For 15 years, the School of Arts Café presented the cream of Australia’s cabaret performers, and became Australia’s best-known cabaret venue, a veritable Mecca for showbiz connoisseurs from all over Australia and indeed overseas. The café was the winner of many tourism and industry awards, and the ABC and Artsound FM regularly broadcast programs recorded there. Between 1994 and 2000 Bill produced an important cabaret CD series, Legends of Australian Showbiz at The School of Arts Café, which was nominated for an ARIA Award in 1995. The series features performances by various luminaries of Australian cabaret, all recorded live in performance at the café. Since 1985 Bill has been an interviewer for the National Library of Australia’s Oral History Project. Specialising in the performing arts, Bill has recorded interviews with many of Australia’s leading singers, actors, dancers, designers, directors and entrepreneurs, including Geraldine Turner, Todd McKenney, Noel Ferrier and Googie Withers. Their recollections and reminiscences provide a rich source of material for writers, researchers and others interested in Australia’ theatrical heritage. Bill will share some of his experiences in gathering these interviews at his lunchtime talk on Tuesday 25 May at 12.30 pm. JAMES
HALLIGAN
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