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12:15 Heroes come in many forms

The Logie Collection of Canterbury University is one of the small miracles of this country - treasures of the Ancient World from classical Greece and Rome, right back to the Bronze Age - 7000 BC.

And when the first big earthquake struck Christchurch in September 2010, there were fears that the priceless collection - described as "one of Australasia's finest collections of classical art" would be utterly destroyed.

Well it was and it wasn't.  The Logie Collection has a brand-new home - the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities - and last week it was proudly displayed in an exhibition called We Could Be Heroes.   But it certainly didn't look like it at the time.  Simon Morris is joined by Terri Elder and Penny Minchin-Garvin, the co-curators of the museum.

 

12:30 Mixing it up at the Wellington Jazz Festival

Michael Houston:  No, I won't! I won't (be improvising) because it'll all just stop and I'll melt into a little heap on the floor and Rodger will have to save the day.

Rodger and Michael

Rodger and Michael Photo: supplied

The upcoming Wellington Jazz Festival boast the usual riches you'd expect - top overseas artists like singer Dianne Reeves, guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Dave Wecki, and some stellar local talent like Tammi Neilson and Jonathan Crayford.

But even those who're not in the know about jazz, the festival boasts two names will have have heard of.  In fact they're probably two of anyone's top ten list of New Zealand musicians - trombonist and big band king, Rodger Fox, and classical pianist Michael Houstoun.  Jazz and classical?  they talk to Simon Morris about how it all works.

The Wellington Jazz Festival runs from 7-11 June and Bach Beat - Michael Houston & The Rodger Fox Big Band happens on Sunday the 11th of June at Wellington's Opera House.

12:50 Ink that doesn't dry.

Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis

Jacob Rajan and Justin Lewis Photo: supplied

From a small rehearsal room in Wellington to a world-wide audience of half a million, writer/performer Jacob Rajan and producer Justin Lewis have made their mark like nobody else.  After 20 years of Indian Ink - making shows like Krishnan's Dairy, The Candlestick Maker and The Pickle King, Simon Morris finds out if there's still fire in their belly.

The Pickle King

The Pickle King Photo: supplied

 

1:10 At The Movies

 

1:33 Aliens 101

Wayne Barlowe

Wayne Barlowe Photo: supplied

The Industry of Imagination event is into its second year in Wellington bringing together a spectacular line-up of sci-fi, fantasy and pop-surreal artists for a series of events; a conference, exhibitions and masterclasses.  One such masterclass is Alien Creatures by Design. Simon Morris speaks to the 'master' himself, Wayne Barlowe.

1:50 Screen Gems

Irene Gardiner

Irene Gardiner Photo: supplied

Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to officially open a railway on the day she becomes Britain's longest-serving monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony to officially open a railway on the day she becomes Britain's longest-serving monarch. Photo: AFP

Lyn of Tawa

Lyn of Tawa - the iconic New Zealand character often used uptalk. Photo: Youtube

Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth 1 in Blackadder

Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth 1 in Blackadder Photo: supplied

Irene Gardiner is looking forward to a long weekend for Queen's Birthday so Simon Morris decided to get in early and look at things Queenly in today's Screen Gems.

 

 

2:06 The Laugh Track - Angella Dravid

Angella Dravid

Angella Dravid Photo: Supplied

This year's winner of the Billy T Award at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Angella explores the unexpected. Her material is often absurd, and her stage presence unpredictable. Angella shares her favourite comedy clips with Simon Morris.

2:25 Stanley Makuwe's latest play Finding Temeraire

For me being a New Zealander now, I really cherish my nomination for the Adam New Zealand award for me it's a big thing because it made me realise that you can make it here, you can be recognised here in New Zealand.

Finding Temeraire

Finding Temeraire Photo: supplied

Stanley Makuwe

Stanley Makuwe Photo: supplied

Tawanda Manyimo

Tawanda Manyimo Photo: supplied

Award winning African New Zealand playwright Stanley Makuwe is more a household name in his birth-place Zimbabwe than he is in his here.  But like fellow Southern African imports like Urzula Karlson and Irene Van Dyke, he's keen to share his talents with his new adopted home.   Stanley's new play Finding Temeraire is about to be staged at Mangere Arts Centre. Stanley and actor Tawanda Manyimo talk to Simon Morris.

2:40 Sarah Quigley's new novel The Suicide Club

I mean having worked on this book for such a long time, read so much online about it and just sort of absorbed everything around the topic I think that on the the whole it's better to actually put the topic out there because that it also one way of normalising it -  which is one way of getting people to feel ok about seeking help.

The Suicide Club by Sarah Quigley

The Suicide Club by Sarah Quigley Photo: supplied

Three loners who're struggling to cope with life end up at an institution in Bavaria, The Palace, where experiments are being carried out on people with suicidal tendencies.
This is the scenario for The Suicide Club, the latest novel from Berlin-based New Zealand writer, Sarah Quigley.

Bright and Gibby are very protective of their friend,  Lace, and that protectiveness soon turns to love.  But is The Palace going to do them all more harm than good?

Lynn Freeman asks Sarah Quigley about tackling the delicate subject of suicide.

Sarah Quigley

Sarah Quigley Photo: supplied

 

2:49 Getting your kit off...for art!

Zoe George

Zoe George Photo: RNZ/ Alexander Robertson

What would possess someone to volunteer to be a life drawing model?   If you are an artist, is it all right to talk during class?  Zoe George gets model Virginia Kennard to bare all regarding life-drawing classes.

 

 

3:06 Drama at 3 - 'The Cave of Winds'  by Elspeth Sandys

76 years ago this weekend, on the Greek island of Crete,  men of the 2nd New Zealand Division  were part of an Allied retreat having lost their positions to the first predominantly airborne invasion in military history.

Within two weeks the attacking Germans controlled Crete and were searching for any surviving Allied troops who had not been taken off the Island.

Our 3 o'clock Drama today imagines the plight of two such men.

It's 'The Cave of Winds'  by Elspeth Sandys