Standing Room Only for Sunday 17 April 2022

12:15  Comedy Panel

 

As one door closes, in the form of yet another New Zealand International comedy festival this winter, a few small trapdoors seem to be opening up for our comedians.

Over the past couple of years most of our established comedians haven't been able to attend any of the international comedy festivals that have been able to go ahead, 

But there's a prediction that New Zealand will see an influx of new pro's launching their careers here next year, due to a backlog of talent desperate to perform live shows.

After a drop in turnover of more than 60% in the first 3 months of this year, Auckland's Classic comedy venue is bringing back its Thursday Pro Nights from later this month .

Plus, the 2021 Raw Comedy Quest will finally have a Grand Final on June 4th at The Classic.

We brought together Scott Blanks who runs The Classic: Comedy Club, Lauren Whitney from the Comedy Trust that runs the festival, and Wellington comedian and comedy producer Jerome Chandrahasan.

First Lauren explains to Lynn why the 2022 New Zealand International comedy festival had to be cancelled

 

12:40 Actress Lucy Boynton and the remake of The Ipcress File

 

Playing a steely female spy in a man's world in a remake of  the movie The Ipcress File was an opportunity British actress Lucy Boynton embraced.

The thriller's set in 1963 when former army sergeant Harry Palmer becomes a spy for British intelligence tasked with tracking down a kidnapped British nuclear scientist.

The 1965 film starring Michael Cain as Palmer based based on Len Deighton's novel written in 1962.

In the both those versions, the role of female spy Jean Courtney was more of a bit part, but in the ITV series about to air on Acorn TV, that's all changed. Lucy talks about her latest role with Lynn Freeman.

 

1:10 At The Movies

Simon Morris reviews the third of the JK Rowling series Fantastic Beasts - The secrets of Dumbledore and X

 

1:33 Sir Julius von Haast

19th century Geologist and explorer Sir Julius von Haast's contribution to Aotearoa's scientific history has been quietly overlooked - but  a symposium timed to coincide with his 200 birth year anniversary aims to put that right.

Haast was brought to New Zealand in 1858 to investigate prospects for German emigrants, but stayed on.

He joined many expeditions around Auckland and Nelson as well as remote parts of Canterbury and the West Coast.

His roles included being Canterbury's Provincial Geologist, a university professor, and as a botanist he sent many plants to London's Kew Gardens.

Haast became the world's foremost expert in moa bones, and was instrumental in establishing Canterbury Museum in 1870. 

The museum's arranged an online symposium at the end of this month.  Lynn catches up with science historian Simon Nathan, and Research Librarian at the Alexander Turnbull Library Sascha Nolden who will both be speaking at the symposium.

 

1:50 Through the lens of Ans Westra 

Dutch-Kiwi photographer Ans Westra has captured on film some of the quintessential images of New Zealand life over her many decades behind the camera.

She's remains deeply proud of her Dutch heritage and next weekend she's guest of honour at the opening of Dutch Week, at the multicultural centre Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, in Foxton as part of the town's annual Big Dutch Day Out.  

It is housing one of the largest exhibitions of her work seen in the last 20 years. 

You can also find Ans Westra's photographs of Naenae in the late 1980s at the Dowse in Lower Hutt.

2:06 The Laugh Track 

Tony Lyall is many things - a stand up comedian, an in demand MC, an interviewer to the stars and a writer and reporter on TV's The Project and 7 Days.

He loves a live audience to riff off, and was a regular on the once again cancelled NZ International Comedy Festival, so have things been over the last couple of years for the Christchurch born, Blenheim raised, West Auckland based all rounder? 

Tony's picks today: Taylor Tomlinson,  Mel Bracewell, John Mulaney, Dave Chapelle and Rhys Darby.

 

2:25 Fantasy writer Nikky Lee - The Rarkyn's Familiar

There are more ways than ever to get published these days - including Twitter.

Fantasy writer Nikky Lee won a Twitter competition that lead to the first in her Young Adult trilogy The Rarkyn's Familiar being published this month.

It introduces us to Lyss who accidentally ends up in a blood pact with one of the feared Rarkyn from the otherworld.

The encounter puts her sanity in jeopardy. Nicky Lee talks to Lynn about writing about other worlds.

2:35 The art of seaweed

Seaweed is a talking point these days as a potential and as yet untapped source of biofuel and food - but less so as a subject for artists.

The upcoming New Zealand Festival of Nature in Ōtepoti Dunedin includes a workshop in Marine Botanical illustration focusing on drawing and painting seaweed found in the Otago Harbour and environs.

Artist and tutor Wayne Everson has taught numerous courses including Botanical Art and Illustration for The Garden School of Art in Dunedin since 2015.

The seaweed images in the gallery are from students who attended one of the courses.

Lynn caught up with Wayne who says the Marine Botanical workshop is something new for him.

 

2:45 New Zealand's Assistant Conductor-in-Residence - changing of the guard

 

There's to be a changing of the guard on concert hall podiums around the country, with a new Maestro preparing to take over as New Zealand's Assistant Conductor-in-Residence.

The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra manages the role but it's a collaboration between the country's main orchestras and Creative New Zealand, in an effort to hone the skills of young conductors within Australasia.

The current Assistant Conductor-in-Residence Vincent Hardaker has recovered from Covid in time to wield the baton at this Thursday's APO Great Classics concert, starring 14 year-old violin sensation Christian Li.

At the concert will be Vincent's successor, Leonard Weiss, two months later than planned, coming over from Australia because of the pandemic.  

Lynn speaks with both conductors.

 

3:06 Drama at 3 - Chance Meeting on Triton 9

A bit of a laugh in our Classic Drama spot with Chance Meeting on Triton 9 by Justin Eade. It's a satire on space travel and inter-galactic diplomacy.

Music played in this show

Artist: Bill Sevisi
Song: Pearly Shells feat: Melenau Lynno
Played at: 12:30

Artist: This is the Sea
Song: The Waterboys
Played at: 12:55

Artist: Spt Emz
Song: Shark Attack
Played at: 1:58

Artist:Passion Pit
Song: The Seaweed Song
Played at: 2:58

Artist:Flock of Seagulls
Song:I Ran
Played at: 3:10

Artist: The Who
Song: Sea and Sand
Played at: 3:55