In the first monthly Conversation at BATS Theatre, Jo Randerson talked about her journey through theatre to date and the role of comedy as social criticism. "I think that's the role of art to subvert! To point the finger back at society. I'm interested in the live event.

In the first monthly Conversation at BATS Theatre, Jo Randerson talked about her journey through theatre to date and the role of comedy as social criticism. "I think that's the role of art to subvert! To point the finger back at society. I'm interested in the live event. There's nothing more interesting than being in the room with people experiencing the work together and then gathering together afterwards to discuss it. I think we're turning back towards seeing the importance of this."

In a witty and casual conversation with Christian Penny, Associate Director of Toi Whakaari, Randerson talks about her roots, the early shows of Barbarian Productions and the importance of difference and danger in artists and artistic process.

• Listen to the Conversation with Jo Randerson - performer, writer, director and curator.

Jo Randerson is author of The Knot, The Spit Children and The Keys to Hell, has worked extensively in the comedy scene (short listed for the Billy T James Comedy Award 2005), as well as in pure literature (Robert Burns Fellow in 2001). Her theatre work blends the populism of comedy and circus with the surreal world of absurdist theatre and poetry. Jo has received many awards for her work, including the Bruce Mason Playwrights Award in 1997, the Winston Churchill Fellowship 2003, and the Phoebe Maunsell Artists' Award, 2002.

At the Conversation at BATS Theatre in Wellington on June 30, Randerson spoke of the subversive role of art - how theatre allows her to continue to subvert and question, making work that shifts an audiences reality, upsetting preconceived ideas, challenging the great grey mass, challenging us to continue fighting.

She also talks about Danny Mulheron's controversial review of Robert Le Page's seven-hour epic.

On the last Monday of each month Christian Penny, Head of Directing and Associate Director - Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, interviews leading theatre makers about their work, motivations and dreams and invites conversation from the audience.

Conversation producer Briar Monro says the theatre sector is calling for better critical dialogue and thinking around the work. "Practitioners and audiences are frustrated at the level discussions are [or aren't] reaching at other public forum, audiences are asking for greater access to the process and purpose of the artists. If theatre is to survive we have to increase the level of dialogue with each other and the audience," says Briar.

The July Conversation was with Simon Ferry - performer, director, writer, farmer and soon to be leaving his role as Artistic Director of Centrepoint - who questioned whether audiences would challenge a complete public-funding cut to theatre. This audio will be hosted on The Big Idea soon.

The next Conversation is with James Ashcroft - Tumuaki/Artistic Director of Taki Rua Productions and award winning performer and producer - at BATS Theatre on Monday 25 August at 7pm. James is a graduate of Victoria Universities Theatre and Film department and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, has twice served internship with leading New York experimental theatre company Wooster Group and is currently awaiting internship with Robert Lepage's theatre company, Ex Machina, Canada. His recent work includes Black Sheep (Live Stock films), Settling (Bats), Yours Truly (Bats), The American Pilot (Circa), Two Brothers (Circa), SEEyD Theatre's The Brilliant Fassah (Circa), Guantanamo (Centrepoint Theatre), Insiders Guide To Love (Gibson Group), Outrageous Fortune (South Pacific Productions), Dead Letters (Quarter Acre Pictures), Fish Out Of Water (International Film Festival), King Kong (Big Primate Productions) and Hui Hopping (Radio NZ). Future Conversations will include leading theatre makers, artists from other art forms, funders, policy makers and cultural and social commentators from around the country and abroad.

More information Conversation is on at BATS on the last Monday of each month at 7pm. For more details, or to go on the Conversation mailing list, contact Briar on briarmonro@clear.net.nz 14/08/08