Lynn Freeman
Opera singer Phillip Rhodes prepares for Macbeth
Verdi's opera Macbeth is very true to Shakespeare's tale of a well-regarded military leader corrupted by his conviction he's destined to become King. Playing the lead role in NZ Opera's new… Audio
Why the low number of tagata moana writers getting published?
This is a shocking statistic in 2022. Just 3% of annual publishing in New Zealand features Maori and tagata moana writers. Facing these woeful figures, it's clear a strategy is needed to support and… Audio
Mitchell Manuel combines tartan and koru
2022 is the Year of the Tartan. It's also the 50th anniversary of the delivery of Te Petihana Reo Maori to Parliament demanding recognition of te reo. Artist Mitchell Manuel is about to open an… Audio, Gallery
Inviting the public to regenerate the cultural sector
Deciding which creatives get a cut of the limited government funding pie is always contentious. Art is subjective after all. There are inevitably claims of favouritism on panels selected to recommend… Audio
Veteran Artist Andrew Bogle markets online now
Artist Andrew Bogle has embraced the opportunity to market his art online, on the website "Artfull" which profiles the work of New Zealand artists to a national and international audience. Former… Audio, Gallery
The fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
After 140 years displaying art from around the country, the fate of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts now hangs in the balance. Hopes of saving it rely on the generosity of the charitable trust's… Audio, Gallery
Elizabeth Morton's beast-eye view of climate change
Creatures trying to survive as the world around them burns express their fears, their anger and their hopes in Naming the Beasts, the visceral new poetry collection by Auckland writer, Elizabeth… Audio
An art exhbition gets on its (yellow electric) bike
It's the ultimate example of taking art to the people - a bright yellow electric cargo bike filled with art supplies is about to hit the streets of Christchurch. It's the idea of artist Isaac Tait… Video, Audio, Gallery
Andrew London: It's all about me!
"Jukebox musicals" are shows based on existing hits from famous bands and songwriters. And for years, Broadway and London's West End have been dominated by shows like We will rock you and Mamma Mia… Audio, Gallery
Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam's stories of mothers
What is a 'good' Chinese woman? That's one of the questions Hong Kong-born writer and performer Cynthia Hiu Ying Lam interrogates in her new play. She weaves together the stories of her two… Video, Audio
Composer Alan Griffiths is inspired by a 21-year-old
'Such a fine, sunny day' was the last thing 21-year-old resistance fighter Sophia Scholl said, before being executed in Munich after a Nazi show-trial in 1943. It's also the name of a new song cycle… Audio
The Aotearoa NZ Opera Studio
Shortly, the next generation of elite New Zealand opera singers won't have to win a scholarship, find tens of thousands of dollars, or be separated from their families to train overseas for an… Audio
Star Dust - a celebration of cabaret and circus
The circus has always been a symbol of escape, from children being amazed, amused - and often bemused - by their first experience of a live show, to disgruntled rebels running away to join the circus… Audio, Gallery
Patricia Donovan - The Collections
If the only way to address the global population crisis and the degradation of the planet was to limit everyone's lifespan to just 70 years, would you go along with it happily? Or would you fight to… Audio
Simon Lendrum's poker-playing sleuth O'Malley
In poker, a slow roll is the ultimate example of bad etiquette. It's when a player knows they've got the best hand but waits until their opponent thinks they've won the pot before showing the winning… Audio
Kathryn Burnett's play The Campervan
Ditching the rat-race to go travelling around Aotearoa in a campervan - for some that sounds like a dream come true, for others - not so much. In her new play The Campervan, Kathryn Burnett pits a… Audio
Ngaire Kearney's Burnt Offerings
Carterton artist Ngaire Kearney has the steadiest of hands and nerves of steel. She needs them - she etches intricate images into glass and stone, or burns them into wood. Most of her designs are… Audio, Gallery
Tatiana Hotere's new play gets a hostile reaction
A new play exploring the intersection of grief, faith and sexuality has shocked the playwright when it become the target of a hate campaign. Catholic-raised Tatiana Hotere was also involved for many… Audio
NZ Festival of Solo Performance celebrates the Power of One
It's astonishing what magic one actor can produce on stage when they have a great script and the ability to play many roles simply through movement and voice.. TAHI - New Zealand Festival of Solo… Video, Audio, Gallery
New Arts Laureate, weaver and artist Dr Maureen Lander
Maori visual artist Dr Maureen Lander is a visionary, a leading exponent of weaving, both customary and experimental, an installation artist and a mentor to many. Added to her extensive list of… Video, Audio, Gallery