Jan 'Yarn' Wositzky: Stories & Music | Public figure
Jan 'Yarn' Wositzky: Stories & Music
Phone: +61 3 0417 332 065 / +61 3 5470 6629
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25.01.2022 Thanks to all those inviting me to be friends. Let me know when you've got the flu and I'll be around with the chicken soup. True! Meanwhile, coming out of this long, cold winter here in Castlemaine, I'm shortly to hit the road, as we say, with my old show BILARNI and a new one titled FIE UPON PUSILLANIMITY! (look it up in your Funk & Wagnall's) and a workshop on the side - A STORYTELLER'S GUIDE TO STORYTELLING. Starting nearby home on the first day of Spring, Sept 1, then ...taking BILARNI to it's spiritual home in the NT (always a chance that I'll be seduced all over again and never return) followed (assuming I do return) by NSW south coast gigs. But all seriousness aside, a list of dates is below and all the details are on the website (www.janwositzky.com.au). Cheers, Jan. September BILARNI Sat. 1 Barfold Hall, Barfold Sun. 2 Harcourt Nth Sat. 15 Katherine, Northern Territory Sat. 22 Alice Spring Sun 23 Alice Springs Thurs 27 Tennant Creek A STORYTELLER'S GUIDE TO STORYTELLING Thurs 20 Alice Springs October FIE UPON PUSILLANIMITY! A new show about the 1851 Monster Meeting of Gold Diggers Thurs Mallacoota Sat 13 Bermagui A STORYTELLER'S GUIDE TO STORYTELLING Sun. 21 @ Stories of Influence, Tyers Beach Hall
23.01.2022 All things coming together for the new show, A Bundle of Sticks, starting Friday in the Chewton Town Hall. It's about democracy. Last show on election night. Been fabulous working with director, writer & comedian Sue Ingleton on this one. If you're around central Victoria, details below.... Cheers, Jan A Bundle of Sticks They came for gold and dug up democracy Written & performed by Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky in collaboration with Sue Ingleton CHEWTON TOWN HALL Fri/Sat May 10/11 & 17/18 7.30 for 8pm $25/ $20 (HCC) / $15 under 18 BOOK: http://www.trybooking.com/BAFOB Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky’s latest one man show, A Bundle of Sticks, is on for the next two weekends in the Chewton Town Hall - which has been turned into a 45 seat theatre for the occasion. It’s a musical story celebrating the birth of democracy in Australia. Lively, heart-felt, fun and rebel-rousing, Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky tells of the relatively unknown 15,000 strong 1851 Monster Meeting of Diggers on Forest Creek (Chewton, Castlemaine). It was Australia's first mass political protest. They created a democratic movement that won the vote and led to the 1854 bloodshed at Eureka. Come prepared for raucous, political fun, and to Fie Upon Pusillanimity! (And also, why was the first barista in Castlemaine such a political figure? all he wanted to do was serve coffee.)
21.01.2022 Greetings All, Amidst what will hopefully be the last blast of cold for this marathon winter, a warm reminder for those around central Victoria here that BILARNI - my not-so-hagiographic story of WE Harney (1895-1962), the so-called 'expert' on Aborigines and the greatest yarn-spinner of them all - begins this weekend, with Saturday night 7.30 at Barfold Hall (35 mins from Castlemaine in that stretch of country between Kyneton and Redesdale) and Sunday 2pm at Keith and Jenny ...McKenry's place at Harcourt North - where there's 0NLY A HANDFUL OF SEATS LEFT. Details below, and at https://www.janwositzky.com.au/jans-gigs/. Hope you're all well and warm. Cheers, Jan. BILARNI Sat. 1 @ 7.30 pm Barfold Hall Kyneton Heathcote Road, Barfold $25 incl. supper afterwards Book: www.trybooking.com/XAEU Enquiries: Sandra 0412 224 315 / 5423 4225 Presented by Barfold Hall Committee BILARNI Sun. 2 @ 2pm House Concert at Keith & Jenny McKenry’s Dandura Alpacas Fenton Drive, Harcourt Nth $25 incl. afternoon tea Book: 5439 6525
20.01.2022 Am doing three BILARNI shows in January at Castlemaine and Queenscliff. it's the show where I track the ‘expert’ on Aborigines, the greatest yarn spinner of them all, WE (Bill) Harney (1895-1962). Apart from that, happy new year to all, Jan. BILAR... WHEN Friday 20 January, 7 pm for 7.30 start WHERE Kavisha & Andy’s place 15 Wheeler St, Castlemaine COST $20 BOOK [email protected] 0417 332 065 (Text) and WHEN Sunday 20 January @ 5pm & Wednesday 22 January @ 8pm WHERE Queenscliff Uniting Church 83-9 Hesse St, Queenscliff COST $20 (Including refreshments) BOOK 5258 2854 and at Info. Centre
19.01.2022 AS I was saying ... a song for the erection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo7JQlNOQo8
19.01.2022 Coming up his weekend, there's a couple of shows in Brisbane and one at Cooroy, 140 ks north of Brisbane - a mix of BILARNI and regular two-set song and yarn shows. Rather than put all details here, go to http://www.janwositzky.com.au/jans-gigs/, and please pass on to any Queenslanders you may know. Cheers, Jan.
18.01.2022 Apparently I've been hacked and someone, somewhere is sending out a communication on Messenger asking for money for a grant. Letting you know to ignore it. I'm not sure how to stop it as I've never used Messenger so clueless about the mechanics of that thing. Also someone has suggested to me that it might be coming from another Messenger/FB page someone has set up in my name. What a boring nuisance.
18.01.2022 Hello Folks, My show THE GO-BETWEEN: WILLIAM MURRUNGURK BUCKLEY is on the road again, and sold out next Sat. 29 in Maldon. So there's a second show the week after in the fabulous ... GUILDFORD MUSIC HALL SAT 7 MARCH @ 8PM $25 BOOK: www.trybooking.com/BIQBL Dinner in the Guildford Hotel from 5.30 (book for dinner 54734251. We'll be filming this night, so love to see you to help me make it a great show for the camera. All the best, Jan. (Phots by Vivienne Hamilton)
16.01.2022 Hello Folks, I've a new rendition of my long-running show CANAKKALE GALLIPOLI, this time with the suburb Jack Norton, a master of Turkish music, joining me to play oud, saz, tanbur and percussion. Jack studied Turkish music in Istanbul, and he's bringing great depth to the musical side of this show. It's on ... Anzac Day at Steilglitz (b/w Geelong & Ballan) & Castlemaine on FRi 28 (see below). I’ve not performed the show since the overbearingly nationalistic and sentimental 2015 centenary, so for those who may fear this is in that vein, assuredly it’s not - it’s an alternative, human version of this story that I hope transcends, and undercuts, nationalism - and tells it from both sides. As Ted Egan says in one of the songs I use: They say old soldiers never die But young ones do and I ask why?" All details below, and hope to you if your in this area. Cheers, Jan. Tuesday 25 April (Anzac Day) @ 2.30pm Stieglitz Hall, Stieglitz (between Ballan & Geelong) $20. Book with Pete or Christine: 03 5281 9253 Friday 28 April @ 8pm Old Castlemaine Gaol $25 . Book: www.trybooking.com/PPYH Cheers, Jan.
16.01.2022 Have had 2 great sell out shows for 'A Bundle of Sticks' - 2 more show, this Fri & Sat. People saying they love it because it's heaps of fun and a story they did not know. And a show about the beginning of democracy in Australia - just the week for it. Details below. Cheers, Jan.... Fri/Sat 17-18 May 7.30 for 8.00 pm Chewton Town Hall (3 ks from Castlemaine) www.trybooking.com/BAFOB
15.01.2022 Like to dance? If you're around Castlemaine I'm calling a big outdoor bush dance on Saturday night (will be in Theatre Royal if raining). It's part of the fabulous Village Festival (https://www.facebook.com/TheVillageWinterFestivalCastlemaine/) Am looking for dancers to form a demo set, and a few places still needed. And if you can make it there's a rehearsal tonight in the Ray Bradfield Room in Victory Park. Love to see anyone who's up for the fun of it.... Cheers, Jan.
14.01.2022 Hello All, I hope you're well, and a reminder for anyone within reach of Menzies Creek (Dandenong Ranges, Victoria) this coming weekend, I'm doing BILARNI on Sunday afternoon. All the details are below, it's a beautiful venue, the wine is top class and the hosts, Steve and Anne Holmes, run a very friendly show.... Cheers, Jan. Bilarni Jan ‘Yarn’ Wositzky tracks the ‘expert’ on Aborigines, the greatest yarn spinner, WE (Bill) Harney (1895-1962) in a land where everything and nothing is black and white. WHEN Sunday 14th August 2.30pm (Doors & wine bar open 2pm) WHERE St Cuthbert’s Chapel 196 Belgrave Gembrook Road Menzies Creek. (Corner of Railway Parade) Map 126 G-1 COST $25/$20 Conc/$15 Kids 12 to 16 BOOK On-Line: https://www.trybooking.com/MDBL Text SMS: 0431 133 599 with name, quantity and type of tickets required. Confirmation will be sent within 24 hours
14.01.2022 After taking show to the NT, back home and doing BILARNI in a fortnight, at lovely venue in Dandenong Ranges. All details below. Bilarni Jan 'Yarn' Wositzky tracks the 'expert' on Aborigines, the greatest yarn spinner of them all, WE (Bill) Harney (1895-1962) in a land where everything and nothing is black and white.... Sunday 14th August 2.30pm St Cuthbert’s Chapel 196 Belgrave Gembrook Road Menzies Creek. (Corner of Railway Parade) Map 126 G-1 $25/$20 Conc/$15 Kids 12 to 16 Book: https://www.trybooking.com/MDBL or text SMS: 0431 133 599 with name, quantity and type of tickets required.
12.01.2022 Buckley footage courtesy of Bill Brown, ABC south- east NSW, for BUCKLEY tonight at Candelo and tomorrow at Murrah. Thanks Bill. https://www.facebook.com/abcsoutheastnsw/
12.01.2022 Got a couple of gigs coming up this weekend with a fabulous song-writer from Tassy, Teri Young. Shows are Saturday at the Guildford Music Hall and Sunday at Luariston Hall - so this is for those around central Victoria. All the details are on my website: www.janwositzky.com.au. You can listen to Teri on www.teriyoungmuisic.com. Lovely stuff. Hope to see you! Cheers, Jan.
09.01.2022 Greetings everyone, from frosty mornings and sunny days here in Castlemaine. Hunkering down for the winter and doing the odd gig in early July, including these two BILARNI gigs if anyone is around Baynton (central Vic, near Mia Mia) and Queenscliff, both gigs hosted by great people from local community organisations. Cheers, keep warm, Jan. BILARNI... Acclaimed storytelling theatre. In a land where everything and nothing is black and white, ‘Yarn’ Wositzky tracks the ‘expert’ on Aborigines, the greatest yarn spinner of them all, WE (Bill) Harney (1895-1962). July 1 BAYNTON WHEN Sat. 1 July @ 7.00 for 7.30 start WHERE Baynton Hall, 51 Darlington Rd, Baynton (between Kyneton & Heathcote, near Mia Mia) COST $20 incl. supper BOOK trybooking.com/QHOU 0427 237 144 July 8 QUEENSCLIFF WHEN Sat. 8 July @ 5pm WHERE Queenscliff Uniting Church (Cnr Hesse & Stokes St.) COST $25 incl. supper (kids 5-15: $5) BOOK http://www.unitingqueenscliff.org.au ENQUIRE 5258 2854
09.01.2022 Hello folks, Glad to say that the CANAKKALE GALLIPOLI show with Jack Norton playing oud and tanbur but has been going really well this week in little country halls and libraries (see audience emails, below) - and tomorrow in Castlemaine is the last show for now. Old Castlemaine Gaol.... Friday 28, at 8pm. Tickets at the door, or book: http://www.trybookings.com.au/PPYH $25 For those who don’t know about this, it’s my alternative Gallipoli story to the sentimentality and nationalism we get these days, told with Turkish and Australian literature, and with beautiful Turkish music. So hope to see you, and all the best, Jan. "Thank you for the wonderful and moving Anzac performance yesterday. The meshing of story and song and music was absolutely mesmerising and the harmonica last post was such an emotional ending. I felt I learnt so much and felt my cynicism to the general hype about Anzac Day greatly reduced!" "It was a wonderful afternoon. It's clear that Jan has thought very deeply about these matters over many years and has a most humanist view. The music of the oud was wonderful, as was using that side drum to emphasise the rhythm of the poetry."
04.01.2022 BILARNI this weekend, the story of my journey 'in a land where everything and nothing is black and white', in search of WE (Bill) Harney (1895-1962), my favourite yarn-spinner lad also the man who was known as 'the expert on Aborigines' in his day - a title no one would accept today. But it's a complex and very human story. It's on in Castlemaine on Friday night, and Queenscliff on Sunday and the following Wednesday. All the details are on my website: www.janwositzky.com.au. Cheers, Jan.
01.01.2022 Walpri Aboriginal man looking at whitefellas in a charming and interesting way.
01.01.2022 On the road troubadouring about with the Buckley show. Bega ABC this morning: https://www.facebook.com/abcsoutheastnsw/
