Standing Room Only for Sunday 8 December 2019

 

12:36  Hunting down an historical cabinet

Part classic detective work, part loving restoration - Akaroa Museum is now home to a rare repatriated and restored piece of New Zealand furniture history.

The Museum's curator Daniel Smith went in search of work by Banks Peninsula farmer and carver John Menzies, and located a large Pataka cabinet of his in Australia. 

Daniel arranged to have the cabinet - made in 1890 - shipped home and restored by William Cottrell, who specialises in Colonial furniture.

Lynn Freeman talked with William and Daniel, who she asked why he was such a fan of Menzies' carving.

The John Menzies Pataka cabinet is on show at Akaroa Museum before being moved to the Christchurch Art Gallery. 

 

12:45 Irish singer and activist Pauline Scanlon 

Irish singer songwriter and outspoken advocate Pauline Scanlon is a driving force behind a movement to address gender equality in folk and traditional music.

It's called Fair Plé, and she says while there's been some movement in the two years since the campaign started, it's slow progress.  She was also involved in the 'hear me out' movement in Ireland that encouraged people to speak about abortion

Pauline is heading back to New Zealand in January to perform at the Auckland Folk Festival. 

She has collaborated with many musicians including Kiwi reggae band Trinity Roots.  Lynn Freeman talked with Pauline in Dublin, first asking about the gender inequality she's battling

 Pauline Scanlon is one of the headline acts at the 2020 Auckland Folk Festival starting on the 25th of January.
 

1:10 At The Movies

This week Simon Morris reviews Frozen 2, Mrs Lowry and Son and Knives Out.

 

1:32  Arts for marginalized West Auckland youth 

A unique arts initiative for marginalized West Auckland youth is about to exhibit the work of the class of 2019.

The Kākano Youth Arts Collective's founder and Creative Director, Mandy Patmore, recently won a Kiwibank Local Hero of the Year Award for her work helping young people through the arts.

Some go on to study at tertiary level, despite leaving mainstream education as young as 12.

Lynn Freeman spoke to one of the Kākano students Troi, who recently held his first solo show, and to Mandy to find out how the collective started.

The end of year exhibition Te Whakatipu Akoranga opens at the Corban Estate Arts Centre, West Auckland, on Wednesday. 

 

1:46  New Zealand jewellers and the Handshake project

The decision by Te Auaha in Wellington to end its jewellery course  in 2021 is seen as a huge blow. Many of its graduates have attracted international attention over the years.

That's largely due to the Handshake project started in 2011 by makers Peter Deckers and his wife Hilda Gascard,  Its aim is to nurture New Zealand jewellers, and create a family environment for them, as well as building links with international galleries and exhibitions. 

There are two different Handshakes exhibitions.  One takes place in the Netherlands, and the other has just opened in Auckland, involving the same jewellers who've had different briefs for each show.

Lynn Freeman talk with three of them - Vivien Atkinson, Becky Bliss and Caroline Thomas - who all use "found materials" but in very different ways.    

She also spoke to Peter Deckers to find out how the New Zealand jewellery scene has changed since 2011.

Handshake 5 is on at Te Uru museum in Auckland.
 

2:06 The Laugh Track - Sameena Zehra and Sasha Tilly

At a time when the performing arts are all about career paths, overseas opportunities and comedy that guarantees one laugh every ten seconds, there's something reassuringly random about fringe theatre.

The Fringe used to be a sort of footnote to Serious Arts Festivals - particularly Edinburgh.  But it became very much its own thing.  The New Zealand Fringe Festival is celebrating its 30th birthday - the event that National Geographic, no less, deemed one of the 10 Must Do In February Festivals.

The NZ Fringe is under new management for 2020, and they're our guests on today's Laugh Track.  Simon Morris talks with Creative Producer, Sameena Zehra and Operations Director Sasha Tilly.  

Their picks include Wanda Sykes (and Larry David), Hayley Sproull, Mawaan Rizwan and Joe Lycett.
 

2:25  Stephanie Parkyn and Josephine's Garden

Empress Josephine of France, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, at one stage faced the guillotine before her famous marriage.  She also created a garden filled with plants and animals she gathered from across the globe.

From her home in a bush-clad valley in Coromandel Peninsula, Stephanie Parkyn has written a novel about this woman who survived certain death to face an uncertain future with her Emperor husband, who was desperate for an heir.

Two other women from very different spheres are tied to the fate of the Empress Josephine - Marthe Desfriches and Anne Serreaux. Their lives are put at risk as they each face confronting obstacles in their relationships and in their desire to become mothers.

Stephanie Parkyn tells Lynn Freeman that Josephine's Garden is her second novel.  Her first, Into the World, was published in 2017 also by Allen and Unwin
 

 

2:40 Amy Brown's baby journal - neon daze

Every day for the first four months of her baby's life, Amy Brown kept a journal of poems about all the emotions and and milestones mother and baby experienced.

They are candid, and often very raw, stories of a young woman trying to make sense of a radically changed life.

Amy, who lives in Melbourne these days, has now published that journal, calling it neon daze. 

Lynn Freeman talks to her about the experience.

Amy Brown's neon daze is published by Victoria University Press.
 

 

2:49 A Youth theatre company explores the teenage brain

An insight into the chaotic teenage brain is the promise from Christchurch's Court Youth Company's young actors, ahead of their end-of-year production.

Brainstorm is semi-scripted and semi-devised, bringing together research by neuroscientists and the actors' personal stories
 
Director and devisor Rachel Sears says most research is written for parents to help them understand their teenage childrens' behaviour,  But this show allows young people to explain their behaviour in their own words.
 
Lynn Freeman talks to Rachel and to two of the cast of 19 - Luka Malthus and Freddy Thornton.  Rachel says Brainstorm has a lot to offer teens and their parents:

The show opens on Tuesday at  Rangi Ruru Merivale Lane Theatre in Christchurch.

 

3:06 Drama at 3 - Problems by Joe Musaphia

Joe Musaphia has been writing since the 1960's - including stage,TV and radio.  In recent times Joe's work has tended towards more universal social and political themes - like today's play Problems.

The setting:  a totalitarian state. Two security guards are posted outside the door of the Great Leader's rooms, with orders he is not to be disturbed... 

Music played in this show

Artist: Genesis
Song: I know what I like in your wardrobe
Composer: Banks-Collins-Gabriel
Album: Selling England by the pound
Label:  Virgin
Played at: 12.32

Artist: Pauline Scanlon
Song: In shame love in shame
Composer: Hennessy-Scanlon
Album: Hush
Label: Compass
Played at: 12.46

Artist: Adele
Song: Turning tables
Composer: Adkins-Tedder
Album: 21
Label: XL
Played at: 12.58

Artist: Sia
Song: Chandelier
Composer: Furler-Shatkin
Album: 1000 Forms of Fear
Label: Inertia
Played at: 1.07

Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Song: Don't sit down 'cause I've moved your chair
Composer: Arctic Monkeys
Album: Suck it and see
Label: Domino
Played at: 1.58

Artist: Louis Armstrong
Song: Rockin' chair
Composer: Carmichael
Album: Gold
Label: Hip-O
Played at: 2.04

Artist: Bill Lake and Rick Bryant
Song: Rollin' and Tumblin'
Composer: Waters
Album: We're in the same boat brother
Label: Eelman
Played at: 2.36

Artist: Reverend and the Makers
Song: Armchair detective
Composer: McClure-Smyth
Album: State of Things
Label: Wallofsound
Played at: 2.58

Artist: Laura Nyro
Song: Lazy Susan
Composer: Nyro
Album: Classics
Label: Elite
Played at: 3.04

Artist: Squeeze
Song: Black coffee in bed
Composer: Difford-Tilbrook
Album: Singles 45 & Under
Label: A&M
Played at: 3.58