News Items: December 2004

The University of Wollongong will be awarding, actor/director Jeff Kevin, a Fellowship of the University, at the Creative Arts Graduation ceremony on the 13th December, 2004, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Faculty and University.

Jeff has taught movement and theatre management at NIDA and was Head of Performance at the Faculty of Creative Arts for a number of years before retiring in 2003. (Jeff is pictured right).

Lotte Latukefu is currently appearing in one of the solo roles in Wagner's Ring Cycle being presented by the State Opera of South Australia in Adelaide.

Arguably the most ambitious theatrical presentation in Australian history.

Congratulations Lotte!

Other Staff Activities:
Sue Blanchfield has received a grant from the Visual Arts/Craft Board of the Australia Council for their London Studio Residency in 2005;
Jon Cockburn and Grant Ellmers have been confirmed in continuing appointments;
Tony Macris has been promoted to the post of Senior Lecturer, on a full-time basis, from 1 January 2005;
Greg Schiemer has again received a new ARC Linkage Grant to develop a Virtual Carillon project with the ACT Authority. The work explores the field of musical haptics or virtual touch. He also has been promoted to Associate Professor;
FCA Dean, Andrew Schultz has received an Australia Council Music Theatre Project Fellowship to work with Gordon Kalton Williams on the composition of a new opera between now and mid-2006.

First Broadcast of Australian Radio Play 'The Woman Who Knitted Herself a Child' by Catherine Fargher (currently completing a Doctorate of Creative Arts at Wollongong University) will be on ABC Radio National's AIRPLAY programme, on Sunday Dec 19th at 3pm. Producer Jane Ulman, composer - Matthew Fargher.

About the radio play:
'The Woman Who Knitted Herself a Child' - is about a woman scientist who knits herself a child. The piece explores the reveries of a woman as she tries to make sense of a changing and highly technological world of new genetic futures. Working at the 'coalface' of genetic research, cloning transgenic organisms, she  explores the possibilities she is creating through her work and the miraculous futures promised by cloning, IVF, stem cell technology and dolly the sheep. In her inner world, the mitochondrial/ subconscious space, she knits together the ancient knit and purl stitches, and the constantly evolving strands of DNA double helix. Throughout the play, memories of her past emerge, as a child and as a pregnant teenager making a decision on her reproductive future, and finally the growing wish for her own child.

The play incorporates original composition and soundscapes by Matthew Fargher and Jane Ulman, creating a sense of enchantment and menace as she creates this new 'being'. Sounds include live recordings from the Symbiotica Wet Biology workshop, exploring tissue cell culturing and DNA extraction as part of Bienalle of Electronic Arts, Perth 2004.

Catherine Fargher - WRITER
As a writer, Catherine has had sixteen scripts produced for radio, contemporary performance and community theatre groups, including Terrapin Puppet Theatre (Tas),  'The Listening Room', ABC Classic FM, Vitalstatistix National Women's Theatre, Sidetrack Performance Group, Death Defying Theatre(now urban theatre projects), Theatre of the Deaf, Musik Kabau (Bris) and StreetArts Community Theatre (Qld) She has also worked extensively as a community writer for migrant, youth and union groups including Newcastle's Workers Cultural Action Committee.
In 2001 she was the recipient of the Playworks/Varuna fellowship and also received two New Media Fund (Australia Council) grants to create new works. In 2004 she received the Playworks 'In Gestation' award to assist in development of three new works. She is currently undertaking a Doctorate of Creative Arts at Wollongong University under the supervision of writer Merlinda Bobis, developing performance texts from her series of bio-ethical fables. Catherine recently travelled to the SYMBIOTICA WET BIOLOGY WORKSHOP (Bienalle of Electronic Arts Perth 2004) with the support of ANAT (the Australian Network for Art and Technology) Playworks, and the University of Wollongong, to learn tissue cell culturing and DNA extraction, and explore 'hands on' ethical issues in biotechnology.

Matthew Fargher - Composer
Matthew has worked as a composer, musician and vocal teacher in a wide range of areas including theatre, film and community contexts. Companies he has worked for include Company B Belvoir, Circus Oz, Stalker and The Sydney Theatre Company. He is the musical director of Marrugeku Company, and was a founding member and composer for 'Voices from the Vacant Lot' choir for over ten years. Matthew plays and makes a range of instruments including violin, guitar, banjo, ukelele, clarinet, voice, and percussion.