STANDING ROOM ONLY

This week's stories Screen Gems: favourite horror scenes Fur is controversial in the fashion industry and wearing it today is a statement of nothing more than excess. The controversy lies not only in the hands of the designers producing it, but also those who are buying garments made from fur. Dunedin-based Jane Avery is an unashamed advocate of fur, but says doing it sustainably and ethically is what matters most. Oct 15, 2017 02:38 pm The gap between New Zealand and Australian writers Australia may be our nearest neighbour and traditional sporting rival, but while sports teams regularly cross the Tasman, that's less the case with our writers. So why the literary gulf between our nations? That's the subject of a panel being held at the Tauranga Arts Festival on the 21st and 22nd of October. Oct 15, 2017 02:25 pm Alex Taylor Alex Taylor is the music director and writer of the show The Winterreise Project. He's also a multi-instrumentalist, composer, critic, lecturer, conductor, singer and impresario. Lynn Freeman first asked Alex about Schubert's original Wintereisse cycle. Oct 15, 2017 01:46 pm Are Yous OK? Gina uses found objects and domestic materials to create her work, like a mattress with broken glass embedded into it - something comfortable, made truly uncomfortable. She tells Lynn Freeman Are Yous Ok? also includes te reo maori to make another point. Oct 15, 2017 01:30 pm From Wales to Pike River The 50th anniversary of a mining disaster in Wales, is about to have its New Zealand premiere.  Sir Karl Jenkins wrote Cantata Memoria - For the Children of Aberfan.  That's where a dislodged mountain of mine waste engulfed a primary school, killing 116 children and 28 adults.  "Benedictus" from The Armed Man, which is being dedicated to the victims and families of the Pike River mine disaster. Oct 15, 2017 12:48 pm Nothing up their sleeves - the fascination with stage magic Lynn Freeman talks to the producer of The Magicians stage show, magician Nopera Whitley who also owns this country's biggest magic shop and to Scottish mind-reader Colin Cloud from Scotland. Oct 15, 2017 12:29 pm The return of the notorious Burgess Gang The play Maungatapu is about to premiere in Nelson, where the gang members were tried and hanged. The play explores the relationships between gang members Burgess, Kelly, Levy and Sullivan, from plotting the murders through to their last moment. Oct 15, 2017 12:16 pm Older stories Lynley Dodd: The return of Hairy McLary's nemesis. Whatever happened to Grace Butler? Rosanna Raymond - Pasifika artist in New York Bird Words Shared Lines - art after an earthquake The rise of art crime Mangaweka - forgery capital of New Zealand Not all audio is available due to copyright restrictions Visit the full archive of stories from Standing Room Only