Richard Watts

Richard Watts OAM is ArtsHub's National Performing Arts Editor; he also presents the weekly program SmartArts on Three Triple R FM. Richard is a life member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, a Melbourne Fringe Festival Living Legend, and was awarded the 2019 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards' Facilitator's Prize in early 2020. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Green Room Awards Association in 2021, and a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in June 2024. Photo: Fiona Hamilton. Follow Richard on Bluesky @richardthewatts.bsky.social and Instagram @richard.l.watts

Richard Watts's Latest Articles

The 2026 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award nominees, a large and diverse group of people, seated on the steps of Melbourne Town Hall. MICF Award nominees
News

MICF award nominees announced for Outstanding Show and Newcomer

Ten comedians have been nominated for the MICF Outstanding Show Award, with a further seven comedians nominated for Best Newcomer.

Comedian Mel McGlensey 's MICF show Mel McGlensey is Normal is one of many shows reviewed by writers for the Funny Tonne. The photo shows McGlensey, a curvacious figure with dark curly hair and wearing a sleeveless white dress, crouched in front of an audience member as if she is about to bit his raised finger. More audience members watch on in the background.

Funny Tonne MICF reviews: Alex Ward, Gillian Cosgriff, Hannah Camilleri, Mel McGlensey, Olga Koch and more

Another serve of Funny Tonne reviews by emerging writers to help you navigate the final days of the 40th Melbourne…

Brynley Stent. Photo: Supplied.

Funny Tonne MICF reviews: Dan Rath, Grace Jarvis, Kate Dehnert, Kate Dolan, Lara Ricote and more

ArtsHub brings you the first batch of reviews from the Funny Tonne 2026, MICF's long-running competition for fledgling reviewers.

A colourful fairground ride showing people swinging around the ride's central support structure in flying seats tethered by chains, and pictured against a dramatic sky. arts sector appointments
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week’s arts sector appointments include a new CEO for Darwin’s AANT Centre.

A photograph of a green tree frog walking along a narrow branch, its hind legs drmatically extended. arts sector appointments
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week’s arts sector appointments include Omega Ensemble’s new CEO, the departure of a founding Artistic Director, and more.

Young people at The Push Stage at St Kilda Festival. 10-year plan for young Australians and music
News

The Push unveils 10-year plan for young Australians and music

The Push's new national plan sets out a decade-long strategy to place Australian music on par with education, sport and…

Image: Marcin Sajur on Unsplash.
News

Lack of clarity in new hate speech laws impacting artists, arts bodies warn

The National Association for the Visual Arts and the Australian Cartoonists Association have expressed concerns over 'hastily introduced' new hate…

A high speed train passing through a blurred landscape; the photograph is taken from a high angle so that the train is crossing the image diagonally, from the upper right side of the frame towards the bottom left. arts sector appointments
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week’s arts sector appointments include Board positions announced by the Federal Arts Minister and farewells from Artistic Directors in…

state of the arts. Image is of a man standing in front of a pillar and window next to a screen, and behind a lectern with his hands clasped in front of him. Behind him through the window is grass and a blue sky with some white cloud,
News

Building a new National Cultural Policy – Burke talks to ArtsHub

Arts sector members can help shape the next National Cultural Policy, Federal Minister for the Arts Tony Burke tells ArtsHub.

The late Rhoda Roberts AO. The Bundjalung Widjabul Wiyebal woman is pictured standing in front of a red-painted wall with her arms folded; she wears a black t-shirt, a broad-brimmed hat and dark-framed glasses.
Features

Vale Indigenous arts leader Rhoda Roberts AO

A champion of First Nations rights and culture, Roberts died on 21 March aged 66.

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