"Good criticism is a commitment to cultural leadership"

A quick little note today to tell you about some writing I was commissioned to do for my friend Guy Webster's Substack, This Is Not a Review.

Guy is (imho) one of the best critics in Narrm and this collection of reflections on criticism is just a stunning read. Yes, I'm biased, because I did get to contribute to it.

Here's a little snippet of what I wrote for the article:

Today, my feeds are overrun with film bros shitting on Emily Wilson’s review of Nolan’s Odyssey: “Maybe she should just be grateful for what the movie is doing to introduce her favorite subject to people on a massive scale.” As if it’s the role of a critic to be grateful that art gets made, to applaud the artist because they made art. Well, I refuse. Most of your art fucking sucks.

And I get to say that, as someone who sees upwards of 200 shows a year in Narrm. Most of what we make isn’t good enough. It doesn’t live up to what I demand from our artists, from our art forms, and from our stages. I want to see better, and I know you can do it. To call a turd a turd isn’t to say I’m praying for the downfall of our sector, it’s to say (controversially, it seems) that I think our sector might be better off if it wasn’t filled with turds.

Head to Guy's substack to read my bit in full, as well as offerings from four other phenomenal theatre critics writing in Australia today.

Guy is also hosting an informal forum for critics, readers, and theatre makers to discuss the future of theatre criticism, the questions it is asking or should be asking, and the relationships between us.

It's this coming Sunday (16 August) at 7:00pm on Zoom. If you're interested in attending, we'd love to have you along! Here's the zoom link and the password is 639768, just in case you need it.

Hopefully I'll see you on zoom! Otherwise, stay well <3