaters was replaced after the original was defaced. Its substitute, which bears the message, ‘Do not skate around the Anzac Memorial or Pool of Reflection,’ has since had the word ‘skate’ scratched off. Skaters facing a crackdown on riding by the

Pool of Reflection might be appeased by the construction of an urban skating plaza in Sydney Park, near St Peters Station, approved by the City of Sydney Council on June 19. Incorporating grinding rails, ledges, a flow bowl up to three metres deep, a linear run and a beginners’ bowl, the park will be a veritable mecca for skaters of all skill levels. On the downside, completion isn’t forecast until April 2019.

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E N T R I E S C L O S E 3 1 J U LY 2 0 1 7 More information at footprints@innerwest.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9367 9381 www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/footprints-films city hub 20 JULY 2017

Not tolerating intolerance BY SORAYA PEREZ MOHAMMED A group of prominent Australian community members came together to fight racism last week, vowing to push back against the government’s racist changes to immigration laws. Comedian Jennifer Wong, Pakistani clothing designer Zara Ahmed, Artist and poet Candy Royalle, Greens MP Jenny Leong and DJ/ Artist Sezzo Snot were among a diverse mix of entertainers and politicians who showed their support at the rally. Democracy in Colour, who has proudly announced itself to be “Australia’s first national racial justice advocacy organisation, led by people of colour, for people of colour” held its inaugural launch party last Sunday to protest against racism and the treatment of refugees in Australia. Tim Lo Surdo, founding director of Democracy in Colour, said Australian people needed migrant communities to come together and bring an end to the government’s racist policies. “I come from a family of immigrants- my mother is from China, and my father is from Italy, and since a very young age I witnessed the racism my parents suffered, and the abuse my father received for not speaking English,” he said at the rally. “I was born here, and I feel identified with this country. However, I have also suffered racism and discrimination because of my skin colour and my origins. I think it’s time we joined forces and changed that,” he said. “The Government’s detention, offshore processing and deterrence regime against refugees is among the most obscene examples of racism in Australia, and we want to play a positive role working alongside the wider refugee and migrants’ movement,” he added. Mr Lo Surdo also pointed out that in the past few years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of crimes and violence against people of colour. “Racism and xenophobia are being used as tools to divide our population and communities, and it is time that people of colour took the lead to address

Caption: Democracy In Colour launched their inaugural Sydney event last week. Credit: Flickr

these issues and revise the narrative,” he said. Umme Hoque, the organiser of the event, explained that Democracy in Colour wants to build platforms to increase the political voice of people of colour and strengthen their capacity. “The stronger the general movement is, the greater is the political space for them to organise and have their voices amplified,” she said. Local Lebanese artist and poet Candy Royalle was at the rally, and said people of colour need to raise their voices to achieve equality.

“Too often people ask me ‘what can I actually do to change the world?’ Now I can say, this is something you can specifically get involved with - people of colour and white allies, unite. This is the beginning of a new political movement, and together, we are stronger, and we can join forces to defeat racism,” she said. “But I want to give you good news; this battle is only a matter of time because in the end, we will win. We will beat racism and racists, I guarantee you,” she added.

Ms Royalle also explained that as a Lebanese woman, she had been the victim of racism and discrimination all her life. “We cannot deny racism in Australia exists and is, in fact, a major problem that has increased in recent years. But this is our opportunity to unite and demonstrate that we are more than those who try to divide us. Many people have told me: ‘go back to your country, we don’t want you here’, but I know they are a minority,” she concluded.

Have your say about the Bay precinct upgrade BY ALEX EUGENE As apprehension builds around the impending Sydney Fish Market redevelopment, local residents are becoming increasingly worried about the impacts it will have on their beloved green space and waterside views, not to mention the quietude of residential areas. The Sydney Fish Market will be moved and upgraded next year, which is a welcome facelift to this iconic cultural attraction. But the vacant lot that will be left behind has already been snapped up by developers, with plans to build a new high-rise apartment block that could potentially house almost 6000 new residents. This figure is one touted by UrbanGrowth N SW themselves in past correspondence to the Department of Education - and when City Hub questioned them on it last week, they claimed it was not “confirmed” and was yet to be decided upon. This shows that community pressure can make big developers question their greedy, money-driven plans and be forced to wind back potentially harmful designs. Community advocate groups are extremely worried about the lack of consultation from the government, who are ploughing ahead with plans to start construction on the new apartment block next year. Though residents 8

city hub 20 JULY 2017

have been sent letters informing them of certain changes that will take place in the area, they have not been invited to contribute to any actual designs. The community is urged to support action to get more local input on this multimillion dollar government project which will potentially increase the population in the Ultimo/ Pyrmont area by 40% - and we all know how congested the area is already. How will we cope with almost twice the number of people there are now, without some serious consideration given to alleviating traffic jams and improving public transport? Where will the children of the future go to school? Where will there be parks for them to play in, and walk their dogs? Have your say next week- support this urgent public meeting where you could make the difference to the future of our community.

The Sydney Fish Market will be upgraded, but locals fear a replacement apartment block will overcrowd the area. Credit: Supplied

A public meeting will be held next Monday, July 24th at 7 pm, regarding the Bank Street Foreshore Park. Location: The Station, 58 Bowman Street, Pyrmont. Hosted by the Community Association, Jacksons Landing.

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city hub 20 JULY 2017

FEATURE

By Rita Bratovich

The Creative Economy

The economy is in decline and the job market is shrinking. That’s what you might be tempted to believe given the frequent headlines about large businesses folding and massive redundancies.Yet there is one sector of the economy that is growing - one that was once not even considered legitimate - the Creative Industry. According to the NSW Department of Industry: “In NSW in 2015-16, more people directly worked in creative industries (206,000) than in the state’s financial and insurance services industry (186,000), and more people than in agriculture, forestry and fishing (88,000) and mining (38,000) combined.” Based on a Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) report (2013) the creative sector contributes around $90 billion in annual turnover to the national economy, with NSW accounting for a significant portion of that. So what is the creative industry? The term “creative” might once only have been applied to occupations where imagination and expression were abstract and evident. Now, however creativity is recognised across a wider field of pursuits. The CIIC study defines seven distinct economic segments: music and performing arts; film, television and radio; advertising and marketing; software and interactive content; writing, publishing and print media; architecture; design and visual arts. NSW has the largest share of the industry, with Sydney being a noted creative hub. Growth continues appreciably, with significant employment increases in computer system design and related services and creative and performing arts activities. In response to recommendations in the CIIC report, the NSW Department of Industry introduced a Creative Achievement Award in 2014 consisting of the NSW Creative Laureate and NSW Emerging Creative Talent awards. A spokesperson from the department says: “NSW is home to some of the world’s most creative talent and the NSW Creative Achievement Awards shine the spotlight on the achievements of individuals and businesses that help raise the global profile of NSW Creative Industries.” This year’s winners of the Emerging Talent Award are Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, the fashion entrepreneurs behind the avant garde, uber-cool label Romance Was Born. “For us it’s extremely exciting to be recognised on that government level and also for a fashion brand to be acknowledged as a creative achiever,” says Plunkett. She and Sales began working together ten years ago when they met at

Romance Was Born Electro Orchid Resort. Photo: Daniel Boud college and discovered they had a mutual passion for music and similar artistic aesthetic.They designed outfits for musicians and friends and were encouraged enough by the feedback to enter a competition which resulted in them being flown to Italy and offered an internship with mega designer, John Galliano in Paris - which they turned down. “We weren’t expecting it… we weren’t ready…and we didn’t have the maturity to go ‘oh that’s a really good opportunity’ either,” explains Plunkett. That experience gave them the validation and confidence to come home and develop their own brand which has grown in steady strides. Plunkett acknowledges that the help that was available in their early days was pivotal to their success. “We were very lucky because when we started there was a lot of government support in terms of exporting and different sort of grants.We were able to find a business coach and implement some software that helped us with our production.” Those grants no longer exist, but Plunkett feels awards such as the Creative Achievement Awards will at least inspire and highlight creatives in business. As for the riskiness of choosing such a volatile and competitive career, Plunkett says,

VE LI

JOSEPH TAWADROS A virtuoso of diversity and sensitivity, Joseph performs in concert halls worldwide and is known for his brilliant technique, deep musicianship and joyous style of performance.

“We never really thought about it because we weren’t business people; we were just really loving what we were doing.” That attitude once defined a “creative type” but it has gradually been displaced by a more professional, business-savvy sensibility. Monica Davidson, owner of Creative Plus Business, saw a serious gap in the market when she, as a young film-maker doing what she loves realised she also needed to do her accounting. With nowhere to go for specific training in creative business she taught herself, then set up a business so that she could teach others. “People think creative people are crap at business because they’re stupid. Creative people are crap at business because they haven’t been taught,” says Davidson. Davidson runs workshops for creatives in business, teaching practicalities such as getting an ABN, registering a name, copyright, invoicing and marketing etc. She has definitely seen a change in numbers and ideology of creative practitioners. “People are now, generally speaking, feeling like they are entitled to be treated with respect…as a business,” she says. Creativity itself has gained status alongside traditional workplace skills as a desirable, even necessary trait. “All businesses have to be creative. In the modern world everybody has to be creative in their approach to their business,” says Davidson. Conversely, people need to be business-like in their approach to their creativity and Davidson feels that more education, especially as part of arts qualifications, is required. Her observation is that people in visual arts, performance, and creative writers tend to have less business acumen than film makers, designers and architects - people whose work crosses over with other fields or involves collaboration. “They’ve been in business for a while, they’ve had dealings with business clients, so those practitioners understand that they’re in a business to business environment,” she explains. Davidson expects to see a surge in interest in the creative industry when results from the 2016 census are analysed. “There was a huge jump in the number of people who reported that they worked in the creative industry [after the 2011 census]. A massive jump. And I actually think we’re going to see another one.” So, finally, being a creative is a real job.

www.industry.nsw.gov.au www.romancewasborn.com www.creativeplusbusiness.com

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city hub 20 JULY 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REVIEW: Before Lysistrata Lysistrata is an ancient Greek comedy written by Aristophanes in which women from the warring cities of Athens and Sparta unite in a pledge of sexual abstinence until the men agree to end their fighting. The concept inspired writer/actor Ellana Costa to think about the power of women, politics, war and unity in a modern context, the result being the less comical, more intellectual Before Lysistrata. Costa’s play still uses Athens and Sparta as the settings, but the dialogue, costumes and references are distinctly contemporary with overtones of current world issues. The current Montague Basement production features three female actors, one of whom (Alex Francis) plays the dual male parts of Pericles and Archidamus, leaders of Athens and Sparta respectively. Costa herself plays Lampito, First Lady of Sparta and Michaela Savina is Lysistrata, First Lady of Athens. Initially, the casting of Francis seems odd as she is quite diminutive in stature against the other two. However, it works, not only because of the quality of the acting but also as a subtle visual statement (deliberate or not) about the ‘smallness’ of these men. Both Savina and Costa are engaging and emotionally charged. The script goes deeper than mere political debate, exploring complexities of conflict and conscience within each respective household. The set is minimal with token items of furniture

suggesting place (for instance, a desk), and the traverse stage design (seating on opposite sides of performance space) helps create intimacy. Using the back wall as a screen, a constantly changing projection shows quotes, faux news clips and images. However, while these are effective and often humorous, they can also be distracting. Background music, ranging from ambient jazz to pop to a banshee-like screech, is frequently at odds with the action underscoring the irony, absurdity or tension. It’s an evocative, challenging play with sprinklings of humour and lots to walk away and think about. (RB) Until Jul 22,Tue - Sat 7:30pm, Sun 6pm. Kings Cross Theatre, Kings Cross Hotel, 244 William St, Kings Cross. $20-30. Tickets & Info: www.montaguebasement.com

Under The Covers

Matthew Mitcham follows up his awardwinning musical comedy, Twists and Turns, with his new show, Under The Covers, this July. Accompanied by cross-dressing cabaret icon, SPANKY, and pianist, Matthew Ogle, the former Olympic diver has proven to be a compelling storyteller on stage. “The overarching theme for this show is transition. The triggering event for that was me rapidly approaching my shelf life as an athlete and feeling woefully underprepared for this transition because I’d given

everything to one thing: sport,” says Matthew Mitcham, star of the show. “I decided to dive - pardon the pun - head first into the transition with all of its messiness and adventure.” Acknowledging that the transition for athletes is particularly difficult following the validation that comes with sporting success, Mitcham decided to channel the emotions behind his experience into a new show that explores ideas of coping in a nuanced way. Examining “how to live” as an adult, Mitcham’s second foray into caberet is sure to resonate with audiences “I surmised that this transition must be a universal experience and some people do it gracefully and others do it not,” says Mitcham. “Turns out the ugliness of the human experience makes for a great anecdote!” (ES) Until Jul 23, 7pm. Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point. $59. Tickets & Info: www.hayestheatre.com.au

a&e

city hub 13 JULY 2017

12 STAGE 13 SCENE 14 Sounds 15 SCREEN

The Plant

People take solace in strange things when faced with tough situations. For Sue (Sandy Gore), three years after the sudden death of her husband, that thing might be a pot plant. Kit Brookman (A Rabbit for King Jong-Il, Small and Tired, and The Great Fire) developed his new play The Plant through the 2016 Ensemble Theatre New Writing Commission, an initiative supported by the Australian Writer’s Guild and playwright David Williamson. “It’s a bit like a gauntlet being thrown down to a playwright - go from concept to production within a year, basically. So it’s been a bit of a roller coaster. But a good one, and one that’s taught me a lot about writing.” Brookman said. The play follows Sue’s unlikely friendship with Clare (Michelle Lim-Davidson) and the struggle of her adult children (Garth Holcombe, Briallen Clarke and Helen Dallimore) to come to terms with this newfound and inconceivable bond. Directed by Elsie Edgerton-Till,The Plant grapples with rediscovering a sense of self, moving on and finding ways to cope when things slip out of control. “I wanted to write a play about repair, about a person or people who pull themselves through crisis by hook or by crook.” Brookman said. Perhaps the process of living after loss carves an alternative reality, one that is messy and initially a bit more empty. However, light and meaning can be found in unexpected places.

Sandy Gore and Michelle Lim Davidson. Photo: Prudence Upton

“The characters take extreme actions but the play takes place in a world with the same logic as our own. Grief can be a kind of heightened state, and the actions we take when we’re in that state make total sense when we’re performing them but can strike others as strange.” “The misunderstandings that spring from that can be funny or they can be terrible, depending which side of the coin lands face up. I hope there’s a bit of both in this play.” “It’s a gentle-hearted play, deliberately so. Plenty to laugh about, but I hope ultimately there’s something in there about the need to be generous with one another, to pay attention.” (SH) Until Aug 5. Ensemble Theatre, 78 St, Kirribilli. $34-$71.Tickets & Info: www.ensemble.com.au or Ph: 02 9929 0644

REVIEW: Emma Jane Austen is unquestionably one of the preeminent authors in the gamut of fine literature. Her astute observations of society, witty dialogue and heraldry of colourful characters make her novels a joy to read. That the action almost always predominantly takes place in a room with minimal change of settings makes the books seem readily adaptable for stage. Playwright Pamela Whalan certainly believes so - this is her fifth Austen adaptation and all have been performed at her old directorial haunt, The Genesian Theatre. As with many of Austen’s novels, this one has a female central character. Emma is a restless, imprudent, upper class women of twenty, whose misgiven faith in her instincts combined with her inherent snobbery and guileless good intentions result in nothing but awkward situations and near misses. Emma Wright - a seasoned performer with the company - is simply riveting in the title role. She has an energy and mastery that holds the audience completely in her thrall. It makes her influence over her best friend, Harriet (Kathryn Hutchins) all the more credible. Hutchins plays the meek and compliant Harriet as part willing participant, part gullible victim allowing just enough room for sympathy. Nathan Bennett is a very austere, judicious Mr Knightly, watchful and critical of Emma, waiting for her inevitable epiphany.

Arts Editor: Jamie Apps For more A&E stories go to www.altmedia.net.au and don’t forget to join the conversation on Twitter at @AltMediaSydney

Dimitri Armatas as Mr Elton,Turea Blyth as Miss Bates and Grace Swadling as Mrs Elton provide comic caricature, with the rest of the cast all adding texture and range. The set design reaches for realism and is quite effective. It’s an advantage to come to this play with some familiarity of the novel or of Austen’s writing. Whalan has clearly sought to retain much of the original material in her transcription which unfortunately results in some very long convoluted speeches and lots of detail. But there are plenty of laughs… Still not sure about that red velvet dress, though. (RB) Until Aug 19, Fri & Sat 7:30pm; Sun 4:30pm. The Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent St, Sydney, $25-30.Tickets & Info: www.genesiantheatre.com.au

Contributors: Alannah Maher, Alicia Sim, Athina Mallis, Barbara Karpinski, Caitlin Burns, Chantal Walsh, Craig Coventry, Daniel Jaramillo, Emily Shen, Georgia Fullerton, Greg Webster, Irina Dunn, Jade Morellini, James Harkness, Joseph Rana, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Olga Azar, Peter Urquhart, Rita Bratovich, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Shon Ho, Zeiya Speede, Jade Morellini,Vanessa Powell, Olivia Lyle, Alex Eugene, Ellouise Bailey, Manuel Gonzalez, Tommy Boutros.

REVIEW: Macbeth

Factory Space Theatre has brought William Shakespeare’s Macbeth back to the stage, presenting an interesting adaptation to captivate audiences. A courageous Scottish general named Macbeth is told his future by three sibylline creatures; that one day he will become the King of Scotland. Influenced by his wife, a powerful woman with blood on her hands and passion in her heart, Macbeth kills King Duncan and takes the throne for himself, consumed by guilt and paranoia. Starting off really strong, the audience was drawn into the performance through the

intimate theatre setting and wonderful special effects. The lighting and sound effects were a vital addition, contributing to the haunting atmosphere, in conjunction with occasional humming from the characters. The cast were very talented with great character development and they spoke Shakespearean English brilliantly. The costuming was extravagant and beautiful to look at, however its complexity confused the time period in which it was set. Breaking the fourth wall throughout the performance was a great idea, immersing audiences further into the unique world created on stage. The plot was sometimes difficult to follow, which may cause confusion amongst the audience. To fully appreciate this performance, audiences will need to have a prior knowledge of the story. Some parts of the performance also felt quite slow and lost audience interest, particularly when there were chunks of dialogue and not much else happening on stage. (JM) Until Jul 29. Star of the Sea Theatre, Junction of Collingwood St and Iluka Ave, Manly. $28-$35+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.trybooking.com

SHIT

Audiences will be struck by a provocative performance exploring class and misogyny as the 2017 Sydney Festival sell-out, Shit, knocks the Seymour Centre for an exclusive season. A warning to those who are faint hearted, this brilliant performance is full of hard-hitting language, presenting what happens when women defy gender expectations and don’t fulfil their societal roles. Inspiring her play, writer, Patricia Cornelius said: “I was working on a project with a group of women on the notion of women in incarceration… women in prisons, incarcerated by their own bodies and incarcerated by society’s views of them… I wrote the play about three women who have been in foster care all their lives, in and out of trouble…” Aiming to challenge audiences, Cornelius wrote about something she believes is taboo, hoping to stimulate discussions of gender concerns and the disenfranchisement of society. “I feel that challenging is a form of entertainment which is understated… What a lot of theatre does is ignore that we have this growing underclass, the kind of people that we discard… this is a true depiction of young women feeling more hatred of themselves and in fact believe they are shit.”

Having written over 30 plays, Patricia’s triggering performance, Shit, is one which will shock audiences, taking them on an exciting journey. “With a cast of female actors, they are extraordinary to watch and audiences never would have seen anything as visibly vibrant and vital as this before,” Cornelius concluded. (JM) Jul 18–29. Seymour Centre, City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale. $42+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.seymourcentre.com

THE NAKED CITY

WHAT TO DO WITH THE OLD T2? AN ALL WEATHER GILLIGANS: Sydney’s first indoor, all weather park complete with wall to wall AstroTurf, lilos and deck chairs, yoga mats and piped music from Andre Rieu 24/7. Pigeons and ibis would be encouraged to boost the ambience and whilst advertised as ‘alcohol free’ the odd tipple would be not be penalised.

With Coffin Ed For many people, myself included, Taylor Square lost its cosmopolitan charm when Gilligan’s Island was denuded of its palm trees, assorted scrub and family of resident rats. Replaced with a lifeless grassy knoll it was no longer the perfect spot for the midday wine tasting with goon bags and bottles of Royal Reserve Port aplenty. To add insult to injury a highly questionable ‘water feature’ was added to the square with fountains of water spurting from the ground without any warning. Rumour has it that Council bureaucrats, secreted in a covert Town Hall bunker controlled the watery barbs, targeting random passersby and local mendicants with a burst of unwanted colonic irrigation. Meanwhile the once buzzing T2 nightclub at the end of the square was attracting both the wrath of local

residents and the police as a supposed source of anti-social behaviour. In stepped the City Of Sydney Council with a cheque for $7.1 million and the popular nightspot was no longer. That was around eight years ago and since then the T2 has been the focus of numerous grandiose suggestions as to what could actually be housed there. The Lord Mayor’s original plan for a $14 million bicycle hub drew a barrage of objections from non aligned councillors and last year the Council voted to sell the building – provided a suitable buyer could be found. So what will the fate of the old T2 be - if it’s not flogged off, demolished and replaced with yet another horrible block of high rise apartments. Armed with a flagon of Royal Reserve Port I recently quizzed picnickers on Gilligans to come up with a shortlist of suggestions which I will soon be forwarding for Council consideration.

AN URBAN PETTING ZOO: There’s hours of fun for kiddies, adults and hordes of tourists as this unique petting zoo offers a wonderful variety of urban critters including cockatoos, stray dogs, possums, foxes and feral cats (caged of course for safety reasons, but accessible with a back scratcher). THE BEA MILES MUSEUM OF ECCENTRICITY: Colourful eccentrics have all but disappeared from our city streets but here’s a museum to celebrate the contribution of people such as Sandor Berger, Arthur Stace, the knife grinder and the immortal Bea Miles herself. If the Piccolo Bar does finally shut up shop in Kings Cross it could be moved and reassembled as a permanent reminder of Sydney’s once flourishing bohemia. And perhaps the most sensible suggestion of them all. A CAPSULE STYLE HOSTEL: Sydney already has its first Japanese style ‘capsule’ hotel in he CBD, but what about a similar set up for the homeless? The building could probably accommodate fifty of more capsules affording much needed accommodation, particular during the cold winter months.

Luminosity and Momentum Luminosity and Momentum is an intriguing name for an exhibition, with the perfect amount of balance and contrast. This clearly reflects the two charming photographers who have combined their work into one harmonious collection of art. “We stimulated each other in our quest to get our work out there,” SoonHoe says of when they first met in 2015. “We’ve combined five exhibitions together - all in major galleries.” Black Eye Gallery is one of their favorite galleries to showcase their brilliant photographs in because, “The lighting is just excellent,” Rob Love says. Both of them are completely obsessed with nature and capturing beauty in such unique ways. Rob Love is just minutes away from the ocean at his home in Melbourne and you’ll often find him taking photographs of the crashing waves with the sunset light coming through at just the most perfect time. Sometimes taking up to 800 stills just to get the right one. SoonHoe’s journey requires a little bit more effort. This photographer travels to Malaysia twice a year and boats to a specific island to capture the movement of fish swimming in the water.

These two creative souls are truly appreciating the beauty we’ve been given in life. Rob says,“If people felt what I feel when I look at the photographs - that would be enough.” Often or not, many people have thought their photographs were paintings.This is because of the minimal amount of editing done afterwards. SoonHoe, however, adjusts his photos to black and white because,“I felt with black and white the sense of movement comes as stronger.” This is referred to as ‘camera art’. Camera art means there is very minimal post editing.“We don’t crop them, photo shop them.We may change a little bit of contrast or light a little bit because we both shoot in very challenging environments. Both of us don’t spend time on the computer adding layers,” Rob proudly states. These two gentlemen will be in Sydney for the opening of their exhibition Luminosity and Momentum at the Black Eye Gallery premiering July 20.You will be inspired by the world we live in and reminded of the beauty we sometimes overlook.As Rob concludes,“There is always more magic to find out there.” (OL) Until Aug 6. Black Eye Gallery, 3/138 Darlinghurst Rd, Sydney. Info: www.blackeyegallery.com.au city hub 13 JULY 2017

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney By Jamie Apps

Åsgeir: The Icelandic singer-songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and collaborator will take a break away from the Splendour In The Grass touring schedule for a special one off performance in Sydney tomorrow. Fri, Jul 21, Enmore Theatre Def FX: Australia’s own electronic surf rock band of the 90s is returning to Sydney this weekend. Fronted by the enigmatic Fiona Horne and joined by the original line-up, Def FX

including founding guitarist Blake Gardiner – this is a show not to be missed! Sat, Jul 22,The Factory Catfish And The Bottlemen: It’s set to be a pretty big year for Catfish And The Bottlemen. After incredible sets at Falls Festival that left everyone wanting more, the boys will back to take on both Splendour In The Grass and a Sydney sideshow. Sun, Jul 23, Hordern Pavilion Topology: Brisbane quintet Topology make their way down the coast to Sydney this weekend for their The Singing Politician show. The Singing Politician is a powerful performance piece that marries iconic Prime Ministerial

speeches seamlessly to an overlay of stirring classical music and choral work. Sun, Jul 23, City Recital Hall Australian Composition Seminar: Richard Gill, Karen Carey and Andrew BattRawden team up again to deliver another astounding compositional development experience for high school Music 1 and Music 2 students in years 8, 9, 10 and 11. This will be an invaluable experience for any music student. Mon-Tue, Jul 24-25, Santa Sabrina College AWO Chamber 8: All exceptional soloists in their own right, the AWO Chamber 8 musicians are a supergroup of Australia’s finest musicians who work and perform with the world’s greatest orchestras. This is a rare opportunity to witness music-making of the highest calibre where each of the eight musicians have the opportunity to display their individual brilliance. Tue, Jul 25, City Recital Hall Stormzy: 23-year-old Stormzy, aka Michael Omari emerged onto the grime scene in 2013 and has now become a phenom of the genre. The London-born artist continues to push the boundaries of grime, and is currently nominated for British Breakthrough at this year’s BRIT Awards, so don’t miss this opportunity. Tue, Jul 25, Enmore Theatre k.d. Lang: Called “the greatest female singer in the whole world” by fellow Canadian Michael Bublé, Lang has had a distinguished career. In addition to a fruitful collaboration with Tony Bennett, she has performed alongside luminaries including Roy Orbison, Bonnie Raitt, Elton John and Loretta Lynn. Wed, Jul 26, ICC Theatre

Bishop Briggs By Jamie Apps When speaking with Bishop Briggs it would be incredibly easy to overlook her British heritage, given her distinct lack of an accent. Laughingly Briggs says that is simply to “confuse everyone because my parents have thick Scottish accents,” but in truth she credits it to her years studying abroad at international school in Japan before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a music career. The decision to move to LA is a story we’ve all heard before, but the journey that followed is what makes Bishop Briggs so interesting. “I was very wide eyed and hopeful that LA was a place where dreams could potentially come true,” explained Briggs, “I learnt very quickly though that it can be very depressing.” Luckily for Briggs though she managed to embed herself within a very supportive creative community which has seen her clock up over 40 million Spotify plays without ever releasing an album. Although she has found immense success with single releases Briggs spoke to us about the desire to release an album in the future. “We live in a really cool time now where you can release music as quickly or as slowly as you want. I do still feel like

Crooked Colours - Vera

Photo: Jabari Jacobs

there will always be a place, perhaps just in the artists head, for albums though because it is a way to show what is happening in your life and a body of work that you’re proud of.” Tonight Briggs will make her way down to Sydney as part of Splendour In The Grass, for a special sideshow. This tour is somewhat of a redemption tour in her eyes because the last time she was here was “during the lovely puberty stage and the photos are horrific.” When speaking about the tour the excitement in Briggs’ voice was palpable. “Oh my gosh, I can’t wait. I don’t think you can ever truely be prepared in the sense

Patience has been a cornerstone of Crooked Colours music career and their debut LP, Vera, coming five years after bursting onto the scene epitomises that patient approach. By taking this deliberate, calculated approach the trio from Perth have concocted a laidback record which is filled with wispy vocals, subtle beats and smooth R&B influences. This doesn’t mean that the record is slow or dull however,Vera still has moments which chug along nicely to persuade the listener to get up and dance. This record is very much a product of it’s time and place echoing the sounds of other Aussie heavyweights, Rufus and Cut Copy. This is a record that could easily be placed on repeat at a house party and never grow tiresome. (JA) WWW1/2

that it all has to be real and authentic. With that being said, am I rehearsing every day? Am I in the studio every day? Yeah!” Having battled through the hardships of breaking into the music industry in the entertainment capital of the world Briggs is never one to complain as she knows all to well the feelings of playing in “terrible venues” and working with “very unpleasant people.” So with that in mind she should fit right in with us Aussies. Jul 20, 8pm. Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $45+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.oxfordartfactory.com

Oh Wonder - Ultralife

The listener can spend almost a whole luxurious hour in Ultralife. Oh Wonder’s album is a smooth trip through, a feeling of having no bumps at all. It is light, it is silky and it is almost a creamy mix of shades, blended with artistry and spread around the listener, not invading the space between the listeners ears but rather becoming it. Voices mix without overpowering each other, nothing draws attention to itself, moving from one to the next the combined music is subtle like the colours in a rainbow, bleeding into each other so that the colours are distinct but inseparable. This album is beautiful in its own interior logic. Its parts match each other so well that they are hard to fathom apart, it is a strain so lovely that it leaves no trace when it is no longer playing. (SP) WWW1/2

HOT FLICKS at the 2017 SCANDINAVIAN FILM FESTIVAL 1864 (Denmark) - Based on actual events this ambitious historical drama follows the lives of two brothers, Laust and Peter Jensen, from childhood when they befriend a girl named Inge until early adulthood when they join the army and fight for Denmark in the second Schleswig war. A love triangle evolves which leads to sibling rivalry as they fight for their country and more importantly their lives. This sweeping tale of love in turbulent times stars Norwegian actor Jakob Oftebro who was a guest at last year’s festival. This theatrical cut of one of the most popular Danish series ever made should prove to be an instant hit at the festival. Magnus (Norway) – This documentary explores the fascinating story of Magnus Carlsen, a Brainiac who from a tender age was able to solve analytical problems and eventually became the world chess champion in 2013. A self-confessed introvert who said he would never play the perfect game, was labelled the ‘Mozart of chess’ and it was claimed he had a talent that came from another universe. 14

city hub 13 JULY 2017

1864

Family films, interviews and footage of tournaments showcase his rise to the top when he was ultimately named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. Heartstone (Iceland) – This coming of age drama about a group of friends growing up in a lazy Icelandic seaside town has garnered an astonishing 26 international awards. The film centres on the close friendship between Christian and Thor, two teenage boys who are dealing with girls, first love, puberty, and their sexual awakening. Christian is confused over his sexual identity, fighting the strange feelings he has for his companion which ultimately lead to tragedy. This bold and topical story of self-discovery with homosexual themes is filmed in the engulfing beauty of Icelandic landscapes and realistically captures the complexities of adolescence. (MMo) Jul 11–Aug 2. Palace Norton Street & Palace Verona. $21.50 - $130 (10 film pass). Tickets & Info: www.scandinavianfilmfestival.com

Paris Can Wait

Defiant Lives

Movie-goers who have a passion for anything French should be completely smitten by this charming and very unique roadtrip film which unashamedly resembles a travel and food catalogue, its purpose seemingly to entrance audiences into visiting this exquisite country. Diane Lane is a delight as Anne, the wife of a successful and very busy film producer (Alec Baldwin). At her husband’s insistence she embarks on a road trip to Paris from the south of France with Jacques (Arnaud Viard), his flirty associate, who allegedly (like all French men) has no scruples. Jacques not only serves as the driver, but also as the travel guide and constantly says that Paris can wait as he takes her on a grand journey throughout the

This film gives great insight to the lives of people with disabilities.The stories shared and vulnerable places people go to create a deep sense of compassion in Defiant Lives. No one can judge until they’ve walked in another’s shoes and that could not be more true when Defiant Lives so honestly shows the truth about the rights movement for people with disabilities in Australia, USA and UK.The documentary highlights numerous people with disabilities which is intriguing to watch and keeps the film flowing. The music in the film enhances the heart felt stories that are shared and balances out the spaces where there is no background noise. The frame work and video editing is beautiful and simple. They

beautiful countryside. They visit French monuments, museums and restaurants which serve delicious culinary delights, expensive French wines, cheeses and mouthwatering gateaus. This culturally enriching and mildly humorous film is undeniably a love letter to France and may have audiences pondering whether there’s more to this cinematic ‘travel guide’ than food, geography and history - will a romance flourish? The French adornment is momentarily and unpredictably interrupted, as the mood suddenly traverses when a deep and meaningful conversation develops concerning happiness, marriage, the fragility of life and the tragedies previously bestowed upon their lives. (MMo) WWW

have captured the essence of the torturous places people with disabilities have stayed in and made it so real for the viewer to experience. It is uncomfortable and sad to see. The still takes that merely focus on people sharing their knowledge is clear and easy to listen too. Defiant Lives offers a lot for the eyes from black and white, old historical clips and new contemporary takes. This documentary provides a great deal of information that is important to know and vital to act on for the betterment of this world. These problems should not be overlooked and Defiant Lives does a marvellous job at highlighting the past, present and future hope for the disability rights movement. (OL) WWWW

First Girl I Loved

This is a sweet and simple girl meets girl teenage romance that occasionally steps out with some artful devices and quirky dialogue. It’s not technically slick and the script should have gone through a few more re-writes, but for the teen market at which it is clearly aimed, it’s entertaining and satisfying. Anne (Dylan Gelula) is a smart, creative but alas slightly nerdy and awkward adolescent, oblivious to the romantic cravings of her male best friend Clifton (Mateo Arias). Instead, she finds herself drawn to softball hero, Sasha Basanez

(Brianna Hildebrand). The attraction is mutual and after some barely subtle flirting they consummate their crush. But, while Anne has one foot outside the closet, Sasha is receding into the corner behind the coats and it seems the affair may be doomed before it blossoms. Meanwhile, Clifton is reeling from the double slap of being spurned for another woman. There are some well written peripheral characters with surprisingly few stereotypes. Worth a look. (RB) WWW

city hub 13 JULY 2017

He may not be a chef

but when we cook together it feels like home. Our foster carers are experienced in a different way. Become a foster carer, visit iwanttofoster.com.au or call 1800 WE CARE 16

city hub 13 JULY 2017