I'm in the sort of mood where once upon a time I would have had a full mental breakdown on Twitter which would lead people at media awards to asking if I'm ok when they see me weeks after but unfortunately Twitter is no more and I don't think Bsky is in for that sort of stuff. Anyway I'm sad!!!!!
Got talking to a young woman outside a fringe venue last week, as we were both solo attending a comedy show. When she found out what I do for a living she was in awe – and I'm constantly in awe I get to call 'arts journalism' my job, too. What an incredible privilege.
I wrote about Womad: about how this year's festival was defined by the need to dance, and by the music of older black women, and what a privilege it was to witness them www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...
Here's me, on Womad
Amanda Seyfried's "prosthetic butthole" was reported with breathless sensationalism – but the story of why actors might want to cover up (even when they're "naked") and the role costume designers play in this is a really interesting one.
I thought this was a young Sarah Jessica Parker!
As the laid off Middle East News Editor, I concur. Management eliminated the positions of every single staff correspondent and bureau chief in the Middle East.
"I have a right to feel safe!" Babe, you bought a ticket to a show called Nun Slut. "I can't believe you would pack out a room like that!" Babe, everyone was excited to see a show called Nun Slut.
I don't think I'll have a better theatrical experience this year than the woman who, presumably, bought a ticket to "Nun Slut", and then left after 10 minutes and yelled to the FOH staff, loud enough so everyone in the theatre could hear, about how dare they put on such an abomination.
Once again the @walkleys.bsky.social have conflated judging arts journalism and arts criticism. As a 30+ year practitioner of both, these involve very different skill sets. I predict criticism - already endangered in Australia - will continue to be sidelined. It's a regressive decision.
Another novel I loved last year was The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji, about three generations of Iranian women, some who left during the revolution and some who stayed. Really expanded my understanding of the country and its people. (It is also incredibly funny.)
In Guardian Australia today, my take on the Adelaide Biennial www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
InDaily has the board minutes regarding AWW. Board was fearful the government would cut funding to the festival if they didn't rescind Randa Abdel-Fattah's invitation. www.indailysa.com.au/news/in-dept...
“Perth festival’s artistic director, Anna Reece, who commissioned the project, says none of the institutions she approached on Flavelle’s behalf declined. “We expected some trepidation from some of them about not wanting to be blamed or shamed…””” www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
A record 129 press workers were killed worldwide in 2025, more in one year than in any of the previous three decades. The previous record was set in 2024. For both 2024 and 2025, the Israeli military was responsible for two-thirds of all press killings.
Start-up idea: an instant cooling/anti-sweat spray for when you've sped your bike to a theatre venue in the middle of summer, pulling up with two minutes to spare. Name? FringeFreeze.
lmao i can't believe he literally did the "i was saying boo-urns"
Congratulations!
The Bondi Royal Commission has confirmed it won’t be examining the Bondi attack.
Top work, everyone.
I'm seeing it.
otoh taking a day off your great love (editing arts stories) for your other great love (writing arts stories) is pretty great
I need to learn how to rest.
as a side note I think we should do this again, I'd love it if my job was to reach out to famous artists about their views on the news of the day, I would like to print that in the newspaper
Amazing! Congrats Patrick x
The Death of the Critic: From Cultural Visionaries to Vacuous Performers – Byline Times bylinetimes.com/2024/12/09/t...
'You're still in bed at ten And work began at eight You've burned your breakfast So far, things are going great'
This lyric from 'I'll Be There For You' suggests that the subject of the song, (me/you), woke up at 10, two hours late for work, then chose to make a cooked breakfast. No wonder my/your life is always stuck in second gear
I've said it before and I'll say it again: half stars are the coward's way out.
I regret to inform you I am reading theatre reviews, and the critics continue to be wrong.
Pretty unbelievable that over three seasons and 18 episodes of Creative Types, Virginia Trioli will have interviewed 13 men and 5 women.
The Conversation is hiring two cadet journalists, send this on to all the young journos and new grads jobs.theconversation.com/jobs/5026001...
