Perfectionism is not a virtue
I often grieve the many ideas I’ve had that have never come to fruition. I recall the blissful moments when inspiration has tapped me on the shoulder and I’ve responded…
Priceless time: how do you spend it?
Time. You never seem to have enough of it yet there’s so much you’d like to be doing with it. We each get the same number of hours in a…
Creative courage and criticism
Creativity requires courage. It’s not always easy to express a point of view, particularly when it’s not a popular one. Sometimes we may choose to bite our tongue to avoid…
Review: Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton – State Theatre Company of South Australia
Step away from the live stream, cease compulsively refreshing daily COVID updates detailing the Victorian outbreak; Her Majesty’s is open and resplendent, the curtain is lifted, the boards are being…
Creating with clarity and simplicity
In the ever changing realm of creativity, the desire to be considered avante-garde may motivate artists to push boundaries and challenge the status quo. Much to do with art is…
Self-discipline: realise your future self
It’s good to have goals, yet despite your dreams and best intentions, you may lack the motivation to be productive. As your list of things to do grows before you,…
Immeasurable imaginations: learning through play
I often read children’s books so that I never lose my childlike imagination, that fertile ground from which robust flora blooms. Witnessing a child’s cognitive development is, personally, one of…
We are all creative: Sir Ken Robinson’s legacy
Throughout my career, as both a teacher and creative practitioner, there have been countless references to the work of Sir Ken Robinson, and rightly so. His research in, and commitment…
Musings on art: passing time with Waldo
When I have been reading Emerson, I see a deeper beauty in many things. The voices of the past offer refreshing insight that is seldom celebrated in modern life, and…
The motivations of Jasmine Crisp
Jasmine Crisp doesn’t mind being labelled a maximalist. In fact, when renowned fellow painter Andrew Salgado took notice of her ‘unbridled skill’ and ‘lush’ style, Jasmine was rightly exultant. “I…
COVID Safe guidelines released by Live Performance Australia
Live Performance Australia (LPA), the peak body for Australia’s performance industry, has released a comprehensive set of COVID Safe guidelines to support arts and entertainment workers in anticipation of the…
Ellie Nunan chats about her career, a bad boyfriend, while on tour with Cats in 2020
Sunshine Coast-born actress Ellie Nunan is a world away from where she thought she would be at the start of this year. She is a rarity, being among the few…
Catching dreams, taking action
A couple of years ago, I photographed these dream catchers while on tour with a theatre production on the Sunshine Coast. They reminded me that it’s not enough to simply…
Am I eligible for JobKeeper extension after September?
On 21 July, the Australian Government announced that it will extend JobKeeper by six months to 28 March 2021. Entities and business participants, including self-employed individuals and not-for-profits, may continue…
Which expenses can I claim while working from home in 2020?
Lodging a tax return can seem like one of those tedious tasks in life that you may want to delay, but in the 2019 – 2020 financial year it may…
Elle Nichelle, the introverted entrepreneur, empowers voice educators
For many creative people, the events of 2020 have inspired a fair amount of introspection. Elle Nichelle has the type of artistic mind that can produce something good when the…
Musical Theatre personality Debora Krizak launches The Really Useless Candle Co.
You may be familiar with The Really Useful Group, especially if you’re a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Australian theatre performer Debora Krizak has given the impressario a cheeky nod…
A song about courage in times of uncertainty
Yesterday was Make Music Day and rather than play someone else’s song, I thought I’d revisit some old music of mine and rearrange it. I chose a song from my…
Support Local: 7 ways you can sustain Australian musicians
Make Music Day, scheduled for 21 June, is a felicitous reminder of the importance of live music in our country. In August 2018, Mitch Fifield, Minister for Communications and the…
Home in the time of Coronavirus
White walls. White tiles. A white ceiling. Surrounding me is a whole lot of white, and not much else going on. Being enveloped in this house for too long didn’t…
State Theatre Company South Australia to deliver a plague of plays
In Italy, during the middle of the fourteenth century, five years after the black death had ravaged the nation, author Giovanni Boccaccio published The Decameron; a collection of novellas featuring…
Australian musicians rally together on a path to recovery
Hundreds of individuals and organisations from the Australian music industry have signed an open letter to the Australian Government calling for industry-specific support to ensure the sector’s survival. In an…
‘The Maj’ is given the royal treatment
Adelaide’s iconic theatre has been refurbished! The $66 million redevelopment began in June 2018. Today the newly-refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre has been unveiled. The completion of the exciting project was…
Composer Josh Belperio premieres ‘In Time’
Cabaret artist and songwriter Josh Belperio (Adelaide Fringe award winner 2018 & 2019) is releasing a collaboration with 23 artists that he greatly admires. All of whom sung their vocal…
APRA Music Award winners 2020
On Monday 25 May the APRA Music Awards went live at 7.00 pm. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing safety concerns, the ceremony was not held in the…
Come what May: 7 FringeVIEW picks to see you through the month
With just over a week remaining before the Adelaide Fringe Festival’s FringeVIEW ends, here are my tried and tested picks to see you through this weekend. I encourage you to…
AMEB is offering free online Theory of Music courses
The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) are providing free online Theory of Music courses in an effort to support music education through the COVID-19 outbreak. The three courses available are…
What good is sitting alone in your room? Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2020 re-imagined
Cabaret aficionados will be able to savour the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in its re-imagined format, Bite-Sized & Home Delivered, where they’ll be serving canapés rather than their usual smorgasbord of…
Episode 3: On Record With Stephen Mahy
What a lovely start to the week! On Monday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Australian actor, singer, and accomplished music theatre performer Stephen Mahy. He chatted with me from…
Serenity: Issue 6 and Episode 2: On Record With Asabi are live
There is plenty to sing about at The Serenade Files HQ. I’ve just published the latest magazine issue and I’ve uploaded Episode 2 of my On Record With… series of…