1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,720
Speaker 1: And joining us live in the studio right now is

2
00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,840
Speaker 1: the artistic director for the Darwin Festival, Felix Prava. Good

3
00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:07,600
Speaker 1: morning to you.

4
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:09,240
Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, Felix.

5
00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,400
Speaker 1: I tell you wash are you a professional juggler, because

6
00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:14,400
Speaker 1: you would have to be at the moment trying to

7
00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,759
Speaker 1: juggle all the different things happening into stay with COVID.

8
00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:19,880
Speaker 3: I tell you what that might be my next career

9
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,320
Speaker 3: move because it has been a lot There are a

10
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,079
Speaker 3: lot of balls up in the air still and yeah, look,

11
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:29,280
Speaker 3: it's really difficult to communicate these program changes obviously hugely

12
00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:33,560
Speaker 3: disappointing to all of those artists, particularly the artists based

13
00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,560
Speaker 3: in New South Wales, but the reality is those borders

14
00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,000
Speaker 3: are not opening in time for the festival next week

15
00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:41,400
Speaker 3: and we have to action those changes now.

16
00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,599
Speaker 1: So we heard about some of those changes yesterday, but

17
00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,960
Speaker 1: for those who may be miss that, able to give

18
00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:48,519
Speaker 1: us a bit of an update from the changes that

19
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:49,559
Speaker 1: were announced yesterday.

20
00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,599
Speaker 2: Firstly, absolutely so, we have.

21
00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,720
Speaker 3: A number of shows postponed till later in the year

22
00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,680
Speaker 3: or into early twenty twenty two that include Sydney Dance

23
00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:02,520
Speaker 3: Company and flight facilities, so ticket holders for those will

24
00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,480
Speaker 3: have been contacted yesterday. We really encourage you to hold

25
00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:11,440
Speaker 3: onto those tickets. Those shows will happen, I mean, god willing. Yeah.

26
00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:13,560
Speaker 3: And then we have a number of other shows that

27
00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:18,200
Speaker 3: I suppose are postponed, postponed theoretically to next year. We

28
00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,399
Speaker 3: very much hope these artists will be in the next

29
00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:23,640
Speaker 3: year's festival. So that's Murra Geku with their beautiful work,

30
00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:29,480
Speaker 3: straight Talk during Yanga Hike your Hands, Montane Niri and

31
00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:34,120
Speaker 3: Clipso yeap Or sadly based in New South Wales, and

32
00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:38,200
Speaker 3: then New Zealand act Jess b. She obviously can definitely

33
00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,800
Speaker 3: not come, and so we will look forward to having

34
00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,559
Speaker 3: them hopefully all in the festival next year. But those

35
00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,080
Speaker 3: customers will have been offered the opportunity to swap those

36
00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,800
Speaker 3: tickets for one of the incredible shows that we have

37
00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,720
Speaker 3: been able to slot into place.

38
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,640
Speaker 1: Yeah. Well this is the thing. You have moved things around.

39
00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,320
Speaker 1: You haven't sort of gone, oh okay, well no we

40
00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:00,880
Speaker 1: can't do that, we'll just leave. But you've actually tried

41
00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,520
Speaker 1: to move other things in and slot things in here,

42
00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,520
Speaker 1: there and everywhere so that we're able to still have

43
00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:06,880
Speaker 1: a great festival program.

44
00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:11,320
Speaker 3: I mean absolutely, and we're thrilled to announce the acts

45
00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,520
Speaker 3: that are taking those places. So on the opening weekend

46
00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,080
Speaker 3: where Hiku Hands would have been and indeed now an

47
00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,120
Speaker 3: additional show. On the Thursday night, we have club Briefs,

48
00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,800
Speaker 3: some incredible sort of circus variety, boilesque.

49
00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,400
Speaker 2: Extravaganze, makes fun, it's very fun.

50
00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,760
Speaker 3: It's going to be some real relief for those feeling

51
00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,200
Speaker 3: the pressure of COVID myself included, to just get silly

52
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,560
Speaker 3: with some very handsome men and underwear yep.

53
00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:39,400
Speaker 2: During nights for me.

54
00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:45,119
Speaker 3: And then on the middle Friday we have Psycho, who

55
00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:47,520
Speaker 3: was one of the incredible opening acts for Flight Facilities.

56
00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:48,600
Speaker 2: She's still going to be in town.

57
00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:52,160
Speaker 3: Were really pumped for her, really cool new pop music.

58
00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:53,360
Speaker 2: She's a rising star.

59
00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:58,200
Speaker 3: And on the final Friday, Confidence Man, so total party.

60
00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,760
Speaker 1: Starters, fantastic And now what about obviously the opening night,

61
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,200
Speaker 1: there's had to be some changes there.

62
00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:04,240
Speaker 2: Talk us through those.

63
00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,240
Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, most heartbreaking of all, we have had

64
00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,239
Speaker 3: to postpone Bungle to twenty twenty two. We're working through

65
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,760
Speaker 3: this now with all of those kind of partners. So

66
00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,560
Speaker 3: it's a big project. This is of course the kind

67
00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,480
Speaker 3: of the live symphony orchestra rendition of the final Girmal album.

68
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,200
Speaker 3: This is at work we've been working on since twenty eighteen, Katie.

69
00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,440
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's a long time. Yeah, it is, it really is.

70
00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:34,840
Speaker 3: But you know what, it's going to be absolutely incredible

71
00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,640
Speaker 3: when we do it next year. And we just all

72
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,640
Speaker 3: have to hope that the world is a bit of

73
00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:40,720
Speaker 3: place in twenty twenty two.

74
00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,080
Speaker 1: And it's so difficult because you know a lot of

75
00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,440
Speaker 1: us feel disappointed obviously when something is postponed and we think, oh,

76
00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,560
Speaker 1: that's such a shame. I was really hoping to see that.

77
00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,240
Speaker 1: But then behind the scenes just sort of sometimes I

78
00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,680
Speaker 1: don't think we think about the impact that then has

79
00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,680
Speaker 1: on some of those artists that have been really trying

80
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,800
Speaker 1: to get organized for such a long period of time

81
00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,680
Speaker 1: producing that work, not just with Bongle but even some

82
00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:05,840
Speaker 1: of those other shows, and they're in lockdown in New

83
00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:07,640
Speaker 1: South Wales and you really feel for them.

84
00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:09,640
Speaker 2: It's awful. It's awful, you know.

85
00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:13,600
Speaker 3: And look, while there is some kind of federal relief

86
00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:18,080
Speaker 3: for artists in New South Wales and in Victoria and

87
00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:21,720
Speaker 3: those states that are in lockdown, the financial impacts are

88
00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:24,719
Speaker 3: a huge and you know, obviously we pay artists for

89
00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:28,560
Speaker 3: their time when they're here, but it's very hard to

90
00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,279
Speaker 3: account for the years and years of preparation involved. So

91
00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,720
Speaker 3: I mean, really, our hearts just go out to all

92
00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,400
Speaker 3: of the artists who are still pushing through and like

93
00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,760
Speaker 3: I say, we pray that the world is a better place.

94
00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,080
Speaker 2: Than twenty two. Yeah, and feelix.

95
00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,200
Speaker 1: It does sound though, as though you've done a lot

96
00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,920
Speaker 1: in terms of making sure that there is a program

97
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,839
Speaker 1: where we've got artists from all around the nation, so

98
00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,520
Speaker 1: that should something like this happen, you've had the ability

99
00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:54,680
Speaker 1: to sort of move things around it and still have

100
00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,360
Speaker 1: a great program for Territorians.

101
00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,760
Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, we did take it into account while we

102
00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,680
Speaker 3: were planning the festival, and it's great news to have

103
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,880
Speaker 3: the Victorian the South Australian borders open. We're super excited

104
00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:06,680
Speaker 3: to have all of those artists and hopefully a.

105
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,680
Speaker 2: Few audience members come as well. Yeah. Look, you know

106
00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:11,320
Speaker 2: touch word they stay open.

107
00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,719
Speaker 3: And look, we've actually got a whole lot of artists

108
00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,920
Speaker 3: who are already here now came up to quarantine and

109
00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,520
Speaker 3: have been let out of quarantine, which is kind of great.

110
00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,359
Speaker 3: They now get this surprise two week holiday in Darwen instead.

111
00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:27,360
Speaker 3: Great for the economy it is, and more coming.

112
00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,760
Speaker 2: Yeah, stuff. Well, I tell you what it has been.

113
00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,880
Speaker 1: I'm sure it's been quite a difficult juggle for you.

114
00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:38,200
Speaker 1: But so many Territorians still so excited about the Darwin Festival.

115
00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,360
Speaker 1: It's going to be fantastic. You can still get down

116
00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,839
Speaker 1: there and enjoy your time in Festival Park and just relax.

117
00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:45,280
Speaker 2: That's right, enjoy yourself.

118
00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,200
Speaker 3: Yeah, we encourage people to jump online Darwin Festival dot

119
00:05:48,279 --> 00:05:50,800
Speaker 3: org au. Check out the program changes, check out the

120
00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,960
Speaker 3: whole program. There are still plenty of tickets that they

121
00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:56,039
Speaker 3: are selling fast. And like I said, instead of the

122
00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,400
Speaker 3: opening night concert on the Thursday, festival Park will open

123
00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,599
Speaker 3: a night, so come on down and enjoy some free music,

124
00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:05,960
Speaker 3: some boile Esque if you're in the mood, and some

125
00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,680
Speaker 3: Honeyman's under the stars with us.

126
00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:09,960
Speaker 1: Now, I know you can't really have a favorite because

127
00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,480
Speaker 1: obviously you program everything. But is there any show that

128
00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:16,760
Speaker 1: you reckon? We just simply can't miss.

129
00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:17,320
Speaker 2: A few.

130
00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,159
Speaker 3: I mean, look, I'm all about that opening weekend, so

131
00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:24,679
Speaker 3: really excited obviously for club briefs, really beautiful dance work.

132
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,239
Speaker 3: Daddy really excited for that, and over at the Entertainment

133
00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,440
Speaker 3: Center in the studios, gorgeous theater piece. I've been meaning

134
00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:35,120
Speaker 3: to ask you where we've got eighteen plucky nine year

135
00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:40,440
Speaker 3: olds on stage answer sort of asking questions to the community.

136
00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:42,560
Speaker 3: And yes, it's all sort of happened online, but the

137
00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,279
Speaker 3: theater piece that they've made from it is just extraordinary.

138
00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,080
Speaker 1: I reckon, that's so cool. I love the way that

139
00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:49,400
Speaker 1: the kids are involved in it too.

140
00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:49,920
Speaker 2: Yeah.

141
00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,080
Speaker 3: Well, it's kind of one of the themes of the year, right, so,

142
00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,359
Speaker 3: raising the voices of young people looking to the future

143
00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,560
Speaker 3: and lord knows, imagining a world post COVID that will

144
00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,680
Speaker 3: hopefully be somewhat like normal used to be.

145
00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,320
Speaker 1: Yeah. Absolutely, Felix Preval, It's always lovely to catch up

146
00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:06,960
Speaker 1: with you. Thank you so very much for your time

147
00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:07,440
Speaker 1: this morning.

148
00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:08,159
Speaker 2: Thank you, Katie,