A magazine style arts programme that broadcasts weekly on a Sunday afternoon. In today's programme:
12:26 John Pule: Suitcase
The recent Niue Arts and Culture Festival took as its theme the question “Who am I?” and called on Niuean artists to ponder ideas of identity and how they might renew, rethink and reclaim their ancestral home. Painter, poet and novelist John Pule has just moved back to his birthplace in Niue and responded with an exhibition of lithographs. Justin Gregory spoke to him at the Niue Yacht Club.
12:41 New Zealand at the Venice Biennale
Berlin-based New Zealand artist Simon Denny and his funders will soon find out if his art installations about mass surveillance have struck a chord with audiences, critics and curators at the Venice Biennale. Half of the installation is unmissable for people flying into Marco Polo International Airport. Standing Room Only presenter Lynn Freeman is covering La Biennale for Radio New Zealand.
(Left) Simon Denny, who is displaying at the Venice Biennale
New York Times article focusing on Simon Denny's work at the Biennale
1:10 At the Movies with Simon Morris
Simon Morris welcomes the blockbuster season - or at least big films. Avengers: Age Of Ultron tackles trendy Artificial Intelligence, Testament of Youth is a film version of a famous First World War memoir, and the award-winning Leviathan takes a critical look at Putin's Russia.
1:34 ComicFest
This week Wellington was host to a plethora of comic talent – no not from the comedy festival. New Zealand illustrators and cartoonists met up to discuss their craft at ComicFest. At one such post-discussion panel meetup Standing Room Only producer Shaun D Wilson spoke to Toby Morris, Tim Bollinger, Jonathan King and Tim Gibson about the state of their art.
1:46 Prepping for 48 Hours of madness
Tiny teams all over the country are doing in two days what it takes far larger teams years to do - make a movie. The 48 Hours film competition is on! Simon Morris speaks to the New Zealand Manager for 48 Hours 2015 Tim Groenendaal, as well as experienced competitors Hayden Weal (Moffilaide), and Julian Vares (The Eh Team).
2:05 The Laugh Track – Nish Kumar
Brit Nish Kumar is playing New Zealand for the first time at the International Comedy Festival. He talks standup and picks choice cuts from Louis C.K., Chris Rock, Daniel Kitson, and Stewart Lee. In Auckland Nish is part of The Big Show, as well as performing his own set at The Classic. He will be touring the country on the Comedy Convoy.
2:25 Singing sisters in Cinderella
The latest New Zealand Opera production is about to open. It's Rossini's La Cenerentola, rather better known as Cinderella. Interestingly three of the leads - Cinderella and the two Wicked Sisters - are all played by expat New Zealand singers. Singers Amelia Barry and Rachelle Pike were both New Zealand Opera Emerging Artists who studied together in New York.
2:39 Running Towards Danger
The trouble doesn't end for Karen after her flatmate is shot and killed next to her on the street. In her novel Running Towards Danger, author Tina Clough puts Karen under huge pressure as she forces her to travel the country under an assumed name. She thinks she's found a safe place to settle down - but is she right?
2:50 Jack Feleti: Ebony Carver
In a village on Niue’s eastern coast, master carver Jack Feleti makes one-of-a-kind objects from the ebony he finds on his ancestral lands. The exquisite, hand-carved pieces he produces have been sold everywhere from Auckland to Japan and he tells Justin Gregory that the raw materials he needs for his art are all around him.
3:05 The Drama Hour
The Cactus Flowers by Virginia Jekanyika [BBC]
In the beautiful resort of Kariba, Zimbabwe, three women are tired of working washing clothes and cleaning the rooms of the nearby Safari Park. They decide to starts their own fishing business. Just as things start to go their way, they are hit by a sudden tragedy, which results in a bitter betrayal and a struggle for survival. A bitter-sweet story of family and friendship.
Cast:
Ndaka ….. Adelayo Adedayo
Magi ….. Nadine Marshall
Chiedza ….. Susan Wokoma
Karen ….. Haydn Gwynne
Max ….. Obi Abili
Tendai ….. Nyasha Hatendi
Witchdoctor ….. Jude Akuwudike
Nurse ….. Jude Akuwudike
Nurse 2 ….. Anniwaa Buachie
Madame Blythe ….. Jane Slavin
Produced and directed by Marion Nancarrow (BBC)