Mister Brisbane: Half time
Bringing the arts to the people, remembering lost media, and going out for a meal
I’m back in Brisbane after a too-short stay on the Gold Coast. After months of isolation, just driving from one place to another, looking at the scenery, is rather exciting. Rediscovering the joys of dining out, albeit with strict new rules, is something else altogether. Meanwhile, a glance at the calendar tells me 2020 is half over. It certainly hasn’t turned out the way I expected. And we are not out of the woods yet. For the rest of this year, I just hope for a few more opportunities to eat at restaurants, have a drink with friends, do some more travel (be it a day trip, a weekend away or something more substantial), learn something new and maybe see a show or two. I'm spreading my wings, ready to fly. What about you?
FESTIVAL REBOOT
The much-anticipated Queensland Theatre production of Boy Swallows Universe, based on the novel by Brisbane’s Trent Dalton has been postponed by a year and will now be a headline attraction at the 2021 Brisbane Festival. So what of the 2020 festival program? Well, the dates of September 4 to 26 have been confirmed but the full line-up won’t be announced until July 28. One thing we do know is that it will include a series of events under the title A Concert At Yours. If you live in a cul-de-sac, you can put your hand up to host a 30-minute cabaret, circus, classical music or contemporary performance. Details here.
Meanwhile, QPAC is teasing its reopening by promoting events in October and November. More here.
WHOSE ABC?
The subject of the ABC budget has been up for discussion in my realm online, and in person. Over lunch last week, a friend noted that one of the significant points of difference with the ABC was the way that it “told stories”. He was referring to the Backroads series (pictured, below), but that’s also true of Australian Story and other documentary and current-affairs series. Commercial networks just don’t do that in the same way.
In any case, it’s worth remembering that the ABC delivers huge value for money, and its journalists make scrupulous efforts to be fair and balanced in their reporting. But they are stuck with this “lefty” image largely because some people of influence on the right side of politics have said it so many times that it’s become accepted “wisdom”. Meanwhile, over on Twitter, some on the left are accusing certain ABC programs and their hosts of being too right-wing. It seems the ABC can’t win. And if it doesn’t win against further attempts to slash its budget, all of us — from farmers seeking essential weather and market information to city-dwellers wanting the news without spin or confection — will lose.
And in commercial radio news, Triple M Big Breakfast producer Max Dudley has joined NewsTalk 4BC as content director and executive producer of the Drive show, which is yet to have a host. I guess he is going to be pretty busy reading resumes and listening to sizzle reels. It’s great to see Nine Radio putting some investment into its local product and hiring people while other media are firing them.
Update: a source tells me that the 4BC Drive host has been appointed but is still working elsewhere. An announcement will be made soon.
PAPER SHORTAGE
Saturday saw the last print edition of the Queensland Times and the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin, along with other regional dailies in Queensland and NSW. Dozens of regional and suburban weeklies have also ceased to be.
At the QT and the Bully, and at the Western Star and Gatton Star, in common with regional and suburban journos around the state and the nation, I wrote and edited a lot of stories of a type that were essential to the community they served but either wouldn’t get a look-in at all or would be buried online. It’s not just a change of delivery format, it’s a loss of a certain kind of journalism that truly connects with people. And, despite all the positive spin in the world about the glorious digital future, that is not something to celebrate.
FEEDBACK
Last week I wrote that Currumbin Beach was a favourite holiday destination for my family, and asked who else had a “special” place. Here are some of the responses:
Graeme in the UK: “North Cornwall.”
Ann: “Noosa ... visited when I came [to Australia] on holiday in 1996 [and have] been every year since.”
Philip: “Had some great times at Caloundra.”
Andy: “My grandparents lived 5 minutes from Elephant Rock. I learned how to surf there.”
Several people commented on the Currumbin Vikings Surf Club building (pictured, above).
Susan: “They completely ruined Elephant Rock! You can no longer see the Elephant. When you look at old photos it was a fabulous landmark before they built the ugly surf club.”
Barry: “Used to climb Elephant Rock as a young bloke. Sad to see it with that monstrosity stuck on the side.”
Nerina: “It’s such a lack of respect.. should be for all to enjoy as the natural beauty it was.”
Note: the modern clubhouse has been there for decades, but it is much larger than the original shack built after the club was established in 1919.
STAGE NEWS
Faulty Towers, the Dining Experience, the interactive show that began in Brisbane and conquered the UK and other parts of the world, has scheduled September 26 and December 10 performances at the The Brisbane Golf Club in Tennyson. Buy tickets here.
The Gardens Theatre at QUT Gardens Point has rescheduled much of its 2020 season in 2021. The new dates are:
Feb 16, 2011: A Night to Remember
March 22-23: Hell Ship
March 30-31: Lamb
April 13-14: Margaret Fulton — The Musical
August 24-25 Wallflowering
You may not be able to attend many performing arts events right now, but you can support arts companies and artists. Click on the company name to go to the relevant link: Opera Queensland, Queensland Ballet, Queensland Theatre, Queensland Symphony Orchestra.
MEANWHILE …
If an entirely Dry July is too much of an ask, you can always sign up for a 14- or 21-day bout of sobriety, which will do you good and help raise funds for to help people with cancer. Details here.
Brisbane’s Troy Cassar-Daley (yes, we’re claiming him) took to Twitter a few days ago to announce that he had signed a new contract with Sony Music and there’s new music on the way.
My latest article for InQueensland is all about improvisation. You could say I just winged it! (No, not really.) If you’re interested in taking classes with ImproMafia, they begin soon, and the details are here.
Fancy being on Big Brother next year? Here’s the link to express your interest.
TALKING POINT
I bought my Mum a sandwich last week from a takeaway place. When it arrived, it didn’t have any butter on it. She says this is frustrating and common. Should I have specifically asked for it to be buttered, or should buttered be the default, with margarine/ mayo / some other spread / no spread as options?