Anita, you are an incredible painter, sculptor, poet, performer, and teacher, who has specialised in mask and puppetry since the 70s. Can you tell me a bit about what led you to the arts and the work you’ve done since?
I’d worked in theatre since high school and trained originally as an art teacher. I had no desire to teach at that time but found that I loved it. Everything interests me. My central skill is communication- I use whatever medium communicates what I want it to.
For me, puppetry uses all mediums, poetry, woodwork, voice, sculpture, and theatre. People hadn’t seen adult puppet shows in the 70s and I performed cabaret’s based on poetry dealing with adult concepts like a single, middle-aged woman, people of different races, different ages, a burlesque stripper
I wrote The Puppetry Handbook, people call it the ‘puppetry bible’ and I started a puppetry magazine. I also wrote a book of poetry called A Crowded Solitude, The Kite Maker and I’ve just finished a book that I’m now editing called A Wild Surmise about migration to Australia, mostly about the English, but other cultures and races too. It’s based on my story from ages 11-19. It’s a coming-of-age story that ended up being about control and freedom.
You opened a theatre in Richmond. Tell me about that.
I set Living Room up in 1984 because there was nowhere in Melbourne to get dressed up and go out, listen to jazz all night, and go home safely. Not like there was in Paris. Men would send you a long-stemmed rose or a drink but they wouldn’t harass you. In Melbourne, there were mostly fleabag cafes and male behaviour in Australia (when they were drinking) was not great.
I created a place where you could control audience behaviour. There was no alcohol and no smoking.
What a list of achievements! I don’t suppose that left much time for other interests and hobbies?
I have one hobby. Building doll houses. I’ve built two major doll houses. The first is called Tudor House and the second is a 1750s Cornish fisherman’s cottage called Fisherman’s Rest. Each house took 10 years to build, including all the furniture.
I wasn’t sure what to do with the first one so I donated it to the Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Eventually, it ended up going up for auction to raise money for the cancer ward.
I kept the Cornish house until recently, but I had to move and it is so huge. I’ve given it to a niece in Rosebud who is going to raffle it and use the money to help the homeless.
Are you reading anything at the moment?
I’ve just finished Edgar Wallace. It’s a series about an African Commissioner named Sanders.
Who would your three dream dinner guests be?
John Keats, Copernicus, who put the sun in the centre of the universe, and Judy Dench.
What’s your musical genre of choice?
Classical opera. My favourite is David Hobson.
Do you have any pet peeves?
Human stupidity.
Any philosophies you live by?
Philosophy in itself. I’ve lived for 86 years, I’ve read a lot of stuff, including poets and I look for philosophy in movies and books.
What do you love most about the place you call home?
Maldon has the quality of a village with familiar faces. Everyone acknowledges each other and provides mutual support. The environment is beautiful and the services are adequate.