Express Media

With the support of Express Media, Fringe World, and the Sunday Times, I am very pleased to introduce BUZZCUTS PERTH!

Buzzcuts is a program that trains young writers and broadcasters in critical arts reviewing. After running successfully in Melbourne for 15 years, this year the program is expanding to include Perth, with the support of Express Media, Fringe World, and the Sunday Times.

Buzzcuts Perth gives successful applicants the chance to see several Fringe World shows for free, write reviews and see them published on the Perth Now website. Participants will also be trained in writing critical arts reviews at a free orientation session.

The program is open to writers aged 18-25 who live in the Perth area and are interested in developing their skills as entertainment/arts writers.

Participants are expected to attend at least two shows during Perth’s Fringe World festival (26 January – 19 February) and to produce two accompanying reviews. In addition, participants are required to attend the compulsory orientation to be held in mid-January (date to be confirmed).

To apply, please submit the following:

  1. Your contact information (name, street address, email address, phone number, and date of birth)
  2. A cover letter outlining why you would like to be involved and any experience you have relevant to the area (experience in arts reviewing is preferable but not essential)

Send applications to:

Kaitlyn Plyley

kaitlynplyley@gmail.com

Applications close: 5pm, Sunday 14th of January 2012.

Successful applicants will be contacted via email.

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Voiceworks #87 Launch: WA knows how to play

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Last night we launched Voiceworks #87 PLAY in Western Australia, and holy moly it was awesome.

Comedian Libby Klysz was our host for the launch, a perfect host for the PLAY issue as she joked around with the audience, played up performers’ introductions, and promised everyone “games … with prizes!”

First cab off the rank was sweet singer-songwriter Caroline J Dale, whose quirky lyrics and gorgeous voice never fail to win over an audience.

Next we had a poem by emerging artist Alex Wolman, who led us on a dark journey through relationships and suicide. Sj Finch came in with the lighter side; the dotdotdash editor and Voiceworks contributor performed a clever and entertaining piece that had the crowd chuckling.

Everyone was pretty engrossed by the performances, but in between-times they had a chance to wander around: looking at the Perth Zine Collective‘s amazing array of hand-made zines; buying copies of the latest Voiceworks issues; and admiring artwork by Western Australian artists Sam Pash and Mel Pearce, whose works have been respectively published in Voiceworks ‘V’ and ‘Play’.

Zinester and Voiceworks contributor Anna Dunnill opened the second bracket of performances with a reading of an intelligently written piece. She was followed up by hip hop poet David Vincent Smith (dvs) who slammed us with a barrage of clever wordplay. Holy shit that guy can poem. dvs was supported by his friend DJ Silence, who mixed sound effects and hip hop beats behind dvs’s poems, adding yet another dimension to the words.

Last, but certainly not least, we were blessed with a performance by the beautiful ‘Ofa Benness. Best known around Perth for fronting her band Odette Mercy & The Soul Atomics, last night ‘Ofa had ditched the band and played a solo set. Performing a mix of singing and spoken word, between songs she chatted with the audience, relating the theme ‘Play’ back to her life and her music. Then ‘Ofa brought the whole venue to a standstill with her breathtaking vocals and wryly beautiful lyrics. I totally have a girl-crush on her.

We wrapped up the night with a pretty raucous game of Heads and Tails, and two happy and highly competitive audience members went home with book prizes kindly donated by Express Media.

Many, many thanks to Mojo’s Bar for being such a welcoming venue, to Libby Klysz for being an entertaining host, and to all the performers for kicking ass. I can’t wait for the next launch.