Standing Room Only

Standing Room Only for 02/21/2016 Standing Room Only is literally radio with pictures... and arts, theatre, film, comedy, books, dance, entertainment and music – all the things, in other words, that make life worth living. Full programme details are available on the Standing Room Only webpage   English Writer Antony Penrose - The Boy Who Bit Picasso As a child, Antony Penrose hung out with the famous artist Pablo Picasso - he was a friend of young Tony's parents, artist and writer Roland Penrose and photographer Lee Miller. Many years later, Antony Penrose writes books for children. In The Boy Who Bit Picasso, he gives us a rather different perspective on the legend. His latest book is called Miro's Magic Animals. Spanish artist Joan Miró was a very different character to Picasso but just as endearing to the young Tony. Antony Penrose is heading to New Zealand for a series of talks around the country, and Lynn Freeman spoke to him in Australia, first about some of the drawings Picasso drew for him. Feb 21, 2016 02:49 pm No getting down on depression 'Every Brilliant Thing' is a UK theatre production that has been referred to as the funniest show you'll ever see about depression. Solo performer and former stand-up comic Jonny Donohoe talks to Sonia Sly about why he's more than happy to deal with sensitive subject matter, the art of engaging with an audience and life on the road. Feb 21, 2016 02:40 pm Photographer Ilan Wittenburg Israeli-born Ilan Wittenberg abandoned a family tradition of industrial engineering to become an award-winning photographer. He makes a living out of family portraiture from his converted 6-car garage on the North Shore. But 15 years after arriving in New Zealand his dream is really taking off. Lynn Freeman talks to Ilan about his new exhibition of portraits taken within the old city walls of his old home: Faces of Jerusalem: An Interfaith Journey. And a rather different project is gaining ground. Listen up if you're a man ready to expose your bare chest to his camera's lens! Feb 21, 2016 02:26 pm The Laugh Track - Lana Schwarcz Australian comedienne Lana Schwarcz talks about her show Lovely Lady Lumps and plays comedy favourites Tig Notaro, Denise Scott, Tig Notaro, Louisa Omielan and Steven Wright. Feb 21, 2016 02:04 pm Virtuoso Strings Every Tuesday night, Porirua children from low-decile schools get together in a school hall to play classical music on borrowed instruments. The Virtuoso Strings Charitable Trust works with local schools, as well as other organisations that provide food and other invaluable contributions needed to keep the orchestra going. But it survivesthanks to the drive of music teachers Liz Sneyd and Chris Utting. Lynn Freeman was invited to the orchestra's rehearsal Feb 21, 2016 01:35 pm Composer John Psathas - No Man's Land In his monumental, multi-cultural, symphony with pictures, No Man's Land, John Psathas asks us to consider the First World War in a new light. He's brought together around 150 musicians from conflict zones, past and present, to perform on old battlegrounds and bunkers. No Man's Land premieres at the New Zealand Festival next month before going on tour. Lynn Freeman talks to John after watching the 75-minute-long video that forms the backdrop to the work, played by a live band of Kiwi, Greek and Polish musicians. Feb 21, 2016 12:42 pm   Older stories Centre of Contemporary Arts reopens Transgender show 'People Like Us' Taking My Mother to the Opera Making a Ukulele Leading literacy Not all audio is available due to copyright restrictions