Goosselink directing 'Honk'
Dunedin TV3 reporter Dave Goosselink makes his directing debut in the Taieri Musical Society's latest production, Honk, which opens next week.
Mr Goosselink has taken a month's leave from work to produce the show, which opens in Coronation Hall in Mosgiel next week.
Honk is based on The Ugly Duckling but, with elements of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, it also has adult appeal.
"It's a very family show, with catchy music and bright and colourful costumes," Mr Goosselink said.
The musical features Blair Hughson, Catherine Short, David Solomon, Gareth Bruce, Bex Ward, Sophie Morris, Darrell Read and 14 children.
Honk is on at Coronation Hall, in Mosgiel, from October 3 to 11.
Library offerings
Two entertaining - and free - events at the Dunedin Public Library in Moray Pl today deserve to be well-attended.
The cast of the Fortune Theatre's new production, Jane Eyre, will read excerpts from the play, at 12.30pm on the first floor.
Jane Eyre premieres in the Otago Festival of the Arts next week.
Later in the day, "Out of the Mouths of Men" features authors Tim Shadbolt, David Eggleton, Ron Palenski and Duncan Sarkies discussing how being a southern man has influenced their work and lives.
The panel will be chaired by Rodney Bryant.
The talk starts at 6pm today on the fourth floor of the Dunedin Public Library, Moray Pl.
Cunliffe's play to be staged
A satirical comedy by Dunedin playwright and Otago Daily Times assistant editor Simon Cunliffe has been selected for the Auckland Theatre Company's prestigious Next Stage programme.
Cunliffe's play, The Truth Game, set in a newspaper on the eve of a major breaking story, muses on the nature of truth - both personal and professional - as a rapidly-changing media environment is blurring time-honoured certainties and challenging traditional practices.
"It's an honour to have been included in the programme," Cunliffe says.
"I'm looking forward to working with director/playwright Gary Henderson and a cast of highly-skilled actors over the period. Hopefully we can move the play towards production."
The Next Stage involves a two-week workshop and rehearsal period followed by two semi-staged readings at Auckland's Maidment Theatre on October 9 and 11.
Source, 1980 by Caroline McQuarrie.
Theme mix
The Blue Oyster Gallery hosts diverse exhibitions by artists Vicky Browne and Caroline McQuarrie over the next few weeks.
Browne's exhibition, "The Orator and the Warrior", explores the changes in modern technology in a digital world.
In the upper gallery, Wellington artist Caroline McQuarrie has reworked family portraits for her "We Hold Back The Night" exhibition.
McQuarrie is a photography tutor at the Massey University School of Fine Arts.
"The Orator and the Warrior" is on at the Blue Oyster Gallery until October 18.
Exhibition opening tonight
Jo Blogg and Fane Flaws open their combined exhibition, "IDs and Mandalas", in Wanaka tonight.
Blogg is known for her attention to detail, once spending two months sticking 50,000 grains of rice to an artwork.
Her paint, print and sculpture works are often blended with a pinch of irony.
Like Blogg, Fane is known for a strong sense of satire and for poking fun at the art industry.
"IDs and Mandalas" is on at the 45th Degree Art Gallery in Wanaka until October 30.
The artists will attend an opening preview at 5pm tonight.
