Windmill’s back on the road again

A reinvention of the Hansel and Gretel fairytale as “an anarchic psychological thriller” is the centrepiece of Windmill Theatre’s 2023 season launched this week.

Hans & Gret, written by Lally Katz and based on an original concept by Rosemary Myers, will have its world premiere at the Queen’s Theatre during next year’s Adelaide Festival (which will announce its full program on November 9). The show is aimed at children aged 13 plus, and incorporates cutting-edge audio technology to tell a story in which Hans and Gret must fight for their lives in a dystopian future where children and teenagers begin to disappear.

Next year marks Windmill’s 21^st birthday, and it will be the final theatre season under the artistic direction of Myers, who is stepping into a new role overseeing the company’s film and television projects. In addition to Hans & Gret and a return Adelaide season of Hiccup later in 2023, Windmill is embarking on an extensive tour of the United States with Bluey’s Big Play and Hiccup, and will tour Grug and the Rainbow to metropolitan centres across South Australia.

“Our tours not only provide lots of employment for our artists, but they take our Australian stories to the world,” says executive director Kaye Weeks. “After such an extended break to international touring, we’re looking forward to visiting some of our favourite international venues and audiences again.”

Back by popular demand…

After reporting a strong opening week, ­the Adelaide Film Festival has added a string of encore screenings to its program, including for the Cate Blanchett drama Tár and SA-made sci-fi thriller Monolith.

Tár ­– which sees Blanchett portray the brilliant yet haunted conductor of a major German orchestra – will have its second screening on November 1 at Palace Nova Eastend after a special presentation last Friday at the Capri Theatre with the star in attendance (read our review here), while an additional session has been added for Monolith on the same date after its world-premiere gala screening sold out.

Lily Sullivan stars in the low-budget sci-fi thriller Monolith. Photo: Ian Routledge

Other films with encore screenings include the Palme d’Or-winning satire Triangle of Sadness, Irish drama The Banshees of Inisherin, and documentary The Last Daughter, with Venice Film Festival prize winner Bones and All (starring Timothée Chalamet) added to the program.

The Film Festival this week announced the winners of the 2022 AFF Feature Fiction and Feature Documentary competitions, with Indonesian political thriller Autobiography taking home the feature fiction award and The Hamlet Syndrome (set in the lead-up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) securing the feature documentary prize.

Read more Film Festival stories and reviews here.

In Other Words

More than 60 Asian-Australian writers and thinkers will converge on the Adelaide Festival Centre next weekend for In Other Words ­– the OzAsia Festival’s writing and ideas program.

With the line-up comprising more than 30 free sessions open to the public and covering topics ranging from food and pop culture to artificial technology and “difficult conversations”, curator Jennifer Wong has offered InReview a list of suggestions for people interested in different subjects:

Sessions for foodies: Lunch on the Riverbank (featuring Meshi author Katherine Tamiko-Arguile with chef Simon Bryant); Lankan Food (chef O Tama Carey in conversation with Durkhanai Ayubi, author of the Afghan cookbook Parwana).

For readers who love memoir: Raised by Wolves (with author Jess Ho); Freeing My Family (Sadam Abdusalam); The Art of Memoir: Making Meaning of Life.

For people who love news and politics: Politics: The Changing Face of Leadership in Australia; Reporting on China, Reporting on Chinese Australians; Hong Kong: The Impossible City; The Fight to Save the News; India Rising; Next-Gen Climate Warriors.

For pop culture fans: Asian & Asian Australian Pop Culture on Screen; The Whitewash and the Beige Index.

Also likely to provide plenty of food for thought is the closing night debate centred on the statement All Australian Children Should Learn Mandarin. See the full program for In Other Words (November 3-6) on the OzAsia website.

Carclew’s throwing a party

Carclew’s grounds are the perfect place for a party. Photo: Samuel Graves

Carclew has announced plans for a free all-ages party on November 26 to celebrate its 50^th anniversary, with live music and entertainment showcasing the many multi-arts programs offered by the not-for-profit at its historic North Adelaide site.

The event ­– which will run from 4-10pm and include artist market stalls and food trucks ­– will be the main driver to encourage public donations for Carclew’s $50 for 50 years campaign, which aims to raise $50,000 to ensure the organisation can continue to foster the creativity of young South Australians. Donations made online before December 8 will be matched by Creative Partnerships Australia.

“Many people working in the arts and creative industries across Australia today, have received encouragement, professional mentoring and financial support from Carclew for their first steps towards a professional career,” says chief executive Tricia Walton.

“The [$50 for 50 years campaign] goal is to encourage people in South Australia to donate $50. This will help us secure Carclew’s future to continue to transform young lives for another 50 years.”

Tickets for the 50^th birthday party can be booked here. As part of its birthday celebrations, Carclew is also currently presenting a retrospective exhibition – Tutu Karralikanungku ­– featuring multi-disciplinary works from Carclew’s arts programs and collaborations with First Nations elders, artists, communities, schools, and young people across South Australia over the past 29 years.

Green Room is a regular column for InReview, providing quick news for people interested, or involved, in South Australian arts and culture.

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