Recently I've noticed that so many small businesses I encounter are wasting their own marketing efforts and opportunities. I am far from a digital marketing guru. I'm more the traditional kind of marketing person. I view digital marketing as an additional tool in my marketing toolkit. One thing that hasn't changed about marketing, is the fact that it is all about relationship management - if anything our customer relationships are more personal and direct than ever before. I know I’m not saying anything new but clearly, some people need to be reminded.

Time and again I see small businesses creating the essential marketing elements and then leaving each of these elements sitting in isolation and not working together. They may create a Facebook page but it doesn't drive traffic to their website. They might not even have a website. Or they have a website and don't link it to their social media. Or they gather contact details and subscribers to newsletters that never get sent. Frankly - this is just a waste!

Look on your website as your home. This is where you live. This is where, if anyone really wants to get to know you, they can. In your home they find out all there is to know about you which gives them and you, a chance for a really solid relationship.

Your social media is your hangout. It’s the bar or the coffee shop where you catch up, get introduced to new people and make new friends. It’s where you chat and chat up.

Your email newsletter is the invitation you send to the party you are organising at your house.

If all you do is hangout in bars and coffee shops and never take anyone home, how will you take your relationship to the next level?

If you don’t send invitations to your party no one will show up. You’ve gone to all the effort of creating a great party – the foods laid out, the band is warming up, the booze is on ice and the decorations look great – but it’s just you on your Pat Malone!

So the lesson is simple - just like a real human relationship:

Step 1: Create a solid website that informs your customers and makes purchase easy. In other words, create a welcoming home.

Step 2: Utilise social media to chat up new customers and flirt with the regulars. Link the social media to your website and occasionally invite them round to your house (your website) for a coffee (things on your site you want them to see).

Step 3: Send out regular invites (newsletters), once a month or so to hold a big party and invite them home through your newsletter, which links them to pages on your website.

If you put those 3 elements to work properly you should create decent relationships with your customers. Of course this doesn’t cover the importance of brand and brand personality, customer service and how you treat people and it doesn’t cover the product that you are offering and whether or not it’s satisfying. But in terms of the basics, and assuming you’ve got the rest right, please don’t waste your marketing opportunities.

Get out and socialise, invite people to your home and create some great relationships. Website, social media, email marketing – they work best together – not in isolation.

In my last post I wrote about self-transformation and talked a lot about dreams coming true. In this post I attempt to document the process of how I make my dreams come true in a no nonsense way that may or may not be helpful!

1. Identify your dreams

The first and most important step of all is to decide what your dreams are. I went through a period after I had my kids where I really didn’t know what my future would hold for me except for my family and a desire to keep travelling. I felt empty. I was told to follow my passion but I didn’t think I had any.

Probably one of the best questions to ask yourself if you are unsure what it is that you are passionate about is this: What do you do when you have nothing to do? What is it that you fall back on? What fills up your life and brings you joy?

For me, it was reading and writing. I have always been a voracious reader and I have always kept a journal. I used to work in magazine publishing. It had never occurred to me to write fiction. Once I decided to start a creative writing course my whole world opened up and my new dreams were obvious.

2. Be sure you want your dreams to come true

Lots of people are just happy dreaming. And that’s ok. So step 2 is deciding which dreams you want to turn into reality. When I was young I used to want to be a famous singer but I never took the steps to learn singing or to perform in public. Years later, when I was living in London, the owner of a recording studio wanted me to do a demo recording and I refused. Complete fear of failure. I didn’t want to know that I wasn’t any good – even though the opposite may have been true. The dreams worth having are the dreams you are prepared to do the work for – to put yourself on the line for. Before success is hard work.

3. Baby steps and patience

So you’ve worked out what your dreams are and you’ve narrowed the list down to the ones that you actually really are prepared to work for. It won’t happen overnight. In fact, it is bound to happen a lot slower than you realise and take a lot more work than you bargained for. So take baby steps every day. Be super patient. If you know that you are doing all you can within the confines of the logistics of your life, then trust the universe to do its part.

4. Behave as if your dream has already come true

This is the visioning part. The thing that keeps you motivated. Things you can do to help keep the dream vital include:

Keep a journal and write down every day what you have done to make your dream a reality.Vision board your dream.Behave as if the dream has already come true. Eg I need to create an author’s page on social media even though I am yet to be published.Prepare your life for the dream.

That last point is really important. I remember before I met Mr Right (who was one of my dreams). I was chronically single, living at Bondi Beach and living a life the Sex in the City girls would be proud of. I never had any time. I was so busy. I felt like I was never alone and yet I lived alone! There was no room in my life for Mr Right. Where would he fit? It was a massive realisation.

What I did next was really interesting and very powerful. I sat down and worked out why I wanted a partner. I really drilled down and I found that, like everyone, it was to experience and share love. I then identified that I already had love in my life. I had a loving family and lots of friends. I decided to publicly acknowledge that love and I held a big party in a park in Bondi. It was billed as a celebration of friendship. Everyone was encouraged to bring along a friend that was important to them. It was almost like I was marrying myself. I realised that my world was full of love and that place of deprivation that I had felt disappeared. I met my husband not 2 months later.

5. Be prepared to work for it

OK. So we’ve got our dream, we’re visioning it, we’re making room for it in our lives and we’re trying to be patient. Now comes the hard bit. You have to keep working toward the goal. Don’t give up. Learn the lessons, take the advice, put yourself out there, take the risks. It’s ok not to be an expert. It’s all right to ask for help. Keep plugging away. It doesn’t have to take over the rest of your life but do something every day – or most days anyway – be answerable to your journal. Even if you only spend 30 minutes each day on doing something that takes you a step closer.

6. Acknowledge your advances

Each time you reach a milestone be sure to acknowledge it. You may not have reached the end goal but you’re on the way. Celebrate each little achievement. It’s an important part of the process.

7. Beware comparisons

This one is really hard. Social media opens us up to the dangers of constant comparison. It’s good to take inspiration from others doing what we wish to be doing but remember that we are all unique. No-one is as good at being you as you are. There is room in the world for us all to reach our potential and do what we want to do. I recently visited another writer’s website and spent the whole time crying my eyes out. I realised a few things – she was doing exactly what I wanted to be doing and she was doing it so well. The bar was set high. At the same time, it felt like I’d found my tribe and that I was definitely on the right path. I contacted her via Facebook and told her. She wrote back and told me about her own doubts and how long she’d been working toward her goals. Bit by bit by bit over a long time. There really is no such thing as overnight success.

8. Tackle your doubt

You will doubt yourself. Don’t listen to the naysayers. Take a look at how far you’ve come and give yourself a pat on the back. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Find your tribe and support each other. Read back over your journals, look at your vision board and remind yourself about why you’re doing what you’re doing.

9. Keep checking in

I am one of those weird people who really loves New Year’s Eve. Not for parties. I love it because I use it as a time to check in with my life and make plans to adjust it where necessary, in order to become the best version of myself – which is always my end goal. And dreams can change too – so check in with yourself regularly to ensure you are on the path you want to be. It’s your life. Live it the way you want to. Take the time to self-reflect.

10. Be flexible

It’s guaranteed that it won’t work out exactly as you’ve planned it. Go with the flow. Trust the Universe. Don’t be a control freak. Breathe. Keep some space in your life for balance and bend like the willow!

Books that helped me in my journey were, among many others, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Desire Map and Firestarter Sessions by Danielle Laporte. Good luck and happy manifesting!

I am a firm believer in the concept of creating your own reality. Looking back on my life I can see so clearly how I made all my dreams come true. But what happens after that? What do you do if all your dreams come true? Of course a lot depends on what your dreams were in the first place.

At age 20 my dreams were superficial and a bit silly:

· musician boyfriend ‘cos it seemed so cool – tick;

· glamorous job in arts and media with travel and celebrities – tick;

· travelling the world – tick;

At age 30 my dreams were very conservative:

· meeting Mr Right (who most definitely wasn’t the muso) – tick;

· having children – tick;

· cute cottage with a pool – tick.

Some would say, and I tend to agree, that my dreams were a bit boring and that maybe I didn’t aim high enough but remember, your dreams change as you grow. Some of my dreams took me a long time to manifest – I didn’t have my first child until I was 40. When I approached the age of 50, I realised that I no longer had any dreams that were about me. My dreams had become all about my family.

There’s nothing wrong with having dreams for your family, but I’m not dead yet. I looked around and realised that I no longer knew who I was and what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Turning 50 will do that to a person. Also moving around a lot for your husband’s career will inevitably damage your own and I was struggling career wise. I had become a stay-at-home Mum and I wasn’t quite comfortable with that. Until our last move I had always worked part time, even when the kids were small. Part time work really is the best of both worlds but it’s not always possible, despite all the hype about balance and flexibility in the workplace.

Career can be brutally tied up with how we see ourselves in the world and we come a cropper when it becomes our only measuring stick for success. Who we are is so much more than our job but it can be really hard to see that sometimes. For me, my dreams and my career are tied up tightly together. I am aware that I have created a fabulous life for myself, my husband and my kids but without meaningful work outside of the home and economic reward, I don’t feel successful. I feel like I have to justify my existence and constantly battle guilt about not contributing financially. I have the most understanding and supportive husband in the world. These are my feelings, generated by me and backed up by society’s expectations and social media dialogue.

There are lots of reasons why I suddenly found myself unable to find work. They include my age, the fact that I refuse to work full time when I have small children, the massive changes to my industry with the digital age and a geographic location that is known for a tough employment situation plus the fact that I have moved around way too much. It’s now been too long since I worked meaningfully in my field. For the past 5 years I have been going through a very long and painful transformation. I had always worked in marketing and suddenly all anyone wanted me to do was write. Write content. I did get a part time job writing content and it was fabulous practice although I couldn’t see that at the time. All I knew was that I was doing a job that wasn’t in my field of expertise and seemed somehow less than who I saw myself to be. I can see now how it has helped shape me.

I left that writing job for boring child care versus low pay reasons (all Mums will know what I’m talking about) and set myself up as a freelance writer which I have been doing on and off ever since. I have had some absolute doozy let downs during that time though – stuff that wears down your self-confidence and self-belief until you can no longer sell yourself. It felt like every time I tried to do anything other than write, the Universe would slap me back down – so many times that I became punch drunk.

But underneath all that hard, painful stuff something has been growing. For the past year I have been studying creative writing for pleasure and self-exploration and I recently finished my first draft of a middle grade chapter book for kids plus I have 2 picture books ready to submit and loads of ideas for more. Dreams. Remember them?

All my life I have loved books and kept journals. I am a voracious reader. I was the kid who would write cards and have the family crying, the one whose reports always talked about imagination and who always excelled at English. I used to think “gee, wouldn’t it be great to be a famous author,” but I never for one second considered it as something that I could possibly do. I just didn’t even think about it. I don’t know why. It seems so obvious now that I look back, seeking clues.

I am someone who seeks answers, I am self-reflective and look to the bigger picture – the vision. I read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and the ‘oh so simple’ but life altering message that I took from that book was that ‘it’s never too late’. At 50 I had somehow convinced myself that my time was over. That I had to keep being the person I had always been. Do the job I had always done. It was too late to learn anything new. But that’s just not true. That’s just a self-limiting excuse.

I finally worked out what my next lot of dreams are:

· continue travelling the world with my family;

· grow amazing little human beings;

· create a safe haven of a home;

· write fiction and be published;

· create a successful writing business.

Experience tells me that my dreams do come true. Sometimes it takes longer than we wish and it can be painful but it’s always worth it. It’s the agony and the ecstasy of self-transformation. We are all a work in progress in one way or another. If this post resonates with you, just know that you are not alone and that you are stronger than you think. Also, some of us, like good wine, are better the older we get! Trust the Universe – she’s got your back.

Recently I attended my first ever Live Theatre on Screen event with my husband. For those that don’t know, Live Theatre on Screen is the broadcast, sometimes live via satellite, of some of the best theatre, opera and dance, to audiences in cinemas all over the world. Live Theatre on Screen really began as National Theatre Live or NT Live but quickly spread to include other theatre, opera and dance companies in Britain and Russia. Currently you can see National Theatre Live or NT Live, Stage Russia, Bolshoi Ballet, Palace Opera & Ballet, Globe on Screen and Royal Shakespeare Company.

My husband and I are irregular theatre goers these days. Kids and budgets tend to limit our attendance and demand mainstream cinema. On this day however, the kids were with Grandma and we were off to Riverside Theatres to see Saint Joan by the Donmar Theatre in London on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Parramatta.

We talked about our expectations. The hubby said he wasn’t as excited as he would normally be when attending live theatre and I have to admit, I felt the same. Intellectually I got it. A great way to see some of the best actors on the planet in critically acclaimed productions that you may or may not ever get to see performed live in Sydney. But I wasn’t excited. We wondered about how it might be filmed. Would it be flat – like looking into the “4th wall” or would the camera work be more sophisticated and more as it would be in a film?

The film was presented in one of the smaller theatre spaces at Riverside and there were maybe 20 to 30 people in attendance. It was intimate. The audience appeared to be on the mature side and at a guess, I would say they were all regular theatre goers. I was able to take my red wine in with me and we settled down to see what this Live Theatre on Screen thing was all about. I didn’t even know much about the show I would be seeing.

The previews were unlike what one would normally see in a mainstream cinema. They showcased a whole range of Live Theatre on Screen productions – ballet, opera, theatre and avant garde films you might find it difficult to see presented elsewhere. We were intrigued.

When the film began we found ourselves in the foyer of the Donmar Theatre in London with the excited hubbub of audience members rushing to take their seats (ah – the sound of the missing element of excitement!). The scene was set with the presenter talking of the director and the uniqueness of the space as well as Live Theatre on Screen in general. Now, this is not a review of Saint Joan so I’m not going to regale you with just how amazing this piece of theatre was. How luminous Gemma Arterton was in the lead role and what a joy it was to find ourselves so immersed in a brilliant production. Actually, that last point is absolutely true. We were completely absorbed – almost as much as we would have been if it had been unfolding in front of us.

I’m not going to pretend that the experience is as immediate and enthralling as live theatre but it does come close. And this is the whole point. We needn’t have been worried about the camera work – in fact – in terms of close up action we could see more than we would have if we’d been in the live audience. My husband bemoaned the fact that he couldn’t choose where to look but personally, I enjoyed being able to see all the nuances on the actor’s faces and the details of their costumes. Apparently each individual performance is set up for the best possible camera work and how it is presented on screen becomes part of the director’s expression or interpretation. I later found out that Kenneth Branagh’s Romeo and Juliet was screened in black and white reminiscent of a Fellini film and is a great example of how the Live Theatre on Screen experience can sometimes actually offer more than if you’re sitting in the audience of the theatre.

I’ve since learnt that we were also probably witnessing the best performance of the production because the actors are aware that this will be the show that is recorded for the archives as well as the one with the biggest audience. Live Theatre on Screen is screened all over the world and provides theatre-makers with a truly global audience. It is estimated that Hamlet, starring Benedict Cumberbatch had an audience of 550,000 people in one live broadcast. That’s a hell of an audience and you certainly couldn’t fit that in a theatre!

One of the first things I noticed was how quiet it was. It made me realise how unaware I am of mainstream film soundtracks. There was no background music to aid the senses – just actors on a stage relying on their craft. We soon found ourselves totally immersed in the dramas unfolding on the stage in front of us, just as we would be at live theatre. At the end of the first half we heard the audience clapping and I automatically went to join in before I realised it was a film and I wasn’t really there! The actors would not hear my applause. I stopped myself from clapping but the urge was most definitely there.

When we returned to the theatre after interval, there was an interview with the director which provided great insight to the production and added to our enjoyment of it all. It was like watching the special features on a dvd and something you don’t get in mainstream cinema.

And have I mentioned the quality of the acting? Superb. Again, at the end of the second half I had to fight the urge to applaud and ‘bravo’ the actors taking their curtain call.

We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. We chatted to a few other audience members who said they attend regularly and just love it. We talked about it all the way home. I pointed out to hubby that he watches his rugby league on the tv but still occasionally attends a live game and when we attend a concert by a major artist we end up watching it on the screens anyway because we’re too far away to see properly. How is this different? We discussed whether or not it would encourage non-theatre audiences to attend theatre and whether or not it would replace the theatre experience entirely. I think not. And I suspect that the audiences already attend live theatre and are completely aware of the quality that they are viewing and the opportunity Live Theatre on Screen represents for theatre audiences everywhere. Actually – it’s a bargain. The very highest quality at a fraction of the cost of a live theatrical experience. And when you are viewing that level of quality, the fact that it is not happening right in front of you is barely a concern and something you hardly notice.

Deep down, most parents have a love-hate relationship with school holidays. On the one hand, you get to spend more time with your cherubs and on the other hand keeping them entertained can be a challenge. At our house we seek out experiences and try to keep it balanced with creativity, sport, films, picnics, screen time, family games, play dates, adventures and time to be bored or chilled out. The reason we do this is to stimulate interests, broaden little minds, keep them fit and active and to create memories. This last bit is important. Creating memories for our kids is a genuine, sacred privilege. Think about the things you remember from your childhood and consider for a moment what memories you are creating for your children or grandchildren. Create these memories mindfully and you can truly give a gift of joy.

If you are in or around Sydney during the forthcoming Sept/Oct school holidays then you are absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to exciting activities for kids that will build lasting memories. One of the highlights would have to be the Spot On Children’s Festival at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta. The festival runs from 27th Sept til 2nd Oct and is a veritable feast of memory making opportunities for the discerning parent or grandparent. The hardest part will be selecting which performances and activities to enjoy. There are movies, workshops, playgrounds, musical performances and of course, some of the best children’s theatre available anywhere. If you only have time to attend one performance however, then make sure that you don’t miss The Young King by the internationally acclaimed South Australian theatre company Slingsby.

Here are 10 good reasons why you and your kids shouldn’t miss The Young King.

1. . Slingsby has a reputation for producing original, emotionally complex, whimsical theatre that appeals to children and adults alike. They are multi-award winning and internationally recognised.

2. Oscar Wilde wrote the original story. Playwright Nicki Bloom has adapted Wilde’s The Young King, originally part of his collection of short stories, A House of Pomegranates, and delivers a tale that remains true to the beauty of Wilde’s language and themes, making it accessible and interactive at the same time.

3. The stage-craft is magical. Slingsby’s creative team have utilised shadow puppetry, sound effects, music and innovative set design to beautiful effect. The result is highly evocative and fascinating to watch unfold. It’s clever and simple at the same time and keeps the audience totally engrossed.

4. The actors are really good at what they do. Tim Overton and Jacqy Phillips are superb. Tim is a very likeable Young King that audiences can relate to – making his lessons our own. Jacqy’s ability to create characters as diverse as the grumpy old king and the gentleness of a young mother is a study in acting skills.

5. It delivers universal messages that are still relevant today. The philosophical themes of the story include self-transformation, death and loss, new beginnings, leadership, avarice, beauty, nature and compassion.

6. The language is beautiful. Nicki Bloom has retained much of Wilde’s original text which pierces the philosophical truths that are explored with luscious evocative language throughout. One of my favourites is “Shall joy wear what grief has fashioned?”.

7. You will enjoy it as much as the kids. This is a shared experience that has as much to give you as it does to the kids. It unfolds for you just as magically and mysteriously and keeps on giving with plenty to talk about afterward. You won’t find yourself looking at your watch during this one.

8. There is no sex or bad language! This is completely appropriate, brain-enhancing, gorgeous entertainment that won’t surprise you with a sex scene half way through or be peppered with language you’d rather your kids not hear. I can’t tell you how many movies we’ve got half way through before my 9 and 10 year old are screaming in disgust and hiding their faces while I grapple for the remote to frantically fast forward the unexpected sex scene.

9. It’s just a really good story told brilliantly. The story reminded me a little of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in terms of the transformation of the Young King. It has that spooky element that the kids will love but it’s not scary. There’s both light and shade and it’s all very human and relatable. We can easily see ourselves as the Young King. We know that in our hearts we carry the same traits but would we make the same choices he does? What sort of a king or leader would we make? It leaves us with plenty to think about and debate with the kids on the way home.

10. And finally, it’s a whole lot of fun. This is a really critical point – this is the part that creates memories. Young and old are encouraged to craft their own crown before the show. The audience are given parts to play and lines to speak. This interactive component really engages the audience, brings out the inner child in the adults and delights the children. There are stories of some grown-ups becoming super competitive about the design of their crowns much to the amusement of on-lookers. The act of crafting with your kids and then wearing your own creation in such a public setting is not something you do every day and it adds more than a touch of magic to the experience – it’s something you will all remember with shared amusement and delight.

So there you have it. Ten good reasons why you shouldn’t miss this one. And I’m guessing that once you’ve ventured to Riverside to see this excellent show you will be inspired to see more. While you’re there, the kids can explore the free playground and activities in the courtyard and around the foyer. It’s located on Church Street in Parramatta which is surrounded by a large number of restaurants and cafes so you can have an easy lunch or dinner with the kids. This is a memory making opportunity that will bring joy to the hearts of the whole family for a good while to come.

The more we learn about health and nutrition the more we realise that unprocessed choices are better for our health and the health of our families. But we’re all so busy these days that the lure of a jar of sauce mix to throw on meat and vegetables can be pretty tempting at times. There is such a wide range of choices, it’s fast and easy and it’s generally economical. But is it healthy?

The answer to that is ‘not really’. Generally these sauces are filled with preservatives, artificial flavours and colours, high in salt, fat and sugar. Finding one that isn’t can be tricky, and reading all those labels can stretch a quick stop at the supermarket into a long research trip. There is an alternative option however, that is unprocessed but still fast, easy and economical and most importantly – healthy and very tasty.

This new middle ground is the option to purchase spice mixes or dinner packs that take away the onerous task of hunting down a myriad of spices and ingredients. Simply follow the instructions, add your choice of meat, fish, poultry and vegetables and dinner is done. Someone else has done all the hard work for you. You know it’s healthy because you can see each individual ingredient.

There are a few home delivery options that cater to this way of doing things, but if you are anything like me, you prefer to keep at least the illusion of creativity and choice in your cooking. I haven’t tried the home delivery options because I don’t want to commit to a week’s worth of food with someone else’s recipes. What I prefer instead is the option to purchase a dinner pack or two to keep on hand for busy nights.

You can pick up spice mixes from the supermarket, at good deli’s and sometimes at farmer’s markets or through specialist online suppliers. They are an ideal addition to your pantry because you can purchase as many or as few as I you like and they are there when you need them. The dinner pack range from Simply Stirred includes spice mixes from all over the globe. If you fancy Asian, they’ve got you covered – or perhaps a bit of Eastern European food is more your preference, or Greek, Indian or Moroccan. I’m working my way through the entire range and my family is loving it!

Using these spice mixes as the basis for my meals means that I simply choose what kind of meat I’m going to use, add the spice mixes and vegetables and we’re done. The result is healthy, unprocessed and authentic in flavour in a way that I would not be able to achieve if I were to mix the spices myself. All the hard work has been done for me. We sometimes add one of the cous cous or rice packs that Simply Stirred offer as well, for a complete meal with a special occasion feel to it.

The best thing about the products from Simply Stirred though is the fact that they contain no artificial anything, some of them are even gluten free and I know that what I’m feeding to my family is healthy and full of flavour. It’s convenient because I can order them online and fantastic for those busy nights that occur all too frequently.

The world seems to be exploding in a frenzy of politics at the moment. Everywhere you look there is a political dilemma of one kind or another - be it the horror of the possibility of Trump as President, the Brexit fiasco or our own recent election chaos. All of which provides juicy fodder for the satirists among us. According to my Google dictionary, satire is defined as “the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues”. Satire is synonymous with mockery, ridicule and scorn, which doesn’t sound very nice and begs the question, is it necessary?

Of course one person’s satire is another person’s insult. It is meant to hold up those in power to scrutiny, to challenge our perceptions and question morality. As a result it can be dangerous and subject satirists to reprisals, as was the very sad case at Charlie Hebdo. And this is why it’s so necessary to a fully functioning, successful, democratic and free society. Satire is all about free speech - the freedom to challenge those in power, to say the unsayable, to get it all out in the open, to examine and test and maintain our rights. After all, there are places in our world where satire is not welcome, where speaking out against the regime can have you killed or imprisoned. Fortunately for us here in Australia we are still allowed to speak out, unless of course you happen to work in an off-shore detention centre, which just goes to prove that even we are not immune to losing our freedom of speech.

Good satire can be very funny – there’s a sense of laughing not just at those in power, but also at yourself and what you believe in. As an art form it tends to preach to the converted – those who are laughing are already believers and those who aren’t believers will find it silly or offensive and for this reason, satire will never really change society. It’s unlikely that satire will change the viewer’s mind. All it does is maintain freedom of speech and of course, entertain us. According to Stephen Harrington in a recent article in The Conversation, the rise in popularity of satire as an art form is partly due to a perception that traditional journalism and media are not holding the powers that be to account. There is little balanced view and even programs like the ABC’s The Chaser have lost their originality. The most visible satire in Australia is via political cartoons in the daily papers and in fact, the annual Behind the Lines exhibition presented by the Museum of Australian Democracy celebrates this tradition and is highly recommended. Cartoonists are like the quiet achievers in terms of satire and presenting views that challenge the status quo.

When talking about satire though, and especially in the performing arts, you can’t go past The Wharf Revue, showing at Riverside from 31 August to 3 September. It always has something for just about everybody, no matter which side of the political spectrum you fall on. And this is where The Wharf Revue is really very clever. It won’t matter who you voted for on July 2 this year, you will find this show hilariously funny because it satirises both sides of the political fence. No-one is left unscathed and freedom of speech is most definitely on display.

The Wharf Revue is one of my favourite theatrical shows and I try to see it every year. The incredible talent and wit of Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott always astound me. Every year for 16 years they have been producing this show for the Sydney Theatre Company and I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch the creative process as they write and produce it. Who can forget their wickedly funny portrayal of the poor old Australian Democrats with their high pants, longs socks and sandals and jolly enthusiasm? Or Drew Forsythe as Pauline Hanson – I wonder if she’ll get another showing this year? I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with Malcolm Turnbull and I’m guessing that Donald Trump may get a look in as well. After all, how could they resist? I’ll miss Joolya – Amanda Bishop was brilliant as Julia Gillard but I suspect that this year they will be spoilt for choice. If other years are anything to go by, there will be biting, cutting wit interspersed with frothy bubbles of silliness and a backdrop of very clever song. The Wharf Revue is intelligent comedy and we’re very lucky to have the freedom to enjoy it.

Sources: http://theconversation.com/now-youre-laughing-the-unhappy-state-of-australias-political-satire-61742

The first time I ever took a real interest in Frank Sinatra was when I was working in magazine publishing, hanging out with a bunch of single ladies – we worked hard and we played hard – think Sex and the City before it was invented. Each Christmas we would endeavour to outdo each other with hip gifts that didn’t break the bank. It was when I was searching for such a gift that I came across my Rat Pack Christmas cd featuring Christmassy standards crooned by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr. I bought one for everyone and even myself at the great cost of $2 each. That cd is now one of my personal traditions. Each Christmas, as we decorate the tree the Rat Pack croons our favourite Christmas tunes and my kids love it as much as I do. It wouldn’t be Christmas without Frank, Dean and Sammy. I didn’t grow up with them but I discovered the joy of their talent myself and even played some Frank and Dean at my wedding reception.

Frank Sinatra and Tom Burlinson collided for me on my first wedding anniversary. We were staying at the 5 star hotel we had spent our wedding night at and my husband took me to see Tom Burlinson performing his Sinatra show at the Star Casino after an early dinner at Aria Restaurant. (Those were the days!!) It was a magical show, transporting us all back in time to someplace glamorous – plus I was madly in love – that performance holds a special place in my heart.

So what is it with Tom Burlinson and Frank Sinatra? Why was Frank Sinatra seen as such a hip dude and how come an actor as talented as Tom Burlinson performs in a Sinatra tribute show? The answers lie in their similarities. Just like Sinatra, Burlinson is a complete entertainer who exudes true class but does it all with a twinkle in his eye – it’s old world charm and bucket loads of talent. Vocally, Burlinson nails Sinatra like no other. Sinatra’s own daughter, Tina Sinatra chose Burlinson as the singing voice for the young Sinatra in her 1992 Emmy and Golden Globe award winning mini-series of her father’s life, Sinatra. It’s just not possible to get a better recommendation than that!

Frank Sinatra was the first real teen idol. His persona of bad boy with vulnerability had men wanting to be him and women wanting to tame him. In the world of big swing bands, Sinatra was the first real lead singer – audiences wanted more of him than they did of the band leader/conductor, which is what led him to his incredibly long and successful solo career. His image was one of contrasts – smooth confident playboy against vulnerable, caring charity worker. He liked to spend time with the super stars of his day and was as comfortable with Presidents and Princesses as he was with his drinking buddies and prostitutes. His talent lay with his ability to colloquialise the words and phrasing of his singing and in his often under-estimated vocal range. He was also a good actor, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in From Here to Eternity and a nomination for Best Actor in The Man with the Golden Arm. Add into this mix the mystery of his ‘mob’ connections, good looks and smooth talking and you have a powerful combination. The man was cool with a capital ‘c’.

Tom Burlinson appears to lack the bad boy image somewhat but he makes up for it in sheer talent backed up by his image as the Aussie boy next door (despite the fact he was born in Canada). We first knew Burlinson as an actor, shooting to fame in The Man from Snowy River followed by Phar Lap and we all fell in love with him then. His singing came as a surprise. He had a childhood obsession with Frank Sinatra which led him to audition for the Sinatra mini-series. He didn’t get the part but he was asked to provide the singing voice for a young Sinatra. His career suddenly took on a new direction. Burlinson created Frank – A Life in Song in 1998 which coincided with the death of Sinatra. He has performed versions of this show all over Australia, Canada and even in Sinatra’s home turf of Las Vegas to enormous success – audiences can’t seem to get enough and Burlinson is continually asked to bring his show to festivals and theatres all over the country.

Tom Burlinson is so good at Sinatra because he doesn’t try to be Sinatra. He’s no clone, he remains himself. He is not an impersonator. He sings in the same style with a similar range and understands how to use the orchestra just as Sinatra did. He adds stories about Sinatra and sometimes he adds in Sinatra’s own words or introductions to songs, but it is Burlinson on stage. He is just as entertaining, delivering up the timeless classics that were in Sinatra’s repertoire with the same swagger and joie de vivre (joy of life). When you see Burlinson perform Sinatra it’s like stepping back in time – a time when men wore tuxedos or dinner suits, everyone drank cocktails, the band was an orchestra of incredibly talented musicians and the songs were classic and timeless – destined to continue to attract audiences for generations to come. Thank God that the talented Burlinson is here to keep the Sinatra swing in our lives!

Riverside Theatres is presenting Burlinson’s latest Sinatra offering Sinatra at the Sands which replicates the famous Sinatra album of the same name with some extra hits thrown in for good measure. To celebrate what would have been Sinatra’s 100th birthday this year, they are also presenting a Burlinson-Sinatra Retrospective of award winning films in the lead up to the Sinatra at the Sands performance on September 10. Get your swing on and come see why these guys are such a classy, cool act – trust me, it’s a special night out.

Cooking programs are all the rage – everyone loves a good bit of food porn. I often wonder if this is because we plan on trying out all these fabulous recipes or is it because we simply wish we had the time to. Is it aspirational TV perhaps? Or am I the only Mum in the whole world who quite simply doesn’t have the time to create cooking masterpieces for my family every night? If you’re like me, I’m here to tell you that there is no need to feel like a failure. You can create beautiful food fast by using my number one full proof strategy. It really is very, very simple.

Fill your pantry with high quality, gourmet marinades, dressings and sauces and only ever use the best fresh produce you can afford.

Find yourself products that are low on preservatives, additives and colours – you don’t want to sacrifice health for speed and ease. Look for caramelised balsamic vinegars or flavoured vinegars and oils. Don’t forget marinades and ready-made sauces. Mix it up and be brave. Try new things. Check out what’s available at your local farmers markets or old fashioned delis where you’ll likely be able to try before you buy. And always make sure that your produce is fresh and if you can, organic.

Clever use of good quality products like these have a myriad of advantages including:

They take the hassle out of food preparation. No need to create a marinade, sauce or dressing from scratch.They’re cheaper in the long run because you don’t have to purchase a whole lot of separate ingredients that you may or may not use up or use again.It’s a whole lot faster because the food preparation takes a lot less time. This is handy on week nights when we’re all pushed for time and great when you have guests over because you can relax and enjoy yourself.It creates a consistency of flavour and quality and in my case, it’s likely to taste a whole lot better than anything I could make from scratch!It can make the ordinary, extraordinary, adding a ‘wow’ factor that impresses your family and guests and there’s no need to tell them you didn’t create it all yourself – stay schtum!They last longer than freshly home-made versions which often have a very short shelf-life.Having several different flavour combinations on hand provides a wide variety of choice so you and your family are never bored.Fresh produce, cooked simply with added marinades and salad dressings in a variety of flavour combinations can create a spectacular meal.

In my family, I am known as a good cook but I nearly always use short cuts like these. I’m not into sacrificing hours in the kitchen when I could be enjoying a good glass of wine with my dinner guests. And there are some truly beautiful products on the market. Start building up your pantry stock now and you’ll never regret it.

(This article was written for Simply Stirred and published on their website simplystirred.com.au)

If you could create a soundtrack to your life, what would it sound like? What music did you listen to as a kid, teenager, in different relationships, when you broke up, made up and celebrated? If you were sitting in a nursing home, unable to grasp at your memories, what would the nurse play for you on your personal playlist to help you remember? I began thinking about these questions when I heard about the new rock cabaret from New Zealand, Daffodils, opening at Riverside in May.

Daffodils is an award winning show that is a true love story with an indie rock soundtrack woven into the action, almost as a central character in and of itself. The power of music, its ability to draw out our emotions and its resonance across the years as a soundtrack of memories is at the core of this theatrical experience that features the music of Kiwi greats such as Crowded House, Dave Dobbyn, The Swingers and a host of others from the 1960s to the present day. It’s also a heart aching love story, a tribute to playwright Rochelle Bright’s parents and in particular her father who died when she was a teenager. The songs are Kiwi standards rearranged by Stephanie Brown otherwise known as LIPS, and should be familiar to Aussie audiences. The power of music to evoke memory really got me thinking about my own life, my own personal playlist and what would it sound like if it was the score of a show about me. Somehow I doubt that my soundtrack would be as cool as the soundtrack of Daffodils.

My childhood was spent singing and dancing in the lounge room to the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash – the music of my parents. I recently introduced my 8 year old to the songs of Roy Orbison. He’s not into the love songs but he quite likes Pretty Woman and Working for the Man! It’s interesting to me how our personalised playlist regenerates itself in this way. The music stays with us and creates or enhances new memories.

My early teen years were spent with ABBA and the soundtracks from Fame and Grease. I would dance for hours and sing at the top of my lungs, my head full of dreams of being a famous singer one day. Someone would walk past our door, hear me singing and be amazed at the talent to be found in this tiny seaside suburb of Newcastle, whereupon I would be whisked away to begin my illustrious career as a genuine popstar. Surprisingly it never happened.

The latter years of high school were filled with KISS, Duran Duran, Adam Ant, The Church, Split Enz, Australian Crawl and INXS – a weird hybrid mix of the New Romantics, iconic Aussie/NZ Rock and heavy metal. Screaming at rock concerts, playing at being a groupie (I met a few musos but I was too much of a ‘good girl’ to ever be a real groupie) and saving my pennies to buy the next album. I trawled the op shops for second hand clothes to express my ‘individuality’, hung out with my girlfriends and dreamt of marrying a pop star and working in a glamorous job one day. Surprisingly that didn’t happen either.

That was all background music to growing up. The real soundtrack began at university when I discovered sex and the pain of love. Now it was The Cure, Prince, Madonna, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Yazz and Bananarama. Dancing exuberantly to The Only Way is Up still gives me goose bumps with memories of my first love, nightclubs, drama school and partying hard. My boyfriend was in an INXS cover band and there is not one INXS song that doesn’t send me right back there – I know every song, every word, every sax solo and riff. Then after 6 years he broke my heart and I cried all the way home from the airport howling along with Wendy Matthews singing The Day You Went Away.

Years of being single, travelling the world as a backpacker and finding my feet career-wise make me remember anthems like Hunters & Collectors’ Throw Your Arms Around Me, Cream by Prince and Charlie’s Song by The Whitlams. Meeting my husband and dancing to Woman with Soul by The Cruel Sea, seeing PJ Harvey rip it up at the Enmore before we had our kids and dancing 9 months pregnant at a Ben Lee concert. You get the idea. (It could go on and on but you don’t really need to hear about the Wiggles after we had the kids).

Love, heart ache, pain, joy, lust can all be evoked through music and memory and Daffodils does it brilliantly. We all have our stories and our own special songs. Songs that make us cry or fill us with euphoria. Songs that make us sad and songs that turn us on. Daffodils is a very personal look inside someone else’s story and songs, their love, their sadness, their misunderstandings, their pain – an exploration undertaken by a daughter attempting to understand her parents. It becomes a powerfully shared experience because their songs will tug at you too and it will move you to tears and leave you gushing. It’s intimate, nostalgic, heart wrenching and very, very special – don’t miss it.

(This article was written for Riverside Theatres and published on their website riversideparramatta.com.au)

There once was a man who was big. Big in stature, big in personality and big in genius. He wore big, round yellow glasses and smoked a lot. His name was John Pinder and he is widely acknowledged as the father of Australian comedy.

I had the privilege of working with John on the 2005 Big Laugh Comedy Festival at Riverside Theatres and the first national tour of The Goodies – Live on Stage. The Big Laugh Comedy Festival ran from 2001 to 2007 and was the forerunner and blueprint for the Sydney Comedy Festival. Pinder was the Artistic Director and he drove me crazy. As the Marketing Manager I had to somehow find a way to gather all the intel from John’s brain and put it into a form that would communicate to the audience, sell tickets and meet his high expectations of comedy. It is still one of the highlights of my career and I will never forget his intense passion and insane genius (or the late nights!).

John was originally from New Zealand but made Australia his home. He grew up with an interest in circus and the kind of comedy found on The Goon Show. He cofounded Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Circus Oz and The World’s Funniest Island. He worked as a consultant on Steve Vizard’s Tonight Live show and at the Comedy Channel and he produced an incredible number of comedy shows touring them to international comedy festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe.

He understood comedy like no other and could always see the next big thing even if it was a revival. He would mentor and champion young comedians and producers and passionately push their careers along. The list of names that have acknowledged his profound influence on their lives and careers is long and impressive and includes people such as: Wendy Harmer, Rove McManus, Mary-Ann Fahey, Richard Stubbs, Ian McFadyen, Peter Moon, Jane Turner and comedy producer Chris McDonald, just to mention a few. It is not an exaggeration to say that most of the big names in Australian comedy today are where they are because of him in one way or another.

And he knew everyone in the comedy business – from the biggest international stars to the bright eyed kids who were just dreaming. He understood the personalities behind the comedy and he knew how to get the best from them and support them at the same time. He was the brains behind the revivals of The Goodies and Aunty Jack and their subsequent national tours. The audience members didn’t know about him but he was the man behind the scenes who made us all laugh and who kept comedy developing.

The big man became ill and passed away last year, but he is unforgettable. There is an exhibition on at Riverside Theatres at the moment that John loved. It’s called Behind the Lines and it features the best political cartoons of 2015. It’s the only place in Sydney that you can view it and it travels annually from the Museum of Australian Democracy in Canberra. It was always a part of the old Big Laugh Comedy Festival and is a fabulous combination of art and comedy for those who like their politics and current affairs. Satire at its best, it is an annual round-up of global and local events that have shaped our lives through controversial cartoons that test the boundaries of freedom of speech. It is a privilege to be able to see it locally and John understood and championed that.

In association with the exhibition there will be a special event presented by Riverside and the Whitlam Institute called Pinder’s Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Pencil. Pinder’s Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Pencil will feature the hilarious and thought provoking comedian Dan Ilic (a friend of John’s) discussing and exploring the exhibition with the talented cartoonist Jon Kudelka. It will be a fascinating and very funny evening. Riverside Theatres has decided to honour his memory by naming this event after John Pinder in a manner that he would appreciate. Naming this event after him brings with it an expectation of, and a commitment to, the highest quality comedy. So this is one “poke in the eye” you definitely shouldn’t miss! John won’t – he’ll be up there sharpening his pencil!

Recently we celebrated International Women’s Day and it got me thinking about how women share their stories. How do we communicate our struggles or our joys, how do we celebrate womanhood and all that it entails? I believe quite strongly that it is through the arts and culture that our society learns about itself. Society is full of great role models for women although they are not always recognised. Gender inequality means that great women are often criticised rather than celebrated. Look around you though and you will find talented, strong women everywhere - women who can inspire others or who are trying to change the world and women who are at the top of their field showing others that it can be done.

The performing arts is a great place to find these women because it’s a place where stories are told. These stories help us to explore our collective future as women and to educate ourselves and younger women in what it means to be a woman. One look at the forthcoming program at Riverside Theatres Parramatta provides a little insight and an opportunity for us all. From 1 April to the end of the first week of May there is an astounding number of fabulous female performers and/or their stories that are worthy of our attention. Theatre, film, music, dance and even public debate are all represented. The talented women presented in the program have a lot to teach us if only we would open our eyes and our hearts to hear their stories and celebrate in their art.

Take Rafeef Ziadah, a Palestinian spoken word artist and political poet. I hadn’t heard of her until I read about her on the Riverside website. I watched a video of her performance and cried. I sat at my computer and looked at this strong, passionate woman and really heard her story. I humbly acknowledged my own hypocrisy in being a participant in the ways of the modern western media and accepted how I contribute to the plight of her people. She brings to our attention the humanity that is suffering, as only a woman can. Her performance of This is Life, Sir, at Riverside, is a one-off – the only opportunity you are likely to get to see this incredible woman perform. It will be powerful, intimate, confronting and thought provoking. She uses the power of her words and emotions to penetrate her audience, casting a light into the corners of their own lives and beliefs. Be brave and step into this woman’s world – don’t avoid it because it’s painful or non-escapist – be there and let her see that she is making a difference.

Bringing the politics closer to home, there’s an opportunity to participate in a public debate and panel discussion about equality. What a fabulous way to open the eyes of young women to the reality around them that they may not yet perceive or understand. Inequality will inevitably affect their lives in ways that they won’t believe as yet. Labor Senator, Jenny McAllister will be part of a panel of experts in a Behind the Lines Special Event presented by The Whitlam Institute titled It’s My Party. We should all get out there and talk about this stuff – it’s super important. No one can hear us yelling at the TV in front of Q&A – (or is that just me?) It’s wonderful that this kind of public debate is available to all of us to participate in – in many countries it’s not, and so we shouldn’t take it for granted.

Leaving politics aside for the moment though, we are all individuals struggling with our own stuff. Theatre can have a cathartic effect on an audience through resonance and identification. We see parts of ourselves in the stories told, we empathise, emote and leave the theatre different to how we entered it. Riverside Theatre’s resident theatre company, National Theatre of Parramatta is launching itself in April with Swallow, written by Olivier Award-winning playwright Stef Smith and directed by Kate Champion, formerly of Force Majeure. This story of three women and the challenges they face in their lives with themes of vulnerability, identity, guilt, heartbreak and self-destruction will strike a chord within us all and is a brilliant way to showcase this exciting new theatre company. This is a female story for the modern world, an emotional journey that will have you cringing and laughing at the same time and perhaps rethinking your own life.

But if it all sounds too serious and you just want to celebrate being a fabulous woman or to appreciate other fabulous women, then there’s something for you to enjoy too. The award winning Jersey Boys star, Michael Griffiths, presents a funny and strangely moving performance that celebrates the music, talent, personalities and lives of two of my favourite female performers – Madonna and Annie Lennox. This cheeky and very talented cabaret artist will have you rediscovering these great women and seeing them in a completely different light. His pared down performances tend to shed a light on the women behind the celebrity and expose the beauty of the music and the meaning behind the lyrics. If you were a fan of either of these incredible women, don’t miss it.

Then there are the musical performances by luminous Australian talented women like the composer Elena Kats-Chernin and the pianist Tamara-Anna Cislowska in Butterflying or flautist Jane Rutter performing with Teddy Tahu Rhodes in Classical Heroes and the Art of Seduction. These women have international reputations and are incredibly successful. Elena Kats-Chernin is one of only a handful of successful contemporary classical composers who mostly tend to be male. She’s at the top of her game and a brilliant pianist to boot. Immerse yourself in the talent and energy of these women – let their dedication to their art inspire you or a younger woman you may know, who needs encouragement.

Finally, at the beginning of May, Riverside presents a double bill of solo performances by two of Australia’s foremost contemporary flamenco dancers - Bush Bailando with Pepa Molina and Forge with Annalouise Paul with music by Amanda Handel. These women use the traditional Spanish form of dance to explore their heritage and identity and forge ahead with new sounds and movements that completely re-invigorate flamenco.

Exploring the program over just one month at Riverside Theatres through the prism of women and their stories was a bit of a revelation. I’m sure these examples can be found all year round and in all sorts of places. We just have to see them and celebrate them. It took International Women’s Day for me to open my eyes, to realise that strong, talented, inspirational women are all around me every day. The women we walk past in the street all have a story to tell. If we had the time to stop and talk to them all, to really know them, we would be amazed. In the meantime, we’ll have to settle for the public stories available to us at places like Riverside Theatres.

(This story was written for Riverside Theatres and published on their website riversideparramatta.com.au. A revised version was also published in the Western Sydney Business Access Issue 60 April 2016).

I spent International Women’s Day baking up a storm in my kitchen – mostly for my kids and my husband – because I can. It was on my to-do list which reads a bit like this:

Bake cookies for after school snacks but make sure they are low in sugar;Cook baby quiches for school lunches so my kids don’t die of boredom;Make sauerkraut so we get all that lovely fermented goodness into our tummies;Call the builder about the tiles for the new bathroom;Pay the bills;Write 2 new blogs for clients;Grocery shopping (this is on my list every single day).

Readers of my last blog will know that I recently left my job and decided to become a domestic goddess – hence the baking. So far it’s been a fascinating experience and I’m loving it. About the time I made the decision to leave my job (if you missed why – read the last blog) – I was listening to a podcast containing the dulcet tones of the fabulous Danielle LaPorte – a Canadian kick arse woman of super powers who I highly recommend – particularly if you are a woman. Danielle told me to decide exactly how much I wanted to earn and how. To write it down and declare it to the universe. So I did. I kept it simple and I’m not greedy. You could blow me down with a feather when within 2 days I had been approached by 2 different clients to write for them on a semi-regular basis. It’s exactly what I asked for and it makes me very happy. Knowing what it is you really want seems to be the key to success.

But it’s not just my little bit of freelance work that is keeping me happy – it’s the space and time that I have to support my family and myself. I am watching my children benefit from my extra space and time right now with things like improvements in maths, extra sport, healthier food, long deep conversations and curling up to watch movies together. And I am healthier and happier – less grumpy and tired and certainly more fulfilled.

I am a raging feminist. And I am in no way afraid of that word – in fact, I’m bloody proud of it. Women fought for equality – they fought for choice – they didn’t fight to increase their workload and responsibilities by more than double the men in their lives. We didn’t fight to give up motherhood or to become nasty work obsessed automatons for some greedy corporate organisation. We fought so that we would be considered equals. We fought for the choices that work for us.

In my life I made a choice quite late in my child bearing years that I wanted a family. I had to fight my biology to have that family. In the process I lost my bankability as a corporate worker but I don’t personally regret that for one tiny second – I do regret that the world we currently live in makes that the case though. And I am absolutely DONE with guilt because I don’t earn “enough” money. I have wasted years feeling guilty because I wasn’t working full time. How stupid. I hope the time might be coming when women and men can value the work that gets done at home and in raising children. I think that women have so much more to offer our workplaces than replicating the behaviours of the male leaders who have gone before. A successful future for all of us is in embracing the feminine as well as the masculine in every area of our lives.

So let the guilt go sister and be proud of all that you do for your family whether you work or not, and for the time you spend becoming the best version of yourself.

A friend of mine invited me to attend the forthcoming production of Wuthering Heights at Riverside Theatres with them recently and I got very excited. Of course it had nothing to do with the oh-so-very sexy looking Heathcliff (played by Ross Balbuziente) in the advertising…..It’s all about the literature darling…..

Truly though – it really is all about the literature or more accurately the stage adaptation of a favourite novel. We see a lot of screen adaptations of literary novels but not as many theatrical productions. This is because adapting a novel to the stage can be a very difficult process and some are much more successful than others.

The most obvious success stories are the big musicals like Les Misérables and Wicked. I think people often forget that Wicked was firstly a novel by Gregory Maguire before it was developed into a highly successful stage musical. Children’s theatre is filled with adaptations of books to the stage – think The Very Hungry Caterpillar or David Walliams’ Mr Stink. Generally speaking it’s easier to adapt a children’s book to the stage than it is a major work of literary fiction. But the adaptation process creates a whole new beast and necessarily so. The primary difference between a novel and a stage play is that a novel is a private pleasure, there is space to verbalise motivation and complex emotions. A stage play on the other hand is a communal, live experience and it is this live experience of motivations, plot and emotions that creates a new and different version of the work being adapted. It’s an opportunity to explore your favourite characters at close hand and in the flesh so to speak, and to be a witness to another person’s creative vision of the work.

There have been a number of adaptations of note over recent years. The Sydney Theatre Company’s adaptation of Kate Grenville’s The Secret River had some purists upset over missed elements from the novel but is considered an essential addition to the national cultural identity. The National Theatre’s adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was an excellent production and a superb way to experience the real Frankenstein as Shelley meant it to be. Animal Farm by George Orwell was adapted by shake & stir Theatre Company, as was 1984. Both productions were critically acclaimed and toured the country. Now the shake & stir Theatre Company who hail from Brisbane are touring Wuthering Heights, giving us all a chance to see these master adaptors at work.

shake & stir specialise in works for education so if you happen to be studying Wuthering Heights or know someone who is, or you just love the book, or you’ve always wondered what the fuss was about, don’t miss this opportunity to see it live. And what’s not to love! A gothic story of passion, obsession, revenge and heartbreak. The production has been hailed as sexy, evocative, thrilling and visually stunning. Quite frankly I can’t wait!

Wuthering Heights as a work within itself is still relevant to today’s contemporary audiences/readers. It was relatively unsuccessful when it was written, as it didn’t appeal to the usual Gothic Victorian sensibilities. Emily Brontë’s characters were seen as too wild, too passionate to be taken seriously. The text makes great use of symbolism and the supernatural which lends a spooky flavour to the whole. It also tends to be a psychological drama and should not be put down as a simple romantic novel. It explores a host of themes that include elements of child abuse, alcoholism, revenge, isolation, nature, the role of women in 19th Century society and of course, love. It will be interesting to see the stagecraft of the play, to see how these themes and elements are portrayed and communicated to the audience.

Of course seeing the play should not take the place of reading the book, but the exploration of another person’s creative vision of the work can offer insight, enjoyment and deeper understanding of the text and there have been studies to prove it. To be in the same room as all that heartbreak, anger and passion can only enhance our experience of the written work. This young and contemporary theatre company produce energetic works that appeal to teenagers and young adults and Wuthering Heights will be no exception.

And of course there’s always – Heathcliff……sexy as……..

(This article was written for Riverside Theatres and published on their website riversideparramatta.com.au)

Until last week I had a job 2 days per week as a digital content writer, working one day per week in the office and one day from home. I am a mum with 2 primary school aged kids. I have a colourful, successful career background. My job didn’t pay well but it was enough to make a difference for my little family, kept my hand in and I was enjoying the writing.

A few changes went down at work and suddenly (through no fault of my own), I was told that I could no longer work from home and it wasn’t really negotiable. As much as I wanted to keep my job it had become financially nonviable. Once I’d paid for extra childcare and petrol, my small wage hardly seemed worth the effort. Such an old and common story. How sad.

I am by no means alone. I am shocked and appalled at the talent that I see sitting at home - other mums who would love to work but just can’t seem to make it happen – and I’m talking truly talented women who had shining, bright careers before they had kids. I keep waiting for this amazing flexible work culture to show up but it never does – at least not where I live. Where are the smart employers who are clever enough to take advantage of this incredible pool of talent? Only 59% of women participate in the work force in Australia but I’ll bet more of them would if they could find work flexible enough. It’s kind of a choice we make – stay in the male dominated corporate world where you have to make major sacrifices in terms of family or get off that merry-go-round and become unemployable. The small business world is full of women like me who have had no other choice but to create work on their own terms. Party plan or network selling is all the rage – a kind of strange inter-connected support network of women selling products to other women because they can do so in the hours that suit them – mostly. I’m just not passionate enough about any of the products that sell that way to seriously consider that as an option.

I had a go at consulting – halfheartedly I admit and I take my hat off to anyone who makes a real success of it. It’s hard yakka and it tends to infiltrate all the ‘spare’ moments of your days. Years ago when I was still single I did some visioning work and in the last year or so I have realised that my vision all those years ago has come true. I finally met Mr Right in my mid-30s and had my little family in my early 40s. We now live in my dream-come-true, cute, old fashioned and ramshackle house with a pool in the backyard, the lake and the beach a walk away. How lucky am I? All my dreams came true. How many people can say that? The only thing missing in my life is meaningful work for which I would earn an income. Boo-hoo, poor me – suck it up sunshine!

There’s always a lesson to learn though. I worked so hard at creating my family and home that by the time I took a breath I realised that I had lost my sense of self. Common for mums. We moved a lot and my industry changed significantly. And I got older. Suddenly the jobs weren’t falling in my lap anymore. I read something today that struck a major chord. Be who you are, not who you were. So hard to do. Letting go of who I was is super hard for my ego. Anyone who has been proud of their career and was lucky enough to love their job like I used to do, would know that it becomes such a major part of your self-identity. Who am I without that work? Who am I now if I’m not who I was?

I know I’m not prepared to work full time and leave my kids in child-care – that won’t work for me or mine. I have no issues with anyone who manages that – in fact I think anyone who copes well with that is amazing and I am in awe of them. I would be always rushed and always feeling guilty. For various reasons my kids need a bit more of me this year and now I have all the time I need to help them. No more excuses not to be involved in their lives or to help them with their stuff. I’ve changed my Facebook status to Domestic Goddess and I might even blog about my progress.

Be who you are, not who you were…………..I wonder what the year will bring? I guess if I’m patient enough I’ll find out soon. Maybe I’ll let you know.

The new family program from Riverside Theatres hit my inbox this week and it got me thinking about the value of theatre and live performance for kids. I have 2 boys aged 9 and 10 and we’re always looking for ways to entertain them that will broaden their little minds. As parents we all want our kids to have a positive experience of the world and we want them to grow into well rounded, happy, successful people. There is so much reliance these days on screens – computer games, movies, TV, YouTube as well as a real competitiveness in terms of academic and sporting achievements. I worry about the impact all this screen time and the stress of achievement will have on my boys long term. One of the ways that my husband and I try to balance out our kids’ life experiences is to expose them to different art forms and cultures. And theatre is an excellent way to do this.

Science tells us that exposure to art in all its forms is good for right brain development, which is the side of the brain that is responsible for our creative and visual cognition. Despite this, the study of arts and support for the arts is dwindling. The current Australian government is peddling the power of innovation, but without stretching the right side brains of our children who is it that will come up with all the ideas?

Leaving right side brain development aside for a moment, there are a multitude of other fabulous reasons why we should be taking our kids to see live performances of theatre and music. When I canvassed my friends on this subject the response was immediate and passionate. Overwhelmingly they felt that theatrical experiences taught their kids about emotions, empathy, community and history. That attending live theatre was exciting, magical, engaging, uplifting and thrilling. It introduces children to new concepts, it pushes boundaries and can even create new interests.

The experience of theatre is an energy exchange between the audience and the actors and between the audience members themselves. It’s communal – it connects us and it tells our stories. It stretches our kids and it makes our books, history and fantasies come alive in a way that a movie doesn’t and can’t. It’s real life communication that you can see, smell, touch and hear. It’s not a flat screen – you are there – in the room with your hero or the protagonist and it is powerful stuff. There was a study undertaken in 2014 in Arkansas and published in the journal Education Next in 2015 that found that attending live theatre increased literary knowledge, tolerance and empathy in ways that watching a movie of the story or reading the play did not. In other words, if you are studying a play at school you should see it performed live for a better, more thorough understanding.

Live theatre has the ability to teach our kids about other cultures, to develop empathy of people and situations that are outside their current experience and to deepen their understanding of social issues. It also aids in concentration and memory, listening skills, vocabulary and even socially appropriate behaviours. And it’s fun. Don’t forget that. It’s a biggie….

Really, we’re doing our kids a major disservice if we don’t give them these experiences. And live theatre really is available to most people. Talk to the teachers at your school and encourage them to organise an excursion. There are often discounted tickets available to disadvantaged schools because theatre professionals believe that these experiences shouldn’t only be the privilege of those who can afford it. Explore the offerings at your local theatres, you’ll be surprised at what’s available.

And getting back to Riverside Theatres and their new family season, you’ll find an amazing array of shows - a wide variety that will have something that appeals to everyone and for every age. Attending the theatre in Parramatta you’ll find it highly accessible and a whole lot more affordable than the city. The quality of the programming is completely comparable to anything you will find in any capital city of Australia, with shows by The Australian Ballet, Patch Theatre and Spare Parts Puppet Theatre to name just a few. Books that will come alive this year include The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The 52-Storey Tree House, Mr Stink and The Little Prince. And children with special needs are beautifully and thoughtfully catered for with “relaxed performances” so there is no need for anyone to miss out.

For an extra special theatrical experience don’t miss the Spot-On Children’s Festival held annually each year at Riverside. This year the festival will run from September 27 to October 1. We attended last year’s festival – my 2 boys, myself and Grandma and had a fabulous time. We saw an awe inspiring performance by Circus Oz, the boys volunteered to go up on stage and ‘help out’ and they had an absolute hoot playing on the play equipment that was erected in the courtyard. The whole venue was like a wonderland for kids and loads of fun for us all.

An old friend of mine recently reminded me of a quote by Albert Einstein that is particularly relevant…. “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Fire up your kid’s imagination this year and give them the world.

Reference: http://educationnext.org/learning-live-theater/

(This article was written for Riverside Theatres and published on their website riversideparramatta.com.au. A revised version was also published in the Parramatta Council newsletter)

I was chatting to a friend the other day about how awful her work culture was and we got onto the subject of mindfulness at work and what that means in a practical, every day kind of sense.

The essence of mindfulness is to be present in the now. To leave behind what has happened in the past and stop worrying about what is going to happen in the future.

The past has gone so leave it there and the future hasn’t happened yet. All you really have is now.

Don’t react to something that might never eventuate and stop stewing over the stuff that’s already gone. There is just as much chance of positive stuff happening as there is negative things. Why is it that we always assume the bad will happen? Assume the best! What a difference it will make to your mind set!

There have been about a million blogs and articles written about mindfulness by much more qualified people than me, but the advice I gave to my friend seemed to help her - so here it is.

1. Lose the Negativity

All that negative energy that swirls around a toxic workplace is super bad for you and you need to reduce your exposure to it as much as possible. Here’s how to do it:

-don’t gossip! I know it sometimes feels good to gossip – it creates a weird sense of community – a kind of “we’re all in this together” vibe but it is really negative stuff. The people you are gossiping with will be gossiping about you too. All it does is spread the negativity. Stop it. When you are faced with a gossip saying negative things about others, counter it by finding something good to say about the person they are talking about and then walk away.

-don’t hold grudges. It’s in the past. It’s gone and if you hold on to it, it will continue to affect your now and your future. It is a complete waste of your energy. The only person a grudge hurts is you.

-don’t take stuff personally. It’s not about you. Really it’s not. Most people are busy protecting themselves, responding to their own dramas and trying to jump through hoops for the people above them. It may feel like they’re picking on you but in a workplace, there’s a very good chance that they are just trying to get you to do what they feel you need to do, to make them look good! We’re all human. Even that nasty boss. How do you know what’s happening in her life? What’s she coping with? What’s her boss like? What hoops is she jumping through at Board level?

2. Be more Positive

Be a force for good and spread the love! If you have to, pretend until it feels real and becomes a habit. Try to find the good in everyone and concentrate on that rather than their faults. If you are miserable it will show no matter how much you try to hide it. Other ways you can be more positive are:

-find your mantra. Create a personal mantra that reminds you to be more positive and repeat it to yourself many times a day.

-leave work at work. Create a ritual that you go through every evening that ‘draws a line in the sand’. Once your ritual is over, work is over and home life begins. Don’t spend every evening reliving your workday. Sing a song, go for a swim, walk the dog, play with your kids. Music, exercise, play and getting back to nature are great for your psyche – make sure you get some every day.

-have lunch. Resist the urge to eat at your desk. I know you’ve heard it before so just do it. Get out of the office and eat your lunch in peace. Go for a short walk, eat on a bench or in a café, sit in the park, watch the rest of the world go by even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

3. Live in the Now

Living in the now means creating the life you want to live right now. Ways that we can do this that will have a flow on affect to our work lives are:

-learn meditation. I recently spoke with someone who said they get really stressed by the necessity to learn how to relax using yoga and meditation but they can’t seem to find the time. My goodness – it doesn’t have to be that hard. You can meditate anywhere. It just means sitting still for 5 to 10 minutes with your eyes closed, breathing deeply and not engaging with your thoughts. Let your thoughts flit in and out without thinking about them. Listen to the sounds around you. Feel the sun or wind on your skin, inhale the smells around you. It’s that simple. Just stop and Be.

-do what you like doing. If you have a hobby – fully engage with it. Whatever makes you happy and has nothing to do with your work. Ideally, it would be something that is just about you. Not about your kids or your family. If you like playing tennis, join a club. If you are interested in astronomy, go to an observatory. If you like cooking, buy a new cookbook and cook something from it at least once per week.

4. Schedule your Time

Everyone says how busy they are. They don’t have time for all of this stuff. They are so busy reacting they forget to be fully present and aware. There are 24 hours in a day. If you really want to do something you will find the time – it’s just about commitment.

-block out rest periods in your calendar. These days our calendars are there for most of the office to see. Meetings get booked and your time disappears. Block out your lunch periods and time for yourself morning and afternoon. Close your door if you have one, go for a 5 minute walk, take some deep breaths and recalibrate yourself.

-don’t get lost in emails and social media. Schedule this time too. Respond to your emails in the morning and again in the afternoon. Leave social media for break time if it’s important to you. Your time is precious so don’t let it be sucked up.

-work late only once or twice per week. We all know that it’s pretty normal to have to work late. So make sure that it only happens once or twice per week. Leave on time the other days. Your work will still be there. The sky won’t fall in and you’ll have time to have a life and replenish your soul for better productivity at work.

If we all behaved like this it would be a much healthier and happier place. Good luck with your forays into mindfulness.

I recently attended a networking event for women in small business. These sort of events are wonderful for meeting other women, growing your client base and learning from each other. On this particular day, as I listened, I realised that people have almost forgotten about traditional marketing concepts.

Almost everyone relies on the digital space for all their marketing needs and they’re looking for a one size fits all solution. And this is a mistake.

You could be forgiven for thinking that all you have to do is play the social media game and keep your website and blogging up to date. It seems to be all that anyone talks about because we are all still learning and the rules change on an almost daily basis. At the moment it’s still a budget friendly way to do business as well. Print and electronic advertising are still very expensive and tend to be for the bigger players.

As a marketer with 25+ years’ experience I have a new tool box – which now contains social media and relationship marketing like we’ve never seen before, but the concepts of my work are the same as they ever were.

For all those lovely women out there who run their own small businesses, I have put together 5 little reminders on how to get your marketing under control.

1. Plan – write a marketing plan. I know it’s a pain but as with any kind of goal setting, you need to plan for it. Map out your year – when are the peaks and troughs of your business? Decide in advance what your marketing campaigns will look like for the whole year. Do not do your marketing on the fly – it will be much less effective. Work out what it is that are you trying to achieve and make the objectives measurable. Don’t forget to refer back to your business plan to be sure you are growing your business the way you want to.

2. Target Market – this needs to be really defined. These days, the power of social media allows us to really hone in on psychographic detail. Never before has it been so easy to target individuals with your communications. If you know who your target market is, you know what they want to hear from you and how they consume their media – in other words, which channels you need to use to communicate with them – do they listen to the radio? Watch TV? Prefer Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? These days we even know if they are planning a holiday or looking to purchase new whitegoods!

3. Communication Messages – what are you trying to communicate and to whom? Everyone at this event was practicing their “elevator speeches” which are great for business events, but what about the consumers? If your consumers are other businesses then maybe that’s fine, but if not, decide on 3 to 5 key communication messages and always refer back to them. Consider whether or not the communication message is different for different target markets – it usually is.

4. Channels – obviously you’re going to use whatever digital channels appeal to your target markets but don’t forget the traditional ones. Depending on your product, traditional channels like print, radio and TV can be a lot less crowded these days and can be highly effective. Examples of products/industries that still get a lot of return from traditional print media are travel, real estate and cars. And they work because people have time to consume them. With print media especially, it has a long shelf life – it sits around on your coffee table. Travel, real estate and cars are things that people dream about and dipping in and out of print media helps the dream process. In contrast, digital information can be fleeting, almost disposable. It doesn’t hang around for you to think about it.

5. Frequency – Plan your marketing to your target market and consider which channels they use and then plan to hit them several times over the course of your campaign. Sometimes you can hit your target market right between the eyeballs first go and they make a positive purchase decision but generally speaking, it takes more than one hit to get them to purchase. They might see an e-newsletter come into their mailbox, a blog appear on their Facebook feed, hear a radio ad on their way to work but it’s not until they see the write up in the paper on Saturday morning (written from a press release sent to a journalist – good old fashioned PR) that they make the final decision to purchase. They may purchase at any point during that campaign but sometimes it takes several hits. And just because your blog appears in their newsfeed doesn’t mean that it’s been read.

So the bottom line is to know who you’re talking to, what it is you’re trying to say and to get the message out there with maximum reach. Planning is key – create campaigns that use all the tools at your disposal and consider timing and frequency.

In a world that is bombarded with messages and the relatively new phenomena of social media, where we share our highs and lows with the world, how we perceive ourselves, is subject to comparison like never before. The media fills our world with negative stories, our lives are lived faster and in all the noise we can lose our sense of self. Before we know it our lives are filled with negativity – negative thoughts, nasty reactions to others, stress and mind-less living.

Here are my top 10 tips to living a more happy life:

1. Decide you want to be happy

Sometimes our sense of self or identity has become so in tune with our sadness that the idea that we could be happy is completely scary. Who would we be without our sadness? Make the decision to be a happy person. It’s a choice. Every day make that choice.

2. Take responsibility

All too often we blame others for what is happening in our lives. We can’t change anyone else, we can only change ourselves. Make the changes necessary for you to be happy. Do it fearlessly. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Be the creator of your life. Stop making excuses. Face what is deep down inside of you.

3. Make your dreams come true

Do you know what your dreams are? As crazy as it sounds, many people don’t. They’re on a treadmill just going through the motions to get through each day. Take the time to touch base with what you truly want in life. If you don’t know what you want, try this exercise:

Imagine your life in 5 years’ time. Write it down. When you wake up in the morning what can you hear, how do you feel? What activities make up your day? What does your environment look like? Who is with you? Be as detailed as you can be. Now create a vision board that illustrates this perfect day. Cut out pictures and words from magazines and stick them on a sheet of cardboard. Make it truly appealing to you. Frame this picture and keep it where you can see it every day.

If you don’t know what your dreams are, this exercise will identify them for you. After all, unless you actually know what it is you want, you can’t make it happen.

4. Clean up your life

If you have a messy environment, clean it up. De-clutter your home and your office. Make sure your living spaces are clean and healthy. Have your carpets, mattresses and upholstery professionally cleaned once a year to get rid of dust mites and bacteria. Grow some living green things. Give stuff you don’t need to charity. Then clean up your body. Eat well and exercise regularly. Give up bad habits like excessive drinking or smoking. And finally, clean up your mind.

Clear your negative thoughts and learn how to meditate – even if it’s just sitting quietly for 5 minutes every day. Set the timer. Sit still and quiet. Let your thoughts come and go without engaging with them. If that’s too hard, concentrate on your breathing and slow it down. Breathe deeply and slowly.

A clean home, a clean body and a clean mind will help you move forward positively without toxic stuff to weigh you down.

5. Share the happiness

Be kind. Be positive. Share your happiness with others. Do a good deed. Smile. And it’s ok to tell people that you’re happy. It can be inspirational. It’s kind of contagious. Let yourself feel it. Give to charity or a good cause. Be patient with others who might not be as happy as you.

6. Avoid the negative

Avoid negative thoughts and negative people. Maybe you don’t watch the evening news every night and maybe the movie you watch might be a comedy for a change. If someone in your life causes you to feel unhappy no matter what you do, then minimise your interaction with them. Of course we can’t avoid all negativity, but you can minimise your engagement with it no matter what form it takes.

7. Be Grateful

Every single day of your life, write down at least 3 things that you are thankful for. Be very specific - don’t say “I’m grateful for my kids”, say “I’m grateful for the hug my son gave me today” or “I’m grateful for playing in the pool with my daughter today”. And really think about them. Feel the gratitude.

8. Set Goals

Keep a journal and set goals each month. At the end of each month, assess how you went and reset goals for the next month. This will keep you moving forward in a mindful way. Think about each area of your life, for example: career; relationships; community; family; home; wealth; health; you and set goals for each or any area you think you need to.

9. Relax

Do less. Slow down. Stop and smell the roses. Just BE.

10. Commit to yourself

Only you can make this happen. Only you can make yourself happy. It takes work. You need to commit to yourself. Stop waiting for someone else to do it for you. If you want to be happy – just do it.