Standing Room Only for Sunday 30 May 2021

12:16  Poppy take a bow!

In the movie business very few things come easy.  But Linda Niccol's film Poppy had more than its share of hurdles to negotiate before it crossed the finish line.  It tells the story of a plucky young woman with Down Syndrome who refuses to take no for an answer. 

10 years in the making, with little things like Covid 19 closing it down, an impossible casting issue and a strong possibility it may not even get funding - it was always an uphill struggle.
 
But like the feelgood genre Poppy is very much a part of, it all came right in the end.  Simon Morris talks with writer/director Linda Niccol (Second Hand Wedding) and producer Robin Laing (Stickmen).

Poppy, starring first time actor Libby Hunsdale, is currently showing at a cinema near you!

 

 

12:32 Cian Parker's new play inspired by real-life tragedy

The explosion of grief that followed the death of her husband, is channelled into Cian Parker's new play, All I See.

It's going to premiere at the 2021 Kia Mau Festival at Wellington's Circa Theatre, June 4-12. 

The play is about two recently bereaved people who help each other through their grief.   While it's not her story, Cian writes from experience of loss.

It's a busy time for the writer and performer.  An earlier play of hers, Sorry For Your Loss, is about to be restaged for Auckland Live's Matariki season at the Herald Theatre next month.

Lynn Freeman talks with Cian Parker about creating All I see..

It premieres at Wellington's Circa Theatre from the 4th of June as part of the 2021 Kia Mau Festival. Meanwhile, Sorry For Your Loss is part of Auckland Live's Matariki season at the Herald Theatre, and starts on June 19th. 
 

12:46   South Auckland choreographer Villa Junior Lemanu

Choreographer Villa Junior Lemanu's family has lived in the same house in South Auckland for some 25 years.

His fears that his family will be forced to leave their home and their community are what drives his first professional dance-theatre work Atali'i O Le CREZENT  (Sons of the CREZENT) 

It's part of a double bill of new work by the 2019 Pacific Dance Choreographic Lab artists that's in turn part of the Pacific Dance Festival in Auckland.

A proud South Aucklander, Villa explains to Lynn Freeman what life was like growing up in his neighbourhood.

Atali'i O Le CREZENT by Villa Junior Lemanu will premiere at the Pacific Dance Festival in Auckland on the 18th of June as part of Double Bill at the Mangere Arts Centre in Auckland.

1:08  At The Movies

This week Simon Morris reviews No Man's Land and A Quiet Place Pt 2, and previews the French Film Festival with Director Fergus Grady.

 

1:31  Lucy Marinkovich - dancing with Parkinson's

Dancer and choreographer Lucy Marinkovich is helping people living with Parkinson's disease to dance, in what she hopes will become a pilot programme.

Lucy has two Dunedin/Ōtepoti-based residencies this year.  This project's being worked on as part of her Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance.  She's also the current Caselberg Trust Creative Connections Artist in Residence which has seen her working with students at a local primary school. 

Lucy is usually based in Wellington where she's the Artistic Director of the Borderline Arts Ensemble.

Lynn Freeman spoke with Lucy at the Caselberg Residence and Brasch Studio in Broad Bay.

 

1:50  Callum Passells is taking it to the streets

A short, punchy chant is one of the key features of any protest march.

Now Auckland jazz musician Callum Passells explores these rhythmic and repetitive chants in his new work LCR - short for Left, Centre, Right.

The recent Black Lives Matter marches that he took part in were what got him thinking about protest chants as a music motif.

Callum's premiering LCR at the Wellington Jazz Festival this Queen's Birthday weekend.  It involves three musical trios on stage who'll collaborate and occasionally compete during the performance.

Lynn Freeman talks with Callum about protest chants, and the appeal of his chosen instrument, the saxophone.

Callum Passells plays with LCR at the Wellington Jazz Festival on Wednesday the 9th of June at St Peter's on Willis Street.
 

2:06 The Laugh Track - Justin Lewis from Indian Ink

Think of the great theatre productions of the Indian Ink company, and most of us think of performer Jacob Rajan. There he is, effortlessly swapping masks and weaving his magic on the stage like a graceful swan.

But, like all swans, there's a lot of invisible paddling going on under the surface!  And the most important paddler is today's guest on the Laugh Track - co-writer, director and producer Justin Lewis.  

Justin's choices include David Bowie in the TV series Extras, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Clarke and Dawe and Trevor Noah.
 

2:26  Saving St David's Memorial Church for music

In a last-ditch effort to save the historic St David's Memorial Church and turn it into a centre for music, dozens of musicians and singers have banded together to film a fundraising virtual concert.

The 94-year-old church has faced demolition, flooding and two fires.  But now it's finally been put up for sale.

The To The Stars concert was recorded in the Auckland church in just one day.  The lineup included opera singer Simon O'Neill, the NZTrio, taonga puoro specialist Horomona Horo, and a well-known bagpiper!

The virtual concert went live om-line this weekend much to the joy and relief of Paul Baragwanath, Founder and Chair of Friends of St David's Trust and the Art of Remembrance project.

He talks with Lynn Freeman about the project.  Check the trailer here.

 

 

2:38  Andy Southall's Both Feet In Paradise

A butterfly researcher finds himself trapped in Paradise - in Samoa to be exact - despite his increasingly desperate efforts to get home to New Zealand.  

That's the setup of a new novel called Both Feet In Paradise.

Andy Southall won a New Zealand Society of Authors mentorship with award winning writer Pip Adam to work on the book.

English-born Andy has already written two travelogues, as well as several science fiction short stories. 

He talks with Lynn Freeman about what it's like being stuck against his will in one of the most beautiful places on earth! 

Both Feet in Paradise is written by Andy Southall and published by The Cuba Press.

 

 

 

2:50  Athol Parks captures Mosgiel at Alert Level Four

Last week we spoke to a photographer and poet who produced a book based on his walkabouts around Te Anau. Today, Mosgiel's the inspiration for a local who's turned his musings into a bespoke hardcover book.

Athol Parks makes his living from walking tours around Dunedin.  But of course that had to stop during last year's lockdown.

Since then he's worked with local bookbinder and printer David Stedman of Dutybound to produce Alert Level Four, a limited edition set of books chronicling each day of the 2020 national lockdown.

This is also a story that might give other writers some ideas on what has to be considered when it comes to what's involved in self-publishing.

Lynn Freeman talks with Athol Parks and David Stedman, and Athol reads reads from the book..

Alert Level Four is written by Athol Parks and produced by David Stedman.  They're currently working on a second edition after the first 50 sold out.

 

 

3:09 Drama at 3 - Hikoi Hikoi by Miria George

Debate over the ownership of Aotearoa's foreshore and seabed has been continuing for generations.  The 22nd April in 2004 was the day the Foreshore and Seabed Hikoi left the far north on a mission to give a clear message to the government about legislation it was proposing.  

Our Classic Drama this week has that long march as its setting - Hikoi, Hikoi by Miria George, produced by Hone Kouka.