Little Fictions On Air

In this episode, we celebrate Queer life with two stories from our Little Fictions’ show, ‘I HEART LGBTQI’ which was performed at the Knox Street Bar in Chippendale back in February, 2017. The event was held during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, a  hugely popular festival, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras aims to raise the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities. The two stories we are presenting in this episode do just that. In our first story, ‘Asexual Gelatinous Blobs’ by Sydney author, Harry Kolotas, the writer attempts to walk in the shoes of his gay son. It is narrated by actor, Mark Dessaix. In ‘Danny Boy’, Melbourne author, Marian Matta tells the story of someone who feels they were born into the wrong body. It is narrated by actor, Kurt Pimblett. A warning, some of this episode contains strong language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Audio technician: Scott Harrison Theme tune written and performed by Annie Vidler Producer: Bronwyn Mehan  

In this episode, we bring you the second in our series of sport-themed stories. We present four stories – ‘Artemis’ by Melbourne author, Duncan Reid in which the game of hockey takes on a mythic quality; Brisbane writer, Trina Denner’s ‘Playing Outside’ for the joggers amongst you; a microfiction by Kim Waters called ‘Over Time’ about a retired cyclist and finally, a Cliff Hardy story about a foot race written by the late crime writer, Peter Corris. Actors featured in this episode are Mark Dessaix, Eleni Schumacher and Felix Johnson. Just a warning, this episode does contain strong language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Audio technician: Lachlan Perry Theme tune written and performed by Annie Vidler Producer: Bronwyn Mehan

In this episode we present two very different perspectives on the Australian sporting scene. ‘Balls and Broken Bones’ by South Australian author, Debra Mackay takes a humorous look at sport played at the community level. It is read by Sydney actor, Kate Fraser. ‘Hall of Fame’ by Melbourne film director, Matt Holcomb follows the failing fortunes of a former footie star. It is read by sport tragic and talented Little Fictions actor, Felix Johnson. Both were recorded at our live show at Knox Street Bar in Sydney and both were selected via a Little Fictions’ call out. Just a warning, this episode does contain strong language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Audio technician: Lachlan Perry Producer: Bronwyn Mehan

In this episode, your host Ella Watson-Russell brings you stories of births, deaths and marriages. The stories featured in this show are published by Spineless Wonders and are narrated by actors Felix Johnson, Joel Horwood and Eleni Schumacher. The stories include Matthew Bulman’s ‘The Incredible Exploding Baby’, Jon Steiner’s ‘Rights of Man’, Melissa Beit’s ‘A Hospital Birth’, Susan McCreery’s ‘Mexican Stand-off’ and Julie Chevalier’s ‘The Youngest Lecturer’s Wife’. Little Fictions is produced by Spineless Wonders’ publisher, Bronwyn Mehan. The show’s theme song is ‘Attune’ written and performed by Annie Vidler.  Sound design is by Lachlan Perry Warning: this episode contains strong language.  

In this episode we hear many of the talented actors you would have heard over the previous episodes of Little Fictions. This is a radio play adapted from Melbourne writer Eddie Berger's quirky short fiction of the same name originally published by Spineless Wonders in the anthology, Crime Scenes. The play was recorded at Sydney's Haymarket Library as part of the "Late Night Library Series" 2017. Warning: this episode does contain some colourful language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Theme tune written and performed by Annie Vidler Producer: Bronwyn Mehan  

In this episode we bring you short stories set on the north coast of New South Wales. ‘Saturday Night on Johnson St’ by Paul Kew, immersing us in the hectic nightlife of Byron Bay. It is performed by Mark Dessaix. Byron Bay writer and academic, Moya Costello’s ‘Northern Rivers: A Gothic Tale’ evokes the lush tropical environment. It is performed by Ella Watson-Russell.  ‘The Blouse’ is by poet, playwright, fiction writer, Vivienne Plumb who is of both New Zealand and Australian heritage. The story, from her collection, The Glove Box & other stories, is set in the rainforests of the Byron hinterland, and tells of a young woman who hitches a ride into a bizarre community. It is performed by Eleni Schumacher. Warning: this episode does contain some colourful language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Audio technician: Chester Chew Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Original Broadcast Date 17.12.2018

In this episode called Surreal Stories, our host Ella Watson-Russell brings you two short stories with extraordinary, offbeat characters. Our first story, ‘Ducks’ is a radio play based on a short story by Miles Franklin Award-winning author, A.S. Patric. The year is 1956. Melbourne is host to the Olympic Games and American literary figures Anais Nin and June Miller (both former lovers of Henry Miller) are living out their sometimes fractious old age in the quiet seaside suburb of Elwood. The play is performed by Ella, Joel Horwood and Eleni Schumacher. Our second short story is ‘Carrot on the Edge’ and it comes from comic West Australian author, Jude Bridge and is performed by Little Fictions’ regular Lauren Hamilton Neill. This episode is produced by Bronwyn Mehan with sound design by Chester Chew. Just a warning, some of this episode does contain strong language and confronting issues.

In this episode we bring you two short stories about the impact of crime on people’s lives. ‘Croc’ is by Melbourne author Pierz Newton-John and is published in his collection, Fault Lines. Pierz worked as a psychotherapist and this story is inspired by a true story. It is read by Ella Watson-Russell and was recorded at Knox Street Bar, Chippendale. The second short story comes from Blue Mountains’ author, Mark O’Flynn. It is called ‘A Lovely Outing’ and is published in Mark’s collection White Light. Mark has worked as a prison educator for many years. His story is performed by Felix Johnson. Warning: this episode does contain some colourful language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Audio technician: Oliver Agbisit Producer: Bronwyn Mehan

In this episode we feature stories from the inner west Sydney suburbs connected by Parramatta Road. Harriet McInerney’s microfiction, ‘Average Morning’ takes us on a bus trip down Parramatta Road. It is performed by Little Fictions’ regular, Joel Horwood. ‘Parramatta Road’ by Tess Ridgway takes us along this same stretch of road but this time at night and on a bicycle. It is performed by actor Claire Oehme. Sydney author, Jill O’Maera takes us behind one of the shopfronts along Parramatta Road in ‘Trixie Depraved Does Leichhardt’. It is performed by Eleni Schumacher. ‘Wedding Dress’ by Canberra author, Sarah St Vincent Welch is written from the point of view of a very recognisable feature of shops which line the Leichhardt stretch of Parramatta Road. It is performed by Joel Horwood. ‘In Search of the Machine’ has Sydney author, Jen Craig searching for a coffee machine in contemporary Leichhardt. Performed by Eleni Schumacher, the story vividly evokes life in Leichhardt in the 70s. Warning: this episode does contain some colourful language. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Audio technician: Oliver Agbisit Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Original Broadcast on 2RPH: 5.11.2018

In this episode, our host, Ella Watson-Russell presents two stories which take a look behind the curtain at fiction in film, on TV as well as on stage. 'Film Study 101'; by the late Mary Manning uses well-known films to reflect on the life of a young man who works at a movie theatre in a country town. Published in Damaged In Transit by Spineless Wonders, the story is performed by Little Fictions’ regular, Joel Horwood. The second story featured in this episode takes us into the world of TV. It is based on the life of a character from the popular show, Friends. 'Ross Geller Man' is written by Patrick Lenton and is published in his collection, A Man Made Entirely of Bats. It is performed by Lauren Hamilton Neill. This podcast version of the episode includes an extended interview with both author, Patrick Lenton and actor, Lauren Hamilton Neill. Little Fictions On Air is brought to you by Sydney short story publisher, SPINELESS WONDERS. This episode was originally broadcast on Radio 2RPH at 3pm on Monday, 22 October, 2018. It is produced by Bronwyn Mehan and our sound engineer is Kit McCutcheon. Our theme song, ‘Attune’ is written and performed by Annie Vidler.

In this episode, Weird World of Animals, Ella Watson-Russell presents two stories which give voice to the voiceless - specifically, a budgerigar and a cow. ‘Bluey and Myrtle’ is published in the Spineless Wonders anthology The Great Unknown, a book edited by Angela Meyer who is a huge fan of the TV series the Twilight Zone. You’ll find many of the somewhat surreal elements of the Twilight Zone TV show in Mark O'Flynn's story. It is performed by Nick Radinoff. ‘A Cow Like Alice’ by Julie Chevalier also includes a talking animal. It is performed by Little Fictions’ regular Eleni Schumacher. This episode includes an interview with Sydney author Julie Chevalier about her story, where the idea for it came from and about her writing process. Little Fictions On Air is brought to you by Sydney short story publisher, SPINELESS WONDERS. This episode was originally broadcast on Radio 2RPH at 3pm on Monday, 8 October, 2018. It is produced by Bronwyn Mehan and our sound engineer is Adrian Vecchio-Hoehne. Our theme song, ‘Attune’ is written and performed by Annie Vidler.

In this episode, 'It’s A Jungle Out There’, four authors contemplate the lives of animals. What is it like living in a dog-eat-dog world? Has human habitation spelt the death of some species? And what happens when we encroach on their world? Join presenter, Ella Watson-Russell for 30 minutes of great listening. Stories featured in this episode include ‘Taken’ by Melbourne writer Michelle Wright which is published in Spineless Wonder's microlit anthology, Flashing The Square. It is narrated by Alex Williams and was recorded live at Knox St Bar, Sydney. In ‘The Last Hare’, Wollongong poet Irene Wilkie turns to her own backyard to contemplate the idea of being out of place. It was recorded at Knox St Bar is narrated by Ella Watson-Russell. In 'Seagull', Melbourne author Katelin Farnsworth writes from the point of view of an iconic bird. It is performed  by Melbourne voice artist, Mileta Rien. The final story is ‘Bound’ and it comes from a collection of stories by Kate Liston-Mills called The Waterfowl Are Drunk! Kate is a writer who lives, loves and writes about her hometown of Pambula on the southern NSW coast. This episode includes an interview with Kate Liston-Mills. Little Fictions On Air is brought to you by Sydney short story publisher, SPINELESS WONDERS. This episode was originally broadcast on Radio 2RPH at 3pm on Monday, 24 September, 2018. It is produced by Bronwyn Mehan and our sound engineer is Kit McCutcheon. Our theme song, ‘Attune’ is written and performed by Annie Vidler.

In this episode, Ella Watson-Russell presents audio stories which riff on the works of Shakespeare, Austen and Nabokov. You'll hear stories by Mark O'Flynn, Michelle Cahill, Susan McCreery and Carol Ann Martin performed by Tim McGarry, Eleni Schumacher and Ella Watson-Russell. Carol Ann Martin’s ‘Open Letter to Star-crossed lovers’ read by Ella Watson-Russell  gives a new perspective on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The story was originally submitted via a Little Fictions' call out. Susan McCreery’s microfiction ‘Well, Then’ is published in her collection, Loopholes published by Spineless Wonders. It is performed by Little Ficitons regular Eleni Schumacher. 'Chasing Nabokov' takes the famous Nabokov novel, Lolita and sets it in a modern-day Sydney beachside suburb. It is written by award-winning author Michelle Cahill and appears in the Spineless Wonders’ anthology, Escape. 'Iago' by Mark O’Flynn is an invented monologue for Shakespeare’s play ‘Othello’. It is performed by Tim McGarry. Little Fictions On Air is brought to you by Sydney short story publisher, SPINELESS WONDERS. This episode was originally broadcast on Radio 2RPH at 3pm on Monday, 10 September, 2018. It is produced by Bronwyn Mehan and our sound engineer is Oliver Agbisit. Our theme song, ‘Attune’ is written and performed by Annie Vidler.

In this episode, our host Ella Watson-Russell presents tales from Sydney’s early years as well as from the not-too-distant past.  Featuring the voices of Joel Horwood, Felix Johnson , Claire Oehme and Eleni Schumacher, this episode includes stories about the Shark Arm Case, Petersham Swimming Pool and Parramatta Rd circa 1988. Authors featured include Karolina Ristevski, Paul Cliff, Arna Radovich, John Dale and Hilary Hewitt – all writers who submitted their work to a Little Fictions Call Out on the theme: Humans of Parramatta Road. Little Fictions On Air is brought to you by Sydney short story publisher, SPINELESS WONDERS. This episode was originally broadcast on Radio 2RPH at 3pm on Monday, 27 August, 2018. It is produced by Bronwyn Mehan and our sound engineer is Adrian Vecchio-Hoehne. Our theme song, ‘Attune’ is written and performed by Annie Vidler.

In this episode, presenter Ella Watson-Russell presents three short stories about life's ups and down. The first is 'Loaded Dice' by Blue Mts author, Mark O'Flynn and is performed by Joel Horwood. Felix Johnson reads Wollongong writer, Erica Woolgar's 'Directions' and Eleni Schumacher performs 'Chicken' by Sydney author, Angela Argent. Mark O’Flynn is a much published poet and fiction writer whose most recent novel was shortlisted in the 2017 Miles Franklin Award. The story  ‘Loaded Dice’ and it was published in Mark’s collection, White Light and other stories by Spineless Wonders. Angela Argent is currently writing a novel set in Prague about the spoils of freedom after 1989 revolution.  In her story ‘Chicken’, a brother and sister return to the Australian country town they grew up in search of their father. The reunion takes a dramatic turn when father and son face off in their cars after a drinking session. Erica Woolgar's writing has been recognised overseas in The Fish International Short Story Competition, and here in Australia in the prestigious Marjorie Barnard and Josephine Ulrick Awards. Sound design for this episode is by Scott Harrison.

This episode of Little Fictions On Air presented by Ella Watson-Russell features the voices of Lauren Hamilton Neill,  Adam Norris and Joel Horwood. Short stories include 'Addicted' by Angie Holst, 'Kurt and the Interview' by Slade Quinn, 'Northwest Passage' by Jon Steiner and 'The Ibis and the Real Estate' by Helen Meany. As well as lots of laughs, you will also be treated to an extended interview which Ella Watson-Russell recorded with Jon Steiner and Helen Meany about not writing comedy, their writing journey and habits.

In this episode, Ella Watson-Russell presents four stories each with very different perspectives on the topic of war and violence. Actor Nicholas Starte performs Harry Kolotas' 'Wrath of Achilles', Tim McGarry's narration of Charles D'Anastasi's 'Broken House' includes sound design by composer Thomas Ross, Ella narrates Amanda Berry's 'We That Are Left' and Alex Williams performs 'When The Helicopters Come' by Patrick Lenton and with sound design by Kit McCutcheon. Included in this episode also is an interview with Patrick Lenton on the origin of his story from his collection, A Man Made Entirely of Bats and excerpts from a Q&A with Amanda Berry. 'Broken House' is published in Out of Place, prose poem and microfiction anthology (Spineless Wonders,2015) . 'We That Are Left' is published in Landmarks, prose poem and microfiction anthology (Spineless Wonders, 2017). 'When The Helicopters Come' is published in A Man Made Entirely of Bats by Patrick Lenton (Spineless Wonders, 2015). Little Fictions On Air is broadcast fortnightly on Mondays at 3pm on 2RPH. It presents short stories originally published by Spineless Wonders and performed live at Little Fictions events. Presenter: Ella Watson-Russell Producer: Bronwyn Mehan Sound Engineer: Kit McCutcheon Theme music: Annie Vidler

Each episode, our host, Ella Watson-Russell will be sharing thirty minutes worth of great stories, read by actors in our studio, or recorded at one of our live session venues. In this episode, called DIRE STRAITS, Ella presents three stories in which characters are faced with very contemporary moral dilemmas. These stories were all recorded live. The stories are 'Hardware' written by Susan McCreery and narrated by Emma Diaz, 'Open For Inspection' by Jon Steiner and read by Joel Horwood and 'Something From The Old School' by Helen Richardson and read by our host, Ella Watson-Russell. And just a warning – some of these works do contain some strong language.