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

A cyclist rides through a city at night; their movement and the rivers of live behind them are blurred, suggesting rapid movement. arts sector appointments
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week’s round-up of Australian arts sector appointments includes a dancer’s promotion at The Australian Ballet, a newly created position…

Tara Tiba – Omid (Hope) at Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026. Tiba, an Iranian-Australian performer, wears a sleeveless dress of vivid blue and stands with her left hand raised and resting on one shoulder. She wears a heavy bracelet, large earrings and a striking necklace, and looks upwards to her right.
Features

5 shows to catch at Adelaide Cabaret Festival

'Anything goes, anything can happen' in cabaret, according to Adelaide Cabaret Festival Executive Producer Isobel Marmion.

Moment Factory's larger-than-life video games experience Augmented Games has been programmed for Illuminate Adelaide 2026. People watch on from the sides as participants step onto the boards of immersive, large-scale video games.
News

Illuminate Adelaide reveals its 2026 program

This year's Illuminate Adelaide festival features a larger-than-life video game, a radiant woolly mammoth and even a smartphone choir.

Susan Provan will step down as Festival Director and CEO of Melbourne International Comedy Festival later this year. An older woman with fair skin, shoulder length brown hair and dark-framed glasses smiles at the camera. arts sector appointments
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week's Australian arts sector appointments include the departure of Susan Provan AO from Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and new…

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…

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