Standing Room Only for Sunday 2 May 2021

 

12:16  In defense of Sports Writing

Sports Literature often falls between two stools - too populist for the literati, too highfalutin for sports fans.  Why is sports writing often seen as the poor relation of literature?

The case for giving some of our best literary sports writers more credit for their work will be argued at a panel as part of the upcoming Featherston Booktown in the Wairarapa.

"Winning Writing: The Case for Sports Literature" will reflect on why sports writing here doesn't get the same recognition as other literary genres.

Lynn Freeman speaks to two of the panellists: Roger Robinson author of When Running Made History, and Suzanne McFadden, the Editor of Newsroom's LockerRoom that's dedicted to women's sport.  She also wrote Striking Gold, the story behind New Zealand Hockey's remarkable victory at the 1976 Olympic Games.

Roger Robinson, Suzanne McFadden and Keith Quinn will discuss "Winning Writing:  the Case for Sports Literature" on Saturday, May 8 at the Royal Hotel as part of Featherston Booktown. 

 

12:35  Walters Prize Exhibition

The country's biggest art award, the bienniel Walters Prize, marks its 20th year in 2021.  It's undoubtedly had a powerful influence on the landscape of contemporary art in Aotearoa.

Now the four finalists over the past two years are about to go on show at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

There's a real international feel to the works, which tell stories from Japan, London and Bali as well as Aotearoa.

To talk about them, Lynn Freeman is joined by the Gallery's Curator, Contemporary Art, Natasha Conland.

The Walters Prize 2021 finalists' work goes on show at the Auckland Art Gallery on the 15th of May.
 

12:45  Jacob Rajan's new play is coincidentally timely

A play about impermanence, a population under threat and set in India - it sounds like it's just been created in response to the current pandemic crisis.

But writer and actor Jacob Rajan wrote the script for Paradise or The Impermanence Of Ice Cream after his and director Justin Lewis's latest trip to India back in 2019. 

Jacob and Justin founded the Indian Ink Company 20 years ago, and its back catalogue includes Krishnan's Dairy and The Guru of Chai.

The plays were always designed to tour, here and oveseas.  But the pandemic's curtailed those overseas shows for the foreseeable future.

Lynn Freeman talks to Jacob Rajan about the new play.  It had a development season last year, and after some big changes, Paradise is about to tour the country.

Paradise or the Impermanence of Ice Cream starts its national tour in Wellington, at Te Auaha on the 20th of May.

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1:10 At The Movies

Simon Morris reviews United States vs Billie Holiday and Six minutes to midnight, and talks to the editor of Oscar-winning Pixar film Soul, Kevin Nolting.  What does an editor of an animated picture do?

 

1:33  The conclusion of Philip Temple's biography of Maurice Shadbolt

He wrestled with demons, including depression and alcohol, for most of his life.  But writer Maurice Shadbolt still managed to produce several seminal New Zealand novels, as well as some outstanding journalism.

Philip Temple has published the second and final part of his exhaustive biography.  It covers Shadbolt's tumultuous personal and professional life from the early 70s until his death in 2004.

This period covers some of his most famous work, including the novels Strangers and Journeys and The Season of the Jew, and his in-depth  coverage of the Arthur Allan Thomas and Bill Sutch court cases and the Erebus disaster.

Philip Temple opens Volume 2 of Life as a Novel in 1973 - the year Maurice described as the one he'd most like to rewrite!    His second marriage fell apart, and he struggled to cope with the deaths of several people he was close to.

Lynn Freeman talks to Philip Temple about Maurice Shadbolt's life and work.

 

 

 

1:50  Are we just Another Mammal?

We have historic choices to make as a species, reckons Wellington playwright Jo Randerson, who looks a power imbalances and asks why people just can't get along in her new show.

Another Mammal was due to premiere last year but the lockdowns put paid to that.

But it's given her a chance to reconsider the script in light of behaviour seen here and overseas throughout the global pandemic.  

Earlier this year Jo received the ONZM for services to the performing arts and her company Barbarian Productions does a lot of work devising theatre with local communities.

Lynn Freeman asks Jo about those historic choices we face.

Another Mammal written by Jo Randerson  premieres at Wellington's Circa theatre on the 8th of May

 

 

2:06 The Laugh Track - Sameena Zehra and Sera Demcich

 

What we love most about the upcoming New Zealand Comedy Festival is the fact that it attracts opposites.

Take today's Laugh Track guests.  Sameena Zehra offers an impressive CV. and describes her show as "exploring the individual experiences of daily life and the larger issues of the world".  It's also called Arsebiscuits.

Sera Devcich offers us the bare minimum of information, apart from a name that she claims even her nephew can't pronounce!  But we're hearing from all sides she's one of the top comics to watch.  "Hilarious, dark and not to be missed", they say...

Sera and Sameena's picks on the Laugh Track include Billy Connolly, Ali Wong, Wanda Sykes and William Stone.

Sera Devcich & Sameena Zehra both perform as part of the Best Foods Comedy Gala in Wellington on Sunday May 2.

At the 2021 New Zealand Comedy Festival., Sera appears at Auckland's Classic Studio, May 4-8, then at Wellington's Bats Theatre Dome, May 11-15.

Sameena plays Wellington's Fringe Bar, May 4, 6, & 7, then goes to Auckland's Basement, May 13-15

 

2:25 Pop superstar Benee goes orchestral

Split Enz, Tami Neilson, The Phoenix Foundation and Teeks - all Kiwi acts who've been invited to reimagine their songs with a full orchestra.

Now it's the rather unlikely turn of pop superstar Benee, who can claim two and a half billion streams around the world, eight music awards and sell-out shows everywhere she goes.

So imagine Benee singing "Glitter", "Soaked" and "Supalonely":in front of not just her own band but also a 66 piece orchestra.  Then.imagine familiar songs performed in entirely different genres - 90s trip hop perhaps, or even as a Bond theme.

Composer Claire Cowan has come up with the new arrangements for the 21 year old singer songwriter who'll perform with the NZSO in Wellington and the APO in Auckland.

Lynn Freeman talks with Claire and Benee, who says the offer took her completely by surprise:

The NZSO concerts will be in late July, while Benee performs with the APO in September.

 

2:40  Thriller writer Tina Clough

 

Human trafficking is the latest crime to be investigated by Hunter Grant, the ex-army reluctant detective created by Swedish-Kiwi writer Tina Clough.

Folded is the third outing for Hunter and his partner Dao, after The Chinese Proverb and One Single Thing.

This time they are drawn into the new case after a passerby discovers folded origami notes containing pleas for help.

Lynn Freeman asks Tina about the appeal of a series with the same characters.

Folded by Tina Clough is published by Lightpool.
 

 

2:49  Translating te reo into Italian

History is being made with a new collection of contemporary Māori women's poetry.    Alongside the reo and English versions, the poems have been translated into Italian, 

Translation is a delicate and nuanced task.   Get it wrong and it changes not just the words but the whole meaning of the original piece.

But Antonella Sarti Evans has 25 years experience translating works by New Zealand authors - including Hone Tuwhare, Janet Frame and Patricia Grace - for Italian audiences.

The new collection of translated poems by Aotearoa and Cook Island Maaori is called Matariki and it's published by a company in Rome.

Lynn Freeman talks with Antonella Sarti Evans, and invites her to read one of the poems.

Matariki, Sciame di Stelle (constellation swarm of stars): Poetesse Māori Contemporanee is translated by Antonella Sarti and published by Edizioni Ensemble, Rome.

 

3:06 Drama at 3 - A boy called Piano by  Fa'amoana John Luafutu

A Boy Called Piano was written by Fa'amoana John Luafutu, himself a survivor of state care in the 60s, and performed by Fa'amoana, his son Matthias and two of his grandsons.  This work gives a voice to the thousands of Maori and Pacific children made wards of state. 

Internationally acclaimed director Nina Nawalowalo leads an 8-strong cast, to tell Fa'amoana John Luafutu's story.

There is a WARNING.   This drama deals with sexual and physical abuse, including child abuse, and contains language which may not be suitable for all listeners.   Adult supervision is strongly suggested. 

This production of A Boy Called Piano will be on the RNZ website in the "Major Plays" collection for the next fortnight.