Over the course of 2011, I presented fortnightly sessions at The Wheeler Centre for a series called ‘Texts in the City’. This was an opportunity for Year 12 students to hear people talk about the books, films and plays that they are studying. The focus is not the course guide, or the potential exam questions, but these works as pieces of art. I was very pleased to be involved, even if I do believe that ‘Texts in the City’ further entrenches the common misconception that the HBO series was called ‘Sex In The City’, when it was actually called ‘Sex And the City’. I do, however, concede that the name ‘Texts and the City’ might have implied equal billing for ‘the City’, whereas ‘the City’ is really just a place for the Wheeler Centre to be situated. For those wondering, that exact situation is 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. CJ Dennis called it Little Lonny.

Here are the archived videos:

Discussing ‘Maestro’ by Peter Goldsworthy with Dr Stephanie Trigg.

Discussing ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, with director William Henderson.

Discussing Peter Weir’s ‘Witness’ with screenwriter Mac Gudgeon.

Discussing ‘Cosi’ with screen actor Barry Otto.

Discussing Richard III with Judith Rodriguez and Michael Williams.

Discussing ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ with playright Hannie Rayson.

Discussing Twelve Angry Men with writer Lorin Clarke.

Discussing ‘The Secret River’ author Tony Birch.