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

Bloomshed's Pride and Prejudice at Malthouse Theatre, 2026. Characters dressed in exaggerated and colourful versions of Regency era costumes celebrate atop a giant, decorated cake.
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Pride and Prejudice review: Bloomshed’s satirical take is a perfect delight

With Mr Bennet played by a wilting houseplant, exaggeration is the name of the game in this hilarious production of…

A Fair Cut's Lukas Meintjes in character for his Melbourne Fringe show B48Y Crash Lands on Earth!
Features

Melbourne Fringe rejects artists’ requests for A Fair Cut

An open letter calling on Melbourne Fringe to improve the agreements with artists at this year's festival been rejected, however…

Community radio: our national sound. A cartoon image of a green radio drawn in thick black lines against a yellow background.
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Community radio delivers $153 million to Australian music economy

Community radio stations broadcast more than double the volume of local music played by commercial networks, according to a new…

A blurred figure hurries down a tiled staircase, perhaps to catch a train. arts sector appointments
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On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week’s arts sector appointments include a new CEO at Adelaide Fringe.

The Federal Budget was released on 12 May. Photo: Lennon Cheng on Unsplash.
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Federal Budget 2026-27: Opposition, Greens and A New Approach assess arts funding

The Shadow Arts Minister, the Greens and arts think tank A New Approach add their responses to the 2026-27 Federal…

Photo: Matthieu D / Unsplash.
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Federal Budget 2026-27: the arts sector responds

No shocks but few real surprises for the arts in the Albanese Government’s 2026-27 Federal Budget.

In partnership with Fed Square, the Square transforms into an open-air canvas for the opening weekend of RISING. Vivid projections in blue light adorn the buildings of Melbourne's Fed Square,; towering CBD rise behind them towards the night sky.
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RISING announces final additions to 2026 program

A large-scale First Nations projection and sound work at Fed Square and a free artists’ bar have been added to…

A train passes by at high speed, reduced to a blur of multicoloured lights in this long exposure image. arts sector appointments
News

On the move: latest arts sector appointments

This week’s arts sector appointments include a new Artistic Director at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre.

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.

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