City Hub 27 October 2016

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city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

Impromptu Powerhouse Hearing

BY KRISTEN TSIAMIS The Upper House inquiry into the Powerhouse Museum took an interesting and unscheduled turn on Wednesday October 19.

The Committee scheduled an additional hearing day to clarify testimony from the President on the MAAS Board of Trustees Professor Barney Glover and the recently appointed director of the Powerhouse Museum, Dolla Merrillees Patricia Johnson, co-convenor of the Save the Powerhouse campaign said that the hearing was unexpected. “It was a previously unscheduled short session from 1-2pm, and we understand that this was called to clarify testimony. The Committee wanted to hear more from them.”

State Independent member for Sydney Alex Greenwich thinks the impromptu hearing is positive for the Powerhouse and its future.

“It’s quite clear that the inquiry, as well as astrong community campaign, have been able to shed light on the problems associated with the relocation of the Powerhouse. I’m confident that what we will find is that there was a lack of detailed plans from government as to how they were going to do it, that it was going to cost more than ever expected, and that the museum in its current spot has strong support.”

Mr Greenwich believes that both Ultimo and Parramatta deserve world class cultural institutions. “I think what is happening is the government’s ill thought out plan is being exposed – I think also what is happening is a really important discussion for arts and infrastructure in western Sydney, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of the city. Using that much money would be better spent for a museum and arts infrastructure that celebrates Parramatta and its role in Western Sydney.”

The final scheduled hearing will take place on the 14th of November. Ms Johnson believes the inquiry is making good progress.

“The Committee is doing what it is supposed to do, particularly uncovering secret information about costs and acquisition of site

Preople protest powerhouse move. Image supplied

in Parramatta. Initially, these witnesses appeared to know nothing about projected costs. In this hearing, they were comfortable with freedom of information documents and looking at a building envelope of at least $500 million. The previous talk from the government was of $200 million.”

The projected cost of a new museum could blow out to over $1 billion, taking into consideration a minimum of $200 million for moving the contents of the Ultimo museum, if that’s even feasible.

Ms Johnson said one of the biggest issues is the proposed site of the new museum: the old David Jones carpark. Ms Johnson said the location is flood-prone, and “no satisfactory explanation has been given as to how they’re going to make it flood-proof. It’s also about two-fifths the size of the Ultimo museum…the collections, upwards of 500,000 pieces won’t fit.”

The MAAS has put out a survey which serves as a promotion for the new museum in

Parramatta. Ms Johnson said that “they were asking people to talk about the new museum and how great it was. We have more than 8,000 people from our Facebook page stating their real opinion. Several thousand objections to the new site might help.”

Mr Greenwich is hopeful that this hearing will garner further public support for keeping the Ultimo museum. He said “I hope that it will have further support, community campaign to save an important cultural institution.”

WestConnex protestors to face court Published weekly and freely available Sydney-wide.

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BY Jordan Fermanis Three No WestConnex protestors were arrested last Friday October 21 including City Hub journalist and WestConnex opponent Wendy Bacon.

Ms Bacon, along with another woman and a man were arrested on Holmwood St in Newtown where WestConnex contractors AECOM were planning to conduct test drilling underground for the nine kilometre stage 3 tunnel running from Haberfield to St Peters.

Participants in the demonstration have said that there were 20 to 30 protestors.

NSW Police told City Hub the trio were charged with, “remaining on enclosed land, not proscribed premises without lawful excuse.”

A NSW Police spokesperson added that a 39 year old woman was charged with, “resist officer in execution of duty.”

Videos posted on the WestConnex Action Group Facebook page show a woman audibly shouting that police were hurting her. Her injury resulted in a severely sprained wrist.

The Police spokesperson told City Hub that since charges are set to be presented to court, no comment on whether protestors had been handled improperly could be provided.

City Hub journalist Wendy Bacon has told the media that she spent seven hours at Newtown Police Station.

Anne Picot from the WestCONnex Action Group said that she witnessed the arrests being made after special task force police from ‘Operation Odin’ arrived to the

WestConnex protestors at the test drilling site on Holmwood St in Newtown.

Photo: Pauline Lockie

Holmwood St demonstration.

“The police issued a warning to the street, not to the people actually inside the compound and basically said if you do not move now, you’ll be arrested.”

“The riot squad came through the gate and grabbed a woman on the ground and Wendy,” Ms Picot said.

Ms Picot told City Hub that the police were “not careful” with Ms Bacon and the two other protestors who were arrested.

Wendy Bacon said that she was concerned as to why riot police were called to do what was “really ordinary policing.”

“They had two security guards, ten police on site and ten or twelve riot police,” Ms Bacon said.

Anne Picot said that the arrests were the first made at a test drilling demonstration.

She said that she had not seen a police presence as heavy as the one on Friday October 21.

“The police in our opinion are acting like a private security force for WestConnex and AECOM,” Ms Picot said.

Demonstrations continued on Monday October 24 when the riot squad was again called to the site.

AECOM has now commenced test drilling on Holmwood St for the WestConnex M4-M5 link tunnel. The three protestors arrested were granted conditional bail to appear at Newtown Local Court on November 17. city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

3

‘The most friendless people in the world’

BY MICHAELA MORGAN They’re the most persecuted refugees in the world, according to Amnesty International. Even though there is evidence of the Rohingya people residing in Myanmar for centuries, they are denied citizenship and lack basic access to education, employment and health services.

Earlier this month, Rohingyas were deemed responsible for an attack on border posts in the country’s Rakhine state that left nine police officers dead. The area has since been closed off by the military, blocking food aid deliveries for more than 80,000 people by the UN’s World Food Programme.

Sydney’s Rohingya community gathered on Friday at Town Hall Square to raise awareness and call upon the international community to help.

Speaking at the event, U Maung Hla, an advisor to the Burmese Rohingya Community of Australia (BRCA), said the Rohingya in Myanmar are in an extremely precarious situation.

“We are the most friendless people in the world,” he told the crowd.

“The International State Crime Initiative says credible reports are emerging of extra judicial killings, arbitrary arrests and raids on Rohingya homes by Myanmar security forces”, U Maung Hla said.

Mohammed Anwar is the Secretary General of the BRCA and says “villages have been raided and looted, women and young girls have been taken.”

Mr Anwar is urging the Australian government to take action.

“There needs to be a conversation with

Cartoonist: Peter Berner @peter_berner

Mohammed Anwar, SecretaryGeneral Burmese Rohingya Community in Australia.

Photo Michaela Morgan

the Myanmar government. There needs to be pressure for an independent investigation in the area so we can find out what’s happening.”

There has been some criticism that Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi has ignored the plight of the Rohingya but Mr Anwar says it’s not that simple.

“She’s in government but she doesn’t have all the power at the moment. I believe Aung San Suu Kyi is avoiding any conflict with the military, waiting for the right time, trying to bring harmony in the community. But at the same time, people are suffering, people are losing their lives.”

Rohingyas who flee Myanmar for neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand face immense risks in transit and the real possibility of being exploited as slave labour in industries such as fishing.

Mr Anwar arrived in Australia in 2009 as a skilled migrant but says most Rohingya people are not that lucky.

“Most of the Rohingya who are now in Sydney have gone through a lot of difficulties in Myanmar. Then they’ve had to take rickety boats to leave the country.”

James Supple from the Refugee Action Coalition spoke at the rally and called upon the Australian government to support Rohingyas seeking asylum.

“Rohingya people are locked up on Nauru, along with other people, they need to be brought to Australia and be allowed to settle as refugees.”

There are grave concerns that the recent violence in Rakhine will escalate to the level last seen during the state’s 2012 riots when over 100 people were killed and thousands were displaced.

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Opinion

EX LIBRIS: why books and libraries matter

BY Andrew Woodhouse Book is not just a four-letter word. Books do matter. When the City of Sydney Council’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, opened the new multimillion dollar library in the heritage-listed former Woolworth’s building in Kings Cross in 2004 hopes were raised.

After all, our previous library with its leafy, rainforest outlook in Fitzroy Gardens had been bulldozed by the former council for new developers’ apartments. It then shifted into a former tattoo shop, squinched between the Risqué Boutique and the Adult bookshop, hardly a literati line-up. The new 2004 library promised twenty-first century facilities. It didn’t deliver. Top shelves are too high to reach, none have Dewey reference numbers: readers struggle to find books. The Local History collection only provides half a desk to study a book.

Meanwhile, level 2 has inadequate surveillance, backpackers and vagrants snore and snooze away the daylight hours with their grubby boots and lunch scraps left on lounges as drug deals are organised behind shifting opaque curtains. Computers are unreliable.

Complaints are fed into council’s black hole of concerns while over-promised upgrades have not materialised, after 12 long years. The security system is so flawed it does not alarm all books: the real level of thefts is unknown.

Our library is dysfunctional.

Unlike the gloriously-well-planned, glossy, glassy new Woollahra Council library where staff patrol with iPads to actively assist customers find books: no more waiting at the front desk.

“The Woollahra example is better than any five-star luxury hotel for service,” says one local, who has managed such premises.

Now, borrowing books at KX will be self-

Libraries: a cathedral of knowledge within which to seek and cherish wisdom, now under threat in Kings Cross from pub/club developers. Image supplied: Andrew Woodhouse

service if Clover Moore has her way, using the supermarket-style unsupervised swipe-and-go system. Staff become redundant and costs cut; collateral damage. Supermarkets, however, report increased thefts as people take home items unswiped.

And now Clover Moore wants eBooks , a book you borrow when you don’t borrow a book. You receive it in tiny print on your computer instead, or you can buy a Prime-X P870DM2-G Intel i7 67000 Quad Core laptop for $3,999-00 instead. Excludes battery and softwear.

Currently, booktopia.com.au has five million eBooks for $6-95. But consulting Dr Johnson’s magisterial 1755 English Dictionary, embraced by its beautiful, burgundy, tooled Moroccan

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Under the Local Government Act 1993, the City of Sydney is required to review and adopt its Councillors’ Expenses and Facilities Policy within the first 12 months of each Council term.

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POSITIONS VACANT

The Policy sets the framework for the provision of adequate and reasonable expenses and facilities to the Lord Mayor and Councillors to enable them to carry out their civic roles.

It will be available on the City’s website cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au and for inspection at the City’s One Stop Shop and Neighbourhood Service Centres.

The exhibition period closes on Friday 25 November 2016 and submissions must be received by 5pm that day.

Please send any submissions to: Leander Klohs, Office of the CEO, City of Sydney, GPO Box 1591, Sydney NSW 2001 or to lklohs@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au For more information call 02 9265 9333 or email council@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

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The City’s draft Councillors’ Expenses and Facilities Policy 2016/17 was considered by Council on 24 October 2016 and will be placed on public exhibition from Wednesday 26 October 2016 for a minimum of 28 days.

leather and gold binding or Loudon’s classic on landscape design won’t happen.

What we are being handed down is not a library but empty shelves and cost-cutting e-choices. The joy of holding a book is snatched from our palms.

But are libraries really useful in the digital age of the internet? Yes, and the sheer tactile joy of a good book is back in fashion. Physical book sales have risen in the UK for the first time in four years.

It’s true, Google ™ can bring you back 100,000 answers. But a Librarian can bring you back the right one demonstrating professional skills at work.

As Thomas Carlyle said: “In books lies the soul of the whole Past Time: the articulate audible voice of the Past, when the body and material substance of it has altogether vanished

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city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

like a dream.” Let’s keep the dream alive.

Now, an aggrieved group of local pub and clubs owners thinks the state government owes them payback since life-saving lockout laws have reduced their nefarious businesses. It wants all height, design excellence, heritage and floor space ration (FSR) planning laws scrapped - just for them, of course.

They forget that the two, ‘mile-high’ towers proposed will mean demolition of half of Kings Cross, the Injecting Centre and council’s own heritage Art Déco Library.

Our library is under threat from developers again.

However, neither the state government nor council has offered their support. All this speculation and hallucination does not enjoy a groundswell of community support. It is a totally tendentious and selfish form of business welfare.

And perhaps it won’t happen if the NSW Land and Environment Court has a say. This week it slam-dunked a DA for the aptly-named Mad Monkey backpackers’ hostel. They proposed the hostel’s unauthorised use of its top floor, zoned as a boarding house, be legitimised.

Their ”amended” DA was found not to be substantially the same as the original 1998 DA, now 18 years old! Council’s archive files had mould growing on them. The court rejected the appeal to increase capacity from 56 to 82 beds.

It wasn’t substantially the same as the original, a crucial legal point. And it agreed with locals.

Our heritage group lodged evidence in court of drug-taking and noisy street parties. Council objected to Building Code of Australia and fire regulation breaches for this potential death trap.

“Appeal dismissed” rang out around the area like a full peal of bells announcing a Royal Birth.

Justice at work.

Andrew Woodhouse is President, Potts Point & Kings Cross Heritage & Residents’ Society

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Indigenous Bondi Mural still under threat

BY CHARLOTTE GRIEVE Last Tuesday night, October 18, Waverley Council voted down a motion to “save” the Indigenous mural located on the Eastern wall of the Wayside Chapel’s Roscoe Street site.

The artwork was originally commissioned by the Uniting Church in 2013 as part of NAIDOC Week. But now, what is mostly an interior development plan estimated to cost up to $630,000 involves knocking down or at least partially destroying the mural.

“Public art is very important in Bondi,” said Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak. “We don’t understand why they’re [The Uniting Church] are still pushing to have the mural destroyed for the sake of what is basically an internal development application.”

A community campaign has mobilised to protest the plans, maintaining that destroying the portraits of five prominent indigenous activists would be culturally insensitive and a loss to the community.

“There’s a cultural process to get the images there in the first place, which in itself is very unique…So to destroy and desecrate it in that way I think shows a deep lack of cultural sensitivity,” said Clr Wy Kanak.

The mural also acts as an educational tool for passers-by on the plight of the indigenous rights movement. The five portraits are representative different causes that contributed to the betterment of aboriginal people.

“Those five individuals are representative of the aboriginal nation as a whole,” said indigenous mural artist, Paul Davis.

Mr Davis told the City Hub that the creation of the mural was a “spiritual event” in itself, a collaboration that took over three months to complete. In the final stages, a group of young children visited from Goodooga, a remote town in north western New South Wales as part of an educational trip to Sydney. The children were involved in the making of the mural by hand painting the waves along the bottom of the artwork.

Photo source: Charlotte Grieve

“They had probably never seen the ocean in their lives,” said Mr Davis. “Wouldn’t it be nice to come back in years to come and be able to see your hand print?”

“It made their trip so special just that little bit of it being, “Yeah I left my mark in Bondi,” It was very significant role or event to happen, not only for them but for us as well and for the people of Bondi.”

Under Australian copyright law, artists have a right to preserve the integrity of their work.

“The right of integrity is the right to not have a work derogatorily treated, so mutilated, changed, destroyed, in a way that is prejudicial to the artist’s honour and reputation,” said James Cheatley, a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Copyright Council.

While to date, neither artist has been contacted by the Wayside Chapel, Mr Cheatley explains the building owner would need to give three weeks’ notice in order to absolve any infringement on this right.

The development application is now open to public submissions and Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak is urging all members of the community who are concerned about the artwork’s future to put it in writing.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t want it destroyed for the sake of a glass panel and the planners have to take that into consideration when making a final decision,” he said.

In 2013, The Uniting Church was forced to sell off $100 million worth of property to absolve the debt accrued by the religious institution. Some believe that the development of the Wayside Chapel’s Roscoe Street site could be an attempt to add value to the property for future sale.

“People refer to it as being developers in church clothing,” said Clr Wy Kanak.

The Wayside Chapel has declined to a number of requests for comment on this issue.

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Protestors rally to re-instate greyhound racing ban

by Michaela Morgan Over a thousand people gathered at Martin Place on Sunday to protest Premier Mike Baird’s greyhound racing ban reversal.

Opponents of the Baird government waved signs that read ‘No more chances’ and ‘Gentle dogs sacrificed for greed’.

The rally was organised by Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi who said the evidence of animal cruelty within the greyhound racing industry was “overwhelming, systemic, widespread and heart wrenching.”

“We will not tolerate any more of it and we will not stop until we shut down this industry,” she told the crowd.

Emma Hurst from Animal Liberation repeated statements Mr Baird made about greyhound racing when he announced the ban in August this year.

“Baird said that 79 recommendations would need to be put in place and even then, it was unlikely this industry could reform. He said that mistreatment and deception ran too deep and that regulations had been tried and failed consistently.”

Ms Hurst voiced disappointment that Mr Baird did not maintain this position.

“Because of the pressure of a couple of media shock jocks, the gambling industry and the Labor party, Baird crumbled.”

Lyn White, the Campaign Director for Animals Australia spoke at the rally and said that immense progress had been made despite Premier Baird’s decision to repeal the Greyhound Racing Prohibition bill.

Lisa White, Mehreen Faruqi, Emma Hurst, Lyn White and Mark Pearson spoke at the rally.

Photo: Michaela Morgan

“Just consider for a moment where greyhound racing was two years ago and where it is today.

There is a very good reason why the industry didn’t celebrate Mike Baird’s backflip. And why they are still whinging and whining.

Ms White acknowledged that even though the repeal of the bill had been confirmed, the industry was still concerned about the effect of the new restrictions on its long term viability.

“Baird hasn’t saved them from extinction, he has only extended their death throes. And we are going to make that death happen as soon as we possibly can.”

Mark Pearson, N SW M LC for the Animal Justice Party said there were still graves to be dug up, and that he would fight to continue to reveal the sinister side of this industry.

Mr Pearson said that Greyhound Racing N SW had been ordered to send over 170 boxes of documents to Parliament.

“A whole batch of documents which they don’t want you to see, they didn’t want the government to see.

“Mehreen and I and other members have access to many of those documents. I believe that within those documents, we will find the final nails to put into the coffin to render this industry to the scrap heap of history where it belongs.”

Dr Faruqi mentioned that the ban on greyhound racing is still on and legislative measures to repeal the bill will not be in place until next year.

“So we have time to keep the pressure on. We know that polling shows that the majority of people in N SW want a ban on greyhound racing nationally, ” she said.

Dr Faruqi said she wants to make animal cruelty history and urged opponents of greyhound racing to write to their M Ps, to Premier Mike Baird and opposition leader Luke Foley.

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Marriage Equality Bill Passed

BY KRISTEN TSIAMIS Monday’s City of Sydney Council meeting saw a Notice of Motion supporting Marriage Equality proposed by Labor Councillor Linda Scott.

It was met with heated debate and varying views. Cr Scott’s initial motion was not passed.

An amended motion was put forward by Deputy Lord Mayor Kerryn Phelps, and this motion was passed, after also being subjected to debate.

Independent Councillor Angela Vithoulkas told City Hub that there were “several very heated opinions on the matter, and it caused a lot of angst.”

“Councillors were at an impasse, as this motion was divisive, as some Councillors wanted to support the motion, but couldn’t support certain points, and were torn about how this would look to the community.”

Cr Christine Forster said that she “voted in favour of calls for there to be a free vote on marriage equality in Federal Parliament, and against the condemnation of the plebiscite.”

The particular parts of the motion that Cr Forster voted against in the motion put forward by Deputy Lord Mayor were sections B and D, which respectively state that the City “strongly oppose the Commonwealth Government’s proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage, noting that the results of the plebiscite will be non-binding on the Australian parliament” and “commend all political parties and individual senators who have indicated their intention to vote against the Plebiscite (Same Sex Marriage)Bill 2016 when it is considered by the Australian Senate.”

Cr Forster said that the reason she voted against the section of the motion that condemned the plebiscite because “the Liberal/ National Coalition took a clear policy in the Federal election that they would put the question of marriage equality to the people, and the government was returned.”

“My preference is a free vote.”’

Cr Vithoulkas said that the issue of marriage equality has “descended into and has become about a political voting bloc. This issue is dividing both the community and politics.”

“Cr Forster agreed, and said the policy she voted against was very political, and is the reason she voted against it. “I was very

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happy to vote for the motion I voted for, and called for a free vote.”

Cr Scott supported the motion that passed, and maintains her objection to the marriage equality plebiscite. She believes “it should be a vote for the government.”

“The best and only way to create marriage equality in Australia is through a vote in our Federal Parliament to change the law” she said. Cr Scott also said that Cr Forster voting against the section that outlined opposition to the plebiscite highlights the truth of the Liberal party’s position.

“Now Cr Forster has revealed the truth about her party’s position – the plebiscite was a political deal, trading the rights of people and their families in order to settle in internal factional dispute.”

Despite the differences in opinion, Cr Vithoulkas believes that this is the most positive end to a council meeting she’s seen whilst in office.

“In the 4 years I’ve been at council, I don’t remember a council meeting ending on a positive note like that” she said.

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Local Drinking Guide

The Cauliflower Hotel

Glasgow Arms Hotel

After over a year of renovations, the Cauliflower Hotel has reinvented itself by capturing the fun and flamboyance of the Caribbean Islands.The trendy upstairs cocktail bar pulls a mixture of people seeking out an exotic selection of over 90 in house rums and spirits. Hotel owner Pippi, suggests the “Bonny and Read” cocktail for girls -- complete with amaretto, macadamia nut, cherries and coconut. Perfect for this warmer weather. Cocktails are $10 from 4-6pm every Friday.

The Glasgow Arms Hotel is self-described “country pub in the city.” If you like watching sport with a couple of mates, the Glasgow Arms is the place for you. Nestled right in the heart of Ultimo, it’s your classic no-frills Aussie pub.Whether you’re after a tasty craft beer or something simpler, the Arms has something for everyone.Attached to the pub is Nachi’s Bistro, serving all your classics and a $14 curry of the day.

123 Botany Rd, Waterloo, 9698 3024 cauliflowerhotel.com.au

527 Harris Street, Ultimo, 9211 2354 glasgowarms.com.au

Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel This year marks the 175th year the Lord Nelson Brewery. To celebrate, they’ve got a cracking new “Anniversary Ale.” On tap all year, the celebratory ale is hoppy and golden. Famous for their in-house brewery, the hotel is recognised around the world for its award-winning beer selection.They have six permanent tap beers ranging from summer ales to porters and a seasonal ale on rotation.

Sydney’s oldest licensed hotel is also renowned for its $9 Monday night pie. Or if you’re feeling fancy, why not try the chilli crab spaggatini from the bistro upstairs.

19 Kent Street,The Rocks, 9251 4044 lordnelsonbrewery.com 10

city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

The Porterhouse Irish Pub The Porterhouse Irish Pub is run by husband and wife team, Brian and Linda McElroy. They know the importance of good food, cheap drinks and an atmosphere that makes you feel at ease. With drink specials every day and a 16-year-in-the-making beef and Guiness pie, you’ll find yourself coming back time and time again.

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FEATURE

Environmental Encounters: experiment with your ‘ecosexuality’ at Liveworks

By Jamie Apps We only need to look around us at the volatile weather that has encapsulated Sydney over the past 12 months to realise that something drastic is happening to our planet. For the curators of Liveworks Festival of Experimental Arts, it was imperative that they included a selection of artists who were exploring issues of environmental upheaval with their artworks.

“Even from the initial research and programming stages it was clear that there were a number of these works that dealt with environmental themes, so it organically became quite a strong theme which is now running through the festival,” explained Artistic Director Jeff Khan.

This year’s Liveworks program brings giant kinetic installations, sonic sculptures, participatory performances, sexy encounters, experimental choreography, captivating Indigenous stories and much more.

Rather than having a set theme or topic for submissions, Liveworks simply attempts to focus on artists from across Australia and the Asia Pacific region who “push boundaries with their works by blending or mixing disciplines in order to find new ways to engage with the audiences”.With this mantra in mind, two main works with environmental themes came to the forefront, Ecosexual Bathhouse by Pony Express and Thunderhead by Tina Havelock Stevens.

According to Khan, both of these works engage with the topic of climate change and the environment from a “very poetic and different perspective from how we usually hear about it in the news or media”.

Ecosexual Bathhouse has been created by Perth artist collective Pony Express, consisting of Loren Kronemyer and Ian Sinclair, following a nearly year-long research and development phase.

The artwork itself is an immersive experience containing six different spaces that implement organic materials, scents and performance artists in a bathhouse inspired setting. Participants are invited to participate in a variety of “eco-erotic experiences” which cater to everyone from “the mildly bio-curious to the environmentally experienced”.

Kronemyer notes that the initial inspiration for the work came about after both she and Ian stumbled upon a text by two Californian performance art theorists,Annie Sprinkle and Dr Elizabeth Stevens, titled The Ecosex Manifesto.

“This ten year old document outlines a sexual orientation and activist position that describes an eco-sexual as someone who has an affinity towards the environment that goes beyond the norm into a more emotional relationship,” Kronemyer reflected.

Bearing that in mind, the pair set about researching these principles and the science behind them before creating their fully immersive world, which also draws upon influences from the queer identity frameworks. Ecosexual Bathhouse is thus the epitome of an experimental work and something that Khan’s Programming Manager Talia Piece implored him to include in Liveworks.

“Ecosexual Bathhouse is such an unusual work in the way that audiences are asked to interact with it, and as

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Image from Thunderhead an audiovisual exhibit created by Sydney artist Tina Havelock Stevens Image from Ecosexual Bathhouse an immersive interactive exhibit created by Perth artist collective Pony Express

such it has a very provocative, well researched take on environmental issues from a very different perspective to the norm,” Khan enthused.

The other major work, which actually only fell into place quite late, is Tina Havelock Stevens’ piece Thunderhead, which is an audio-visual installation that also blends in live musical performance aspects.

Thunderhead was a piece which presented itself to Tina accidentally after taking a wrong turn on a road trip through Texas.

“Eventually we righted ourselves when suddenly, as we turned onto Highway 54, I looked out and saw this magnificent supercell storm which I started filming on a small camera I always have on me,” recalled Tina.

With this footage Tina, who has previously produced documentaries for the ABC and SBS, edited together a rather “meditative, trance-inducing piece” which in previous showings has prompted a multitude of different responses.

Image from Ecosexual Bathhouse an immersive interactive exhibit created by Perth artist collective Pony Express

“Some people were really moved by it emotionally, one woman told me she felt really safe in there, and others have said they could visualize things within the footage,” said Tina.

Upon reflection Khan, Kronemyer and Havelock Stevens all agreed that the environment has always been a key element in their lives.

One aspect they didn’t come to a consensus on however was the idea that this wave of environmentally charged artworks is a new occurrence. Loren in particular believes that these works have “always been there, but it’s nice that people outside of the field are now taking notice and paying attention because audiences are hungry for these works”.

The overwhelming sentiment these three individuals shared however was that they all genuinely hope that their work brings the issues of climate change and the environment to light, and can help fashion a tangible

change within society.As Khan so bluntly put it:“There has been so much frustration and disappointment around political inaction on climate change that it’s fallen on the artists to pick it up as a mantle that might wake us up.”

Until Nov 6. Carriage Works - Performance Space, 245 Wilson St, Everleigh.

FREE to $63.39. Tickets & Info: http://performancespace.com.au/events/ liveworks-2016/ Ecosexual Bathhouse runs from 6:30-9:30pm Nov 2-5. $26.99-$37.39. Tickets & Info: http://performancespace.com.au/events/ ecosexual-bathhouse/

Saturday 22 October 2016 Ian Thorpe Aquatic and Fitness Centre 10am–3pm Saturday 29 October 2016 Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool 10am–3pm Saturday 5 November 2016 Cook+Phillip Park Aquatic and Fitness Centre 10am–3pm Saturday 12 November 2016 Victoria Park Pool 10am–3pm Saturday 19 November 2016 Prince Alfred Park Pool 10am–3pm

Thunderhead has exhibitions 10am-11pm Nov 2-5 and 10am-6pm Nov 6 with the live performance element occurring at 8:30-11pm Nov 2-5. FREE

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city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Festival Fatale

Title And Deed

“Feminist, original and bold” – three words that come to mind when Lizzie Schebesta is asked to describe the WITS (Women in Theatre and Screen) Festival Fatale. Schebesta is the main director of the festival, which comes to the Eternity Playhouse this weekend.

The first of its kind, this two-day festival will have staged productions, play readings and cabaret shows that will take you on a journey through feminism and the female experience today.

When asked about what this festival brings to the table and what outcome she would like to see, Lizzie responds: “The Festival is ‘by women, for everyone’.

Producing work that is created by women is of course the foundation of the Festival.

Making sure that the work speaks to a broad spectrum of Australians and that the artists involved reflect that, has been very important to us as well. Our Festival aims to champion diversity; whether that be

The premiere performance in 2012 of Will Eno’s Title And Deed was in New York and featured a white Irish actor in the solo role of ‘The Traveller’. Subsequent productions have almost always cast a white anglo male in the role. In Belvoir Theatre’s current staging, however, the part is being played by indigenous actor Jimi Bani.

Given the play’s title, the character’s description (“a foreigner”) and the very first line of the monologue – “I’m not from here. I guess I never will be” – casting an indigenous actor gives the script additional, ironic layers of meaning.

Bani, who grew up on a Torres Strait Island, uses his experience of moving to Sydney to help inform his portrayal.

“I thought: ‘it’s like you [himself] in the city, in the big smoke, you know, everything is different.’”

cultural background, age, sexuality or ability. We’ve also endeavoured to champion emerging artists and more experimental art forms.”

In between events, Festival Fatale will have a speak-easy Cabaret-style performance space in the Foyer for cabaret performers, musicians and comics. These powerhouse performances can be accessed by purchasing a ticket to any other event, or by making a donation at the door.

“I’m excited for Sydney to see what we’ve got, I hope it will inspire our community to get behind woman artists in the theatre and will encourage woman theatre-makers to keep putting themselves out there.” (KH) Oct 29 + 30. Eternity Playhouse 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst.

Individual shows: $5-$36.

Festival discount bundles: $88.14-$103.74. Tickets & info: www. festivalfatale.com

In Rats, written and directed by Chris Huntly-Turner from Fledgling Theatre Company, a complicated story is split into two plays.

These stories take place during WWII, following a group of Australian men fighting in Tobruk, North Africa, and the women they left behind in a country town.

The women’s and men’s stories play interchangeably over the season, they can be enjoyed independently or together.

Huntly-Turner explained: “The whole reason for doing two shows under the one production is that if it speaks to you, you have another opportunity to explore the world and the characters a bit more.

So pick one, watch it, and if you like it, watch the other.”

The idea for this story is based off real events with the uniting of the Australian, Indian and British army against the

Rats

a&e

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city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

In terms of adapting the script, Bani says there was no need: “The more you delve into it the more you find the writing is…universal.”

The monologue is a series of anecdotes and musings recounted by The Traveller, who occasionally summons imaginary participants to help with some of the details. He is articulate and analytical, and, as Bani puts it, a “word nerd”.

Bani is enjoying the challenge of solo performance, especially because he is working with long time colleague and friend, director Jada Alberts, who also has indigenous heritage.

Bani says he and Alberts both have the same penchant for detail and deep scrutiny, and because of their existing relationship they work quickly and intuitively. (RB) Until Nov 6. Downstairs Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $25-$48.Tickets & info: www.belvoir.com.au or (02) 9699 3444

12 STAGE 13 Sounds 14 SCENE 15 SCREEN

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

Germans. However, Huntly-Turner found the women’s point of view fascinating.

“During the development of the show we found that we kept on coming back to the female war experience, and very much wanted to explore a new spin on the classic tale of being ‘left behind’,” he said.

Huntly-Turner has always been interested in war, but more specifically the concept of what can make people take a human life. “[In WWII] there was a clear and present evil, it needed to be stopped and thankfully it was. That is an exciting concept as a storyteller as it is very rare in this world that we have that sort of clarity.” (AMal) Until Nov 5, Tues-Sat 8pm.

Old 505 Theatre, 5 Eliza St, Newtown. $25-$30. Tickets & info: www.old505theatre.com

Contributors: Carmen Cita, Craig Coventry, Greg Webster, Alicia Sim, Peter Urquhart, James Harkness, Leann Richards, Lisa Seltzer, Mark Morellini, Mel Somerville, Rocio Belinda Mendez, Sarah Pritchard, Athina Mallis, Leigh Livingstone, Joseph Rana, Shon Ho, Jacqui Rothwell, Emily Shen, Andrew Hodgson, Irina Dunn, Caitlin Burns, Zeiya Speede, Rita Bratovich, Chantal Walsh, Raffaele Piccolo, Barbara Karpinski, Taylah Felice, Georgia Fullerton, Bobby Stephenson, Olga Azar, Kaiti Haviland.

A Flea in Her Ear whirlwind that starts as a gust and then builds, and builds, and builds until it becomes a crazy galeforce madness.”

Although the STC creative team dabbled with the idea of a completely modern adaptation, the classical bones of farce remain.

“Although Andrew [Upton] has made the language more identifiable as of our time, it still retains all the lovely rhythms we love about Helen Christinson. farce and comedy,” said Photo: James Green Christinson.

“It still has the feel of Raymonde gets an inkling that her husband that era and you have all these incredibly, Victor Emanuel is having an affair, so she glorious costumes to look at... I have a pretty enlists the help of her best friend Lucienne great frock, so I’m pretty pleased about the to catch him, pants down at the – ahem – whole thing.”

Snatch Time Hotel. But a series of mistaken Demanding for its technical, almost ‘Rubik’s identities conspire with a range of amorous Cube-like’ precision, Christinson is enjoying entanglements, and a milieu of chaos ensues. the challenge: “It’s a big ensemble with lots of Georges Feydeau’s 1907 French farce, A Flea people coming and going – there are a lot of in Her Ear, gets an update by Andrew Upton doors – you have to really focus and be and rounds off a stellar year for the Sydney present in every minute.” (GW) Theatre Company.

Oct 31–Dec 17, varied performance times.

Helen Christinson plays the scheming best Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. friend, Lucienne. $76-$104.Tickets & info: “It’s a glorious cast of very, very, very funny www.sydneytheatre.com.au or people,” said Christinson. “The show is like a (02) 9250 1777

Live Music Guide LIVE WIRE Sydney

By Jamie Apps

Miriam Lieberman Trio: One of Australia’s most unique musical talents will launch her new album Full Circle this evening. With this record Lieberman and her trio have seamlessly fused the lifting harmonies of the kora, a 21 stringed West African Harp, with classical strings and a western folk-pop sensibility.

Thu, Oct 27,The Camelot Lounge Lisa Richards: Lisa has had an unbelievable life. Battling through drug and alcohol abuse at an early age, she claims that it was music that picked her up from the gutter and saved her life. After moving from her home town of Townsville in her mid 20’s, she spent 22 years living in the States, where she released five albums and toured relentlessly. After a recent tragic break up which left her husband in US prison and Lisa heart broken, she moved back to Australia and has recorded a breathtaking album with legendary producer/multi-instrumentalist Greg J Walker.

Fri, Oct 28, Venue 505 Leah Flanagan: With her brand new album Saudades in hand, Leah Flanagan is hitting the road once again to show off the full repertoire of emotions that we carry into our relationships and which she has captured in this release.

Sat, Oct 29, Marrickville Bowling Club David Helfgott: This year marks the 20th anniversary of Shine, the film that catapulted Australian pianist David Helfgott and his incredible personal story to worldwide fame.

This year to celebrate the film’s anniversary, David will be performing a number of recitals nationally, including at the Sydney Opera House concert hall this weekend.

Sat, Oct 29, Sydney Opera House Taasha Coates: Best known for her work as part of the ARIA award-winning band The Audreys, Taasha Coates has recently made the big leap into solo performance. To commemorate the release of her solo album, Taasha Coates and her Melancholy Sweethearts, she will be performing in Sydney this Saturday.

Sat, Oct 29, Newtown Social Club Psycroptic: Last Halloween the team at Frankie’s trekked to deep dark Tasmania to collaborate with the award-winning Moo Brew Brewery on their custom Big Sassy beer. To help deliver this single barrel of goodness to Sydney punters, they have enlisted the help of Psycroptic who will perform a free gig where costumes are very much encouraged.

Sun, Oct 30, Frankie’s Pizza The Laurels: Celebrating the release of their new single ‘Sonicology’, the third off their forthcoming sophomore record, The Laurels will be performing a free show in Bondi midweek.

Wed, Nov 2, Sosueme Mariachi El Bronx: ready the frozen Margaritas! Australia’s lengthy love affair with LA’s finest punkcome-mariachi act, Mariachi El Bronx, continues this spring, and we’re getting an exclusive headline show at The Manning Bar. Wed, Nov 2, Manning Bar

Review: e-baby

Gabrielle Scawthorne.

Photo: Claire Hawley

Catherine (Danielle Carter) is a privileged Australian attorney living in London. In her mid40’s, she has endured 18 cycles of IVF and is now desperate to have a child. Nellie (Gabrielle Scawthorn) is her surrogate, a feisty, honest, Godfearing redhead from Boston. e-baby, Jane Cafarella’s first full-length play, tackles the sensitive and heart rendering issue of surrogacy.

We are welcomed aboard the rollercoaster of the IVF journey with two very different women.

Their joy when Nellie announces “I’m preggos with your eggos”; their long distance correspondence conducted through emails, phone, text and Skype.

Nellie’s Catholic beliefs and right to life views conflict with Catherine’s pragmatism, although sticky situations have been catered for in the complicated contract Catherine had drawn up prior to the surrogacy. Families, friends and colleagues have their own views surrounding the surrogacy, giving us insight into some of the current societal attitudes.

Catherine’s sideline interest is online www. gladpads.com (organic cotton sanitary pads for third world country women with inspirational graphics) while Nellie’s ‘Belly Blog’ is the platform where she shares her journey with other surrogates.

It’s hilariously funny (especially when it comes to Catherine’s obsessive ideas), bitter sweet, topical and raw.The characterisation is clever, well developed and multi-layered. It’s economic in having only two characters, but with plenty of mentions of both women’s spouses written into this comedy.

The set design and visual effects reveal an impressive display of technology.

Watching e-baby gives you a sense that social media, technology and theatre have finally reached a clever and seamless integration. (MS) Until Nov 13, varied performance times.

Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli. $65-$73.Tickets & info: www.ensemble.com.au or (02) 9929 0644

Emma Louise

By Jamie Apps In the modern music industry we’ve seen many artists take all the aspects of their music making and associated projects on themselves, rather than outsourcing elements.

For Brisbane songstress Emma Louise this means she has taken on not only the musical elements but also the artwork, music video concepts and live show costumes. As Emma explains this wasn’t necessarily an intentional move, “It has just happened that way because I think of everything as an extension of the album and a new way to express myself.”

It would be easy to think taking this approach would put an artist on the fast track to burning out, but Emma suggests that it actually has the exact opposite effect, recharging her for music.

“Anything that takes the pressure off making music is the best thing, because it’s the main thing in my life at the moment, so it’s nice to have a distraction that still keeps my mind busy.”

Lisa Richards – A Light From The Other Side

Taking this all-encompassing approach has also allowed Emma to grow as both a musician and a person incredibly quickly.

Emma’s decision to record Supercry abroad in a French chateau certainly influenced her personal and musical growth.

“I was really isolated and seperate from all of the other influences, which is what I wanted. I wanted this record to be whatever it was going to be without being influenced by any set criteria that you otherwise might have to follow.”

Thanks to this decision Supercry is an incredibly revealing work, which Emma is proud to see connecting with listeners.“Without even knowing I seem to share a lot about myself, but I’ve never been embarrassed by expressing myself honestly.To hear stories from fans with similar perspectives is the best reaction.”

After taking a “big old break” following a summer filled with festival shows, Emma is now

Lisa Richards’ bright, sweet voice floats in like a spring breeze. A breeze that carries flowers, spice and promise. Following the words out in the direction of the breeze deepens its flavour, flirting with the listener’s ears and tickling the skin.

Words mix with the rhythms in pleasant momentary twirls, catching up leaves and ever so slight variations, dancing with petals and dust. Hints of perfume pass the listeners nose and play in their hair. Listeners will feel that familiarity, enjoying the possibilities of the season and the music.

Light, too light to let it sit in the background,A Light From The Other Side taps on the listener’s shoulder with quiet but determined fingers.A bit of jazz plays itself in with strengthening beats.

Drink in the breeze, it’s slight but intriguing and wistfully coaxing in another direction. (SP) WWW

“really looking forward” to getting back on the road and performing, particularly in Sydney because “there’s going to be a few surprises and [the show will] be totally different to anything I’ve done before.”

Nov 4, 7pm. Metro Theatre, 624 George St, Sydney. $41.20+b.f.

Tickets & info: www.metrotheatre.com.au

Katy Steele – Human

Katy Steele has created a very complex and compelling first foray into the solo realm, Human’s ability to stand the test of time however remains to be seen.

Centring the record around her incredibly unique and captivating voice was certainly a wise decision, and paring that with a trendy synthpop undertow has made this record one which is very much glued to this specific period in music trends.

Whilst every single element is impeccably crafted, it all feels much too similar to everything else on the radio today rather than the unique tour de force we all expected. Steele’s voice as always is a standout and makes the record worth a listen alone, particularly on singles ‘No Slaves’, ‘Where’s The Laughter’ and ‘It Ain’t Me’. (JA) WWW city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

13

THE NAKED CITY

AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE?

With Coffin Ed In case you haven’t noticed, amongst the furore created with the ‘Keep Sydney Open’ campaign, a small but vocal opposition group ‘Keep Sydney Closed’, has recently emerged. Originally branded a satire and a pisstake, if you believe the spiel on their Facebook page, they are seriously legit!

Their message is very much one about maintaining the current lock out laws and keeping the city relatively free of drunken violence.Their more radical fellow travellers point to a conspiracy between the NSW liquor industry, gangster owned night clubs and sleazy drug dealers in pushing to have the lock out laws abolished.

Regardless of which side of the identification scanner you stand, there is a serious amount of misinformation being generated amongst the passion of the current debate.The most recent mass anti-lockout demonstration was accompanied by an endorsement from Jimmy Barnes claiming that attendance at live music venues had dropped 40 per-cent since the 1.30am shut out was introduced.

The figure seems grossly exaggerated given that live music has been on the decline in Sydney for over a decade, allowing for the changing face of pubs and clubs and the closure of numerous venues such as The Hopetoun,The Annandale,The Harbourside Brasserie and The Landsdowne – to name just a few.Traditionally most live music gigs finish around midnight or 1.00am, so it’s hard to say that they have been affected at all.A myriad of other factors have also come into play, that have put the kibosh on live music, including restrictive noise pollution laws and heavy handed council compliance regulations.

One of the furphies associated with the ‘Open’ lobby is that rescinding the current lockout laws will see a revitalisation of the live music scene.

It will certainly create extra work for DJ’s and bar staff, but whether any musicians genuinely benefit from a Mike Baird backflip remains to be seen. It would certainly be great to think that musicians would gig more with the lifting of the lockout laws and that clubs and pubs would program not only prerecorded but live music well into the small hours.

Hudson Ballroom Airling

Many people reading this column would remember Hudson Ballroom by its former monicker, GoodGod Small Club, or maybe as Plan B. Since those days however Sydney’s nightlife scene has changed drastically.

For three friends, now the new owners, they simply couldn’t stand idly by and watch one of the city’s most iconic venues succumb to the draconian pressure that so many other venues have unfortunately fallen to over the past couple of years.

“For us, the priority was to keep the doors open to one of the few places you can still go for a dance and see a live music gig,” said Clark

Mak, part owner of Hudson Ballroom. “We didn’t have time to work out all the details so we needed a “Plan B” and the name stuck, but we’ve since been working away to develop our own identity while continuing to host a diverse mix of artists and the venue’s long running parties and welcoming so many new ones. We’re thrilled and honoured to keep this venue going and super excited to finally relaunch the venue as Hudson Ballroom.”

Hudson Ballroom will not only continue to keep the live music and party atmosphere alive, but they will also continue to satisfy the taste buds of Sydney party goers. Food wise they have delicious offerings from Belly Bao of fried chicken, steamed buns and banana splits which all pair wonderfully with the brand new and carefully designed cocktail menu which includes an agave glazed bacon old fashioned.

Head down tonight and check out what all of the hard work has produced while you’re seduced by the sumptuous voice of Brisbane sing/songwriter Airling. (JA) Oct 27, 8pm. 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney. $15.Tickets & info: www.hudsonballroom.com

One proposal that’s been put forward is that venues committed to live music (as opposed to muzak) to down shots by, be given special dispensation when it comes to extended after midnight hours. Perhaps this would have to be enforced with a degree of qualification, otherwise some venues might chose to employ one of those wretched one-man guitar strumming cover bands belting out Oasis and Don McLean – just to stay open.

The Cross and Oxford Street are at the epicentre of the current lockout debate, although the Sydney CBD probably sees the ugliest and most regular alcohol fuelled violence.Whilst a possible softening of the present lockout laws seems likely, there is a strong argument that Sydney nightlife needs to reinvigorated during the wee small hours.

Somehow the unholiest of all nocturnal alliances, that between entertainment and the flogging of booze, needs be broken.That of course is entirely wishful thinking, but surely some kind of compromise and creative thinking is possible. Nobody in their right mind is going to open a nightclub for teetotallers, although it would be an interesting experiment but maybe a ‘sobering hour’ between 2pm and 3pm could be inserted into the late night trading. Bar service would cease for an hour whilst patrons were offered free coffee and donuts, resuming at 3pm until the close at dawn.

Totally ridiculous? Yeah, you are probably right, and wouldn’t the booze barons hate it if they were denied an hour of lining up shots and other overpriced drinks. It is however a suggestion and lots are needed, on top of the current black and white debate which is irreconcilably divided between open or closed.

A Very DLUX Video Lounge Video art is versatile; whether you revel in the lowbrow glow of moving pictures or struggle to grasp the intersection of the digital and the real in a gallery space, there’s no denying its versatility – it can be shown on a monitor, projected on a wall, sculpture or building, or played on a TV. And VIVID was certainly not the first instance of video art being showcased to the masses, dLux MediaArts have been in the business of making and supporting video art since its inception as the Sydney Super 8 Film Group in 1982.

For one night only, dLux invite Sydney-siders to immerse themselves in the wonder that is video art whilst lounging about in comfort in Annandale’s latest pop-up space. dLux has surveyed its vast collection of works from a number of touring shows and exhibitions to bring audiences a selection of video art.

Visitors will be able to view art from emerging practitioners to seasoned professionals as the collection will display early works from the 80’s through to today.

“Video is such an important part of culture today as it allows a younger generation, who have been brought up on TV and video, to

engage with the arts.Video art is a moving picture that can tell a thousand stories depending on who’s watching it. Like all great art, video art is subjective, nuanced, and visually compelling,” says dLux Exhibition Coordinator Giorgia Gakas.

This event is free to enter and all bar proceeds will go towards supporting dLux’s wide range of artistic endeavours. (AM) Nov 2, 6pm-9pm. Off Broadway Festival Hub, 74-76 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Annandale.

Free. Info: www.dlux.org.au (register via Eventbrite)

Sculpture by the Sea In local parlance, the walk from Bondi to Bronte is known as the goat trail. In all seasons, it is a beautiful wander, encompassing Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte. Sculpture by the Sea takes advantage of the landscapes to showcase artists local and global. This year, more than 100 artists from 17 countries exhibit their art in the beach and cliff side environment, stretching across two kilometres.

Started 20 years ago by founding director David Handley, the free outdoor sculpture park is now an established art festival, last year attracting 520,000 visitors.

“This year we exhibit the 2,000th sculpture on the Bondi coastal walk.Thank you to all the artists for their sculptures that have delighted, challenged and inspired the many millions of visitors to our exhibitions from near and far,” noted Handley.

This year offers many offshoots from the original program.

For something rather unexpected, visitors can bring old 14

city hub 27 OCTOBER 2016

pairs of thongs to contribute to ‘Thong vs. Sandfly’, a large interactive work at Tamarama. And if thongs aren’t quite your thing, a pop-up champers café will complement the sunset hours.

Participating artist Alice McAuliffe (veteran of Sculpture by the Sea Tasmania, 2001) studied Baroque and Renaissance art in Italy for several years, and her research informs her work, ‘Concrete Carpet – Bondi’ a washed-away stencil on the footpath.

“It’s opulent and luscious design,” says McAuliffe. “It’s public, everyone can walk there, in an everyday stroll.” An everyday stroll with art, sand, sea and air. What lucky goats we are. (OA) Until Nov 6. Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk, Sydney.

Free. Info: www.sculpturebythesea.com or (02) 8399 0233

Johannes Pannekoek.

Photo: Clyde Yee

BBC FIRST BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL

British cinema is rich in history, so 10 titles will be showcased in the local heroes retrospective. Goldfinger, Oliver!, Highlander and the late David Bowie’s The Man Who Fell To Earth are just a few of these films which audiences can experience on the big screen.

“These films are an important part of British culture and restored versions will be screened. It should be interesting how today’s contemporary audiences react to these titles”.

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Chris Pine and Ben Foster star in the all-American crime drama Hell or High Water. They play Toby (Pine) and Tanner (Foster), two brothers who’ve reunited for the greater good.

Toby wants to give his children a better life by securing them a home, no matter

how fatal or illegal it may be, and Tanner is a seasoned professional when it comes to crime, but if course you can’t go around robbing banks without making a few enemies along the way.

(BS) WWWW

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Until Nov 16. Palace Norton St, Palace Verona & Chauvel Cinema. $20-$80 (5 film pass).

Tickets & info: www.britishfilmfestival.com.au

0459 789 123

The leading ensemble are all great in their roles: it’s a relief to see Zach Galifianakis do well in a comedy role that isn’t a complete caricature, Isla Fisher demonstrates her great comedic timing, Jon Hamm’s character reads very much as Don Draper (his Mad Men protagonist) in another life (not that that’s not a complaint), and Gal Gadot takes a cheeky spin on the typical femme fatale.

Keeping Up With The Joneses plays off of tropes from 60’s era spy films and suburban serial comedies with some modern updates thrown in.

The Gaffney’s kids are safely (and conveniently) shipped off to summer camp for the entirety of their lifeaffirming journey.

This light action-comedy might be in many ways The filmmakers are very careful to predictable, but that doesn’t make it any less hilarious. portray Karen’s investigative skills as ‘smart’ and ‘intuitive’, The Gaffneys (Isla Fisher and Zach Galifianakis) have rather than ‘nosy’ and ‘hysterical’ – one pet peeve though, their quiet, suburban lives turned upside down when a the typical Hollywood makeover scene is predictably ridiculously good looking and sophisticated couple moves underwhelming (“oh wow, who’d’ve thought this baben’ into the neighbourhood, the Joneses (Jon Hamm and Gal Hollywood actress would look amazing in a gold dress Gadot).While Jeff (Galifianakis) gets cosy wish new man- and some lipstick?”). crush Tim (Hamm), Karen (Fisher) grows suspicious of Keeping Up With The Joneses is however right up there their cul-de-sac’s trendy new power couple and begins to with Bad Moms as one of this year’s surprisingly great investigate, the Joneses certainly aren’t what they pretend comedies. (AM) to be – and “hilarity ensues”.

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I, Daniel Blake (UK) - The story of a 59-year-old man who seeks help from the benefits system and meets a single mother with two children who are also caught up in the welfare bureaucracy.

Oasis: Supersonic (UK) – A documentary which explores the rise to fame of the Manchester rock band Oasis, one of the biggest bands in UK history. Contains rare and previously unseen material.

Urban Hymn (UK) – A heartrending and human drama which delves into the connection that builds between a troubled young girl and a caring and grieving care-worker.

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Keeping Up With The Joneses

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TOP PICKS

A Monster Calls

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By Mark Morellini This film festival has experienced a consistent growth in attendances since its inception four years ago, and this year’s program of high profile films should ensure that interest continues to build.

Festival curator Kim Patalas said that patrons enjoy watching films from the British Isles at this festival.

“Australians connect with these British films – we understand their humour and we share the same sensibility. Many of the films screened in this festival environment also go on to be successes in mainstream release.”

With a selection of 30 films to choose from (of which 19 are Australian premieres) audiences should be satisfied by the diversity of films to choose from.

A Monster Calls tells the story of a boy who receives a night-time visit from an enormous tree-shaped monster after being dealt some shattering blows in life. “This is a visually spectacular and moving film with ground breaking special effects. Lewis MacDougall delivers a career defining performance as the young boy in this film which is so original in its narrative,” explained Patalas.

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