City Hub 31 March 2016

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“It’s film, Jim, but not as we know it”SCREEN TIMESCREEN TIME

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BY CHRISTOPHER HARRISLeichhardt Council has vowed to

overturn the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage’s decision to deny them a skate park.

“The same Government that has let the rest of Callan Park fall apart through neglect says a skate park will damage the ‘heritage’ of the place,” Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne said.

“If you want to open a casino or build high rise towers in this town their door is open, but if you want to pay for and build a desperately needed facility for young people, they shut you out.

The Office of Environment and Heritage rejected the skate park because it was not fitting with the character of the park.

The Office of Heritage said that “the proposed development of a regional skate park in this location on the site would materially affect the heritage significance of Callan Park Conservation Area and Buildings and harm its picturesque landscape character.”

Friends of Callan Park said that they supported a skate park in principle, but that the design put forward by the council had morphed into something else entirely.

“[S]adly the simple community skate park that we and many others envisioned has turned out to become a large over engineered skate park with accompanying art and entertainment spaces; including a formalized stage area. It is too large a development for this site,” the group wrote to the Council in February.

The letter said that the Friends of Callan Park Group would support a “simple family friendly community skate park,” which would be used only during the day.

Friends of Callan Park also listed concerned with the costing for the park, and whether or not that included the removal of asbestos. It also raised concerns with the litter generated from the park.

The group wrote that the City of Sydney had decided to build a skate park in Bicentennial Park two kilometers away, which may reduce the need for the park in the local area.

Greens Councillor Rochelle Porteous said the all members of council supported

the park. She said the most important thing was start and negotiate with the Department of Heritage to secure the skate park.

“The issue now is we need to sit down with the heritage council, and go through the issues, and see how we can work through that and resolve that, because all the Greeens councilors, and I think all of council supports the skate park.”

“Clearly, it is important that the issues which have been raised are listened to and we seek to find a way forward, taking on board the objectiions from the Department because heritage is also very important in Callan park.”

BY ANDREW BARCLAY The NSW Government’s plan to privatise

the state’s prisons is “completely mistaken” according to criminal justice experts and campaigners.

Coordinator for Justice Action Brett Collins told City Hub the government’s plan was a “complete farce” because privatisation wouldn’t solve the biggest problem facing NSW prisons -- overcrowding.

Mr Collins said that there were political motivations behind the plan.

“It’s like changing the captain of the Titanic when it’s sinking,” he said.

“There are no benefits to prisoner outcomes from privatisation, only political benefits because it distances the government from failures of the system.”

Prisoner numbers in NSW have been labelled “out of control,” after rising from 9,927 inmates in 2013 to 12,191 in 2016.

A recent Auditor-General report also found the state’s prison system was operating at 112 per cent occupancy rate.

Prisons across NSW will have to prove they are able to meet “benchmarking and marketing testing” or risk being handed over to the private sector, under the plan announced last week by Corrections Minister David Elliot,

The NSW Government also announced it will allow a private operator to bid to run a medium-security jail in Windsor, on Sydney’s north-western outskirts.

Mr Elliott said competition between the public and private sectors would raise the standards of prisons in NSW.

“This reform will help deliver a prison system that accommodates more inmates, operates more efficiently, and has a greater focus on rehabilitation, without compromising safety and security,” he said.

The plan is part of the NSW government’s Better Prisons program, which aims to help “improve the standards and value for money provided by the state’s prison system”.

The Greens criticised the move as a serious risk to democracy in the state because it

effectively incentivised corporations to jail more citizens.

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said it also failed to address overcrowding in the state’s prisons.

“Large-scale private prisons are not the

solution to chronic prison overcrowding, they are a failed US experiment that should not be adopted here,” he said in a statement.

“The problems in our gaols of assaults, security breaches and high levels of repeat offenders are caused by a prison system creaking at the seams from overcrowding and none of this will be solved by privatisation.”

But leading prison expert, Professor of Criminology Eileen Baldry told City Hub the government’s plan was “extremely problematic” because prisons alone can’t reduce the state’s recidivism rate.

“Unless the government puts more resources into community organisations to help prisoners once released, it is completely pointless,” she said.

The UNSW professor said there was no evidence in Australia recidivism rates in private prisons were better than those in government-run prisons.

“The notion that by just privatising alone you will solve the problems isn’t true,” she said.

“It doesn’t mean quality and efficiency will improve.”

Professor Baldry said the plan carried some “serious risks”.

“It takes one of the most important aspects of society and hands that responsibility to the private sector,” she said.

“I don’t think there is evidence doing this will improve prisoner outcomes.”

“What is needed is a different framework.” The NSW prison population is expected

to rise over the long-term unless measures are taken to reduce the demand for prison accommodation, according to a 2015 NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report.

The successful bidder will be announced in August.

Plan to privatise prisons labeled a “risk to democracy”

Friends of Callan Park said they were not altogether opposed to a skate park

Backflip on half pipe

Goulburn Correctional Centre. Photo: James Barnett

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Power is the only game being played at Moore Park

BY LUCAS BAIRDA land grab at Moore Park for another

stadium is not an idle threat, according to community group Saving Moore Park.

The group used its first newsletter on Monday to outline the power plays between Premier Mike Baird and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres.

The newsletter observes that the Minister suggested that a yet to come design brief “will determine where is the best location to build the stadium”.

“If not Moore Park, where else?” the community group said in the newsletter.

Speaking to City Hub, the group’s convenor Michael Waterhouse said he was worried because the Sports Minister had been “undermining” the Premier on the issue.

On Tuesday the 22nd of March, the Premier said on ABC local radio that a

new stadium being built on Centennial and Moore Park Trust land was unlikely. He said that a new 55,000 seat stadium was slated to be built on existing SCG Trust land.

But Stuart Ayres has previously indicated that the design would be the determining factor in where the stadium would be constructed.

Mr Waterhouse said that this was the first of his many worries that still surround Moore Park.

“The Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, is taking a very different approach [to the Premier].”

“He seems to be undermining the Premier because he has come out and said that the design they are working on will determine the location of the stadium,” he said.

“If the location is to be determined by design, which is a weird way of

approaching things to begin with. Then you have got to ask where is it going to be, because there is no where else other than Moore Park.”

Mr Waterhouse has been an outspoken advocate for Moore Park since helping to create the Saving Moore Park group. Sending letters to the Premier and Minister for the Environment, Mark Speakman.

Mr Speakman in his reply to Mr Waterhouse aligned with the Premier, saying that any redevelopment of Allianz stadium would be done on SCG Trust land.

The question of whether or not there will be a new stadium built or whether the existing Allianz stadium will be refurbished has been a point of contention, with the City of Sydney voting last week to support opponents of the push to acquire green space in Moore Park.

Allianz StadiumPhoto: J Bar



Residents shut down Concord WestConnex site

BY WENDY BACONResidents shut down a WestConnex construction

site in Concord for two hours on Tuesday morning to protest against what they call the ‘sham’ approval of the M4 East a tunnel, the tollway planned between Homebush and Haberfield in Sydney’s Inner West.

The demonstration followed days of protesting at drilling sites in Tempe on the route of the second Westconnex tunnel, the proposed New M5 which is yet to be approved.

“The Baird Government has treated the people of NSW with contempt in its attempt to bulldoze the WestCONnex toll road through,” said Save Ashfield Park (SAP) spokesperson Paul Jeffreys, who joined a group of 20 residents to block the gate to the site.

“Construction contracts for this toll road were signed before this approval was even granted, so we knew the process would be a total sham. And the sloppy environmental impact statement (EIS) on which this approval was based reflected that.”

Residents, some of whom were attending their first direct action protest, said they have been betrayed by the NSW Planning Department, which rejected highly critical reports by independent traffic and environmental experts hired by local councils. Objections from nearly 5,000 residents and community groups were also ignored. Final construction plans that will allow tunnelling to go ahead are not yet been finally approved. This did not stop Liberal and National Party politicians turning out in force on March 4 for a ground breaking ceremony at the Concord tunnelling site attended by Federal Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher, NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay and Local State MP John Sidoti. They repeated the now familiar mantra of $20 billion economic benefits, free flowing tollways and thousands of new jobs.

The media event was aimed at making the unpopular WestConnex appear inevitable and was probably organised for the purpose of public relations to minimise damage from the issue as the Federal election approaches.

So far WestConnex has been restricted to preliminary work in Concord It has bulldozed a hockey field leaving a denuded site onto which it plans to bring a huge tunnelling machine which would work 24 hours a day over more than two years to extract hundreds of truckloads of waste a day. The hockey field has been shifted to what was previously open space. The Concord site is part of the Canada Bay local government area. This Council has been less critical of the project compared to nearby Ashfield, Leichhardt and City of Sydney Councils. It is unhappy with the project nevertheless.

Before approval was granted in early February,

Canada Bay Council sent a report to the NSW Planning Department complaining that AECOM, the company responsible for the Westconnex EIS, had failed to address concerns about traffic congestion on local roads, long delays predicted for major intersections with the Westconnex, pedestrian safety and the “social and economic impacts of WestConnex project on residents, displaced residents, youth, businesses and workers.” Canada Bay Council’s report was just one of a number of responses from government agencies and Councils urging the government to do more work before the Minister for Planning Rob Stokes gave his approval. But these responses were not published on the Planning websites until after approval was granted. NSW Health’s final response also noted a lack of transparency in the reporting of health risks, the possibility of more people being adversely affected by night time noise levels and a failure in commitment to “vulnerable individuals.” The failure to make these reports public before approval has further angered campaigners who are also incensed by the chaotic publication last week of a record number of 12,000 responses to the New M5 tollway. Of these 99.91 per cent objected to the project. After weeks of delay, the NSW Planning Department compiled the 12,000 submissions into 140 PDF documents. Many residents cannot open these PDFs and others cannot find their submissions because they have not been numbered or have been rendered anonymous. The Planning Department

has already admitted that some of these problems are caused by “system failure” or “human error.” Contrary to NSW Planning Department normal practice, the Council and government department submissions, which are nearly all critical of aspects of the project, have been published separately but instead been dumped at the bottom of the list of PDFs, which means almost no one would find or read them. At the same time, the Planning Department published AECOM’s Response to Submissions which rejects nearly all criticisms, often by either repeating the original EIS report or postponing solutions for reducing impacts until the ‘detailed design’ phase after approval. It fails to engage with serious critiques from independent experts.

WestCONnex Action Group spokesperson and Haberfield resident Sharon Laura said that the Baird Government “is doing everything it can to shut down transparency around this $16.8 billion taxpayer-funded project.” She urged Councils and public servants to stand up for residents at every step of the way while residents continue to protest. She said the community had been “let down down so badly that we have no choice but to take peaceful direct action to stop WestCONnex subverting democratic planning processes”.

The stop WestConnex campaign continues to grow with new anti WestConnex groups are forming in Rozelle in the Inner West and Arncliffe in the Inner Southern suburbs. In Newtown,

the City of Sydney is flying Save Newtown Stop WestCONnex flags from street poles. Campaigners have also begun handing out leaflets in the Western suburbs explaining how a lack of public transport, car dependency and heavy WestConnex tolls will make life more difficult for residents in Sydney’s West. With no funding in place for the recently announced plans for a third leg of Westconnex between Haberfield and St Peters, the Baird government must know that it will require more than PR ceremonies to stop the political momentum that is turning Westconnex into a touchstone for poor planning and hidden deals.

And if anyone thought the transport needs of NSW rural regions were being better looked after by the government, their illusions were crushed this week when the Baird government announced 11 more rail stations would have no staff and there would be staffing cuts at another nine. Mackville, Broken Hill and Taree are among those towns affected. Greens spokesperson for Transport MLC Mehreen Faruqi reminded Premier Mike Baird, who lives on the Northern Beaches, that many do not live in a world “where everyone can afford to drive or fly everywhere.”

“While the government is quite happy to pour billions into unscrutinised, wasteful urban motorway projects, the basic transport needs of regional people are being completely neglected. Regional rail services are essential to communities across the state, and must be well funded,” she told City Hub.

WestConnex protestors at Concord on Tuesday.

MEET ThE loCals

Buying and renovating a pub may seem like a daunting prospect for some, but for husband and wife team Justin and Pippa it was a natural fit.The pair has a background in importing new spirits to Australia, and he said there were some great options available at the pub, which you can’t find anywhere else in Australia.“I look at brands that are big overseas, in London New York, Los Angeles, and the brands that you don’t get here, because they are dominated by big supply companies,” says Justin.Justin, a designer and sometime builder, said renovating a hotel from the 1840s with so much history and character has been fun.“It is a lot of work, but I enjoy it, I love the renovation, and I hope that everyone enjoys the oldest pub in the south of Sydney”The renovation has included recycling the bricks, and putting some garden walls and keeping old school feel, keeping the old sleepers from the 1840s.But the pub is anything but traditional.

On the 24th April, the pub’s kitchen will be hosting Charles from Chef ’s Kitchen, whose burgers have been voted by the Fatty Burger Association as one of the best burger makers in Sydney.There will be live band playing reggae themed music, with burgers matching the theme available from 12 midday.“We are revamping the menu, and keeping it up to date, and changing it regularly,” says Pippi.Owning a pub isn’t just sitting around drinking. There’s actually a lot of work involved.“Justin does all the building, and I help out with all the social media, the marketing, the kitchen side and promotions, we work well in that regard,” says Pippi.She says the key to success is teamwork - “Obviously we do collaborate,” she says.Address: 123 Botany Rd, Waterloo Phone: 9698 3024 Web www.cauliflowerhotel.com.au

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BY LUCAS BAIRD The City of Sydney is calling on comments from

the public on its Social Sustainability Discussion Paper, which is aimed at tackling the growing inequality that is becoming more and more prevalent in the inner-city.

The discussion paper is a product of the desire to address growing inequality following an increase in homelessness and housing affordability stress in the inner City.

Research conducted by the Organanisation for Economic Cooperation and Development shows global cities that have tackled inequality offer better personal wellbeing and success for individuals.

The City intends to spend $563 million on community programs and facilities over the next decade, up from $335 million over the last ten years.

City Hub understands that City wants to spend more addressing housing stress, homelessness, food insecurity, early childhood education.

It is anticipated that the City will boost programs that connect people and make the city more liveable, such as affordable housing, community transport, homelessness, social programs.

A council spokesperson said that research showed the most successful global cities were characterised by high levels of social wellbeing.

The spokesperson said that the City was anticipating population growth of 50 percent by 2031. “This will increase the pressure on services and facilities, and also have an impact on social cohesion,” they said.

“The City is asking all the community – residents, businesses, visitors, other government agencies and community groups – to look at the big challenges facing Sydney, and to share their ideas

on how we can all work together to build a stronger society.

The spokesperson said the input would forumulate how the City addresses issues such as housing affordability, rising inequality and rapid population growth and change over the next decade.

“Ensuring the city offers a great quality of life and opportunities for all Sydneysiders was the driving force behind all the City’s policies and the draft

social sustainability policy reinforced this further,” The Lord Mayor said in a statement.

“The draft policy outlines our vision and guiding principles, while the discussion paper proposes actions across four pillars or ways to make Sydney more: inclusive; connected; livable; and engaged,” she said.

The Mayor also stated that the the discussion paper had been developed with advice from an independent Social Sustainability Taskforce, who

draw on independent research, best practice evidence and community feedback.

The City of Sydney Council also decided to include inequality as a central focus of the Social Sustainability Policy at last Monday’s council meeting.

Labor councillor Linda Scott said she welcomed this development because over the last twelve years, inequality in Sydney has increased exponentially.

“The key focus of all government should be on taking action reducing inequality, and I welcome Council’s support for my calls to focus on this matter. However, there is no point having a policy without action,” Cllr Scott said.

“With the housing situation going from very bad to worse, this has had flow-on effects. In Sydney, we now have the number of rough sleepers and people experiencing homelessness ever recorded.”

Councillor Scott said that it was vital that any social policy was followed up by council with concrete action.

“Without a clear commitment and action plan to reduce inequality, the principles behind the Council’s social sustainability policies will miss the point of building a more just, fairer, and more equal Sydney,” she said.

Councillor Jenny Green said that there needed to be more economic analysis of inequality.

Cllr Green also made note that these issues were not going to be solely the City of Sydney’s to fix. She said that Federal and State governments would need to help out to fix these issues.

“I believe one of the policy’s main aims as an advocacy tool is to try and bring state and federal MPs to change things within their jurisdiction,” Cllr Green said.

The City aims to increase the wellbeing of its residents

Art to mirror politics as new party takes off

BY CHRISTOPHER HARRISThe Arts Party aims to give the arts

community a voice, and believes it has a chance of securing a spot in Canberra.

The party was founded over a beer at Coogee Beach when PJ Collins had the idea to form a single issue party.

Shortly after the the win of the Coalition at the previous election, Collins said that he had “a feeling that things weren’t going to go well” for the Australian arts sector.

“Funnily enough, we’ve had the biggest cuts to arts in a generation.”

He said that the response to the party has been good, and cites the party’s performance at the North Sydney byelection.

They received two per cent of the total vote in North Sydney, and campaigned with a minimal amount of volunteers and only $9000 in funding, a pittance compared to what the Liberal Party was rumoured to spend.

Now he is currently figuring out the logistics of fielding candidates in seats and senate positions for the looming Federal Election.

One such candidate is Frank Madrid, a performance artist originally from Venezuela who is passionate about the benefits of exposing children to art from an early age.

He said that access to arts is often taken for granted, but there are a lot of people and children in Australia that are left behind.

The senate aspirant started out his career as an actor, and went on to work in TV and Radio

“I actually moved from performing, to administration of the arts, to working in areas of development, and realised that not everybody has this access, or enjoys the benefits of the arts,” Mr Madrid said.

He said that an increase in funding to the arts sector was about making society better.

“It is looking at the importance of art and culture and making better indidividuals, and in turn making a better society.”

“If you cast your mind back to when the Greens came out looking at the importance of environmental issues, today we think that arts and the benefits of the arts should be enjoyed by every individual.”

He said that it was not just about the amount of funding.

“The Arts Party is demanding greater funding overall, and the priorities of that funding having closer consideration to see to what extent it translates into audience development.”

He said funding for small and medium sized organisation

was important, because they were the powerhouse of creativity.

“Of course, the engine of what happens is the small and medium arts sector, that is where composers, writer, performers, artists get ideas from and new movemnets are created. You cannot overlook the importance of them.”

Originally from Venezuala, Mr Madrid was one of the Spanish Wiggles.

He said this would be beneficial in capturing the attention of the Australian public.

“It was cool to know you were communicating with an audience of three year olds, you get their attention, or you don’t. I did a lot of training.”

“I am hoping that will come in handy, all those hours of intense smiling at little kids.”

“That legacy stays with you; we did serious training on how to engage with them.”

Local park wins international award

City of Sydney staff and contractors at the park. Source: supplied

Frank Madrid

Sydney must address growing inequality to prosper

BY LUCAS BAIRDPirrama Park is one of the best green spaces

in the world, according to an international organisation.

The Green Flag Award group has positioned itself as a judge of the very best parks in the world since it launched in the UK in 1996.

The group now judges parks from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, The Netherlands and the UAE.

The group has only given the award to six other parks in Australia, two of which are in the Sydney area.

The Green Flag Award group called Pirrama Park a “picturesque foreshore park,” and noted the park’s ability to facilitate passive recreation.

Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, Clover Moore, said the park was “first class.”

“Pirrama Park has quickly become one our most popular parks, attracting visitors from all over Sydney,” the Lord Mayor said.

“It takes a lot of hard work behind the

scenes to make beautiful public spaces and keep them clean and welcoming for thousands of visitors every day.”

“This award is great recognition of the hard work and professionalism of our teams who work around the clock to give us beautiful green spaces for all the community to enjoy,” she said.

Pirrama Park has received awards in the past as well. In 2012, it won an Australian Institute of Landscape Architects award for its design.

Development firms Aspect Sydney, Hill Thalis, CAB consulting, Connell Wagner and TLB Engineers all contributed to the design of the park.

The park includes several sustainable features which lead to its 2012 award, such as solar panels, energy efficient lighting, rainwater recapture and timber decking made from recycled materials.

The City of Sydney named the park to recognise its Indigenous history. In the Gadigal language Pirrama means ‘rocking stone’.

Pirrama Park is located on Pirrama Road in Pyrmont.


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FEATURE

by JAMiE APPSApril is an exciting time for Sydney cinemaphiles as the city is set to be treated to a vast array of new ways to experience film, ranging from the traditional to the immersive. During the month we are treated to number of boutique film festivals (which the city hub will be covering both here and in separate in-depth pieces in our Screen section over the coming weeks) as well as some extremely exciting immersive experiences for those wanting to engage with film on a much deeper level.One of the most exciting immersive film events coming up is Underground Cinema, which blends a traditional film screening with a live action experience. Guests are physically placed into the cinematic world with a cast of actors on a specially made set replicating that of the as yet unannounced secret film. Event director Tamasein holyman explained how it all works: “the event itself is a two-hour immersive participatory experience with about 30 actors in the space at our secret location, where the guests can interact with the actors and each other before sitting down to watch the film, nobody will know what it will be until it’s actually on screen.”Since its inception seven years ago in Melbourne, the underground cinema experience has grown and evolved to better cater to the guest’s experience. Holyman explained that events like this allow film buffs a unique new way experience a film playing in a setting that blows away the cinema experience. “For example, once you see casablanca in an airplane hanger with a DC-2 vintage plane, a beautiful jazz band and all the characters and guests in beautiful vintage outfits, you think this is the only way to watch this movie.”Not only do events like this provide a unique opportunity to the film viewers, they also provide opportunities for upcoming actors, directors and writers to get a foot in the door of the industry on a professional level. “We have 13 different departments and nearly 200 team members working on underground cinema events

and we’re very focused on the development of peoples careers. Our original acting troupe from seven years ago are still with us, even though they are all working professionally in film and TV, because they love it. We help our team members make connections in the industry that new talent may find difficult to do,” explained holyman. “A lot of young actors are stuck between a rock and a hard place, they can’t get work in a professional environment because they need experience in a professional environment first, so we act as that bridge that allows them to knock on doors they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.”On a more traditional front, Sydney will be treated to some boutique festivals such as the upcoming young At Heart film festival, which has a program specifically curated for film lovers aged 60 and up. The program

includes 10 new feature films, a selection of Australian short films starring seniors, and filmmaker Q&A’s.Local filmmaker Joseph Sims-Dennett knows all too well that boutique festivals like this can be crucial to a filmmaker’s career taking off. It was a festival just like this that his film Observance exploded onto the international scene last year. “We started at Fantasia Film Festival, which is a wonderful festival that is all about discovering and celebrating new films, and the next wave of filmmakers whose ideas reflect our culture. The fact that Fantasia is a fan-driven festival but also has a strong film journalist and industry presence…meant we were so proud to have Observance among them,” said Sims-Bennett. “The film’s world premiere at Fantasia went absolutely nuts and we got some insane reviews which got us a lot of attention, which has seen us go

from poor pieces of crap living out in Rozelle without a job to getting to go the London Film Festival, standing next to Meryl Streep, and all of this really surreal stuff.”Finally, technology has also allowed for cinema to make a dramatic jump off the traditional silver screen – virtual reality technology places the viewer inside the film. An event to look out for in April which will show off this technology is the Australian Musuem’s upcoming David Attenborough’s Virtual Reality Experience. The Australian Museum will be the first venue outside of London to host the event, which uses cutting-edge technology to put the viewer side-by-side with the well-known documentarian in his Great Barrier Reef Dive and First Life films.Stay tuned to city hub’s Scene section to keep up to date with more upcoming film festivals and events in Sydney.

OBSERVANCE BTS Joseph Sims-Dennett

Saturday Night @ the Cauli

rabbitohs Vs Sea eagles live & loud 8pmMeat Raffles drawn before and after game!!$1 Devil Chicken Wings

thurSday Night @the Cauli - $12 SNittyS & Jugs of BeeR!

Collective Lunacy - play rock/alt.rock/modern pop music with covers from artists such as foo fighters, Muse, Adele, Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Audioslave, to name a few....Pop in for a fun saturday night @ the Cauli!!Table bookings [email protected]

Live bands every WeeKend

Available on website, see New Years resolution page

sunDAy ReggAe session’s WiTh ZigMo fRoM 1PM Bring the family & friends (kid friendly), sunday Roasts are back!Relax with friends and enjoy a $20 Cocktail sharing jug, they go down like a treat when having a bite eat!

Address: 123 Botany Rd, WAteRloo

Phone: 9698 3024 Web www.cauliflowerhotel.com.au

# the Cauli

UndergroUnd Cinema apr 7–9. Secret Location. $70+b.f.

Tickets & info: undergroundcinema.com.au/next-event

YoUng aT HearT FiLm FeSTivaL apr 1-7. Palace verona, 17 oxford St,

Paddington & Palace norton St, 99 norton St, Leichhardt. From $6.

Tickets & info: palacecinemas.com.au or venue box office.

obServanCe - FiLmink PreSenTS aUSTraLian red CarPeT

Premiere

apr 3. randwick ritz, 45 St Pauls St, randwick. $20. Tickets & info: ritzcinema.com.au

obServanCe - enCore SCreening apr 8. golden age Cinema, 80 Commonwealth St,

Surry Hills. $16.63-$21.84. Tickets & info: ourgoldenage.com.au

david aTTenboroUgH’S virTUaL reaLiTY exPerienCe

apr 8. australian museum, 1 William St, Sydney. From $15. Tickets & info: australianmuseum.net.au

STEp InSIdE ThE SIlvER ScREEn


Savages is about four men embarking on a cruise that doesn’t quite go to plan. this play explores multiple personalities the Aussie male can portray.

Actor Josef ber, who plays the character Rabbit, describes Savages as a “relentless, energising and pulsating play that explores the darker side of manhood”.

ber described his character as a man desperate for a holiday: “he’s a man who’s stuck in a rut and is looking to have a great time on holiday with his mates.”

“the audience can expect to be taken on a ride with these characters...they may see a bit of themselves in them, or they might recognise a friend or acquaintance,” said ber, adding that audiences can expect confronting themes, all mixed in with humour.

Multi-award winning playwright Patricia cornelius isn’t afraid to shy away from controversial topics. Director tim Roseman is excited to be directing such a strong and topical play.

“Every now and again a play comes along that is so electrifying, so visceral, so white-knuckle you know it must be put on stage immediately,” he said. “Patricia has the power to make words dance, fight and sing, and it’s genuinely enthralling.”

If you’re in the mood to watch a reflective piece of theatre that discusses Australian masculinity, this play is a safe bet. (AMal)

Apr 1–May 1, various show times. Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst. $30-$45. Tickets & info: darlinghursttheatre.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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.

10 STAGE12 SCENE 13 SoUNDS 14 SCREEN

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

People who know David Williamson will be on familiar territory with this play. it’s a typical Williamson middle class family crisis, but unlike most of his plays, the male characters get little focus. in fact one of the best things about Nothing Personal is the strong presence of women.

“Nothing Personal is about women coming to terms with losing their power as they grow older in the workplace. David Williamson does a snapshot of society, slathers of urban contemporary Australia… it’s naturalism, the topics and the ways of expressing them [are] familiar and natural,” explained the play’s lead female actor Laurel McGowan, who plays bea.

“[the language] should be like something you recognise immediately as what you hear in your home [or] on the bus travelling to work, it’s not poetic language, not heightened, it’s natural conversations.”

Written in 2011, the play is set around office politics in the publishing industry – as McGowan explained, it has had its share of controversy.

“Robin Nevin [of the Melbourne theatre

company] asked David Williamson to write the play. She said ‘i would love something about how women age in power, how they seem to lose their power in different ways’. but what he came up with, apparently, she thought people would see as the story of how cate blanchett and Andrew upton took over the Sydney theatre company [replacing Nevin], so she declined to produce it,” said McGowan.

“Nothing Personal is a comedy first and foremost. [An] Australian comedy, about family relationships and workplace relationships, and they can be quite tough and hard fought. i think people can identify with [the idea of] looking over your shoulder to see who wants your job, about questioning your own competency, about feeling tired and spent out of ideas, or [asking yourself] has the world changed so much that the skills you were offering earlier are now redundant?” McGowan postulated. (MS)

Apr 2–May 7. Genesian Theatre, 420 Kent Street, Sydney. $25-$30. Tickets & info: genesiantheatre.com.au

SAvAgES

Set in the scenic Adelaide hills, the Great Fire is about family relationships. however, this isn’t your run of the mill play about the ins and outs of families.

Actress Shelly Lauman described it as layered with the nuanced, complex and contradictory needs of each individual.

“On a bigger scale, it is about conflict between generations, privilege, how we treat the earth, how we treat each other [and] how we make sense of our lives,” she said.

Lauman plays a character who is confused with every facet of her life and has no idea what steps to take.

“She has a deep desire to figure it all out and live authentically and engage with the world, but she struggles to trust herself or any one, really, in terms of how to deal with the overwhelming,” she said.

the Great Fire looks deeper into characters and the relationships between people. Every audience member will feel a sense of understanding with the volatility of familial bonds. to make it even closer to home, the story is set at christmas time, turning the heat way up.

“We have all had the conversations, we know the dynamics, we understand the frustration, the heat – both literally and emotionally – that comes with christmas,” said Lauman.

this play was written by Kit brookman, who also authored Small and tired. the Great Fire is directed by Eamon Flack. (AMal)

Apr 2–May 8, various show times. Upstairs Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre, 25 Belvoir Street, Surry Hills. $37-$72. Tickets & info: belvoir.com.au

NoThINg PERSoNAl

ThE gREAT FIRE

this new play cuts to the core of society’s often-fetishized relationship with suicide. unlike many plays before it, the big bruise goes beyond using suicide as a narrative point and actually invites the audience into the tangled mind state of someone coping with suicidal thoughts.

cathartic and comedic in its own ways, the big bruise was written by Saro Lusty-cavallari and co-devised with the sole performer, Sam brewer.

“i do expect that people who have had suicidal thoughts will be able to [sit in the audience] and identify with the character… people who’ve got to the point where everything’s completely overwhelming,” said brewer, who admits that some of the monologues in this play have “hit quite close to home”.

“Suicide is something that is always going to be there, we can’t hide from it, mental health [problems are] always going to be there,” he added.

brewer explained the development of this show as “quite a collaborative process”. “Saro has written the spine of it and the nervous system, and then i can just kind of chisel away at stuff…” he said.

brewer’s own struggles with mental health issues have influenced how he has tackled the role, and living with a visual impairment has played no small part in this. As he explained, the issues he

experiences in everyday life are more often drawn from people’s responses to him as a disabled person than from his disability itself.

“Disability and performance are very hard things to work around. the hardest part is working around the notion of this idea that the disabled are cute and inspiring…” brewer noted. “Just because i’m disabled, it doesn’t mean i’m not an asshole. Any disabled person will want you to look at their art or their creation and give honest feedback…”

One of the things that excites and relives brewer most about this role is that “it doesn’t really matter whether this character is blind or not”. he looks forward to a day when ‘disabled’ and ‘realist’ theatre won’t be considered mutually exclusive terms.

incorporating highly technical multimedia elements, the big bruise is a greatly contemporary production that invites more depth and investigation into universal struggles of mental health and disability. (AM)

Apr 5–15, 8pm. 107 Projects, 107 Redfern Street, Redfern. $20-$25. Tickets & info: montaguebasement.com/tickets

ThE BIg BRuISE

Sandy Gore, Genevieve Picot, Geoff Morrell, Sarah Armanious and Peter Carroll.Photo: Brett Boardman

Photo: Hannah Cox

11city hub 31 march 2016

the Queen is dead. Long live the King! in a future time – perhaps not too far into the future – charles ascends to the throne and attempts to rescue the monarchy from irrelevance. rather than acquiesce to the status quo he makes a principled stand, eschewing the cheap political pragmatics of our day.

Playwright mike bartlett has taken all of the Shakespearean tropes of monarchy and applied them to the house of Windsor. Surprisingly, what emerges is not the one-dimensional royalty of the tabloids, but more a complex array of flesh-and-blood human beings enmeshed in a cause we all care about.

When Bartlett first conceived of the play it came to him with undeniable clarity. “the form had surely to be Shakespearean. it would need five acts, quite possibly a comic subplot, but most worryingly, the majority of it would have to be in verse.”

It was this last thought that terrified Bartlett. he began playing around with ‘iambic Pentameter’ – typical of the verse that Shakespeare reserved for his highborn characters. as the work took shape he was able to draw on the rich imagery that monarchy allows, such as quest for crown, deceit and treachery. Diana appears on stage as a ghost and the Duchess of cambridge is the steely Lady macbeth type.

having begun its life at the ‘belvoir-like’ almeida theatre company in inner London, King charles iii has quickly become a West End and

broadway sensation. this version directed by rupert Goold and featuring legendary british actor robert Powell is the original by almeida. brought to australia by Stc for an exclusive season, it is a taste of the theatre that the world is currently in love with. (GW)

Mar 31–Apr 30, various show times. Sydney Theatre Company, Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay. $69-$116. Tickets & info: sydneytheatre.com.au or 02 9250 1777

UNFINISHED WORKS this stage play is about a famous and successful artist, Frank Ralcoh. One day she finds herself unable to paint, which leads her into a state of panic, believing her work has been meaningless. although the topic may be a bit deep, Writer thomas De angelis ensures the play still has its humorous bits to keep the audience happy. (amal)Until Apr 2, 7.30pm. Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre, cnr City Road and Cleveland Street, Chippendale. $25-$35. Tickets & info: seymourcentre.com or 02 9351 7940 (box office)

QUEEN BETTE Jeanette cronin was quite arguably born to play the role of bette Davis in this intimate one-woman show, bearing a striking resemblance to the great actress of early hollywood. but this intimate portrait goes beyond the surface, revealing a life of hardships

behind the veneer of “hollywood’s biggest bitch”. cronin explained: “[this play is] bette on bette. She was much appropriated by the press… but this is how bette saw herself…” (am)Until Apr 8 (Tues-Sat, 8pm). Old 505 Theatre, 5 Eliza Street, Newtown. $25-$35. Tickets & info: old505theatre.com or trybooking.com

80 MINUTES NO INTERVAL travis cotton’s black comedy is bold and slightly absurd, it allows us to laugh at the unfortunate failures of other people. the play is about Louis, an unsuccessful novelist turned theatre critic. the production traces his trials, tribulations and obstacles over a 30-year time frame as he fumbles through life, governed by repeated mistakes and bad luck. in australia, where modern comedic theatre is scarce, the play brings a breath of fresh air. (Sh)

Until Apr 9. Old Fitzroy Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo. $28-$38. Tickets & info: oldfitztheatre.com or 0409 020 119

AWAY a delicious mixture of comedy, drama and social commentary on class, Vietnam and family. in the late 1960s australia was divided by its ever increasing diversity and ensuing racism, but at the height of the Vietnam War some people in the community were able to cast those prejudices aside and be drawn together by an enduring conflict against a common threat. Away conveys a story of redemption as the human spirit overcomes tragedy and despair. (Ja)Until Apr 9. The Performance Space at St Aidan’s, 1 Christina St, Longueville. $15-$25 ($70 for a family pass). Tickets & info: lanecovetheatrecompany.com

PLAYTHING two theatregoers accidentally walk on stage and find themselves in a play. they can’t leave but they don’t know their characters, the script or even who they are themselves. the idea for the script all started when multi-award winning comedy writer Simon Dodd tried to find the bathrooms while seeing a play but nearly ended up on stage instead. (amal)Until Apr 13 (8pm Wed-Sat, 5pm Sun). The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $22-$32. Tickets & info: thedepottheatre.com

THAT EYE, THE SKY a quintessentially australian play based on the novel by tim Winton, this is the beautiful coming of age story of Ort, a young boy whose father is seriously injured in a car crash. the common theme is the idea of survival, that we need something to hang on to that

helps us survive when everything goes to hell. that Eye, the Sky is an exploration in how we cope, and how we reach out to something to help us cope. Everything is seen through the eyes of a child, he sees the world in his own fantastic way. (mS)Until Apr 16 (Thurs-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 5pm). New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown. $17-$32. Tickets & info: newtheatre.org.au

MACHU PICCU Wildly human, rich in drama and humorously blunt. machu Picchu follows the story of two civil engineers who must learn to re-live and re-evaluate their choices after suffering from a tragic event. it not only explores the extra-ordinary love story of Paul (Darren Gilshenan) and Gabby (Lisa mccune), it is also provocative in nature, asking the audience to re-evaluate their own life choices and priorities. (Nb)Until Apr 9. Wharf 1 Theatre, The

Wharf, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay. $64-$87. Tickets & info: sydneytheatre.com.au

BRUCE GLEN’S MAGICAL SOIREES Gentleman magician bruce Glen hosts Sydney’s most magical attraction, a soirée at one of Sydney’s most luxurious venues. bruce Glen is one of the select few granted membership of the magic circle – the most exclusive magic club on earth. this intimate evening of magic and stories is to become a regular Friday night event starting this week. reminiscent of the elegant, captivating events of the famous ‘salons’ of 19th century Europe, strict dress codes apply. (am)Every Friday. The Royal Automobile Club of Australia, 89 Macquarie Street, Sydney (cnr Albert Street). $75 (inc. drink & canapés on arrival). Tickets & info: gentlemanmagician.com.au

Notorious for the sheer intensity of humour, notoriety, and energy in her shows, New york-based performance artist Penny arcade (aka Susana Ventura) is in australia.

Her first show in over 20 years, the Sydney run of Longing Lasts Longer promises to be sizzling, saucy, funny, and set to match its successful runs in melbourne, adelaide and brisbane.

arcade is a set apart – she has her own brand of underground culture that is meant to shock and delight – it’s an idiosyncratic performance, which is more than just comedy or cabaret. and she has the right attitude for it too: “i no longer think one person can change the world, but you can certainly change the world around you. So show up!” said arcade.

if the unique experience of her previous show bitch!Dyke!Faghag!Whore! is any signal, then this should be a riot – after all, the previous one was a hell-raising blend of political humanism, freedom of expression and erotic dancing.

Longing Lasts Longer is different in its theme though – it’s more contemporary and alternate.

“you need to be able to see the alternative in order to live the alternative,” said arcade.

the show is intended to be an extravagant performance that provides arcade’s personal evaluations of life to make the audiences laugh,

dance and be merry, all at the same time.being an artist that continuously strives at

defying norms and rules of performance art, the aspect of re-inventing the alternate art scene is central to her show.

“What’s being done now in all of the cities – all over the world – is removing the alternative, removing the bohemian, taking the rock and roll, the funk, the poetry right out of it,” explained arcade.

Penny arcade is a Warhol Factory superstar and arguably New york’s queen of the underground – witness her show to experience the performance of a lifetime! (Jr)

Apr 6–16. Giant Dwarf Theatre, 199 Cleveland Street, Redfern. $38+bf. Info & tickets: giantdwarf.com.au or ticketmaster.com.au

PENNY ARCADE: LONGING LASTS LONGER

KING ChARLES III

this mass acappella choral-music-festival is back by popular demand, with a very successful previous year to their name. Short+Sweet Voices is a charming, inviting program, showcasing vocal performers, choirs, and conductors – all unaccompanied, in 10 minute segments.

Due to unforseen circumstances the heats and Gala Final have been postponed, organisers are looking to reappoint the heats to august and the Gala to early September. however this Sunday the Short+Sweet Voices Workshop will still be going ahead.

mr choir himself, Jonathon Welch aO, will be hitting all the high notes, attending the Workshop as a judge and special guest tutor; along with Short+Sweet choreographer Kay armstrong, who will limber up your limbs to enhance your performance.

With ensembles and massed choruses from the central coast, Northern beaches, North Shore, hills District, inner West, inner South West and

more, this voice and choir workshop is still open to participants.

ben Oxley, this year’s festival director, is animated with anticipation – “choral music is not only fun and healthy to sing – it’s thrilling to watch and hear!” he said.

a fun, immersive experience sure to give you a pitch slap! (rm/am)

Apr 3, 10am–5pm. The Concourse Rooms, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood (entry via Concourse Stage Door, Anderson Street). $35pp + special offer: 1 complimentary workshop ticket for each ensemble. Info: shortandsweet.org

BooKiNgS: email [email protected] with 1. name of your group, 2. name of the complimentary ticket holder, 3. names and email addresses of Workshop attendees. You will then receive payment details, and your own Workshop Pack.

ShORT+SwEET VOICES wORKShOP

Photo: Richard Hubert Smith


THE NAKED CITY

With coffin Ed, Miss dEAth And JAy KAtzKings cross circa 1987 – a couple of young guys have just scored a deal

of cocaine at a local club in Springfield Avenue. In their haste to snort it, the precious powder drops to the pavement, but rather than scoop it up they hit the local convenience store for a couple of straws. It’s 11.00pm on a saturday night, the streets are buzzing, but nobody is too surprised when they ‘slurpee’ the blow, straight from the sidewalk into their nasal passages.

The story might be apocryphal but one thing’s for sure, ‘coke’ was easy to score in those halycyon days of hedonism unleashed in the late 80s and early 90s. At the popular entertainment haunt, Bennys in Challis Avenue, it was rumoured you could buy ‘blow’ across the bar, discreetly charged to your Amex card as a bottle of upmarket bubbly. Elsewhere in the Cross and Potts Point, in coffee shops, snooker rooms and music venues, ‘coke’ was yours for the asking and the party never stopped.

Police corruption was rife, cocaine was relatively cheap and unlike heroin and other nasty narcotics it carried very little stigma. These days the party people have migrated to newtown and double bay and it’s the latter upmarket hangout, with its string of revamped nightclubs, that has recently reported a surge in cocaine offences. The Bureau of crime statistics reports that cocaine offences in the area have increased almost 150 per-cent in the year surveyed post the Kings Cross lockouts.

Whilst custodial sentences for minor possession are rare, dealing and importing cocaine can now bring prison sentences that long outstrip those for murder and other heinous crimes. The so called war on drugs was lost decades ago and all we really have today is a regime of

containment. The ice epidemic has probably taken the heat off the cocaine trade, for the time being at least, but cocaine remains universally the most popular illegal drug in the world today.

It’s also the drug that does the most damage, not so much to those that abuse it, but in countries like Mexico and Columbia, where the cartels have run amok and murder rates have skyrocketed. Unlike chocolate and coffee there’s never going to be a product called “ethical cocaine” – sourced in some mythical country where the peasant growers are amply rewarded, crime is virtually non existent and the dealers reinvest their profits in schools and community centres.

We have all seen those shock TV advertisements that highlight the damage that ice can reap, but what about a ‘moral’ campaign as to the evils of ‘coke’. Any number of forensic snaps showing tortured and dismembered bodies could be sourced from the Mexico government along with details of the latest death toll from their ongoing drug war – a toll that has passed well over 150,000 – not to mention the tens of thousands listed as officially missing.

The problem is not coke itself – many people use it and enjoy it without any serious health consequences – and have done so for hundreds of years. Where it comes from is an entirely different matter and one that seems to be largely ignored as the paranoia about other illegal drug use is promoted throughout the community.

AN ILL WIND THAT STILL BLOWS

PENGUIN BLOOM Penguin the magpie came into the Bloom family’s life after they were devastated by an accident that left wife and mother Sam paralysed. Cameron Bloom has documented the relationship in a series of poignant photographs that show the simple bond between man and beast. The exhibition follows a developing kinship linking the chick and its protectors. The images feature elegant comparisons of the domesticated and the wild, and demonstrate that strong connections can grow despite wildly disparate natures. (LR)Until Apr 2. Arthouse Gallery, 66 McLachlan Avenue, Rushcutters Bay. Admission Free. Info: arthousegallery.com.au or penguinbloom.com

LLOYD REES: PAINTING WITH A PENCIL 1930-36 A celebration of sydney telling the artists story through a series of stunning pencil drawings and sketches. Having been an active artist for more than 70 years, Rees’s work has been the center of many

exhibitions. However, this is an in-depth examination of Rees’s drawings from the 30’s period and includes over 30 never seen before images. During the 1930’s Sydney underwent a period of rapid modernisation, with suburbs expanding and the construction of the sydney Harbour Bridge. A classically beautiful exhibition. (NB)Until Apr 10. Museum of Sydney, Cnr Bridge and Phillips St, Sydney. $5-$10. More info: sydneylivingmuseums.com.au

CUSP: DESIGNING INTO THE NEXT DECADE seen by over 50,000 people around the country, this travelling national creative program is sure to be an experience that broadens the mind. The exhibition highlights the works of Floyd Mueller, Greg More, Leah heiss, stephen Mushin, and super critical Mass – an ongoing participatory sound project pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in their arena. They will attempt to use design to change the way we listen and will be presenting

a one-night-only sub Mass, questioning our social structure in the process (more details to come). (AH)Until Apr 28. Tues–Fri, 11am-4pm. Australian Design Centre, 101-115 William Street, Darlinghurst. Free. Info: cusp-design.com or australiandesigncentre.com

WHEN SILENCE FALLS Providing a voice for those who have been silenced, this exhibition encompasses painting, video and sculpture; presenting the work of contemporary Aboriginal artists alongside contemporary international artists. It considers the violence and loss of often-unacknowledged historical events – cultural displacement, political oppression, ethnic cleansing and massacres. Featuring a new major acquisition by Australian indigenous artist Judy Watson, as well as significant loans from Naomi Milgrom, Ben Quilty, and Gene and Brian Sherman; this exhibition speaks strongly of conflict, but does not look to blame. (AM)

Until May 1. 10am–5pm daily, Weds until 10pm. Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Road, The Domain, Sydney. Free (exhibition catalogue $16.95). Info: artgallery.nsw.gov.au

20TH BIENNALE OF SYDNEY in this milestone year, the biennale and all its associated art works follow a topical theme: “The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed”. Official Biennale sites – The MCA, Cockatoo Island and Carriageworks – have been rebranded as several different ‘Embassies of Thought’. The most revolutionary works however exist in public locations, the ‘In-Between’ Spaces. Although these works differ greatly, each casts a new light on its location. City Hub recommends heading to Redfern to check out ‘We Built This City’ and ‘Making History’ before swinging around to newtown to see ‘Fade Away, Fade Away, Fade Away’ in Camperdown Cemetery. (AM)

Until June 5. Various locations. Free. Full program: 20bos.com

HEAVY ARTILLERY Prominent themes in this group show are identity and tradition and the modernist impact on both. Furthermore (with all artists hailing from China and Taiwan) the restrictive atmosphere in which chinese artists live results in work which is subtly subversive and intricately planned. For example: He Xiangyu’s contribution, ‘Tank Project’ (2011–2013), is a life sized leather replica of a Chinese tank – the creator sneaked into an army base to obtain accurate dimensions. heavy Artillery showcases the craft, the cunning and the imagination of artists who need to navigate the perils of political indoctrination and censorship. (LR)Until Aug 7 (10am-5pm, Wed-Sun). White Rabbit Gallery, 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale. Admission Free. Info: whiterabbitcollection.org

city of illusion is an upcoming solo exhibition from contemporary artist Dirk Kruithof. Held at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery in camperdown, this bold and bright exhibition will run throughout select dates in April.

born and based in sydney, Kruithof studied fine arts at Meadowbank and Kogarah tAfE and has been exhibiting regularly since 2005. City of Illusion will be his first solo outing for two and a half years, and consists of around 25 mixed media paintings made of images and text, created from recycled or found materials.

inspired by the urban environment and the contrast between beauty and decay, Kruithof counts Wool, basquiat and cullen as admirable influences in his self-described abstract-pop, post-grunge artwork.

drawing ideas from the streets of Sydney, Kruithof’s work is vibrant yet almost angry – a reflection of his own shock at the absurdity of gentrification and commenting on a range of social issues such as the lockout laws, rent prices and redevelopment.

for a powerful and edgy exhibition, head on over to the Chrissie Cotter Gallery – there’ll be art, drinks and live performers on opening night with the drinks (and art) continuing until the show’s conclusion. (ES)

OPENING NIGHT: Wednesday April 6, 6.30–8pm.

Apr 6–17, Wed–Sun (11am–4pm). Chrissie Cotter Gallery,

Pidcock Street, Camperdown. Info: saatchiart.com/Dirkovitz or marrickville.nsw.gov.au/chrissiecottergallery

CITY Of ILLuSIONOn Sunday, the Kegworh Autumn F.A.R.E. will

return for its eighth consecutive year, promising to be one of the best school community events in Sydney’s Inner West.

Representing food, Arts, Rides and Entertainment, the F.A.R.E started as a “small, country-style fair” according to shonna Mulley, a Kegworth parent and one of the F.A.R.E’s organisers this year. But it has now expanded to be one of the biggest local fundraising events.

With more than 3000 attendees each year, the Kegworth Autumn F.A.R.E. offers a multitude of games and entertainment, with special guests Mayor darcy byrne and local member Jamie Parker due to make an appearance. Yet-to-be-announced surprise guests have also been billed for the day.

“We tried to design the F.A.R.E so that there’s something for everyone,” said Shonna. “There are some games that are a bit more technological so that’s something for the dads!”

Since 2009, the Kegworth Autumn F.A.R.E. has raised over $215,000 for Leichhardt’s Kegworth Public school, with funds going towards

educational resources such as electronic whiteboards, playground equipment, air-conditioning, books and support for the music program.

Featuring kid’s rides, with tickets available for sale on the day, and a petting zoo for the little ones, as well as handmade food from different cuisines, it’s sure to be an affair to remember. (ES)

Apr 13, 9am–3pm. Kegworth Public School, 60 Tebbutt St, Leichhardt. Info: kegworthautumnfare.com

KEgWOrH AuTumN f.A.r.E.


Sydney TAFE Music Live: tonight a huge lineup of bands come together for a free festival style event covering a vast array of genres such as electro, psychedelic, rock, blues, pop and acoustic. Some of the bands performing throughout the evening include Our Little Devil, bluesta, the Valleys, tim richards, coasea, morghana, the masonettes, anna Doolan, Jenny hume, Daniel biviano, bluesta and Orion Jennings.Thu, Mar 31, Lazybones LoungeMi-Sex: as australian music came of age in the 80s, mi-Sex were at the forefront acting as the pioneers of the new-wave scene. tomorrow night the group celebrate a brand new single release along with reworks of their previous hits ‘computer Games’ and ‘People’.Fri, Apr 1, Bridge HotelAlin & Melike: the dynamic combination of alin bahram on flamenco guitar and Melike bayram performing vocals return this weekend with a very special show at Newtown’s esteemed King Street theatre. Joining them on the night will be special guest byron mark on percussion to add an extra layer of flair to an already fiery, passionate night of flamenco music.Sat, Apr 2, King St Theatre

Opera In The Pub: if you’re looking for a relaxed night out with friends, accompanied by a great meal and some drinks, then look no further than Opera bites’ event this Sunday. Opera in the Pub takes the world’s most beloved operas and puts them in the unusual setting of a pub. a truly unique, fun evening.Sun, Apr 3, The DOG HotelCinemusica: bringing together two of australia’s longest standing musical groups, the australian chamber Orchestra and Synergy Percussion take some of the most iconic film scores out of the cinema and onto the concert stage. this event allows for audiences to marvel at the skill of both these two groups and the original film composers as these scores are brought to life and taken to a whole new level.Tue, Apr 5, City Recital HallSean McMahon & The MoonMen: having already proved his worth as a musician, this new outfit takes McMahon’s sound even further as they fuse the sounds of americana, psychedelic country, folk, blues and rock ’n’ roll. the group arrive in Sydney next Wednesday to launch their new album Shiner and is guaranteed not to disappoint.Wed, Apr 6, Gasoline Pony

LIVE WIRE

From a very early age traveling has been in the blood of young gun riley Pearce, which he believes is one of the key factors that has since gone on to help shape and develop him both as a person and as a musician.Pearce’s love of travelling was instilled in him during his childhood, he spent much of his upbringing sharing time between australia and Europe, which he said “made me fall in love with the whole idea of travelling, seeing new places, experiencing new things and different cultures.” this passion for travel has since manifested itself in his music and how he has gone about the entire creative process, with the most recent example being a six month journey to montana seeking inspiration.“When i went across i didn’t have it in my head already that i was going to release an EP, i just wanted to go across to see how that would affect my writing and just let the creative juices get

flowing,” said Pearce. he then went on to explain why he specifically chose montana of all places: “i didn’t want to go the La, New york,

austin or any of those bustling music places or crowded cities, i wanted to go somewhere i could experience the real america and also take time to relax, enjoy it and want to write, rather than be in a place where there is so much going on. i liked the fact that it was a nice picturesque place which was great for inspiration.”Since returning from the journey to montana, Pearce has since released a seven track EP of songs written during his trip that has been receiving both commercial and critical success. One of the biggest draw cards for his style of music is that it’s such an

easy listening genre that it appeals to such a wide spectrum of listeners from all different age brackets, which Pearce sometimes notices in the audiences for his shows.“it all depends where and when i’m playing if the audiences has a wide range of ages, my mum complains about this sometimes because i won’t get on stage until 10:30pm sometimes, so she doesn’t want to come because it’s too late for her.”ahead of his show at the Newsagency tomorrow night, Pearce is “really excited” because he has heard that “it’s such an intimate little venue”, which are just the types of shows he “likes a lot more than the bigger ones, because you can feed off the energy of the audience”. also gracing the stage during the evening is Jacob Pearson, who Pearce said is “an awesome musician, so you should definitely come along for his stuff as well”. (JA)Apr 1. The Newsagency, 375 Enmore Rd, Marrickville. $15+b.f. Tickets & info: rileypearce.com.au

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BaG RaIdERS – chEckMatE EPDuring the course of their decade long career, Sydney’s bag raiders have certainly developed a sound they are comfortable with and one which fans adore, this is never more clear than on their new checkmate EP, which his more of that same immaculately produced sound.across the three tracks on the EP the level of production is flawless, bringing their distinctive electro, indie-pop, tropical sound to the forefront. the stand out track though is the title track, which features guest vocals from SaFia frontman benjamin Joseph, the superb upbeat and uplifting track underneath is only lifted to new heights with addition of benjamin’s vocal performance. (JA)WWW1/2

San MEI – REVELthe new single from Gold coast pop starlet San mei is a great example of the growth of an artist. throughout the three minutes and nine seconds of ‘revel’ you are treated to a much more matured sound that somehow walks the tightrope between brooding darkness and joyous indie-pop delight.‘revel’s production is also a step in the right direction with warm, charming guitars balancing with the drum beats and other musical elements in a very polished professional manner. San mei’s vocals are also a highlight of the track with her dreamy voice engulfing you in a warming hug that you never want to escape.San mei is certainly an act you want to keep an eye on as ‘revel’ is a track which i would have expected from an act with a much larger following, so i would not be surprised to see rapid growth in the near future. (JA)WWW1/2

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ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING this movie has all the right ingredients – weird romance, comedy, goof ball characters, sci-fi story, a talented cast – and they all just connect. the story is simple: a group of eccentric aliens (the Monty Python team) give a school teacher (Simon Pegg) special powers to do absolutely anything. Pegg is hilarious and all over the place as usual, and a voice over cameo by Robin Williams is spot on. but if it is the Monty Python team that rocks your boat, Absolutely Anything is worth its while. (JR)WWW1/2

A BIGGER SPLASH Rock’n’roll legend Marianne (tilda Swinton) and her partner Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts) retreat to the Mediterranean island of Pantelleria, seeking a chance to recover from

recent life crises. When Marianne’s ex, flamboyant record producer Harry (Ralph Fiennes) intrudes with his beguiling daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson), all four are drawn into a vortex of jealousy and desire with devastating results. A bigger Splash is a breathtaking tale of nostalgia’s dark side fuelled by an excellent soundtrack and fearless performances. (Jh)WWWW

EYE IN THE SKY The moral fibres of warfare are astutely examined in this high-paced british thriller. colonel Katherine Powell (helen Mirren) heads a drone mission to capture a most-wanted group of terrorists living in a safe house in Nairobi, Kenya. As the situation progresses, a young girl enters the kill zone and the strike is suspended as a political battle ensues. Mirren showcases her versatility,

radiating assertiveness and military persona. A suspenseful and affecting film. (MMo)WWWW

ZOOTOPIA Rural rabbit Judy hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) wants to join the police force, and despite the judgements of her parents and peers – who are astounded at the very idea of a ‘bunny cop’ – she steels herself through a tough run at police academy and becomes a full-fledged officer. Zootopia sprawling metropolis populated by innumerous animal species – but it isn’t the haven of tolerance and acceptance Judy expected. there’s some ropey plotting going on, but Zootopia is another success for Disney: gorgeously animated and brilliantly imagined with a nuanced consideration of racism to boot. (Dc)WWW1/2

THE DAUGHTER As an adaptation of henrik ibsen’s the Wild Duck, the Daughter is imaginatively set in working-class tasmania, where a timber town is beset by economic woes and secrets. A stellar cast including Geoffrey Rush, Anna torv and Sam Nielsen give weight to the film. Despite the cast, this is a glorified dark soap opera. though director Simon Stone does find beauty in the harrowing and sorrowful situation of bewildering poverty in a tasmanian town. (OA)WW

SPEAR Stephen Page, the artistic director of bangarra Dance theatre, is no stranger to interpreting and developing stories of indigenous Australia on an international scale. With Spear, he transcends the stage and uses the land as a backdrop to an

amazing, heart felt, vital form of storytelling that moves you with its movement. Very little dialogue, great camera work, and composition throughout and an intensity that is inescapable, Djali (hunter Page-Lochard) is perfectly cast in this splice of indigenous culture. (RM)WWWW

THE WILL TO FLY the story of Australia’s gold medal winning aerial freestylist, Lydia Lassila. The film is part biography, part history, and is an interesting tale of determination and triumph. the movie recounts the journeys of the pioneers who came before her and Lydia’s quest to become the first female to perform a quad twisting triple somersault. the Will to Fly occasionally borders on hagiography but is a worthwhile tribute to a

successful woman in a dangerous sport. (LR)WWW

GODS OF EGYPT this mythological swords-and-sandals epic set in Ancient Egypt is a special effects driven film. The story centers on a mortal hero who allies himself with a god in order to save the world and return his true love from the dead. historical accuracy has been discarded in this fanciful story. the spectacular cGi and special-effects overload initially delights, but become tiresome as the film progresses. In all its grandeur, this action-packed adventure is somewhat disappointing and lacks that certain intangible element mandatory for blockbusters to enchant. (MMo)WW1/2

This relatively new film festival returns to Sydney for a second screening, and with a programme consisting of only 8 feature films and 3 shorts, highlights that quality is paramount to quantity.Dr Enda Murray, the festival director, says that the irish have a vibrant film culture producing around 25 feature films annually, and that his eye is on choosing films which will be popular in the festivals.“the craft of storytelling is well developed in ireland and i’ve chosen quality films which relate to today – films that speak to contemporary Sydney audiences which you won’t see in cinemas,” explained Murray. “these are not commercial films that will put bums

on seats, but films which are important to see.”Glassland, which stars toni collette, opens the festival and is an intense and heartfelt film which concerns a lady’s tragic battle with alcoholism.“This film had a brief shoot and was produced on a very small budget. We were lucky to get toni collette. She took the risk, was brave and played an alcoholic, which was not a glamorous role – this was a labour of love for collette. Australian audiences should be very interested in seeing her in an Irish film.”“this festival showcases the best of irish cultures from ireland, Australia and around the world – don’t miss it!” concluded Murray.

Dc comics finally jumps full force into the cinematic superhero fight (catching up with Marvel) by using the most recognisable superheroes of all time.in bvS: Dawn Of Justice, Dc comics start the process of fleshing out the cinematic universe that they initially laid the foundations for with Man Of Steel in 2013 (they’ve obviously taken on board and learned from the criticisms that film received). For diehard Dc fans this film is packed with so many subtle nods to the comic books, but they’re subtle enough to be able to eat up without taking over and muddling the story for the casual fan.the action sequences in this film are the true highlights with car chases and fight scenes that all feel grounded. ben Affleck as batman was a concern for many in the lead up to this film, but thankfully he does a wonderful job as both batman and bruce Wayne, creating a new version of

the character that is much more jaded and violent than christian bale’s version.the biggest issue with this film however is the overall pacing, especially in the first 45 minutes to an hour, as it jumps around with flashbacks and premonitions that are not always clearly distinguished. Even later, as the film begins to build tension, it can fall into the trap of lingering on certain scenes that take away from the moment.Some of the introductions to future heroes in the film universe are very much cameos, which is rather disappointing but understandable, as Dc clearly wanted to focus on the holy trinity of heroes.Overall this is a film that builds on the foundations for the Dc comics cinematic universe, and is certainly worth seeing if you are interested in the genre but it certainly won’t capture new fans. (JA)WWW

IRISH FILM FESTIVAL

Older Than Ireland is an award winning documentary in which thirty colourful centenarians from all over ireland are interviewed. They discuss their earliest memories – the first kiss, their wedding day, bringing up children and the meaning of life. humorous with a playful undertone, this insightful documentary details how times have changed for these elderly people who don’t own mobile phones, but who are just happy to be mobile!After ’16 consists of 9 short films, each under 10 minutes and especially commissioned by the irish Film board, which celebrate the centenary of the 1916 irish Rebellion. Film festival enthusiasts who have an interest in history should be

immersed by these shorts which delve into the effect the revolution had on ireland. young irish directors masterfully explore this issue.Song Of The Sea is an Academy Award nominated animated film which tells the story of Ben and his sister Saoirse the last seal-child, who are on a mission to cross an enchanted world to return home. Some of the best irish actors perform the voice overs in this visually mesmerising family film. (MMo)Apr 7–10. Chauvel Cinema, 249 Oxford St, Paddington. $15-$20. $30 (Opening night including party). Tickets & info: irishfilmfestival.com.au

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HOT FLICKS

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City Hub 31 March 2016