all about the arts
Ghost story with panache Dougal Macdonald
Serious side to making it up as you go along By Helen Musa
But even that was never what it seemed, Byrne explains. For the invenIMPROVISATION is not a casual thing, tor of Theatresports, Keith Johnstone, these days it’s a serious artistic busihit on the concept after seeing ness, according to Impro Theatre ACT’s entertainment wrestling, in which artistic director Nick Byrne, who’s performers are really collaborating been leading the movement here for with each other, though to audiences six years. To prove it, he’s organising they seem to be in competition. a slap-up international improvisation So in the great “North v South Thefestival called “Improvention” at The atresports” battle in May over which Street Theatre. side of Lake Burley Griffin is better, With funding from artsACT, he’s there was a good deal of camaraderie. hosting international performers and At The Street, there will be long and directors such as Randy Dixon from short-form impros and sometimes Seattle and Felipe Ortiz from Columbia. both. The second festival of its kind, it will In “The Gift”, improvisations will be run over six nights of advanced-skills drawn together to make a 50-minute workshops and public performances. piece by Melbourne improviser/diAnd it’s not just “Theatresports” rector Marko Mustac, where each short-form improvisation. performer must bring something to
“gift” to other improvisers. Swedish improvisation master Per Gottfredsson will take on a serious challenge by training a group in how to produce a 50-minute work in the style of Strindberg. Other ventures include a rock opera, which will grow out of a half-day workshop with Melbourne director Tim Redmond, three musicians and, when eventually performed as a long, sung-through musical, a cast of around eight, some who have only just completed a term of classes. “Suddenly they’ll be taken to a new level,” Byrne says. So what kinds of Canberrans like to improvise? Byrne says: “We endeavour to get as many people from as many environments to improvise.”
Improvisers are not usually conventional actors. The vast majority are public servants, lawyers and teachers. Byrne and his colleagues have been studying the psychological and workplace benefits of joining in: it’s fun, like stand-up comedy; and it breeds confidence. A third of the people who sign up for classes will stay for the long-term and become impro addicts. There’s an unexpected side benefit, says Byrne – selfless behaviour. “Impro theatre just doesn’t work unless you observe give and listen to other performers,” he says. “Improvention” , The Street Theatre, July 18-24. Bookings to 6247 1223. More information at www.impro.com. Artistic director Nick Byrne... organising a slap-up international improvisation au/act festival at The Street Theatre.
Arabic revolution and romance Archive tells us that the Film Australia Collection, consisting of about 5000 titles, has been transferred from Helen Musa Screen Australia to the management FEATURING revolution, romance and care of the NFSA. What a coup. and stark reality, the Arab Film Festival CARO Roach, ACT ArtsAbility Officer, is in Canberra until July 21 at the Arc is naturally chuffed that Federal Arts Cinema. Settings include tunnels below Minister Simon Crean has announced the border of Israel, wartime Beirut, $500,000 in Australian Government Cairo in January 2011, the streets of funding for Arts Access Australia, Morocco and even suburban Australia the national peak body for arts and – it’s about as up to date as it could be. disability. Full program at arabfilmfestival.com.au REMEMBER our call for unloved TERRIFIC news for opera lovers that “Grandma, A Thousand Times”... one of the movies in the Arab Film Festival. 35mm film cameras? Well, West CinemaLive and Greater Union Manuka Belconnen Child and Family Centre is will screen Opera Australia’s famous Centenary project series is of graphic Church, 7.30pm, July 19 and 20. Bookhosting classes where ace photogra“La Dolce Vita” production of Verdi’s designer Frank Arnold. “He looks like ings to 6232 7248 or email wesleymc@ pher, Lee Grant, will teach photograRigoletto July 23-27. Elijah Moshinsky Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones bigpond.net.au Full program at www. phy as art and as journalism beginning originally directed this production. and we can imagine his life sometimes wesleycanberra.org.au/music on August 4. It’s free, but be quick. Alan Opie plays the hunchback jester, runs in close parallel,” she says. ARTIST Steve Roper is organising Bookings to 6264 0232 or simone. with Emma Matthews as his daughter HURRY, hurry, hurry to book for an exhibition of work by himself, Mac penkethman@bcsact.com.au Gilda. the following two concerts: creative Nichols, Moira Nelson, Margot Hislop, ROB Riley’s 10th solo show, (and his director of Canberra’s Centenary Terry Everston and Jo Telfer at Cafe fourth in Canberra) “Screen Graphics For a different audience on July 24, they’ll screen André Rieu’s annual Robyn Archer is incredibly busy, but Yala at CIT Reid campus, Monday– Common Sites”, is at CCAS Manuka concert series from Maastricht direct not too busy to perform “The Other Friday, until August. The fabulous title? until July 17. Riley’s paintings are “vertivia satellite. Bookings to www. Great American Songbook” at The “Woof Cluck Moo Neigh”. No prizes cally gridded 2D planes with freeform, eventcinemas.com.au Street, July 16-17. Bookings to 6247 for guessing that animals feature painterly shapes floating on their BARBARA van der Linden’s next 1223. Then the Choir of Christ’s Colprominently. surfaces” and owe much to familiar portrait in her marathon Canberra lege, Cambridge, is at Wesley Uniting THE National Film and Sound online sites.
arts in the city
College tastes gold again ERINDALE College has won the annual Australian Culinary Federation ACT’s Secondary Schools Culinary Competition for the second consecutive year and is heading to the Gold Coast for the national competition next month. The overall winners, Andria Bencich and Nathan Ballard, produced a teriyaki crusted salmon with Asian-inspired vegetables, pork and salmon sausage, vermicelli noodle basket, lychee puree and wasabi marshmallows. The competition, held at the CIT Reid, gave ACT secondary school students studying a food or hospitality course the opportunity to cook-off against each other. Nineteen teams of two had an hour to prepare and cook their masterpieces using Atlantic salmon, vegetables, starch and a garnish. The competition was judged by top Canberra chefs Tom McDonnell, Hartmut Kehm, Paul Butler and Keaton McDonnell. –Megan Lewis
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