Editor's Letter
The Age
Friday January 9, 2009
WE'RE a cultured lot, us Melburnians. Increasingly we're expanding our areas of artistic interest beyond our comfort zones, whether they be sticky-carpeted bandrooms, floorboarded galleries, cinemas, concert halls or theatres. And the people that bring us our entertainment are doing the same; while "multimedia" has been around a long time, the phrase is now as good as the new black. See a Chunky Move dance show and you'll likely also get some film, some theatre and lighting effects that would make a Pink Floyd show look like kiddies with coloured torches. And what's a Rod Laver power ballad these days without a haunting film backdrop of war scenes and albatrosses in oil slicks? No artform is a silo any more, we want one with the lot, thanks. And Kylie Northover's cover story this week tells a tale of creative cross-pollination we think will be of particular interest to EG readers: theatre meets rock. With companies such as the Malthouse, the face of theatre is changing - to some faces you've come to know in other guises. Well, we are in the era of multiskilling, aren't we? Also in this week's issue are plenty of talented women; Ani DiFranco, Camille (the French one, not the Irish one) and Kristin Hersh to name a few. And if you're impressed with what they're doing, wait 'til you read Fiona Scott-Norman's story about the sisters that grew up in the circus - now there are some multiskillers. -- Jo Roberts, editor
© 2009 The Age
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