Art Smitten - The Podcast

Maria and Smithers chat to actor Sorcha Breen about I Am Katherine, a theatrical adaptation and response to William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, playing at Hares and Hyenas (63 Johnston St, Fitzroy) from July 19-29.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smithers and Maria chat to actor/director Lee McClenaghan and lead actor Kelley Kerr Young about The Association, an immersive theatre experience presented by Girls Act Good that's playing at Number 64 (64 Pentland Parade, Yarraville) from July 18-30.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Gareth Liddiard of the Drones took to the stage as the headline act of NGV’s Friday Night series, he took a moment to remind the audience of an unpopular Vincent Van Gogh fact. “He stinks” he said, with a wry grin. He was referring not to Van Gogh’s paintings, but to Vincent himself. Reminding everyone that one of the greatest artists of the 20th century and the star of the most successful NGV international exhibition to ever go on display, actually stank. “In fact if he walked in here now,” Liddiard continued, “You’d probably have him arrested.”  The mythology around Van Gogh is so pervasive now that it is difficult to imagine a time where he was not lauded as an artistic, if troubled, genius. Perhaps it is remembered, but in a self congratulatory way - “I would have known, I would have been different and seen him as the genius that he was.” And to this Liddiard calls bullshit. Liddiard is a loveable rogue who sings like someone havi

Christian chats to Japanese Butoh dancer Yumi Umiumare about her upcoming performances at The Mechanics Institute and the Foreshore in Apollo Bay on Saturday 15th July, 6pm and 8pm, as part of the WinterWild Festival, running until August 3.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silvi and Christina chat to film director Ivan Hexter about his work on Tunnel Vision, a new documentary about the protests against the East West Link, Tunnel screening with Secret Matters at Cinema Nova (380 Lygon St, Carlton), 5pm on Sunday July 16, as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian chats to Johanna B Kelly, director of The Gateway Bug, a film about the benefits of an insect diet, screening as part of the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Sunday July 16, 3pm at Cinema Nova (380 Lygon St, Carlton).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian chats to director/producer Fiona Cochrane about her new film 25 Tracks, about 2 musicians who set out to release 1 song every fortnight for a year, screening in the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival on Saturday July 15, 6.15pm at Long Play (318 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Thierry chat to Open House Executive Director Emma Telfer about working with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image on the 'What Would Jane Do?’ running for the rest of July.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian chats to Russ Vickery and Matthew Parsons about their Melbourne premier season of My Other Closet, The Cabaret, a show based on Russ' experiences with domestic violence in a queer relationship, on from July 15-28 at Bella Union, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christians chats to Elysia Zeccola, director of the 2017 Scandinavian Film Festival, travelling around the nation from July 11 to August 6.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Playing on their egos of Fran and Yetta, Lauren Edwards and Jude Perl created a dynamic cabaret show that celebrated a decade of television history, the 90s. Yada Yada Yada took its name from the Seinfeld episode in which George gets suspicious of his new girlfriend’s use of the term. There are a few of these Easter eggs scattered throughout the show. The premise follows a knock off Fran and Yetta filming a 90s Television Special. The two performers did an array of sitcom medleys and original songs. Particular songs, like Cheers, made you join in with the two in wishing that we could live life in a 90s Sitcom. There was talk of favourite heart throbs, social roles of older women, the stereotype of Jewish grandmas and audience trivia. The show felt difficult to get into as the humour was very particular to the sitcom style. A laughing track was implemented and banter between the two was undeniable. However, songs such as "Roles for Older Women" provided that much needed commentary and flavour of the two

Silvi and Christina chat to Janice Muller, ​​​director of the Malthouse Theatre's Australian premier production of Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again.​ running until July 9.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Thierry chat to Narda Shanley, CEO of St Martin's Youth Arts Centre, about Banjo's, Boots & Beyonce (a different kind of bush dance), on from 6 – 8 July at The Substation, 1 Market Street Newport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At La Mama Theatre in Carlton on Wednesday night I got to experience a moving and powerful physical theatre piece called (De)construct. Directed by Cera Maree Brown, (de)construct explores themes of identity, social anxiety, language, gender, sexuality and living from home. Based on recorded conversations between the performers, the honesty and depth to the opinions voiced struck a chord of familiarity in the audience as the different situations were played out. (de)construct begins with a movement piece, gradually building in intensity and speed before following in to a deep conversation as Jai Leeworthy, Lucy Pitt, Nabs Adnam, and Antonia Yip Side Pin recount their own experiences and tell their stories. This was accompanied with what they were saying displayed behind them, leading to the audience not knowing what was script and was was reality. The conversation was overplayed with movement which displayed the subtext of the words being said. Words saying they were doing well were contrasted with the actors

Christina and Thierry chat to Madeleine Featherby about playing Helen (of Troy) in PARIS - A Rock Odyssey, running from July 13-15 at the  Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christina and Thierry chat to Tyran Parke about directing Lyric Opera’s production of The Coronation of Poppea, on from July 15-22 at Chapel off Chapel (12 Little Chapel St, Prahran).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wallace & Gromit and Friends and their talented creators have just arrived at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Aardman Animations. Running until October 29 this latest of the Melbourne Winter Masterpieces is a virtually exhaustive exhibition of the company's entire body of work, including their next feature film, Early Man, coming out early next year. Visiting Aardman founders and co-curators, Peter Lord and David Sproxton, working very closely with ACMI head curator Fiona Trigg and the Art Ludique museum in Paris, have delivered a generous serving of early sketches, concept art, original models, plasticine sets and, of course, the plasticine characters themselves! I was fortunate enough to hear Peter and David's brilliant introduction to the exhibition and to chat to Fiona about what it was like to put it all together. All the favourites are there of course: there’s plenty to see of the famous bumbling inventor and his long-suffering dog, s

Smithers reviews the new circus show that runs from June 20-July 16 at the Big Top in Birrarung Marr (between Federation Square and Batman Avenue).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silvi chats to cabaret performer Tash York about her new show, Adulting, playing at the Butterfly Club (5 Carson Pl, off Lt Collins) from July 11-16 as part of the Cabaret Fringe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack interviews Liam McGorry, founding member of Dorsal Fins, about the nine-piece band’s upcoming gig at the first Melbourne Museum – Nocturnal event, happening Friday July 7, 6-11pm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.