The Bone Feeder
How far would you go to find your family?
In 1902, the SS Ventnor sank in the Hokianga Harbour with the bones of 499 Chinese miners bound for ancestral graves in Canton. A century later Ben, a young man, arrives in the Far North to try to find some link with his past. He finds more than just restless spirits….
Place: University of Auckland Drama Studio, level 3, Arts 1
14A Symonds St
Time and dates: 7.30 pm 30 Sep, 1 + 3 Oct, 4 pm 3 + 4 Oct
Cost: $15/$10
Book: 09 373 7599 x 84226
Writer/Director Renee Liang
Musical director Andrew Corrêa
Music by New Nature
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
I sound so wise.
An interview recorded last month and now playing on Creative Momentum.
Thanks to Janette Searle and Philip Patston for some judicious editing to make me sound more fluent than I actually am!!
And now, to actually use some of that 'process' and 'structure' I keep going on about.... my friend joked the other day that I need a PA. I'm beginning to think that might not be a bad idea! (I think they are otherwise known as boyfriends.)
Thanks to Janette Searle and Philip Patston for some judicious editing to make me sound more fluent than I actually am!!
And now, to actually use some of that 'process' and 'structure' I keep going on about.... my friend joked the other day that I need a PA. I'm beginning to think that might not be a bad idea! (I think they are otherwise known as boyfriends.)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
My Ordinary Life
Renee: Hello?
Occupational Health Gimp: Hello, may I speak to Dr -er- Lee-ung?
R: This is me.
OHG:Lovely, right er - (in tone of great concern) how are you feeling?
R: What? Um - Who are you?
OHG: Occupational Health. From XXXX Hospital.
R: Oh, er - hi.
OHG. I'm calling regarding patient Gillywig, who you saw on the weekend. Do you recall this patient?
R: Um. Possibly. There were quite a few. Patients. On the weekend.
OHG: Ah, yes. Teehee. Well, Patient Gillywig has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.
R: Ah.
OHG: Were you aware that this patient has been diagnosed with the swine flu?
R: Not really.
OHG: Do you remember this patient? To jog your memory, this patient had: cough, fever, muscle pains and joint ache.
R: Sounds unique.
OHG: Pardon?
R: Nothing. Maybe I remember them.
OHG: So when you saw this patient, did you: a.) wear a mask, gown or gloves?
R: Um..No.
OHG: b.) Did you stay a distance of one metre or more from the patient, at all times?
R: Well I did examine the patient.
OHG: So did you stay a distance of one metre or more from the patient?
R: Well, I examined them.
OHG: Ah.
(confused silence).
R: No.
OHG: (triumphantly) So then you are a close contact of the patient.
R: If you say so.
a beat.
OHG: (writing) 'Close Contact'.
R: So, um, what happens now?
OHG: Pardon? Oh, er nothing.
R: Do I have to get swabbed?
OHG: Oh, no no no, we're not doing that kind of thing anymore. The Department of Health no longer requires it, it's become such a common illness.
a pause.
R: Well.. do you need to do anything else with me? Because um.. I'd better get on.
OHG: What? Oh, er, no. I just write down that I've talked to you.
R: And that's all?
OHG: Yes, that's all.
Occupational Health Gimp: Hello, may I speak to Dr -er- Lee-ung?
R: This is me.
OHG:Lovely, right er - (in tone of great concern) how are you feeling?
R: What? Um - Who are you?
OHG: Occupational Health. From XXXX Hospital.
R: Oh, er - hi.
OHG. I'm calling regarding patient Gillywig, who you saw on the weekend. Do you recall this patient?
R: Um. Possibly. There were quite a few. Patients. On the weekend.
OHG: Ah, yes. Teehee. Well, Patient Gillywig has been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.
R: Ah.
OHG: Were you aware that this patient has been diagnosed with the swine flu?
R: Not really.
OHG: Do you remember this patient? To jog your memory, this patient had: cough, fever, muscle pains and joint ache.
R: Sounds unique.
OHG: Pardon?
R: Nothing. Maybe I remember them.
OHG: So when you saw this patient, did you: a.) wear a mask, gown or gloves?
R: Um..No.
OHG: b.) Did you stay a distance of one metre or more from the patient, at all times?
R: Well I did examine the patient.
OHG: So did you stay a distance of one metre or more from the patient?
R: Well, I examined them.
OHG: Ah.
(confused silence).
R: No.
OHG: (triumphantly) So then you are a close contact of the patient.
R: If you say so.
a beat.
OHG: (writing) 'Close Contact'.
R: So, um, what happens now?
OHG: Pardon? Oh, er nothing.
R: Do I have to get swabbed?
OHG: Oh, no no no, we're not doing that kind of thing anymore. The Department of Health no longer requires it, it's become such a common illness.
a pause.
R: Well.. do you need to do anything else with me? Because um.. I'd better get on.
OHG: What? Oh, er, no. I just write down that I've talked to you.
R: And that's all?
OHG: Yes, that's all.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
digital schizophrenia
So er - yes, it's been a while since I've updated this!! Good intentions notwithstanding. Since the last time I blogged I've put on a play, written two more and been in a couple of art exhbitions. I've also spent much more time working on reviews and my "official blog" than on this wee labour of love.
Blogging for different reasons is an interesting topic. It brings out varying 'digital persona' (the whole discussion about digital identity and how we manufacture it for the web is an old topic, right? But perpetually fascinating. We love to talk about how we talk about ouselves.)
So yes, I write differently on The Big Idea than I do on this blog, even though to a certain extent I'm blogging about the same topic. But on my "official" blog, I'm aware of two differences. Firstly, that I've been invited to blog because of who/what I represent (emerging artists) and secondly that the readership frame is slightly different, more "serious artists", though it probably overlaps quite a bit.
Blogging there has changed blogging here, though. I'm now more aware of who reads this.... and that I have no idea who this 'who' is. While this blog started as a place for me to let it all hang out - in a literary sense - now I'm aware of pulling back a bit, even as I know I don't want to. Sad but ... ah maybe I'll have to go back to the paper diary for the real gritty uncleaned stuff, and burn it before I die. Old fashioned but traditional.
Anyway I meant to note that I'm quite tired, because I've been at work all weekend wearing my doctor persona. Driving home, I had the strangest feeeling sneak up on me - all I wanted to do was shut the door of my room and watch DVDs for hours and hours until I fell asleep. It might be strange that this is strange, seeing as this is what lots of people do all the time. But usually my head is too full of creative must-dos (not as glamorous as it sounds - mainly emails or redrafts), so I feel like I'm wasting time with movies or DVDs. Sometimes even the invitation to an evening watching mindless DVDs with friends has me worrying that I'd spend it instead silently frustrated, that time was slipping away. (what's wrong with a nice dinner instead, and real conversation?) Yes, misguided perhaps. Shallowness has its place, we all need to switch off sometimes.
Hmmm so a thought - being currently and temporarily of the full-time worker ilk, would this eventually turn me into a DVD watching automaton with 'no time' for writing?
Blogging for different reasons is an interesting topic. It brings out varying 'digital persona' (the whole discussion about digital identity and how we manufacture it for the web is an old topic, right? But perpetually fascinating. We love to talk about how we talk about ouselves.)
So yes, I write differently on The Big Idea than I do on this blog, even though to a certain extent I'm blogging about the same topic. But on my "official" blog, I'm aware of two differences. Firstly, that I've been invited to blog because of who/what I represent (emerging artists) and secondly that the readership frame is slightly different, more "serious artists", though it probably overlaps quite a bit.
Blogging there has changed blogging here, though. I'm now more aware of who reads this.... and that I have no idea who this 'who' is. While this blog started as a place for me to let it all hang out - in a literary sense - now I'm aware of pulling back a bit, even as I know I don't want to. Sad but ... ah maybe I'll have to go back to the paper diary for the real gritty uncleaned stuff, and burn it before I die. Old fashioned but traditional.
Anyway I meant to note that I'm quite tired, because I've been at work all weekend wearing my doctor persona. Driving home, I had the strangest feeeling sneak up on me - all I wanted to do was shut the door of my room and watch DVDs for hours and hours until I fell asleep. It might be strange that this is strange, seeing as this is what lots of people do all the time. But usually my head is too full of creative must-dos (not as glamorous as it sounds - mainly emails or redrafts), so I feel like I'm wasting time with movies or DVDs. Sometimes even the invitation to an evening watching mindless DVDs with friends has me worrying that I'd spend it instead silently frustrated, that time was slipping away. (what's wrong with a nice dinner instead, and real conversation?) Yes, misguided perhaps. Shallowness has its place, we all need to switch off sometimes.
Hmmm so a thought - being currently and temporarily of the full-time worker ilk, would this eventually turn me into a DVD watching automaton with 'no time' for writing?
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Calling all poets
On the fifteenth day after the start of the Chinese New Year, streets throughout China are festooned in traditional lanterns. Crowds wander the streets to read poetry written on the glowing paper. Some of the poems are riddles to tease, others wishes for prosperity or tributes to love. In some parts of China, young men who write their poems on a lantern may find themselves admired by appreciative young ladies, thus the alternative name for this day, Chinese Valentine’s Day.
In the spirit of poetry and love, The Basement will become host to hundreds of tiny lanterns during the run of Lantern, my new play. From June 8-13 the public will be able to admire poems on paper lanterns, written by poets in Wellington (where the play premiered in April) and Auckland. They will then be able to immortalise their own thoughts in poetry and scribe the results on a paper lantern, to be displayed throughout the run of Lantern.
I am wanting poems from all and sundry!! The paper lanterns are tiny so couplets are ideal. Or you could just send me extracts of longer poems. Please be aware that due to the challenges of writing poetry on a small 3-D object, formatting is likely to be lost! Poems emailed to docrnz@gmail.com will be written on a lantern and posted for all to see; alternatively if you are in Auckland you can come to the play and write your own!! I'll bring some lanterns with me to the next couple of Poetry Lives (Tuesdays from 8 at The Thirsty Dog). But communications via electronic media are welcome; I'll take photos and post them somewhere at a later date. Make sure your name is attached somewhere so it can be written on the lantern too.
Send poems from now until June 12 - the earlier, the better.
The Lantern Project installation is free to view whenever The Basement foyer is open, box office open 1 hour prior to show.
Lantern is part of STAMP at THE EDGE and is being staged with the assistance of Auckland City Arts Alive. For more information, go to www.lanternplay.com.
Lantern , The Basement June 8 -13, 8:00 pm as part of STAMP at THE EDGE
Book at buytickets.co.nz
(09) 357 3355
Lower Greys Ave, Auckland CBD
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Three poems from Metonymy
Day 10
Notes
push and pull of bodies
breathheld suspense
of clouds
of fragments.
walls do listen here
ears tightened
to suck in our
disembodied confidences
a moment of tenuous
connection: a held glance
a line drawn tight
then let go
a kite quivers in mid air
watches its suspended flight
Day 11
Knife
you remind me of
a fly caught between walls
a joyful violence
to the way you lurch
from verb to verb
landing on nouns to
taste them with feet.
inside this kitchen
is a place renamed paradise.
breathe in. breathe out.
the bag fills
and deflates.
keep going
and you might get out.
Day 27
Afternoon
When I’m with you
the hours ribbon
like roads
to the horizon
clouds powder
the wrinkled green
cleavage of hills
golden leaves fall.
When I’m with you
I see a mountain
grazed with light
snow
eyes closed
against frost.
Notes
push and pull of bodies
breathheld suspense
of clouds
of fragments.
walls do listen here
ears tightened
to suck in our
disembodied confidences
a moment of tenuous
connection: a held glance
a line drawn tight
then let go
a kite quivers in mid air
watches its suspended flight
Day 11
Knife
you remind me of
a fly caught between walls
a joyful violence
to the way you lurch
from verb to verb
landing on nouns to
taste them with feet.
inside this kitchen
is a place renamed paradise.
breathe in. breathe out.
the bag fills
and deflates.
keep going
and you might get out.
Day 27
Afternoon
When I’m with you
the hours ribbon
like roads
to the horizon
clouds powder
the wrinkled green
cleavage of hills
golden leaves fall.
When I’m with you
I see a mountain
grazed with light
snow
eyes closed
against frost.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
