Turning Up The Heat - Satire and Activism

Composer Martin Wesley-Smith will join forces with writer and performer Harry Laing to present an energetic and inventive mix of film, music, words and laughs.

Harry Laing

'Weapons Of Mass Distortion' (an audio-visual piece for clarinet and computer) is Martin Wesley-Smith's witty and poignant look at the abuse of language and the undermining of democracy in the lead up to the war in Iraq. It features the brilliant live clarinet playing of Ros Dunlop. Papua Merdeka is a moving and compassionate look at the people of West Papua and their thirst for freedom.

Ros Dunlop and Martin Wesley-Smith

Harry Laing's 'Ship Of Fools - A Broadside' is a narrative poem in ballad form. A wickedly funny take on the people in power, it will resonate with all those who feel they've been on the wrong boat (HMAS Australia) the last ten years and sailing backwards.

Martin Wesley-Smith is an eclectic and versatile composer specialising in audio-visual works. He taught electronic music at the Sydney Conservatorium for many years. He now lives in Kangaroo Valley where he works as a full-time composer and more recently videographer.

Harry Laing is a writer and performer. He has written five one-man comedy shows, most recently 'Away With The Birds' which was part of the first Two Fires Festival in 2005. His second series of ten quirky stories of country life, 'Tales Of A Tree Changer', was broadcast on ABC radio in 2006.