Standing Room Only

Standing Room Only for 07/17/2016 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                       Billy's Bootcamp Bootcamp has begun for the six young boys cast in the lead roles of Auckland Theatre Company's production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Aged 10-14, they've come together for an intensive, two-week workshop to prepare to play their parts. Tap dancing and ballet lessons in the morning are followed by acting and singing classes in the afternoon. It's a big ask for the boys and their families but do these obstacles enhance their performances? Justin Gregory went to find out. Jul 17, 2016 02:45 pm Ian Austin's new novel - The Agency  Ex detective Ian Austin has written a novel featuring - an ex detective called Dan Calder. These days Ian runs an Auckland training business, but back in the day he served as a tactical firearms officer and covert surveillance operative, after doing his time pounding the streets as a constable. He moved to New Zealand from the UK almost 20 years ago and is using his experiences with the police as the basis for his writing. Ian Austin tells Lynn Freeman The Agency is planned to be the first of a three book series for his new protagonist. Jul 17, 2016 02:40 pm John Clarke - actor A month of Sundays is a sweet little Australian film about a real estate agent whose life takes an unexpected turnaround after a wrong-number phone call. New Zealand's main interest in it may be the rare big-screen appearance of one of our most well-loved, and versatile actors, John Clarke. Simon Morris learns more about the great thespian's process.. Jul 17, 2016 02:30 pm Moon Unit Zappa When asked to describe himself Frank Zappa usually just said "an entertainer", though that's barely scraping the surface. He was the ultimate iconoclast - attacking left and right with equal enthusiasm - yet he's probably best known for the hit single he recorded with his teenage daughter, Moon Unit Zappa - "Valley girl". 23 years after his untimely death, Frank Zappa gets to tell his own story in the documentary Eat that Question, which debuts here at the International Film Festival. Long-time Zappa fan Simon Morris talks to Moon Zappa about the film, about her Dad, and about the Zappa legacy... Jul 17, 2016 01:45 pm The City Mission's Art of the Homeless Art classes offered to Auckland's Inner city 'rough sleepers' have produced work that's so revealing, it's found a home in an art gallery. For many homeless, expressing themselves in paint, clay or photography is much easier than trying to find the words to explain how they feel about their lives. Depot Artspace in Devonport is working with Auckland City Mission's Homeless Services on the show. Lynn Freeman talks to sculptor Peter Lange, one of the mentors of the artists, and to Wilf Holt, the Mission's Homeless Community Service Team Leader. Jul 17, 2016 01:33 pm Luit Bieringa's documentary The heART of the Matter Gordon Tovey was a man on a mission to encourage Kiwi kids to express themselves through art and imagination. His ideas and his legacy are examined in Luit Bieringa's new documentary, The heART of the matter. In it, pupils and teachers from his post-war education programmes talk about how Gordon Tovey and other like-minded leaders changed - everything. The film opens at the International Film Festival. Lynn Freeman talks to Luit about the film. Jul 17, 2016 12:42 pm   Older stories Sound Domes The Revelations of Carey Ravine by Debra Daley Snapping their way to success Variety - the classic silent movie gets a new live score Creative Activism