When the Bondi Short Film Festival started in 2001, creator Francis Coady thought it was pretty insane that his young filmmaker friends had missed out on entering other film festivals in Sydney because the films had already screened in other Australian states. He was right! Indie film watchers don’t care if what they’re seeing has already screened in Perth or Melbourne, they just want to experience something thought provoking, poignant, hilarious and beautiful, or that has Ryan Gosling in it. Twelve years on the Bondi Short Film Festival continues to screen cinematic Australian gems that fulfill almost all of these criteria and, while the power of the collective continues to endorse babeliciously quirky actors as the marker of a feature-length film's watchability, the quality of a BSFF one is determined only by captivating storylines and cinematography, brilliant music and set design and some of the best young acting talent in this country. The only restrictions the festival places on filmmakers is that entries must be less than 15 minutes long, making it a two-hour melting pot of powerful drama, quirky comedy, thought-provoking documentaries and stunning animation. Judging entries this year are Noni Hazlehurst, Christiaan Van Vuuren, Jessica Tovey, Kristy Best, Dr Ruth Harley, and Andrew McFarlane. All of these things will take place under the waterfront Bondi Pavilion, making the festival one of the finest ways to see in the summer. Concrete Playground has five double passes to give away to the matinee session of the Bondi Short Film Festival. To go in the running, just subscribe to Concrete Playground (if you haven't already) then email hello@concreteplayground.com.au.
It has been 64 years since Godzilla first rampaged across through Tokyo, and the super-sized creature isn't done wreaking havoc. Like comic book characters and Star Wars, the king of the monsters is a cinema mainstay — and it's asserting its place atop the kaiju food chain in the trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. If you haven't kept track of the Japanese figure's many, many screen appearances, this is its 35th. It's also the sequel to the last American-made Godzilla film, which hit screens back in 2014. Featuring an all-star cast of Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance and O'Shea Jackson Jr, the movie explores humanity's efforts not only against Godzilla, but against the huge critter's own beastly enemies: Mothra, Rodan and the three-headed King Ghidorah. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is due in cinemas on May 30, 2019 — and it'll be followed by another monster mashup in 2020's Godzilla vs. Kong. If the title didn't make it obvious, the latter also acts as a sequel to 2017's Kong: Skull Island. Starring Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Julian Dennison, Kyle Chandler and Demián Bichir, and filming now, it's partly being shot in Queensland. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LzbZMCJiLo&feature=youtu.be Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
Vivid Sydney is in full swing, and while you're planning which talks to see, figuring out where to catch a glimpse of the lights and checking which gigs still have tickets going, you're probably figuring out a strategic drinking and dining plan too. The bulk of the light installations will again be set up around Circular Quay, which, with the addition of the Gateway dining precinct, has a much richer food situation this year with Chat Thai, Popina, Messina and an actually decent food court. And just to ensure you don't go hungry, a market dedicated entirely to desserts has popped up. After launching last weekend, the Milk 'n' Sugar market will return this Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 for revellers craving something sweet during Vivid. Opening up from 6pm in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, the market will be hocking kurtosh ice cream cones, Nutie's gluten-free doughnuts, glow in the dark fairy floss, 'waffle pops' from Sugar High Desserts and more. You should probably skip dinner. The market will run as part of The Artistry Festival, which will combine live art and music. The Milk 'n' Sugar market will take place in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay on June 2 and 3 from 6–11pm. For more information, visit the theartistryfestival.com.
On March 9, (in)famous American filmmaker John Waters will make the Opera House his stage and allow Sydney audiences a glimpse into his witty, sometimes seedy, frequently outrageous take on popular culture. This Filthy World Vol. 2 is a one-man show covering a smorgasbord of topics including childhood memories, fashion lunacy, sexual deviancy, exploitation film and Catholicism. The Sydney date comes on top of his already announced Adelaide Festival appearance on March 6 and his Melbourne stop on March 10. Once christened 'The Pope of Trash' by William S. Burroughs, the Baltimore-native proves quite the raconteur. Reviewing his live show, the LA Times noted he "never seems to tire of wallowing in the dregs of pop culture, but his love of campy sex and tabloid mayhem is married with an intense appreciation for literature, history and high art". Unfamiliar with Waters and his trademark pencil moustache? He became a cult figure in US indie cinema for his notoriously subversive, filth-embracing 1972 film Pink Flamingos. By the late '80s he entered slightly more commercial territory with Hairspray, later remade into the 2007 film starring the somewhat less subversive, filth-embracing Zac Efron (although, you never know). Waters himself says, "It’s hard to offend three generations, but it looks like I’ve succeeded.” Want to join the offended hordes? Tickets go on sale on Monday, November 18, at 9am. This Filthy World Vol. 2 is on at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House on Sunday, March 9, at 5pm.
If you haven't already heard, Sydney will play host to the first Global Cities After Dark forum, held in collaboration with the Electronic Music Conference and Amsterdam Night Mayor Mirik Milan this November. Now, the one-day event's inaugural speaker lineup has been announced, promising a thought-provoking program led by night culture specialists from across the globe. The invite-only forum, to be held on November 28, will give local leaders and planners the chance to score valuable insights from international experts, which in turn will hopefully instigate some positive changes to Sydney's own troubled nightlife culture. Global Cities After Dark will feature inspiring keynotes from five overseas visitors, with Mirik Milan joined by the likes of Lutz Leichsenring of Berlin non-profit The Creative Footprint, who'll discuss indexing the artistic landscape of urban spaces, and consultant psychiatrist and CEO of Global Drug Survey Adam Winstock, who will chat about health and wellbeing in night culture, and striving for zero harm. Meanwhile, a Sydney at Night panel discussion led by guests from City of Sydney and Create NSW will explore new initiatives in development. There'll also be a range of expert sessions hosted by the likes of Icebergs' Maurice Terzini, Animals Dancing's Andee Frost and SLAM's Helen Marcou, which will delve into specific aspects of night culture, including food and housing creativity. Describing his involvement in the event as 'a dream come true', Milan explains that "by sharing ideas for a safe and vibrant nightlife, it empowers bottom-up initiatives after dark that contribute to and strengthen creative cities around the world". You can read our chat with Milan on how to build a nightlife-friendly city here. The forum will return to Sydney each November for the next three years. GLOBAL CITIES AFTER DARK 2017 LINEUP Adam Winstock, Global Drug Survey Andee Frost, Animals Dancing Andreina Seijas, Harvard Graduate School of Design Anne Loxley, C3 West Anne Malloch, City of Melbourne Baby Guerrilla, Artist Barrie Barton, Right Angle Studio Brett Robinson, Icebergs Group Chris Raine, Hello Sunday Morning Clare Holland, FBi Radio Declan Lee, Gelato Messina Dr Caitlin Hughes, National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre Emily Collins, Music NSW Glen Cassidy, Cake Wines Helen Marcou, Bakehouse Studios / Save Live Australia Music (SLAM) Jemma Cole, Soft Centre Jess Scully, City of Sydney Joel Edmondson, Q Music Kate Becker, Office of Film & Music City of Seattle Kees Dorst, UTS Kevin Nuttall, Waterfield Kirsty Rivers, Creative Victoria Libby Harris, City of Sydney Lutz Leichsenring, Berlin Clubcommission/The Creative Footprint Marie-Louise Theile, James Street Initiative Maurice Terzini, Icebergs Group Mirik Milan, Night Mayor of Amsterdam Sarah Barron, MCA Simon Shaw, Capstone Collective Tyson Koh, Keep Sydney Open Image: Yaya Stempler.
Each year as the end of January rolls around, there's one important decision that must be made: Where are you going to listen to the Hottest 100? Whether you get fully wrapped up in the countdown or you're just tuning in to complain about how it was better back when you were 18, the annual day-long journey of the year's democratically-anointed best songs always ends up providing a great backdrop to whatever you're up to. While backyard cricket and poolside beers are often the go-to accompaniment for the day's tunes, one Sydney venue is suggesting a different setting — The Taphouse's bright and bustling rooftop bar. Formerly a more serious watering hole dedicated to craft beers and Sunday roasts, The Taphouse reopened in 2023 under the guidance of Applejack Hospitality (RAFI, Forrester's, The Butler) with a fresh fit-out and nostalgic menu that takes inspiration from classic suburban Chinese restaurants. As part of the rejuvenation, the rooftop bar was also given a facelift, returning as a breezy hangout spot. And that's where The Taphouse will be hosting its Hottest 100 party on Saturday, January 27. Snag a spot up above the streets of Darlinghurst and enjoy a roster of moreish share plates and refreshing bevs as Triple J rolls through the hits of 2023. You can pair countdown entries from Kylie Minogue, Royel Otis, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo with salt and pepper oyster mushrooms, roast duck plates, wok-fried mud crab and barbecue pork buns. Craft beer enthusiasts will be pleased that despite its new owners, The Taphouse still has a hefty roster of brews on offer, including Mountain Culture Status Quo, Grifter Serpents Kiss, Hawke's Patio Ale and long necks of Tsingtao. There will also be frosé and frozen gin coladas available on the daily, alongside the venue's usual roster of wines and cocktails. Even better, $1 for every cocktail purchased on the day will be donated to Headspace — so you can feel good about ordering a Szechuan margarita or miso old fashioned. Top image: Steven Woodburn
Over the past six months, Fleabag picked up six Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes, becoming the most-acclaimed TV comedy of the past year. Sadly, that isn't enough to inspire Phoebe Waller-Bridge to make more episodes of the hit show — but for everyone lamenting the Fleabag-sized hole in their lives, the multi-talented Brit has a new project landing soon. She has a couple, actually. Waller-Bridge helped write the script for upcoming Bond flick No Time to Die, which is no small feat. If you're keen to see her on-screen, however, then you'll want to add Run to your must-watch pile. Waller-Bridge executive produces and pops up among the cast, with Vicky Jones — the director of her Fleabag stage show, and a script editor on Fleabag's first TV season — writing and producing the series. Hitting HBO in the US in mid-April, with release dates Down Under yet to be revealed, Run spends time with ex-lovers Ruby Richardson (Unbelievable's Merritt Wever) and Billy Johnson (Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker's Domhnall Gleeson). They dated in college and, 17 years ago, they made a pact. First, one of them has to text the word 'run' whenever they feel like it. Next, the other has to respond the same way. After that, they both have to drop everything, step away from their everyday lives and meet at Grand Central Station, then travel across the America together. For Ruby, that means escaping her monotonous existence and leaving her husband (Mad Men's Rich Sommer) at home. As for what happens next, the just-released first trailer gives a sneak peek. Expect plenty of chatty train trips, as well as both tension and laughs — with HBO badging the series as a romantic-comedy thriller. And if you're wondering about Waller-Bridge, she plays Laurel, a woman who Ruby and Billy meet on their journey. Check out the trailer below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=_jwEiXdJGKM&feature=emb_logo Run starts screening in the US from Sunday, April 12, with air dates Down Under yet to be announced — we'll update you when local details come to hand. Image: Ken Woroner/HBO.
In Tammy, what you see is what you get — even if you have seen it all before. A road-trip odd-couple coming-of-age comedy, Melissa McCarthy's latest effort drives down familiar routes in search of revelations and raucousness but does little more than warmly ride through the usual cliches of its genre. McCarthy's titular character is a picture of immaturity, escaping her blue collar, Middle America problems after a day from hell that leaves her car wrecked, her employment terminated, and her husband (Nat Faxon) with another woman (Toni Collette). Despite protests from her mother (Allison Janney), she takes to the highway with her fun-loving, Cadillac-owning grandmother, Pearl (Susan Sarandon). Mismatched travelling companions with individual scores to settle, they set out on a jovial jaunt, but find more than frivolity on their journey. Tackling troubles en route to a far-flung destination has been the premise of many manchild-focused movies, as recent features Due Date and The Guilt Trip have shown. While Tammy appropriates typically male traits in a gender role reversal, even its central swap is absent originality. Indeed, McCarthy's own Identity Thief followed the same formula barely a year ago. Alas, in Tammy, McCarthy's seeming ambition to ape Zach Galifianakis' similar output continues. Even when writing her own roles — here with director Ben Falcone — she copies stereotypes rather than carves out her own niche. Her aims in broadening the representation of women on screen are admirable; her methods are less so. Despite her slapstick skill, she rarely serves up anything other than the same imitative effort. Tammy's derivation doesn't stop there, nor does its squandering of its cast. With Sarandon involved, the girl's own gambit also borrows from Thelma and Louise as it ambles through a checklist of cartoonish tropes. Tammy and Pearl cycle through liaisons with men (Gary Cole and Mark Duplass) they meet along the way, fall afoul of the law, and reunite with long-lost relatives (Kathy Bates and Sandra Oh). Of the supports, Bates makes the best of scarce opportunities in an offering that's as much McCarthy's passion project as it is her star vehicle. And yet, though the comedy and characters clearly spring from all that has come before, the feature sparkles with sincerity. Missives of the self — esteem, worth and discovery — are as common as most of the film's content; however, Tammy never feels anything other than earnest. First-time filmmaker Falcone may assemble everything together in tonally bland and comically mistimed packaging, his visuals devoid of texture and his scenes lingering too long, but his affection for his lead and narrative shines through. In its generic compilation, Tammy may lack its desired humour, but it does boast customary helpings of heart and hopefulness. https://youtube.com/watch?v=K8a3TOhVA3c
If you're a vegetarian, worshipper of eggplant or just a keen home cook, chances are Yotam Ottolenghi has had some impact on your life. In fact, we bet you've got at least one of his bestselling cookbooks in your cupboard. In 2023, you'll be able to learn a few more tips and tricks from the renowned Israeli chef as he heads to Down Under for a speaking tour. The trailblazing chef, author, TV personality and restaurateur whose name has become its own cooking style is touring the country off the back of his book Ottolenghi Flavour, which builds on his love for innovative vegetable-based recipes — and his new Ottolenghi Test Kitchen title Extra Good Things, too. And yes, this'll sound familiar, as he was planning to head Down Under in 2021 and at the beginning of 2022, but we all know what got in the way. Yotam Ottolenghi — Flavour of Life will hit ICC Sydney for two shows at 3pm and 7pm on Sunday, January 22. As well as dishing up a few spicy secrets behind his mouthwatering hits (his miso butter onions and spicy mushroom lasagne are always favourites), the show will provide an opportunity to hear directly from the man himself about his influences and experiences. It also promises to delve into Ottolenghi's experience as the owner of famed London restaurants Nopi and Rovi, how he approached home cooking during the COVID-19 pandemic and how you can dial up the flavour in your own kitchen. And, chatting with author and broadcaster Alice Zaslavsky, expect Ottolenghi to discuss food pairings, next-level cooking methods and more. Plus, Ottolenghi and Zaslavsky will get cooking, using ingredients selected by each show's audience. Have a stash of burning questions for the chef? The speaking events will end with a Q&A.
What is taught at schools, and how it's tested, is oft a topic of debate. A quick Google search will tell you that everyone from Richard Branson to Mark Wahlberg, Shannon Bennett to Aretha Franklin either failed at or dropped out of school. So, does the current system really work for all kids — or just those who are academically minded? At this Vivid Ideas talk, five of Australia's great minds will deep dive into the topic: are schools and society fostering or stifling imagination? And they're doing it in honour of another great mind: the great, late Australian journalist Mark Colvin. During Colvin's four-decade career he worked at the ABC Radio, Four Corners, Double J and Triple J and reported from pivotal events across the globe, including the Iranian hostage crisis and the aftermath of Rwanda's genocide. In the spirit of Colvin's unbridled curiosity, songstress Megan Washington, screenwriter and columnist Benjamin Law, Guardian Australia senior editor Lucy Clark — and author of Beautiful Failures: How the Quest for Success is Harming Our Kids — Professor Robyn Ewing AM and TV presenter Julia Zemiro will take to the stage to debate the current schooling system. It's rumoured that Washington, who'll be discussing how she found her voice through music, might even perform a song or two. The lively debate will be held at the City Recital Hall on Sunday, June 3 at 11.30am. To purchase tickets, head to the website.
It wasn't just a Twitter thread — it was the Twitter thread. Whether you read Aziah 'Zola' King's viral 148-post stripper saga live as it happened back in October 2015, stumbled across the details afterwards as the internet lost its mind or only heard about it via Zola's buzzy trailer, calling this stranger-than-fiction tale a wild ride will always be an understatement. Its instantly gripping opening words, as also used in Janicza Bravo's (Lemon) savvy, sharp, candy-hued tweet-to-screen adaptation, happen to capture the whole OMG, WTF and OTT vibe perfectly: "you wanna hear a story about how me and this bitch fell out? It's kind of long, but it's full of suspense." In the film, that phrase is uttered aloud by Zola's eponymous Detroit waitress (Taylour Paige, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom). Still, the movie firmly embraces its origins. For those wondering how a filmmaker turns a series of tweets into a feature, Bravo handles the task with flair, energy, enthusiasm and a clear understanding of social media's role in our lives. Much of the phrasing that the real-life Zola used has made its way into the conversational script, which was co-written by playwright Jeremy O Harris. Each time that occurs, the film echoes with tell-tale swooshes, whistles and dings. But those words and alerts are just the starting point; as Zola's chaotic narrative unfurls, it comes to life with a mix of the hyperreal, the loose and the dreamy. It doesn't merely tell a tale taken from the tweetstorm to end all tweetstorms, but also uses every aesthetic choice it can to mirror the always-on, always-posing, always-sharing online realm. The other person that Zola refers to in her initial statement is the cornrow-wearing, blaccent-sporting Stefani (Riley Keough, The Lodge), who she serves at work, then joins on a jaunt to Florida. They immediately hit it off, which is what inspires the invite to head south — a "hoe trip" is how Zola describes it — however, what's meant to be a girls' getaway for a stint of lucrative exotic dancing in Tampa soon gets messy. The drive is long, and Stefani's boyfriend Derreck (Nicholas Braun, Succession) quickly dampens the mood with his awkward, try-hard schtick. Then there's X (Colman Domingo, Candyman), who, while introduced as Stefani's roommate, is actually her pimp. Trafficking Zola into sex work is the real plan of this working holiday, she discovers, but she's ferociously adamant that she won't be "poppin' pussy for pennies". As the woman both relaying and riding Zola's rollercoaster of a story, Paige is fierce and finessed. It's a tricky part; making the dialogue sound authentic, and also like it could've just been rattled off on social media with a mix of emojis and all caps, requires a precise tonal balance, for starters. So does ensuring that Zola always feels like a real person, especially given the tale's ups and downs. That said, Paige is guided by Bravo at every turn, with recognising how things play online and how they pan out in reality — and the frequent disconnection between the two — one of the filmmaker's biggest masterstrokes. That's exactly what a flick that's based on a Twitter thread should offer, rather than just mining posts for punchy content that's already proven popular. Using the platform as source material definitely doesn't equal an endorsement here. Instead, it sparks a brash and bouncy feature that interrogates its inspiration and the mechanism that turned it into a whirlwind, rather than serves up a cinematic retweet. Zola also draws upon David Kushner's Rolling Stone article 'Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted', because 148 tweets can't cover everything. Nonetheless, plenty of the film's success emanates from its almost-surreal 16mm imagery and its airy, eerie-scored atmosphere, too. Its namesake's early words aren't misleading: this is a narrative filled with suspense. The waves it surfs in its mood and stylistic decisions cause just as must jitteriness, though — in a fantastic way. Zola hangs together immaculately, and it constantly feels as if Bravo, cinematographer Ari Wegner (The Power of the Dog), editor Joi McMillon (If Beale Street Could Talk) and composer Mica Levi (Monos) could go anywhere. That's a powerhouse lineup of talent, after all, with the latter trio's resumes spanning some of the killer films of the past decade: Lady Macbeth, In Fabric, True History of the Kelly Gang, Moonlight, Under the Skin and Jackie all included. Alongside Paige, Zola's cast is equally impressive, even if it initially appears as if a few might simply stick to type. Keough could've stepped off of American Honey's set and onto this one, and not just because they're both road-trip movies, yet adds another tricky yet memorable performance to her filmography. Written into her character, and conveyed in her portrayal as well, is a dissection of cultural appropriation. Stefani acts like she's Black in lieu of forming her own identity, is wilfully ignorant of that fact while being openly racist, and provides a pinpoint-precise portrait of oblivious, exploitative, all-devouring whiteness. Similar ideas bubble through Braun's work as the gangly and bungling Derrek — a twist on his acclaimed Cousin Greg persona, but with far less cash — and the concept of adopting a part and facade also lingers in Colman's scarily compelling and icily charming efforts. These are layered performances, befitting the rich and multi-faceted film they're in. Nothing in any movie is ever just one thing, but Zola demonstrates that notion with commitment and command. It's there in the feature's bold approach, including its eagerness to unpack its genesis on several levels. It's there in the film's gleaming yet never glamorous appearance as well, which almost pitches itself into the world of fantasy while steadfastly recognising that nothing about its story is seductive or alluring. And, it echoes in the tiniest of choices. Take an early moment, in a bathroom, where both Zola and her new pal take a leak. Shot from above, this is the smartest peeing scene you're ever likely to see, and expresses so much about its central duo purely by peering at their urine. Turning tweets and piss into a must-see movie? That's cinematic alchemy.
Many Hands (previously named Popup Ethical) will be launching their new concept on May 9 with a nasties-free pop-up restaurant at the Paddo Uniting Church. For one evening, you can forget all about unknown supply chains and unethical manufacturing practices. That's because everything you'll see, taste, smell and hear will have been handcrafted, handmade and/or organically grown. The event is promising a truly multisensory experience, with tapas created by chef Steven Zielke, tunes from muso Sten Pittet and live art conjured up at the hands of Sally Reynolds. Plus, there'll be an array of photographs, bespoke fine jewellery, ceramics, textiles and floral arrangements. The Many Hands team is bound by a love of "entertaining and ethical gourmet food" and have been bringing their magic to various Sydney pop-ups, including two sold-out evenings at Good Food Month. $20 will buy you two tapas plates and the freedom to wander as you wish, while $50 will purchase a five-course sit-down feast and a beverage of your choice.
The fly in the soup has finally been noticed, the question uttered: is experimental music as boring as bat shit? We're familiar with both sides of the problem. On the one hand we feel it in our gut, it's bodily, it cleaves the ears from the head, it leaves us feeling impatient/annoyed/uninformed/conservative/hungry. On the other hand, it offers a spontaneous surge of attention/appreciation — it's that very rare, very unexpected experience that suddenly opens the world like a can; irreversibly illuminating. Part of Serial Space's NEXT NEXT: Mini-Festival of Exploratory Sound and Music, The Great Music Debate is the 5th edition in the reputable Great Debate Series. Assembling informed and poised sides, together with performances/case studies by Potato Masta, Kusum Normoyle, Lucas Abela & DJ Hot Balls, the event promises to be revealing, informative, and anything but boring.
Keep your eyes peeled for Hendrick's Gin's hot air balloon flying over Sydney today. The floating gin bar, which offered free gin-filled balloon flights late last year, will be taking off as part of a fleet of balloons from Parramatta and floating across Sydney the city throughout today, Monday, March 15. The flight is part of a week-long series of activations Hendrick's is running across the city titled the Week of Wonders that will see free G&Ts offered up throughout the week. Unfortunately, Hendrick's isn't offering free flights in the balloon this time around, but if you catch glimpse of the hot air balloon and manage to snap a pic, you can take that picture to select venues in Parramatta and the city and exchange it for a free gin and tonic. The participating venues include Potts Point Hotel, Frisco Hotel, The Tilbury, Hotel Palisade, Glenmore Hotel, Nick & Nora's and Heritage Lounge. If you miss out on seeing the balloon, there are plenty more chances for free gin throughout the week, too. A pop-up gin bar will be residing at Campbells Cove, The Rocks between Thursday, March 18 and Saturday, March 20. The pop-up will be open 2–8pm each day and will be serving up free cucumber sandwiches and G&Ts. Between 4–7pm from Wednesday, March 17 and Saturday, March 20, you may also see Victorian-era characters riding around the CBD on penny-farthings. If you approach the riders, they'll offer you a cucumber which you can redeem for a Hendrick's Gin cocktail at a selection of Sydney venues including PS40 and The Barber Shop. More information will be available throughout the week via the Hendrick's Gin Facebook page. Hendrick's Gin's 'Week of Wonder' runs from Monday, March 15 until Saturday, March 20.
In 1978, modernist photographer Max Dupain left Australian shores for his first trip to Europe. His mission? To capture architect Harry Seidler’s Australian Embassy, constructed the year before. The two had become friends over their shared passion for form and light. Dupain spent time exploring Paris’s many monuments and architectural features, taking photographs that varied from formal compositions playing with scale, such as a shot of Napoleon’s state on Les Invalides balcony, to candid portraits. Now, for the first time ever, 21 of those images will be revealed to the public. Dupain originally gave them to Seidler, accompanied by a handwritten note stating, “I owe you so much. For nearly twenty-five years I have dwelt on your philosophy of architecture. We register alike about clear thinking, logic of application, poetry of form, etc etc. [sic].” Penelope Seidler donated the photos to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2012. In addition to the Paris private portfolio, 15 of Dupain’s architecturally and botanically inspired photographs will be shown, mostly taken around Sydney and covering a 50-year span of his career.
This winter, Barangaroo House is embracing the winter chill on all of its three levels. Today, July 3, the waterside venue launched Bring the Heat — a multi-storey winter wonderland with luxe rooftop igloos, spiced martinis, magnums of Champagne and fondue pots aplenty. The outdoor terrace of Smoke (the venue's rooftop cocktail bar) is where you'll find those opulent igloos — they come complete with cosy cushions, blankets, hanging greenery and lanterns. Here, you can order cheese or chocolate fondue and baked truffle camembert straight to your igloo. For drinks, there's Champagne, hot bloody marys and 'cauldrons' of mulled wine that serve six. The igloos fit up to ten and can be booked for two hours — though you'll need to commit to a minimum spend of $500 (that's only $50 each if you round up your mates). The best time to book is on weekends when bottomless Champagne and alpine-inspired snacks are on offer from noon–3pm — drink all the Champagne you can handle while enjoying wagyu bresaola, pork skewers, toasties and hot chips for a reasonable $95 all up. Or stop by right at 5pm on weekdays, when the first five 1.5-litre magnums of Veuve Clicquot will be sold for just $145 per bottle. Over at Bea restaurant, Head Chef Tom Haynes is dishing up woodfired dishes — think charred tiger prawns or spatchcock chicken with green rice stuffing — alongside a selection of $10 mini martinis. If you're keen for the whole hog, book into one of Bea's winter wine degustations, which will take place on July 4, 17 and August 29. For $95–150 per person, you'll be treated to a feast and a few drops from winemakers Cullen Wines, Cloudy Bay and Michael Hall Wines. And, down on the ground level, House Bar is offering its own range of spiced martinis, including a chilli choc espresso, a smoked rosemary and a spiced apple version. You'll be able to DIY garnishes and bitters with these, too. All of these deals will only be available through to the end of August, though, so don't wait on it. Images: Alana Dimou
As part of the Opera House's recent haul-in of contemporary acts, indie-rock veterans and virtuosos, Yo La Tengo, will be performing a unique two-part show that divulges the 'soft' and the 'loud' on March 13, 2014. Labelled "the quintessential critic's band", they have remained versatile yet reliable: an institution of high-calibre indie. For this performance, the seminal trio will draw from a catalogue spanning 30 years. Their repertoire spans immersive bossa nova lullabies through to clanging punk-rock freakouts, not to mention an encyclopaedic repertoire of covers, heralding a generation's love of the classic mix-tape. Lately, it seems the sleepy romance of their softer tracks has taken precedence with the recent release of Fade. The 2013 album is serenely melodic, dipping into surfer rock, motown, and '60s soul. It is a cohesive and beautifully melded arrangement of sounds, bespeaking a band that has truly come into its own. Yo La Tengo will also be swinging down Victoria way for Golden Plains Festival in March, performing alongside hip hop legends Public Enemy. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, November 1, from the Sydney Opera House website. https://youtube.com/watch?v=GRyeTCibkbE
Since the mid-90s, Paul Rudd has been a constant presence on both big and small screens. First, he won over Beverly Hills' coolest teen in Clueless, joined horror royalty in Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers and somehow became the unattractive romantic alternative in Romeo + Juliet. Then, he helped deliver San Diego's news in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, ran for office against Leslie Knope in Parks & Recreation and became the world's smallest superhero in Ant-Man. The list goes on, spanning a trip to camp in Wet Hot American Summer, as well appearances on Friends and Veronica Mars. But it's Netflix's new series Living With Yourself that's finally giving the world what we want — all the Paul Rudd that anyone could ever ask for. Yet another existential comedy to join the likes of The Good Place, Russian Doll, Forever and Undone, Living With Yourself follows an ordinary guy struggling through an average life, until he discovers an unusual solution. Miles (Rudd) heads to a day spa expecting to come out feeling refreshed — and that happens, in a way. The new and improved version of Miles couldn't be happier, but the old version is still hanging around. Two Paul Rudds is most people's dream, of course. In Living With Yourself, however, the two versions of his character cause quite the chaos. How the pair handle their shared life, wife Kate (Aisling Bea), career and identity fuels this eight-episode show, as do weighty questions, including trying to be a better version of ourselves. Hitting Netflix mid-October, the series was written by Emmy Award-winning The Daily Show producer Timothy Greenberg, and directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (The Battle of the Sexes, Ruby Sparks, Little Miss Sunshine). Check out the trailer for Living With Yourself below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w54yW2Ur50 Living With Yourself drops on Netflix on October 18. Images: Netflix.
What's Attica without Ben Shewry? The team at Gelinaz! are about to find out. The Melbourne-based head chef of 'Australia's best restaurant' is packing his bags for a huge global chef swap this July. Created by Gelinaz! — the international chef collective responsible for wild, collaborative cook-off stunts — the event will see 37 chefs from around the globe jump on a plane, travel to a new country and serve up their best in another chef's kitchen. They'll even be living in each other's houses, just like that terrible, terrible Wife Swap. It's called the Grand Gelinaz! Shuffle and it's going down on July 9. Shewry is joining one humdinger of an international chef lineup, repping our culinary nation alongside Adelaidean chef Jock Zonfrillo (of Orana). The pair will put their names in the hat with Parisian chef Alain Ducasse (La Plaza Athenee), Tokyo's Yoshihiro Narisawa (Narisawa), Copenhagen's René Redzepi (Noma), NYC's Sean Gray (Momofuku Ko), Charleston's Sean Brock (McCrady's) and San Francisco's Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn) to name a few. The chefs know where they're going, but ticketholders won't know which chef's delights they'll be enjoying until the day. So you could be dining on a Noma or Momofuku-style dish at Attica if you're lucky. Tickets are available to the public, so if you're keen to head to Attica or Orana on July 9 you'd better plan ahead. Tickets go on sale on May 13, but prices haven't been unveiled just yet. Check over here for more details. Here's all 37 Grand Gelinaz! Shuffle participants. Who'll be your chef for the night? Ben Shewry, Attica, Melbourne — Australia Jock Zonfrillo, Orana, Adelaide — Australia Danny Bowien, Mission Chinese Food, New York — USA Sean Gray, Momofuku Ko, New York — USA Sean Brock, McCrady's, Charleston — USA David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos — USA Daniel Patterson, Coi, San Francisco — USA Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn, San Francisco — USA Carlo Mirarchi, Blanca, New York — USA Blaine Wetzel, Willow's Inn, Lummi Island — USA Colombe Saint-Pierre, Chez Saint-Pierre, Le Bic — Canada Claude Bosi, Hibiscus — England Magnus Nilsson, Faviken, Järpen — Sweden Peter Nilsson, Spritmuseum, Stockholm — Sweden René Redzepi, Noma, Copenhagen — Denmark Paul Cunningham, Henne Kirkeby Kro, Henne — Denmark Kobe Desramaults, In De Wulf, Dranouter — Belgium Mehmet Gurs, Mikla, Istanbul — Turkey Yoshihiro Narisawa, Narisawa, Tokyo — Japan David Thompson, Nahm, Bangkok — Thailand Bertrand Grebaut, Septime, Paris — France Alain Ducasse, La Plaza Athenee, Paris — France Yannick Alleno, Le Doyen, Paris — France Inaki Alzpitarte, Le Cheateaubriand, Paris — France Mauro Colagreco, Mirazur, Menton — France Alexandre Gauthier, La Grenouillere, Montreuil/Mer — France Ana Ros, Hisa Franko, Kobarid — Slovenia Davide Scabin, Combal Zero, Rivoli — Italy Fulvio Pierangelini, Hotel de Russie, Rome — Italy Riccardo Camanini, Lido 84, Gardone Riviera — Italy Massimo Bottura, La Francescana, Moderna — Italy Massilmillano Alajmo, La Calandre, Venice — Italy Andoni Luis Aduriz, Mugaritz, San Sebastian — Spain Albert Adria, Pakta, Barcelona — Spain Alex Atala, D.O.M., San Paolo — Brazil Rodolfo Guzman, Borago, Santiago — Chile Virgillo Martinez, Central, Lima — Peru Via Grub Street.
This month, galleries and creative spaces across Sydney will throw open their doors for a massive celebration of contemporary art and artists for Art Month Sydney's milestone tenth anniversary. As part of this year's jam-packed lineup, Art Month Sydney is hosting a series of after-work tours of the city's most prolific art precincts. On Thursday, March 21, it's time to check out galleries and art spaces around east Sydney for a sunset art tour. Whether you've wandered past but not ventured in, know the precinct's galleries well, or have never heard of them, tonight is a chance to enjoy what's on offer. Galleries that'll be keeping their doors open for the evening include Stacks Projects, Artspace, Emerson, the Australian Design Centre and Chalk Horse. To take part, simply explore the Art Month Sydney map here, pop on some comfy shoes and start your tour at 6pm. You can hit the pavement in any direction you like, but make sure you end things at Firstdraft. From 8pm, the venue — which is Australia's longest-running artist-run initiative — will be hosting an end-of-night party. There'll be a lineup of performance art and DJs curated by Performance Space's Tulleah Pearce. The lineup includes an installation by Jodie Whalen, video work by Su Yu Hsin and performances by artists JD Reforma, Eugene Choi, Alyx Dennison and Bonnie Stewart. Plus, DJs Marcus Whale and Sovereign Trax will provide the soundtrack to the party. And while you're there, you can also check out Firstdraft's latest exhibitions, featuring solo shows from Roberta Rich, Mojgan Habibi and Cindy Yuen-Zhe Chen. For more information on the Art at Night: East Sydney, or to check out the full Art Month Sydney program, head this way. Image: courtesy of Art Month Sydney.
It's been eight years since Yeah Yeah Yeahs released the still totally exciting self-titled EP (seriously, dust off Art Star!). A whole lot of time and tours have passed since then, but not the wide expanse of albums one might expect, which only makes each one all the more of a thrill upon arrival. That's not to say they haven't been busy. Singer Karen O just received a Grammy nomination for scoring Where the Wild Things Are. Guitarist Nick Zinner has released three monographs of his photographic work, the latest with an introduction by Jim Jarmusch; and drummer Brian Chase is involved with a band that is described as playing "klezmer-fusion" music. What's more, this year's YYY album It's Blitz is one of their best. Live, Karen O's delivery is somewhere between banshee beat and rock'n'droll, as faithful as her outfits by Christian Joy are bonkers. On stage, she's an unpredictable delight, though that time she danced off the stage at the Metro Theatre in 2003 was more former than latter (I'm still wincing). Here's hoping the wider boards of the Hordern Pavillion she'll be treading this time help prevent such a showstopper. Supporting the Sydney show will be local act Circle Pit, who are getting to be worth the ticket price alone.
Underlying all symposiums is a question: how do we know what we know? What seems like a straightforward question is in fact difficult to answer. How does knowledge accumulate? How is it shared? Why is it useful? Certainly we know its fundamental to how we perceive current situations and positions, but what is our current situation and position? The 5th Pacific Thought Symposium promises to offer us a chance to think about such questions under the theme proposed by MAU Artistic Director Lemi Ponifasio, Bringing Forth The Ancestors. With a panel of speakers ranging from artists, cultural leaders, and intellectuals from the Pacific, Australia and Asia, this will be the first time the symposium has been held on this side of the Pacific and is an important step in acknowledging our wider environment and diverse histories. With a focus on Indigenous issues, both in Australia and abroad, as well as the presentation of a range of differing philosophies and propositions, this looks conducive to some necessary and needed thinking.
In the film that brought her global acclaim, Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom climbed up in the world — and she hasn't looked back. Sherpa explored tense times on Mount Everest, while her next documentary Mountain pondered the world's highest peaks, their beauty and their allure. With River after that, Peedom didn't stare at towering land masses. But she does peer from great heights at waterways that snake across continents. And, she once again teamed up with none other than Willem Dafoe (Poor Things), who narrates this poetic musing on just how rivers shape the planet. Watching River itself is a meditative experience, because looking at absolutely stunning sights shot in 39 countries, listening to lyrical narration, and hearing a stirring score featuring Bach, Ravel, Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead and more has that effect. Making the movie even better is River Live in Concert with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, which returns for another nationwide tour in 2024, this time with Indigenous Australian didgeridoo player and vocalist William Barton joining in. The ACO and Barton will play the film's soundtrack right there in front of you as you watch. Sydneysiders can get in on the action on Saturday, February 10, Tuesday, February 13 and Wednesday, February 14 at City Recital Hall — and on Sunday, February 11 at Sydney Opera House. Event images: Nick Walker.
Love live music? What about when you can experience it for free? Well, drop into Misfits, Redfern's much-loved neighbourhood bar, on the first Thursday of the month, and you're in for a treat. Beyond the bar's secret bookcase lies a 70s-style lounge room, where you'll find live music and cheap Aussie beer. Dubbed 'Locals in the Lounge', this free gig series is a collaboration between music lovin' Misfits and Pirate Life, a brewery based in Adelaide. Misfits is one of the few live music spots in the area. So, this gig series is a way to support emerging artists affiliated with well-known platforms such as Triple J or FBI radio. Plus, it celebrates Pirate Life's new Port Local Lager — a cold, crisp brew, which you can nab for just five bucks a schooner on the night. On Thursday, September 5, you'll be kicking back to the sounds of soul and R&B singer Jeremy Gregory. His tune 'That's What's Going Down' spent three weeks in Australia's Top 40 upon its release. He's also recorded with Disco Montego and The Rockmelons. Plus, since 2011, he's been a member of Perth-based band Village Kid. There's only one catch to all this excitement. Misfits' gig venue is pint-sized. And, because the gig costs zero dollars, you can't book. So, make sure you don't miss out by rocking up early.
We know what you're thinking: Darling Harbour, not your usual no.1 pick for a day or night out in Sydney. But consider that the area is bordered by Barangaroo to the north, and new precinct Darling Square to the south, meaning your every meal can be catered for by a parade of top restaurateurs. Think about how easy it is to catch a ferry from here, and enjoy a day trip out onto the harbour. And entertain the idea of a night at the theatre without the cold schlep home. It all adds up to one thing: you're due a staycation in Darling Harbour. Here's your guide to living a luxury weekend of food, wine, culture and revels, harbourside. EAT AND DRINK To experience some of the most exciting cooking being done in Sydney, you'll want to follow the waterfront around to Barangaroo. The precinct only began opening its first completed sections in 2015, and already there's more life here than you might expect from a masterplanned development. Mainly, people come for the food and drink. At the fancier end of the spectrum, there's seafood-focused Cirrus Dining, the new offering from local food scene celebs Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt of Bentley. It's the spot for a quintessential Sydney blow-out lunch of oysters, trevally tartare and roasted king prawns with koji butter. Lotus Dumpling Bar and Turkish joint Anason are two more casual options that still wow. Alternatively (or afterwards), head to 12-Micron, a contemporary-Oz affair that stands out for its focus on dessert. They even offer a three- or five-course dessert degustation, with flavour combinations like Pyengana Cheddar, milk chocolate, plum and honeycomb all bundled together into one dish. Also note their use of native ingredients on every plate — it's something you don't see often enough in Australia. Follow all this up with some appropriately refined drinking. One luxe spot in this area is small bar Solera, with it's lush decor (think green velvet couches and flashes of marbles). Another good option is Banksii, where the specialty is vermouth and everything just sings. Back in Darling Harbour proper, Sofitel Darling Harbour's Champagne Bar is perfect for an indulgent nightcap after a long day of exploring. Over 20 different types of Champagne are on offer, from Carnard-Duchene and Pol Roger to a 2009 Louis Roederer vintage in collaboration with artist Philippe Starck. If you prefer brews over bubbles, Pumphouse has one of the best beer selections in the city, from easy-drinking lagers to heavy-going stouts. In this area, you'll also find one of Sydney's most well-known fine-diners, Sepia. This is still a great special-occasion spot, where your dinner looks like a procession of miniature landscapes and sculptures. A more casual option in this area is the Ternary at the Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour, a crowd-pleasing bar and restaurant with three distinct offerings: Grill Kitchen, Asian Kitchen and Wine Bar. They know how to do winter too — they've scheduled a five-course, whisky-paired degustation on Thursday, August 30 for $189 per head. If dining isn't the headline act for this evening, drop by the newly launched Pier St Kitchen at the Novotel Sydney Darling Square. They offer a pre-theatre menu of one or two courses with matching wines from $30 — a good call given major venues like the International Convention Centre and The Capitol and State Theatres are a short stroll away. Or, take a stroll along The Goods Line to the new Darling Square food precinct Steam Mill Lane — here, you'll find a bevy of casual food options including famed Melbourne burger joint 8bit and poké place Fishbowl. DO You're in Sydney's theatre district right now, so you might as well make the most of it. The critically acclaimed and audience-adored British touring production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is on at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, just up from Barangaroo, until the end of July. After that there's Ruth Park's great Australian novel The Harp in the South, given a new adaptation by Kate Mulvany. Meanwhile, Capitol Theatre down in Haymarket begins its run of Jersey Boys at the end of August. Or, head in the other direction and into Pyrmont, where big musicals land at the Lyric Theatre. This winter, that's The Book of Mormon — the Broadway hit that also manages to be hugely offensive to just about everyone. There's a treat for lovers of high fashion in this part of town too. The Powerhouse Museum is hosting Reigning Men, the world's biggest exhibition of men's fashion, with garments pulled from aristocrats of the 18th century as well as the runways of today. Divine. If you don't mind doing a little learning on your mini break, stop by the Australian National Maritime Museum, which is currently hosting James Cameron: Challenging the Deep. This immersive exhibition centres on the filmmaker's oceanic explorations. You will be able to virtually explore the Titanic and Bismarck shipwrecks and see props from Cameron's films, including the Heart of the Ocean diamond. Your final foray in Darling Harbour should be to Barangaroo wharf, where you can catch a ride on the F3 ferry to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cockatoo Island. It used to be a penal colony, then a dockyard, and the mix of natural beauty and industrial ruin here is quite special and poetic. It's a great spot to just wander around and photograph — though there's also a haunted night tour if you just have to get intense about it. SLEEP Back to the mainland, where you've been smart enough to book yourself more deluxe lodgings. The Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is pure 5-star indulgence, with an infinity pool offering stunning views of the Sydney skyline and the aforementioned Champagne Bar. If you're celebrating on this trip, get a Luxury Room with Darling Harbour view, where you can enjoy harbour views from your freestanding bathtub through floor-to-ceiling windows. Another option is the home of the aforementioned Ternary restaurant, the 4.5-star Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour. Its rooms have just been refreshed, with dark feature walls, light wood accents and oversized art creating a contemporary yet cosy feel. Go for the executive rooms and suites if you want to bask in those city panoramas. The 4.5-star Novotel Sydney Darling Square, meanwhile, is comfortably situated equidistant from the ICC and Chinatown, making it a good option if you're partial to a mid-afternoon nap before heading out into the action again. Go to the AccorHotels website to book your stay in Darling Harbour, and to discover more of NSW, check out Visit NSW.
If you needed a new reason to make the journey to Palm Beach, we have it here. After six months of renovations from new owners The Boathouse Group, longstanding Palm Beach venue Barrenjoey House has reopened — just in time for the summer holidays. The heritage-listed restaurant and guesthouse is the eighth venture by the Sydney hospitality group, which, headed up by husband and wife team Pip and Andrew Goldsmith, runs various Boathouse venues around Sydney. Most recently, the group opened the Boathouse Hotel just across the way in Patonga. Barrenjoey House has retained its original name, but follow a similar blueprint to the new Patonga venue. The restaurant will offer table service for lunch and dinner, and seven small guest rooms will be available to book from early 2019. That said, the group has has paid homage to the old building and its waterside location by refreshing the interiors with its signature coastal feel — think shell mirrors, wooden furnishings, banquette seating and local art. The menu has a focus on fresh local produce and seafood takes centre stage. The casual nature of the restaurant means that you can pop in for a snack — maybe kingfish ceviche or fried calamari — after a swim at the beach or you can book in for lunch or dinner. Main dishes include rare yellowfin tuna spaghetti, a Murray Cod with fennel, orange and cucumber, and an Eye Fillet with good old-fashioned mashed potato and green beans. Sweet tooths will be pleased with the dessert options that include a strawberry sundae and a peanut butter parfait. The drinks list continues with the seaside atmosphere, with cocktails like a coconut mojito and a cucumber cooler on the menu. Beer, cider and non-alcoholic beverage options are available, too, and the extensive wine list could easily see you lose a lazy summer's afternoon. And seeing as you've ventured this far north, make a day of it and walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse for panoramic ocean views, or take the 15-minute ferry ride across to Patonga for more coastal vibes. Find Barrenjoey House at 1108 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach. The restaurant and bar are open Tuesday to Sunday from noon till 9pm.
Merivale is currently throwing Beer Oh Beer!, a huge month-long festival celebrating all things beer. The Sydney hospitality giant is dedicating all of September to frosty cans and perfect pours of everyone's favourite golden ale. Highlights of the festival include Dan Hong and Michael Fox's Biru & Yakitori Party and a beer and pizza pool party, but things have just been taken up a notch with Merivale announcing a new week-long happy hour that will be offering nearly half-priced beers at venues across Sydney. Between Monday, September 12 and Sunday, September 18, all Merivale pubs and bars will be taking 49-percent off the price of all schooners of beer bought between 5-7pm. This means that you can enjoy a discounted frothy in the Vic on the Park's beer garden or on the deck at The Newport. Other Merivale venues that will be taking part in the promotion include the newly opened beer garden Backyard at The Alex, as well as Coogee Pavilion, The Grand Hotel, The Royal Bondi, Wynyard Hotel, The Paddington and The Beresford, just to name a few. This isn't the first time Merivale has offered 49-percent off drinks. Last week it celebrated the opening of the new Allianz Stadium — where it is overseeing the food and drink programming — by offering discounted pre-match beverages. And in 2019, the hospo powerhouse discounted all drinks across all of its venues for 31 days. Outside of the schooner promotion, there are plenty of other events and pop-ups taking over Merivale venues throughout September. Every Tuesday during the festival, The Beresford is turning its first-floor room into the Barrel O Laughs comedy club. For $20, comedy fans will be treated to comedy sets from the likes of Dave Hughes, Matt Okine and Al Del Bene, with a schooner of Hahn Super Dry to match. Elsewhere, a beer-based game of shuffleboard will be touring Merivale's venues, the founders of Balter will be hosting a dinner at The Collaroy and Merivale has created its own beer in collaboration with Camperdown's Malt Shovel. Dubbed The Good Tap, the brew will be served at Vic on the Park, The Newport, The Royal, The DOG, Excelsior and Queens Hotel, with proceeds from each pour going to charity.
After announcing its dates earlier this year, Moonlight Cinema has revealed the first part of its 2018–19 program. In short: pack your picnic basket and get ready to watch a heap of flicks under the summer evening sky. Kicking off on Thursday, November 29 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and on Saturday, December 1 in Perth, this initial lineup boasts plenty of this year's favourites, a smattering of all-time faves and a few sneak peeks at new movies coming out soon. If you're wondering why it's just the first section of the program, that's because it covers the outdoor cinema's screenings until the end of January. A February and March lineup will be announced in January. Tried-and-tested highlights include A Star Is Born, A Simple Favour and Crazy Rich Asians, plus Halloween, Bad Times at the El Royale and Venom if you're after something darker. And it wouldn't be a movie season under the stars (or a pre-Christmas lineup) without Love Actually, Elf and Dirty Dancing, now would it? You can also catch pre-release sessions of twisted period drama The Favourite, from The Lobster filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, as well as Transformers spin-off Bumblebee. Or, opt for Viggo Mortensen-starring likely Oscar contender Green Book, or Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan battling it out in Mary, Queen of Scots. Heist flick Widows, amusing sleuths Holmes and Watson and the wizarding antics of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald are all also accounted for — as is Moonlight's usual food truck and licensed bar offering, and its reserved bean beds. You can also BYO booze everywhere except Brisbane. Brisbane's season is actually benefiting from two big changes, with Moonlight Cinema saying goodbye to Brisbane Powerhouse after a more than a decade and settling in at Roma Street Parkland instead. Even better — it'll run all the way through until March 31 for the first time, like its interstate counterparts. MOONLIGHT CINEMA 2018–19 DATES: Sydney: Nov 29–Mar 31 (Belvedere Amphitheatre in Centennial Park) Melbourne: Nov 29–Mar 31 (Central Lawn at the Royal Botanic Gardens) Brisbane: Nov 29–Mar 31 (Roma Street Parkland) Perth: Dec 1–Mar 31 (May Drive Parkland, Kings Park & Botanic Garden) Adelaide: Dec 8–Feb 17 (Botanic Park) Moonlight Cinema kicks off on November 29. For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Moonlight website.
Can a city with a fiercely dark past be repackaged and sold for tourist consumption? This is the question posed in Seven Kilometres North-East. Created and performed by Kym Vercoe, Seven Kilometres North-East first played in 2010 and met with much acclaim. It's a story both political and personal: an attempt to reconcile an idyllic experience of Bosnia with a country’s brutal past. What begins in a spa hotel in Višegrad leads to an exploration of Bosnia’s history, and a play that combines live song with stunning video visuals. Seven Kilometres North-East is a real highlight from the always interesting Version 1.0 — the same group behind documentary theatre works such as The Table of Knowledge, Beautiful One Day and The Vehicle Failed to Stop. A recent winner at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and with nifty video projection by Sean Bacon, this is an emotionally captivating performance exploring a deeply relevant dilemma.
It's been three years since Australia's cinema scene welcomed the American Essentials Film Festival — and while a fest dedicated to US flicks might seem obvious, this event sets its sights much further than Hollywood's usual suspects. Given that mainstream, megaplex-friendly movies reach our shores every week, the Palace-run showcase instead curates a lineup of other American titles, delving into films from the US indie realm. Touring Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra from May 8 to 20, the 2018 fest has a particular fondness for emerging practitioners, with artistic director Richard Sowada noting "the obvious talent from some of the filmmakers in the early stages of their feature film careers," as well as "the deep and obvious respect even some of these newer filmmakers have for the traditions of storytelling in American cinema." With that in mind, this year's event kicks off with The Boy Downstairs, a Zosia Mamet-starring effort from debut feature writer-director Sophie Brooks, which proved a hit at the 2017 TriBeCa Film Festival. The opening night pick also highlights one of the festival's other trends — thanks to its focus on American cinema, it boasts plenty of familiar faces on screen. Standouts include Nicolas Cage and Selma Blair battling a murderous rage in horror-comedy Mom and Dad, Helena Bonham Carter and Hilary Swank recreating a landmark '80s case for patients' rights in 55 Steps, and war effort The Yellow Birds, featuring Solo: A Star Wars Story's Alden Ehrenreich, Ready Player One's Tye Sheridan, plus Toni Collette and Jennifer Aniston. There's also two star-studded flicks about sons and their fathers: Humour Me, which pairs up Jemaine Clement and Elliott Gould in a deadpan comedy, and Kodachrome, which takes Jason Sudeikis and Ed Harris on a road trip to a photo processing laboratory. Other notable titles range from Stuck, which brings the train-set off-Broadway musical of the same name to the cinema; to Outside In, director Lynn Shelter's latest featuring Edie Falco as an ex-high school teacher; to mob drama Gotti, starring John Travolta as the mob boss and screening in Australia just hours after its Cannes Film Festival premiere. On the documentary front, How They Got Over takes a far-reaching documentary into African-American gospel quartets in the '30s and '40s, while RBG examines the life and career of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. For the fest's retrospective section, Los Angeles is in the spotlight courtesy of classics Chinatown, Heat and Shampoo, as well as '70s masterpieces Killer of Sheep and Wattstax. The American Essentials Film Festival tours Australia from May 8, screening at Sydney's Palace Central from May 8 to 20, Brisbane's Palace Centro from May 9 to 20 and Melbourne's Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from May 10 to 20. For more information, visit the festival website.
Like the evil twin of the Biennale, Momentum:Sydney will be lurking around your neighbourhood this week. You'll find him in all your favourite warehouses, galleries and bars, trying to start trouble. This guy's not into gold, ornate frames — we're talking contemporary video, new media, performance and sound art here. With tons of international art stars and key gems of the local scene hanging around, you'll want to be where he is. One event to take note of is a performance by .Tatumi Orimoto, aka the Breadman. In Oil Can, Orimoto will enlist fifteen innocent bystanders to stand in said oil drums in an art event typical of his signature style. Meanwhile, Sumugan Sivanesan's ruminates on cannibalism and otherness in his lecture, What's Eating Gilberto Gil?, on Friday, May 14 — to be followed by a cake-based performance. Taking another angle on the 'other' is Afghani artist Lida Abdul, whose video works will be exhibited at Anna Schwartz Gallery. It all ends with one last hurrah at Melt Bar on Saturday eve, with DJ Mieko Suzuki from Tokyo/Berlin alongside infamous VJ Tim Gruchy. Take the plunge and choose your own adventure. Details are scarce, so track down a program and don't let go until it's over. Image by Tatsumi Orimoto.
It's been two years since Gelato Messina first introduced its cookie pies to the world, much to the delight of tastebuds across Australia. Over that time, the dessert chain has kept bringing the OTT dish back, too, especially when we all needed an extra dose of sweetness during lockdowns. It has whipped up different flavours as well, including choc hazelnut, fairy bread and red velvet. And, in addition to its one-off specials that are designed to share — whether or not you do is completely up to you, of course — Messina started serving up one-person versions last winter. That's all well and tasty, and it's about to be again — because those single-serve cookies pies are back. But, there's a caveat this time around: as well as only being available in stores on Mondays and Tuesdays, this round of pies is popping up at different Messina joints each week. No wonder the gelato fiends are calling it Le Tour De Cookie. Hang on, a cookie pie? Yes, it's a pie, but a pie made of cookie dough. If you're new to the concept, that's all you really need to know. And, yes, this cookie pie really is just for one person — and not just because you're not willing to share. The smaller-sized desserts come ready to eat as well. They're also topped with a scoop of gelato, because of course they are. To pick up one of these single-serve desserts, you'll need to keep an eye on the Messina website, which will list the stores dishing them up each week. To start things off, the Rosebery outpost in Sydney will be doing the honours on Monday, June 20–Tuesday, June 21 — and the Fitzroy shop in Melbourne will get the nod on Monday, June 27–Tuesday, June 28. Don't worry about pre-ordering, as that isn't required. With these small desserts, you just need to show up. Expect to pay $12 with a scoop, or $10 if somehow you don't want gelato on top. Gelato Messina's single-serve choc chip cookie pies are available on Monday and Tuesday nights at select stores during winter. Keep an eye on the Messina website for further details.
Messina's never-ending love affair with collabs has hit a new high. The Messina Creative Department's head chef Remi Talbot has teamed up with Brix Distillers' head chef Ivan Sanchez (Bodega, Porteño) and head bartender Jai Lyons to create an eight-course gelato degustation menu. It'll all go down on March 8–9, when Messina takes over the Bourke Street distillery — winner of the Best New Bar: People's Choice at Concrete Playground's Best of 2018 Awards. The two chefs have combined their Colombian and Japanese/French influences with this one. Expect smoked crisp-skinned duck breast with dark chocolate mole gelato and fois gras-filled turnips; mud crab and abalone with fermented shiitake mushrooms, white garlic gelato and roti bread; and, for dessert, a spiced and smoked molasses gelato with fermented pineapple reduction in a buckwheat cone. To pair with each course, Lyons has created eight rum cocktails. The duck breast will be paired with a chocolate and coffee negroni using barrel-aged rum; the mud crab served alongside a rosemary-infused white daiquiri with ginger kombucha float; and the molasses gelato cone gets a spiced rum, pineapple vinegar, lime and cinnamon smoke concoction. There will be two sittings on each night at 6pm and 8.30pm, with groups of 2–12 welcome. It's definitely a pricey dinner at at $210 a pop — but, if you have the extra cash to splash, we reckon this one will be well worth it.
When the second Tuesday of each month rolls around, Camperdown's The Lady Hampshire lives up to its name. Called See You Next Tuesday, their ladies night isn't your usual female-focused shindig — and for their February event, they're bringing cake. Come February 13, cake baker Katherine Sabbath is in the spotlight, sharing her secrets to conquering the dessert world. Her journey is bound to spark not only inspiration, but also likely hunger, so prepare for an array of rainbow treats as well. Be warned: arriving early is recommended. Also on the bill is local artist Caitlin Harnett's folk-inspired music — and to complete the fun, what's a girls night without a movie? Thelma & Louise will be screened in the beer garden, topped off with drinks supplied by the female-run Sparkke Change Brewery. Plus, the gloriously named Vadge Draw will be back once again as well. $5 will get you entry into the monthly prize pool, with prizes for the month including more of Katherine Sabbath's goodies. Yum. Image: Charlotte Koch.
Set on Cleveland Street, Rococo Flowers offers handcrafted bouquets that really set it apart from other local florists. The flower shop specialises in events and weddings, putting on one seriously impressive display. But you can also shop for one-off bouquets here. Seasonal bunches at the moment include all-white — filled with cuttings like orchids and hyacinths — a pastel bunch and a 'vibrant' bunch. Since all bouquets are assembled with what's fresh and in season, the actual flowers will change regularly. Think pink and orange roses and purple phalaenopsis (moth orchid) blooms. Each bunch is sure to bring joy, whether it's for your partner, your mate or yourself.
From an art blog highlighting female talent, to a Surry Hills gallery show, to art-loving premises of their very own. Tough Titties has come a long way in a short time. Nestled in one of the City of Sydney's new Darlinghurst creative spaces, their freshly-christened Oxford Street Design Store takes broad inspiration from McSweeney's 826 Valencia project. That San Francisco project mixes youth writing programs with stunning-to-visit fronts of house. While Sydney already has a more traditional approach taking place at Redfern's Martian Embassy, Tough Titties have taken it upon themselves to put together a variation that grown-ups can play in too. The Oxford Street Design Store comes in two halves. In front its a shop, curating contributions from local designers, artists, writers and other creative venturers as long as said item has a price which at $20 or under. Out back, it plays host to cheap space for creation and salon-like events by artists and designers. Open already, the store is holding its launch party Tuesday night, giving you the chance to nose around the creative space, guzzle arts-supporting cake wine, and promise yourself you're really not going to buy too many of their wonderful things. No, really. Especially not that one. The Oxford Street Design Store is open Wednesday to Sunday from midday. Submissions are still open to sell, volunteer or use the workspace at the store. Details via oxfordstdesignstore.com.au
You may not have heard of the club-shakin', bass-droppin' record label Grizzly. Yet with the ever-growing lineup of club icons that have joined its ranks since it was kickstarted by British DJ Graeme Sinden in 2010, you may well have heard (or danced to) some of their mixes and mash-ups. Grizzly are unlike other independent labels who have found their niche in specific genres and sub-genres of dance and electronica. Instead, Sinden and his team have given themselves the ambitious task of finding, promoting and representing the sort of artists and producers that slip through the cracks that exist between musical genres and styles. According to Sinden, music makes the Grizzly cut if, and only if, it is "quality and fun bass music". We're talking tunes that are as original and unexpected as they are danceable and club-ready. And now the Grizzly boys are heading to Australia with some of their favourite artists, producers and DJs in tow. Headlining the tour is Mr Grizzly himself, Graeme Sinden, whose work with SBTRKT launched him into the club-scene stratosphere and whose collaborations with Aussie darling Elizabeth Rose have emphatically confirmed his local street cred. Joining him is fellow DJ and headliner, Brenmar, whose glossy yet rugged beats have endeared him to ravers, headbangers and pill-poppers across Europe, Japan and the US. To see these guys along with a host of other Grizzly stars, head to Chinese Laundry on April 6.
If you're ready to share a deep, dark, dirty secret that you've been harbouring your entire life, there's only one way to do it: on a stage, in front of a crowd. Well, that's the idea behind Confession Booth, anyway. Once a month at Giant Dwarf, writers, musos, actors, comedians and all-round creative types spill the beans on their most embarrassing, outrageous and top-secret moments. And if you've got a story you're dying to share, you can divulge during the audience confession segment — dig deep enough and you might find yourself carrying home a prize. In the hosts' chairs, you'll find AH Cayley and Matt Roden.
The extensive 2019 Sydney Festival program at Carriageworks spans culinary delights this year. Heavy-hitting Australian celebrity chef and caterer Darren Taylor (founder of Quay, ex-Fine Bouche, to name a few) is taking over the space with a Spanish-inspired restaurant between January 9–31. The pop-up, dubbed Cosecha by Darren Taylor, serves up Spanish-style dishes and drinks for lunch, arvo snacks and dinner each day. For lunch, think crumbed chicken tenderloin ($15.50) or potato tortilla ($12.50) bacadillos (baguette sandwiches), plus kale salad with chorizo, manchego, roasted tomatoes and sherry vinegar dressing ($11.80). For afternoon snacks, there's meat and cheese boards ($12.50–$29.50) — with terrines, pates, jamon and aged Spanish cheeses — up for grabs, along with white anchovies with olive tapenade and potato croquetas with romesco dipping sauce ($9.50 each). Dinner includes sizzling garlic prawns ($16), roasted fish of the day with white beans and chorizo ($25.50), and two paella stations with seafood, vegetarian or chicken and chorizo options ($18 each). And specialty drinks range from jugs of red and white sangria ($22), to chilli-salt margaritas ($16.50) and classic mojitos ($16.5o), too. The full food and drinks menu is available online, and make sure to call ahead for reservations.
Over in the US, August 4 is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day. While this isn't a nationally recognised holiday here in Australia, there's never a bad excuse to eat cookies, so Sydney's favourite cookie-maker Bennett St Dairy is bringing the celebration of gooey choc chip goodness down under with a uniquely Australian twist. Not satisfied with just stealing the American day, Bennett St is injecting some quintessential Australiana into the celebration by unveiling a new choc chip vegemite cookie sandwich. The sandwich combines the bakery's classic cookie dough with a vegemite caramel and whipped butter. The adventurous culinary mash-up will be available for those that head down to its flagship store on Thursday, August 4. "There's nothing more Australian than a Vegemite sandwich, so when we decided we were going to bring Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Down Under, we got to work seeing how we could blend the two flavours together," Bennett Street Dairy co-founder James Meek said. The first 100 people to visit the Bondi venue between 9am and midday on Wednesday will receive a free slice of the enormous vegemite cookie sandwich Bennett St is cooking up. If you don't make it down on your own, you can also create it yourself with the range of Bennett St Dairy cookie dough rolls that are available at Woolworths and the recipe that has been posted online for everyone to use.
Tropfest, "the world’s largest short film festival", is returning to Sydney this December. The festival, which features the newest and best Australian-made short films, is a must for film lovers and makers. With it, is the return of Roughcut, a day of insightful talks and lessons of the cinematic process from award-winning filmmakers. Each session of the day focuses on different aspects of the filmmaking process and will feature a star-studded lineup of some of the brightest talents of the Australian film and television industry. Guests include director Gracie Otto (The Last Impresario, La Meme Nuit, Broken Beat), director Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, Kill Me Three Times) and producers Imogen Banks and John Edwards (Tangle, Offspring, Puberty Blues). Oscar Winner Adam Elliot (Harvie Krumpet, Mary and Max) will also be in attendance, sharing his experiences and creative processes of creating with claymation. From the television side, the team from Foxtel's new Australian drama miniseries Devil's Playground will talk about the making of their highly anticipated psychological thriller. The panel includes producer Helen Bowden, EP/lead actor Simon Burke, writer/show runner Blake Ashyford and actor Matt Levett. Whether you’re a huge fan of these films and shows or are dying to break into the industry, don’t miss out on Roughcut. Tickets are just $25 for the whole day, all sessions included.
Three adult siblings are confined to an attic in their childhood home, devising plans for the murder of their parents and acting out scenes of succeeding and of being found out, of their past life and the ways the crime might be discovered. All three shift rapidly between attitudes and characters as they fight for control of the scenarios that are playing out, seemingly endlessly. The shifts are rapid and jarring, with the audience having to catch up and read a lot into the changes, which heightens the anxiety of the essentially ambiguous actions. It's never spelled out whether the murders have happened or will happen or are a coping method that has taken over the siblings' lives, and the ability with which the characters shift between stories and roles is both engrossing and shocking as it develops into a narrative that has a logic of madness rather than of fact. The seemingly practised nature of the 'game' in which the three are engaged evinces intense mental control in the ability to manage and engage with the fast-moving and disparate play, but there's also a sense of compulsion in the re-enactment of scenes of abuse that constitute abuse themselves. The atmosphere of The Criminals, as adapted by Adrian Mitchell from Cuban playwright José Triana's 1965 Night of the Assassins (La noche de los asesinos) is psychologically sweltering. This state is signalled from the outset by a set design by Dylan Tonkin and Emma Kingsbury that looks exactly like you would imagine a 1960s Cuban attic would look, and Jonathan Hindmarsh's costumes are slightly constraining, making the characters appear just a little bit uncomfortable and overheated in a childlike gentility they have literally outgrown. As the three siblings Lalo, Cuca, and Beba, and their various imaginings of parents and visitors, and the police, actors Rosanna Easton, Emily Morrison, and David Valencia are fascinating to watch. There's a dynamic pull between the trio such that each one's movement almost seems to physically cause the others to respond and makes the set pieces of the drama they're enacting at times seem ritualised, an effect underpinned by the songs and music interspersed in the mainly naturalistic action. This element of ritual seems to speak to the allegorical nature of the play, which was banned in Cuba for 30 years due to its implicit criticism of the political situation out of which it emerged. The themes of dominance and rebellion, oppression and struggle, identity and the loss of it that resonate through The Criminals make this specific critique one that can apply more broadly to a number of contemporary political situations but also function successfully as the bounded fictional world of these invented characters. Under the direction of James Dalton, this production manages to be faithful to its origins without becoming a period piece, and it is deeply troubling and really quite confusing and fascinating all the same. Image by Lucy Parakhina.
Are you getting a little tired of watching Liam Neeson sneer at bad guys and battle repressed emotional problems? Maybe you've had enough of George Clooney's attempts to reignite the magic of Ocean's Eleven while butchering modern history in the process? Your average trip to Hoyts or Village can be a bit of a let down, and it's not all to do with the fact they charge $11 for a small popcorn. Enter Sydney Film Festival, saviour of all cinephiles. SFF has today revealed the first 32 films on its 180-strong program, and so far it's looking pretty damn excellent. Most films will be taking their Australian premiere at the festival and a few come straight from the screens of this year's SXSW. The most of exciting of these is Frank — an offbeat comedy based on real events in which Michael Fassbender plays the lead singer of an indie-pop group who always wears a giant papier mache mask on his head. The film also stars Maggie Gyllenhaal and the guy who played Bill Weasley in Harry Potter. Do we have your attention yet? Other incoming SXSW treasures named after men include Joe — a Nic Cage film that doesn't look outrageously awful. By all accounts Cage takes the form of a nuanced and realistic human being and doesn't suck at it! Even stranger than that is the fact that this "Southern Gothic drama" comes from director David Gordon Green (Prince Avalanche, Pineapple Express). Is this the most impressive April Fools' joke ever? Time will tell. As always, the SFF documentaries are looking strong too. Is The Man Who Is Tall Happy? details maybe the most impressive tete-a-tete ever recorded, between much-loved dreamer and director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and arts-student deity Noam Chomsky. Music docos stand on their own with the inclusion of Pulp — a loving portrait of the beloved Britpop band and its frontman, Jarvis Cocker. And sociopolitical issues get their showing with Ukraine is Not a Brothel — a work from Australian director Kitty Green that investigates the Ukrainian feminist organisation FEMEN and their "naked war against patriarchy". As less than a quarter of the full program, the films released so far are an indication of very good times to come. So please, stop enabling George Clooney's midlife crisis and save your ticket money for the good stuff. Sydney Film Festival will run from June 4-15. The full program will be announced on Wednesday, May 7.
Since 2016, the cinema-loving world has had a Studio Ghibli-shaped hole in its heart. That's when the acclaimed Japanese animation house released its most recent film, the gorgeous French co-production The Red Turtle. Its last solo production actually came two years earlier, courtesy of 2014's When Marnie Was There. Still, much has happened in Studio Ghibli's world over the past decade. Hayao Miyazaki announced his retirement, then changed his mind. In 2018, fellow co-founder and acclaimed director Isao Takahata sadly passed away. And, over the past few years, the company has been busying itself with its very own theme park. The latter is due to open in 2022 and become quite the tourist attraction — but that doesn't mean that fans aren't keen for more Ghibli movies. Thankfully, the studio has announced that it's working on just that, with two new films on its slate for 2020. In the company's New Year's Greeting and just-released news update, it revealed that it'll be focusing on the pair of flicks and the theme park this year. And yes, one of those movies will be helmed by My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle icon Miyazaki. How Do You Live? was actually first announced a few years back, along with Miyazaki's return from retirement. Few details have been unveiled since, although in an interview on Japanese TV late last year, the filmmaker's producer Toshio Suzuki advised that it was 15-percent finished at the end of October 2019. Initially hoped to hit screens around the time of this year's Tokyo Olympics, it hasn't been given a release date as yet. Details of Studio Ghibli's second film in production are even more scarce, including its name, director, plot and timing. But the company's creative stocks run deep — Miyazaki's son Goro Miyazaki directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up On Poppy Hill, for example — and it hasn't made a bad movie yet. Get excited about the two new films by revisiting the trailer for Miyazaki's last feature, 2013's The Wind Rises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzSpDgiF5y8 Via Studio Ghibli.
I’ve can’t remember specifically the last 150th birthday party I went to, but it probably didn’t have awesome live bands and snacks that weren’t tiny asparagus sandwiches. Newtown isn’t your average 150-year-old, however, so will be keeping the tradition of putting on a massive park party each November live and well. To mark the milestone all performers and artists chosen to be part of 2012’s festivities have a special connection to this eclectic slice of the Inner West. When you’re not shopping for handmade bracelets, deciphering performance poetry or watching dogs act like humans you can enjoy tunes from festival mainstays King Tide, The Crooked Fiddle Band, Kira Puru and The Bruise, The Rescue Ships, Kill City Creeps and Little Bastards on the Federation Stage, plus Regular John, Bearhug, Collarbones, Caitlin Park, The Fabergettes, Tokyo Denmark Sweden and Battleships on the Essential Stage. Don’t BYO booze, but do BYO a non-glass drinking vessel — Newtown Festival 2012 is going Bottled Water Free this year, and eating your body weight in gözleme is easiest when you have a liquid chaser.
Step inside BLAK BOX, a new architect-designed sound pavilion at Barangaroo, and you'll be carried into a world of First Peoples' stories. Spoken word, music and field recordings combine to create a stream of consciousness that expresses experiences of Barangaroo – from the past, the present and the future. The installation is the creation of Urban Theatre Projects, who commissioned architect Kevin O'Brien to design the immersive pavilion. Lighting is kept to a minimum, encouraging "deep listening", a concept that invites you to pay attention, not only to the stories, but also to the silences and spaces between them. Radio National presenter Daniel Browning curated the audio. His selections include 15 commissioned sound pieces, oral histories of Barangaroo before 1788, informal interviews and spoken word performances. "BLAK BOX is one of our most ambitious projects to date – bringing together design, installation and sound for a unique contemporary storytelling experience," said Rosie Dennis, artistic director at Urban Theatre Projects. "Daniel has curated an intelligent, layered and thought-provoking program which grapples with the complexity of urban development, place and history." BLAK BOX will make its world premiere at Barangaroo Reserve from 2–24 June, it's launch coinciding with Reconciliation Week, before touring Australia. The work is the first to emerge from a three-year partnership between Urban Theatre Projects and the Barangaroo Delivery Authority, which will see new sound and art installation in the same Barangaroo site every June until 2020. Blak Box is located at Barangaroo Reserve and is open Tuesday–Saturday, 5.30–9pm; Sunday, 2.30–6pm. Entry is free, but reservations are recommended and can be made here.
In the dying days of the cold war, as the US and Russians began dismantling their weapons, the Soviet Union kept churning out biological weapons, zombie-like, into the emerging peace. Eastern Bloc's new show has something of that automated production and aftermath in its new, small show WUNDERCRETE. Sophie Clague's Shifting Grounds crafts a model metropolis that looks like a playground for one of those Soviet plagues. Actually inspired by the plague of vacant construction holes that dot and dotted Sydney, she imagines a city where the holes have taken charge and their inhabitants can't return. A green, gauze fabric lies across this cityscape, punctured by metal stakes that reach up like towers across a miniaturised topography. At the centre sit die cut metal slabs, etched like circuit boards. It suggests a reimagined city whose underneath holds shops and apartments perfectly preserved as rubble. Clague's upcoming Site at Kudos will also explore a similar theme, picking through the rubble of the current COFA renovation. Artist Lizzie Thomson is also interested in the remains of art. Often found using dance strokes in art, for The Explorer she confines herself to movement's aftermath. At the centre of her show is a neon-green safety suit. Empty feet encased in cement and lying on its back, it sits relaxed like a cicada shell. Around its outstretched palms a series of concrete objects lie littered: an open pyramid, a kangaroo paw sticking out of a spherical segment. The artefacts and the suit are arrayed like a series of clues, setting out a Snicket-like aftermath of some mob action against an absent performance artist. Alongside, a simple motor and tube look ready to reinflate it. The debris suggests a trip to the bottom of the harbour. Thomson waits, alive and friendly, in the next room. Eastern Bloc is open Thursday - Saturday, 11-5. Image of Lizzie Thomson's 'The Explorer' by Emma Price.
This month, galleries and creative spaces across Sydney will throw open their doors for a massive celebration of contemporary art and artists for Art Month Sydney's milestone tenth anniversary. As part of this year's jam-packed lineup, Art Month Sydney is hosting a series of after-work tours of the city's most prolific art precincts. And it's kicking things off with a walking tour around Paddington and Woollahra on Thursday, March 7. If you're curious to see what Sydney's artists are producing, this is a great chance to peruse a whole host of exhibitions in one night. More than 20 local galleries will stay open late, including Australian Galleries, Australian Centre for Photography, Gallery 9, Cement Fondu, Wagner Contemporary, KORBAN/FLAUBERT and more. To get involved, simply explore the Art Month Sydney map here, pop on some comfy shoes and start your tour at 6pm. Once you've finished your trail, make your way back to the National Art School for the tenth anniversary party from 8–10pm. There'll be a pop-up bar, music and live performances by writer and performance artist Brian Fuata and Megan Hanson, and look out for a new installation by Brendan Van Hek, who works with neon light, glass and furniture. For more information on the Art at Night: Paddington and Woollahra tour, or to check out the full Art Month Sydney program, head this way.
"Your nose like a delicious slope of cream / And your ears like cream flaps / And your teeth like hard shiny pegs of cream." Le Diner en Blanc — like Howard Moon's poem — will have you in all white. But sorry, Booshers: this Sydney event is just for the sophisticated. Now popping up all around the world, the Diner en Blanc began in Paris more than three decades ago thanks to François Pasquier and friends. For the second time in 2022, Sydney's creme de la creme will once again dress in all-white — this time on Saturday, November 12 — and flock along, with the event held at a predictably stunning location that remains secret until the very last moment. Following an evening of elegance, fine dining and live music, the 2000-plus foodies then pack up their crystal, dinnerware, tables, chairs and litter. Like ghosts (white 'n' all), they leave behind no sign of their rendezvous. That said, don't get any ideas — a white sheet thrown over your figure will not do for an outfit. Le Diner en Blanc guests must either be invited by a member from the previous event, or get on the waiting list for a ticket — with the latter open for registrations now. And, if you're wondering what the event entails — other than eating, drinking and wearing white and white only — you'll need to bring a table and two white chairs with you, as well as your own picnic basket, glassware, white tablecloth and white dinnerware. You can order a catered picnic, though, if you don't want to bring your own. Booze-wise, you'll either need to opt for wine or champagne via the event's e-store, or be happy bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages. Wondering where Le Diner en Blanc might pop up this time? In past Sydney outings, it has brought its all-white setup to Bondi Beach, Centennial Parklands and the Sydney Opera House forecourt.
The Sydney Theatre Company are leading the way towards a sustainable future with their Greening the Wharf scheme. This massive project incorporates water, energy and structural strategies for limiting the Wharf and STC's environmental impact - a wise choice, given the company's vulnerability to rising water levels. Starting in February, the initiative will also include a series of free talks that focus specifically on climate change and sustainability, in an effort to spread proactive environmental trends beyond the theatre space. Presented by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, these talks will be delivered by guest speakers throughout the year. Kick-starting the program is Dr Peter Crosier, a Founding Member of the Concerned Scientists, who will be giving a timely presentation on managing carbon emissions.
