TWiSK #414

NEWS
Joanna Murray-Smith joins the Red Stitch
Steph Hodgins-May joins the Senate
Sigrid Thornton scoops for Elwood Canal
State budget and St Kilda

ENTERTAINMENT
Billy Elliot The Musical @ National
German Film Festival 2024 @ Astor
New Japan Pro Wrestling Tamashii @ Prince

Two big nights at Council

Tuesday
Public hearing on the draft budget
Wednesday
Decision time for Inkerman bike lanes

Another council candidate steps forward
Lauren Sherson, Independent for Albert Park Ward



Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen (UK/USA) @ Memo

Tuesday 14 May, 7 pm
Grammy award winning multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Jon Cleary returns for his first Australian tour in five years with his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, to celebrate twenty years since the band’s inception and first album. $69.90/64.90/59.90+bf
Tix 

Book Launch: Houdini Unbound @ Readings
Wednesday 15 May, 6.30 pm
Celebrate the launch of Alan Attwood’s Houdini Unbound.
“It is 1910. Halley’s Comet is coming. Harry Houdini is in Australia for the first time. The most celebrated escape artist in the world has sold-out seasons in both Melbourne and Sydney. Houdini has a new obsession: aviation. He has brought with him from Europe his own Voisin biplane, being put together and prepared in a Diggers Rest paddock by his French mechanic, Brassac. Houdini is intent on claiming a record: first to fly in Australia. But he has competition from aspiring aviators in several states, and is left restless and distracted when his promotional leap-in-chains from a Melbourne bridge disturbs a corpse in the Yarra.”
Free, but bookings are essential. 
112 Acland Street
Billy Elliot The Musical @ National Theatre
Wednesday 15 May – Saturday 25 May, 8 pm (some matinees)
CLOC is proud to bring the Victorian Non-Professional Premiere of Billy Elliot, The Musical. $66/60
Tix
Brook Chivell + Scarlet’s Way @ George Lane
Friday 17 May, 7:00 pm – 10:45 pm
Country-rocker Brook Chivell was most recently on the main stage at the Groundwater Country Music Festival in Broadbeach QLD.
Scarlet’s Way, a Southern inspired act who seamlessly weaves Country Rock, Blues & Soul into a powerful sonic tapestry.
Tix
Introducing the Degrowth Movement @ U3A Saturday zoom seminar
Saturday 18 May, 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm
Degrowth is a lifestyle, a call for system change and a rapidly expanding international movement. Politicians aim for about 3% GDP growth per annum, which is a doubling every 23 years. This growth is killing the natural environment that keeps us alive. Presented by Terry Leahy, a sociologist and environmentalist. Free
Info and link
Andrea Robertson + Sarah Carroll @ George Lane Matinee Sessions
Saturday 18 May, 3 pm – 6  pm
A tasty fusion of blues, roots, folk, rock, alt-country and a whole lot of soul.
Tix
Feel Good, Do Good: Party with a Purpose @ Sea Baths Rooftop
Saturday 18 May, 4 pm – 7 pm
Raising funds for the Children’s First Foundation.
Join Eliza from Feel Good Flows with meditation, breath, and dancing the sunset away with live music, drums, guitar, cello and more.
Tix by donationPrinnie Stevens – “Lady Sings The Blues Vol 2” @ Memo
Saturday 18 May, 7 pm
A story about women in song, their hurts, struggles and pain.
The show combines Prinnie’s Musical Theatre, Pop, Soul & Gospel experience to create a show like no other. Featuring Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner & more. $49/35 inc bf Online
Tix

New Japan Pro Wrestling TAMASHII @ Prince Band Room
Saturday 18 May, 7 pm
We kid you not. Front row sold out already. $29+
Tix

“So long, Farewell…Dolly Diamond” @ National
Saturday 18 May, 7:30 pm
Dolly Diamond is heading back to the Mother country once again and as is her way wants to leave with as much fuss as possible.
So the National Theatre is throwing her a final cabaret show ….So long, Farewell Dolly Diamond features her long suffering pianist and musical director, Cameron Thomas and a very special guest Jens Radda, with excerpts from their Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, “The Unburdening of Dolly Diamond”. $39
Tix

German Film Festival 2024: Nosferatu The Vampyre @ Astor
Saturday, 18 May at 7:30pm (single feature)
Werner Herzog at his best. An unusually contemplative version of Dracula, in which the vampire bears the curse of not being able to get old and die.
Tix
Festival has a swag of other Herzog in the program.
Tree planting @ Elwood
Sunday 19 May. 10 am – noon
Join Earthcare St Kilda in a quest to plant 1000 trees in 2 hours.
All materials are provided but please bring your own garden gloves if you have them.
Meet between Foam St and Wave St, Elwood, along the residential fence line and pedestrian walking path. Look for the blue Earthcare banner. All welcome.

The Gathering – A Night of Senegalese, Bosnian and Sephardic Jewish Music @ Memo
Sunday 19 May 2024, 3 pm
“The Gathering” brings together Lamine Sonko with his trio and Nela Trifkovi? with her ensemble Saray Iluminado in the ritual of musical, cultural and poetic exchange. Through original compositions, traditional melodies and stories that accompany them these artists transform the intimate surroundings of Memo Hall into a temple of West African and West Balkan connection. $55/45/35+bf Online
Tix

Next week
Monday 20 May – Sunday 26 May

Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton Band (USA) @ Memo
Tuesday 21 May, 7 pm
Samantha Fish will be teaming up with Jesse Dayton Death Wish Blues showcasing the raw power of Fish and Dayton’s guitar playing, both with foundations grounded in blues music. $85/80/75+bf Online
Tix
YouTube
Koal @ Theatre Works (Explosives Factory)
Wednesday 22 May – Saturday 1 June, 7.30 pm
Part climate-catastrophe, part clown show—Koal is a one-woman show for the end of the world. As wildfires tear through Australia, a baby koala, a coal miner and an Indigenous girl desperately strive to hold onto their homes before all burns and turns to ash.
Koal is an interactive solo-show, performed by Jacinta Yelland and directed by Trey Lyford, that immerses the audience in the middle of the 2019 Australian bushfires.
“Using documentary theatre, clown, and audience interaction, Koal takes the audience from laughter to tears as it explores what is lost when your home is erased.” $45/$35
Tix
The Dollop Podcast @ Palais
Wednesday 22 May, 7.30 pm
The Dollop is an American history podcast with comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds.
“Strap in and be prepared to learn some local knowledge about something you might never have liked to have known… ” $79
Tix 

Civil War @ Astor
Thursday 23 May, 7 pm
A Trumpian nightmare 2024? A journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.
Tix

Southside Parents Battle of The Bands @ Prince
Thursday 23 May and Thursday 30 May, 7 pm
10 Parents Bands from 10 local primary schools, battling it out over TWO nights.
All proceeds go to the music programs of participating schools. $35.70
Tix
Forever Young The Songs of Bob Dylan @ Palais
Thursday 23 May, 8 pm
Celebrate Bob’s 83rd birthday with Bob tragic Brian Nankervis and friends.
Great line up of Dylan fans, including Ross Wilson, Adalita, Mick Thimas, Rebecca Barnard, Rob Snarski, Lisa Miller and Charles Jenkins.
Musical Director Shane O’Mara and house band The Luminaries. $89.90
Tix

Rock Chick @ Memo
Friday 24 May, 7 pm
“Rock Chick, is a full tilt epic rock show featuring Nat Allison (Suzi Quatro band) and her kick ass band playing the greatest hits from all the greatest rock chicks throughout music history. From Pat Benatar, Tina Turner, Joan Jett, Blondie, Heart, Janis Joplin, Pink, Divinyls, Fleetwood Mac and much more in a stadium style show.” $42/35/25+bf Online
Tix
Waz e James Band with Andrew Pendlebury @ George Lane
Friday 24 May, 7 pm -11 pm
Waz e James is a veteran of the Australian roots blues and country scene, starting his musical journey as a teenager in the 70s, in the Melbourne folk scene.
Tix
Double launch of Dark Deeds Down Under 2 and The She Wolf of Baker Street @ Readings
Saturday 25 May, 2 pm,
Celebrate the double launch of Dark Deeds Down Under 2 and The She Wolf of Baker Street, both out with Clan Destine Press. Crime writer Katherine Kovacic will launch both books by way of interrogating the attending authors: Emma Viskic and Robert Gott who have stories in the second volume of the gritty and groundbreaking Aussie and Kiwi crime fiction anthology; and Narrelle M. Harris, whose mystery novel puts Mrs Hudson – menopausal werewolf – at the centre of a modern Sherlockian adventure.
Free but please book
112 Acland St

Ben Lee @ Memo
Saturday 25 May, 7 pm
Ben Lee returns for a night of romantic anthems, clever wordplay and indie pop classics. $50/45/40+bf Online
Tix
Smoke Stack Rhino @ George Lane
Saturday 25 May, 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Smoke Stack Rhino have been hailed by Beat Magazine as ‘Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming blues and roots rockers’.
Tix

Monkey Spanner 8 Piece Ska Band w/ Loonee Tunes @ The Prince Bandroom
Saturday 25 May, 8 pm
8 piece 2 Tone Ska enthusiasts, Monkey Spanner are returning to Melbourne in 2024 for another foot-stomping SKA celebration playing hits from iconic 2 Tone bands like The Specials, Madness, Bad Manners, The Beat, The Selecter, and The Bodysnatchers. $49
Tix

This Is Joni – The Art and Music of Joni Mitchell @ Memo
Sunday 26 May, 3 pm
Written and performed by Melbourne singer/song writer, Lauren Elizabeth, and her 6-piece band, the audience will be taken through an exploration of memorable songs from the legendary singer/songwriter, who defined a generation through her music. $45/35/30+bf Online
Tix

Later in May

Ode to Bobbie Gentry – The Girl From Chickasaw County @ George Lane
Thursday 30 May, 7 pm – 10.45 pm
Melbourne’s own smoky-voiced songstress Helen Ryder brings the extraordinary story and songs of Bobbie Gentry to life in this unique event, with a script by award-winning stage and screen writer Reg Cribb (Bran Nue Dae, The Story Of Jimmie Little, Last Cab to Darwin) and a tight band led by Lachlan Bryan with Mitch Power and Damian Cafarella.
Tix

12 Gold Bars – A Celebration 0f Status Quo @ Memo
Friday 31 May, 7 pm
This incredible group of musicians is dedicated to recreating the sound and energy of one of the most beloved bands of the 70s and 80s, and they’re taking on Status Quo’s legendary album 12 Gold Bars. $54.90/49.90/45.90+bf Online
Tix
The Great Unknown (Album Launch) @ George Lane
Friday 31 May, 7 pm -10:45 pm
The Great Unknown are simultaneously sweet and gritty, acoustic and electric, and blues and roots. They are three songwriters, two vocalists, two guitarists, double and electric bass, drums and percussion.
Tix
Trio of new exhibitions @ Linden
31 May – 25 August
(Opening event Saturday 1 June 2 pm – 4 pm)
In 2023 Linden New Art launched JUNCTURE, a major new art prize for Australian mid-career contemporary artists. Two artists are each awarded $20,000 to support their practice, and twelve months in which to develop new work to be presented as a solo exhibition at Linden 2024. The inaugural winners of the prize were Shinvanjani Lal and Vittoria Di Stefano.

Shivanjani Lal > Mere Porvaj [I Am Remembering]
Shivanjani Lal is a Fijian-Australian artist and curator whose work uses personal grief to account for ancestral loss. Mere Porvaj (I Am Remembering) speaks to the history that has been forgotten, the labour of women, and the love of a land that continues to hold them.
Info

Vittoria Di Stefano > Pears on a Willow
Vittoria Di Stefano primarily works in sculpture and installation. Pears on a Willow is a site-specific sculptural installation for Linden New Art that explores the poetics of domestic spaces and their embedded histories.
Info

Michelle Hamer > I’m A Believer
I’m a Believer confronts dismissive language surrounding chronic health issues through a darkly humorous lens. The exhibition features Hamer’s first series of silkscreen prints and monoprints crafted from redacted letters and medical scans, alongside five new hand stitched works, exploring gendered language, access, and erasure.
Info
In Conversation > Shivanjani Lal X Manisha Anjali
Sunday 3 June 2024, 12 – 1PM, Free
RSVP
In Conversation > Vittoria Di Stefano X Dr Sophie Knezic
Saturday 29 June 2024, 1 > 2PM, Free
RSVP
Curator’s Tours
Saturday 20 July 2024, 12 > 1PM, Free / Saturday 17 August 2024, 1 > 2PM, Free
RSVP
26 Acland Street
Tuesday to Sunday 11 am – 4 pm
Closed Mondays & Public Holidays.

Coming soon in June

Blackout Songs @ Red Stitch
Saturday 1 June – Saturday 30 June
First performed in London in 2022, Blackout Songs is a two-hander described by critics as a compassionate and unflinching study of love, addiction and memory.
“After a chance encounter at an AA meeting and they’re drawn to one another. Then later, once they’re drinking again, they both have this almost-feeling that they might have met before – could even have been together, sometime in the past… They should really get sober together and figure it all out: that would be a worthwhile project. Maybe they will. Just after one last drink…”
Tix
An Evening with Dr. Jane Goodall @ Palais
Tuesday 4 June, 6.30 pm doors
Dr. Jane Goodall returns to Melbourne with her ‘Reasons for Hope’ fireside chat.
Join her for a journey through 60 years of groundbreaking chimpanzee research and her vision for a sustainable future. Includes a presentation, audience Q&A, and fireside chat. $59.90 +
Tix
40 Years of Top Shorts @ St Kilda Film Festival 2024
Thursday 6 June – Sunday 16 June
The festival of short films returns to St Kilda for it’s 40th year with their biggest program ever.
After opening at the Astor with the red carpet hoopla and too many speeches, the main festival action happens at the Alex Theatre on Fitzroy Street plus some non theatre venues including the Espy.
Check out the 11-day program. 
$16.50 for general sessions
Festival passes are only valid for screenings at the Alex Theatre.
4 session pass: $60
6 session pass: $85
Festival pass: $100 (Access to all sessions at the Alex Theatre)
Trailer

Joanna Murray-Smith joins the Red Stitch Board

[5 May 2024] Celebrated playwright and author Joanna Murray-Smith has joined the board of Red Stitch Theatre. This is a big win for the ensemble run actors’ theatre that has built a great reputation from it’s very small space in St Kilda opposite the Astor.
Joanna’s works have been performed by the ensemble, notably American Song and Fury, with great acclaim.
Also joining the Red Stitch Board are Sam Frey, Melanie Sherrin (Company Secretary) and Stephen Sweeney (Treasurer) and ensemble members Jing-Xuan Chan and Khisraw Jones-Shukoor.
The company thanked departing members Catherine Cardinet and Damon Healey for their ten years of valuable service to Red Stitch.

Introducing Senator Steph Hodgins-May

Former local Greens activist Steph Hodgins-May started her term as a Greens senator on 1 May and will be sworn in on Tuesday.
She is replacing former Senator Janet Rice, who has retired after 10 years. Steph stood unsuccessfully  for the Federal Seat of Macnamara in both 2019 and 2022 polls earning up to 29% of the vote and forcing the outcome to preferences.
Formerly an environmental lawyer and Acting Head of Greenpeace Australia Pacific, she also worked as a senior advisor in the office of Senator Richard Di Natale.
senator.shodgins-may@aph.gov.au

Not much for St Kilda to smile about in State budget

TWiSK asked all our local State MPs to comment on last weeks State budget.
Only Sam Hibbins (MLA Prahran Greens) replied with a thumbs up for additional funding for Stonnington Community Assist and Uniting Prahran ($100K & $50K) respectively to support providing food relief to people in need, but a sad face for St Kilda primary because they missed out on funding for their much needed Community Hub.
Nina Taylor (MLA Albert Park – Labor), who is very active on Facebook, highlighted the $400 grant for families with kids in government schools (and concession card holders in non-government schools) and $8.8M for works at Middle Park Primary.
James Newbury (MLA Brighton – Liberal) was concerned about debt and the $0 for education upgrades in his electorate including Elwood College and Elwood Primary School.
Missing almost without trace …
A previously promised mental health and wellbeing hub in St Kilda is one of 35 pushed out into the never never; rollout of more low floor trams didnt rate a mention; nor did additional accessible tram stops, and there wasn’t any news about State funding for tram connections to Fishermans Bend.
But some joy for bus connections between Elsternwick Station – Fishermans Bend
From 19 May, Route 606 Elsternwick Station – Fishermans Bend via St Kilda will have an improved timetable with 111 more services and longer operating hours (every 30 mins on weekdays, and running until 9pm).
It’s a pretty nifty service providing direct links through bay side burbs linking North-South destinations.

Sigrid Thornton scoops for Elwood Canal

Sigrid Thornton and hubby Tom Burstall (pictured) have recently moved into the Elwood ‘hood and joined the local crew keen to clean up the Elwood Canal.
As reported in TWiSK, ECAT (that’s the Elwood Canal Action Team) have been agitated by the steady flow of rubbish spewing into the Bay via the Canal. They want Council, State and Melbourne Water to get agitated too.
Lend your voice to the local MPs petition 

This Week
Two action packed nights of ‘reality’ entertainment at Council

Tuesday
Public hearing on the draft budget

A special meeting to hear public submissions is the final step in the Council’s ‘community engagement’ on the budget. They heard from 122 submitters online and 85 across 5 ‘Neighbourhood conversations.’
These hearings are an opportunity for local groups to put their case for more or to plead against reductions. Its also an opportunity for ratepayers to question the way money is spent.
The action starts at 6.30 pm
Best plan ahead to work around the tram line works

Wednesday
Decision time for Inkerman bike path

For bike riders it’s about safety, promoting riding and creating a safe route connecting to the St Kilda Road bike paths.
For others its about loss of parking, reduced access to homes and businesses, plus inconvenience for deliveries, removalists and visitors.
Council went to the public with two options for bike paths, prompting a backlash from sections of the public that wanted no change. In the end, Council officers have recommended Option B; painted bike lanes and the loss 14 car parking spaces – over Option A; separated bike lanes and loss of 114 parking spaces.
Option B is costed at $6.8M, Option A $9.3M
But a vote to do nothing is still the dark horse option, especially since the original concept was designed to link to bike paths through neighbouring Glen Eira – but these were abandoned by that Council in 2022.
The action starts at 6.30 pm
Best plan ahead to work around the tram line works

Second candidate for Albert Park Ward steps up Lauren Sherson
Independent for Albert Park Ward

“I’m Lauren Sherson, your Independent candidate for Albert Park Ward in the upcoming Local Government election. I learned many things from locals during and since the 2022 State Election, when I was the Liberal Candidate for Albert Park. The central theme was a desire to be heard – with locals asking to be a valued part of City of Port Phillip decision making. I’m determined to work directly with locals and pro-actively turn issues into initiatives – before Council decisions are made.
My approach to local politics is to:
1. Engage directly with locals
2. Turn local issues into initiatives
3. Produce community-driven outcomes
Let’s chat local issues and local opportunities and together, see what we can create for our beloved city.”
lauren@laurensherson.com.au
laurensherson.com.au
0435 990 869

Candidates announced so far

Here are the candidates who have announced that they will nominate for election to Port Phillip Council.
TWiSK will add more candidates as they announce.
Email to let TWiSK know
Nominations close noon Tuesday 24 September
Postal voting closes 25 October.

Albert Park Ward
Lauren Sherson, Independent Email: lauren@laurensherson.com
Connor Slattery, Greens
Alma Ward
Justin Halliday, Independent
Balaclava Ward
Alex Darton, Independent
Rachel Iampolski, Greens
Elwood Ward
Liliana Carranza, Greens
Lakeside Ward
Ivy Pierlot, Greens
Jo McDonald, Independent Email: jo.mcdonald.copp.election@gmail.com
Montague Ward
Ahmed Elsayed, Greens
Port Melbourne Ward
Richard Whitfield, Greens
South Melbourne Ward
Earl James, Greens
St Kilda Ward 
Tim Baxter, Greens

New single councillor wards

This voting will elect one councillor in each of nine new awards.
Voting is preferential and it’s likely that most results will be decided by preferences.
Voters can expect to have at least three candidates in each ward, but possibly many more.
See ward map

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