When chronic illness means a physical theatre artist can no longer move, does that damage their ability to create art? Performer Sarah Nelson has created art across Australia and throughout the world, using her body to create art through mask, circus, physicality, puppetry, and curious exploration, but her greatest challenge came when she was hit with a case of Long Covid that was so serious her family thought she might not make it. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Sarah used this experience to create a new, award-winning artwork, and energised her purpose to advocate against artist burnout, mental distress, performing while injured, and the debilitating relentless cycle of project funding.

SHOW NOTES

Sarah Nelson: https://www.sarahnelson.net/about

Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nelsroad/?hl=en

Kelli McCluskey: https://pvicollective.com/people/kelli-mccluskey/

Kelli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pvikelli/

PVI Collective: https://pvicollective.com/

Koramburra giant earthworm: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gippslandhistory/posts/3638890809674253/

Prue Vermay: https://www.thegazette.com.au/20150812arts-doyenne-is-saluted-by-peers/

Annie Stainer: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/jul/04/annie-stainer-obituary

Suitcase Circus: https://www.suitcasecircus.com/

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre: https://sppt.com.au/

DADAA: https://www.dadaa.org.au/

Sarah’s Projects: https://www.sarahnelson.net/projects

Into the Fog: https://pica.org.au/whats-on/sarah-nelson-hyper-local-artist-in-residence/

The Georgia Malone Artist Prize: “The Georgia Malone Prize will be awarded to one recipient from the yearly cohort who has shown resilience, innovation and courage in delivering their Artist Fund project and in their approach to sustaining a career in the arts.” https://www.minderoo.org/media/wa-composer-wins-50-000-minderoo-prize-for-groundbreaking-album-exploring-the-sounds-of-motherhood/

https://www.instagram.com/p/DVsg8imjrPu/?hl=en&img_index=1

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt40605929/plotsummary/?ref_=tt_ov_pl#synopsis

Season 2, Episode 7: Chronic Illness and Art with Sarah Nelson and Guest Interviewer Kelli McCluskey

Following a circuitous, serendipitous path, Hannah Mathews has forged a career in the contemporary arts through strong relationships, trust, and the support to be experimental. As general manager of Western Australia’s iconic Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Hannah has developed a mandate focused on collaboration, openness, and the ability to eschew modesty to properly celebrate the incredible work that is happening in the Perth arts scene. In this conversation with Ricky Arnold, Hannah discusses how boundaries can be broken, how the Perth Cultural Centre is a misunderstood precinct containing magic, and how the long, magnetic force of PICA brought her to a place where the arts can be given room to thrive and support an artist throughout their entire careers. From arts intern to general manager, Hannah Mathews demonstrates how persistence and curiosity can lead to great things.

SHOW NOTES:

Hannah Mathews: https://2023.pica.org.au/pica-welcomes-new-ceo/

Ricky Arnold: https://artonthemove.art/projects/touring-strategy-meet-the-team/

There were so many references in this episode, that they did not fit within this box: for the rest, visit this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lomt0dW2OF9gj1MSWCR_CyCuvii30jBv4EhEy4AbPk8/edit?usp=sharing

Season 2, Episode 6: Hannah Mathews and the Place of Contemporary Arts, with guest interviewer Ricky Arnold

Most of us find the arts as children, whether it be through witnessing a fabulous performance, or an introduction from a cultured relative, or discovering the joys of getting lost in a good book. Many of us can pinpoint the exact moment in childhood when the arts bug bit us: for fourteen year old Bridie Malone, that moment was a little more recent. Bridie is joined by her grandmother, Jo Malone, in a meeting of the generations that proves that a love for culture can definitely be passed along.

Season 2, Episode 5: Arts and the Teenager, with Bridie Malone, and Guest Interviewer Jo Malone

The theatre has a way of presenting stories in a way no other medium can capture: the immediacy and liveness create a bond between performer and audience as a shared experience, a moment in time, a visceral connection. Both Rebecca Davis and Stuart Halusz have been mainstays of the West Australian arts scene for decades, but have reached new heights through their company Theatre 180, performing local stories in familiar settings for appreciative audiences around the country. On this month’s episode of Georgia Malone’s Here Goes Nothing, join us for an intimate chat between one of Australia’s great power teams as they talk about the serendipity that brought them to these new frontiers.

SHOW NOTES

Rebecca Davis: https://theatre180.com.au/person/rebecca-davis-2/

Stuart Halusz: https://theatre180.com.au/person/stuart-halusz-3/

Theatre 180: https://theatre180.com.au/

Agelink Theatre: https://theatre180.com.au/about-us/agelink_community_access_and_education_programs/

Midnite Youth Theatre Company: https://midnite.ccgs.wa.edu.au/

Season 2, Episode 4: Telling Our Stories, with Rebecca Davis and Guest Interviewer Stuart Halusz

Stories bring us together, show us where we’ve been, and link us with people from a wide diversity of backgrounds in ways we might not have expected. Join Caroline Wood and guest interviewer Sisonke Msimang for a lively discussion of the importance of storytelling, the impact of Australia’s growing diversity, and learn how to identify what a good story sounds like, as cultivated in Perth’s beloved Centre for Stories.

Season 2, Episode 3: Diversity in Storytelling with Caroline Wood with Guest Interviewer Sisonke Msimang

There are few genres that elicit so polarising an opinion amongst casual and passionate theatregoers as musical theatre, but it's hard to deny that when you get amongst a group of passionate musical lovers, the energy is infectious. Join Andrew Baker and Claire Nichols as they discuss how musicals changed them, the importance of community theatre, pre-show sherry, positive artificiality, and buying CDs at "That's Entertainment" in Old Theatre Lane. From touring shows to venue challenges to jukebox musicals to the gateway drug that is Andrew Lloyd Webber, get ready to have a good "theatre cry" and consider what happens when you have just enough talent for it to be a problem.

SHOW NOTES (links live on show page)

 * Claire Nichols [https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/claire-nichols/6531350?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * The Book Show [https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-book-show?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Andrew Baker [https://www.minderoo.org/stories/context-waapa/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Minderoo [https://www.minderoo.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * The Premiere Collection [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Premiere_Collection:_The_Best_of_Andrew_Lloyd_Webber?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * WAAPA [https://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Western Sky Projects [https://www.westernskyprojects.com.au/]

Named Musicals (selected)

 * Les Mis [https://lesmis.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * JCS [https://open.spotify.com/album/2utlHy2K3j4lpaVauM1aUU?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Oliver! [https://oliverthemusical.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Joseph [https://www.josephthemusical.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Chess [https://chessbroadway.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Rent [https://broadway.fandom.com/wiki/Rent?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Pacific Overtures [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Overtures?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Hello Again [https://broadwaylicensing.com/shows/off-broadway/hello-again/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Anything Goes [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMov1bG10nY&utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Evita [https://www.evitathemusical.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * The Book of Mormon [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5cgecGIhg&utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Matilda [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Et3NoVWkaA&utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Cats [https://www.catsthemusical.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]
 * Miss Westralia [https://www.westernskyprojects.com.au/work/miss-westralia]
 * Tony Galati [https://www.westernskyprojects.com.au/work/tony-galati]
 * Bat Boy: The Musical [https://www.nycitycenter.org/pdps/2025-2026/bat-boy-the-musical/]
 * Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence [https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lady-macbeth-played-wing-defence]



Season 2, Episode 2: Musical Theatre with Andrew Baker and Guest Interviewer Claire Nichols

Comedy, whether stand-up, comedic plays, improvisation, sketch, or burlesque, is an omnipresent genre: universally beloved, indispensable, and… underestimated? The second season of Georgia Malone’s Here Goes Nothing launches with comedy stalwart Libby Klysz in conversation with Big Hoo Haa! founder Sam Longley to discuss why the Trojan Horse of comedy is so important and brave, despite the lack of respect it’s constantly afforded. From court jesters to COVID, from punching up to fart jokes, from ego to gender politics, this is an episode that covers the lot! Yes, And!

Show Links:

TheatreSports Australia: https://www.facebook.com/theatresportsoz/about/?_rdr

The Big Hoo Haa!: https://thebighoohaa.com.au/

Chuck the Hoo Haa a follow: https://www.instagram.com/thebighoohaa/

The Hoo Haa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigHooHaa

Bindjareb Pinjarra: https://www.ilbijerri.com.au/event/bindjareb-pinjarra/

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo: https://trockadero.org/

YUCK Circus: https://yuckcircus.com/

For enquiries, suggestions, or bookings, email; tobypmalone at gmail dot com.

Season 2, Episode 1: Comedy with Libby Klysz and Guest Interviewer Sam Longley

After a necessary hiatus, Georgia Malone's Here Goes Nothing is back, with a new format but based on the same drive that speaks to Georgia Malone's vision for a legacy defined by the ripples impactful artists can make. Toby and Jo Malone introduce this new era, with hope and optimism.

Show notes:

Georgia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geordiem/

Georgia's TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@georgiathroughlife

For enquiries, suggestions, or bookings, email; tobypmalone at gmail dot com.

BONUS: Here Goes Nothing for the Future with Toby and Jo Malone

Australia has always punched well above its weight in global artistic affairs, and artistic collaboration is at the heart of that.

David Ryding has had a long career in the arts, as a performer, director, and arts administrator, before beginning a fruitful term as Founding Director of the  Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office. Georgia and Dave take this opportunity to catch up, many years after they first connected at the University Dramatic Society, to talk about the state of the arts, literature, and how things have changed.

For links to many of the initiatives Georgia and Dave talk about, visit the Substack at heregoesnothingpod.substack.com.

Episode 10: Australia on the world stage with David Ryding

The role of the critic is a thankless one, and one whose influence is sadly waning as mainstream media abandons traditional criticism and resorts to reducing the arts to a mark out of five stars.

In this week's episode of Georgia Malone's Here Goes Nothing, Georgia welcomes Nina Levy: dancer, visionary, and writer: co-founder of the Seesaw arts magazine, and fierce defender of the importance of the critic's voice. This lively discussion includes insight into the way the critical voice has changed in recent years, reducing a critique to a poster quote, the logistics of writing about something you hated, and the truism that quality journalism must be paid for.

Nina Levy is a West Australian freelance arts writer and editor, and communications co-ordinator at Community Arts Network. At a national level Nina made her name as writer and critic for Dance Australia magazine, 2007-2020, co-editing the print publication 2016-2019.  
Nina is best known in her home state for her work as dance critic for The West Australian newspaper, 2009-2018, and as co-founder of Seesaw Magazine, an online publication covering the arts.  Seesaw Magazine was launched by Nina and co-editor Varnya Bromilow in 2017, in response to the decline in coverage of the arts by mainstream media. Nina was the magazine’s managing editor until September 2023 when publication was paused due to lack of funding.

For links to many of the areas that Georgia and Nina discuss, visit https://heregoesnothingpod.substack.com/

Episode 9: The Role of the Critic with Nina Levy

Created by Georgia Malone; presented by Georgia Malone (episodes 1-10); guest presenters (episodes 11-on).

Taking a dive into the impact of arts and creativity.

What is it that makes us human, what makes us unique, and what adds value to your life? Often the answer to all of these questions can be traced back to our connection to arts, culture and creativity. The ‘Arts’ is often seen as a high brow endeavour that only some enjoy and partake in but it is in everyone’s lives, in some way. We all listen to music, read books, watch movies and connect with creativity for our enjoyment or mental health. This podcast gets to the heart of what the arts is and what it means. It will explore different topics with people who have devoted their lives to the arts in some way, to understand what drives them and how they connect with the arts on a personal level.

Discussions will include the importance of a good play, how jazz can penetrate your soul, the role artists play in society, what compels people to leave their money to the local art gallery, why festivals just hit different, and how feminist sci-fi is a gateway drug.

Interesting people with interesting ideas join me for interesting conversations.

Georgia Malone's Here Goes Nothing

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