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Stephen A Russell

@stephenarussell.bsky.social

820 followers 800 following 1.3K posts

Glasgow-born, Naarm (Melbourne)-based arts journalist and award-winning critic obsessed with film, theatre and a whole lot more. Live on the unceded lands of the Kulin Nation. Snorts generally included. He/him, quite gay. Substack: Orion's Shoulder

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · Apr 12

Spoke to Snowtown and True History of the Kelly Gang director Justin Kurzel at Berlinale about how close to home it hit taking on good friend Richard Flanagan’s Booker-winner The Narrow Road to the Deep North bit.ly/3XVl2ni

Filmmaker Justin Kurzel

Justin Kurzel’s new miniseries, The Narrow Road to the Deep North, adapts Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel into a war story that resonates with hope.

bit.ly

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 1d

My hope is too dead lol ☠️

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 1d

WE CAN CROWDSOURCE THIS

(But also Doctor Who did it for around £2.50 ha)

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 1d

Paul… this film HAS to happen…

Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine having a government that values the arts…

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 2d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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Reposted by Stephen A Russell

Nick Feik @nickfeik.bsky.social · 1d

It looks very much like the National Press Club statement lied about their cancellation of Chris Hedges. His appearance WAS confirmed, and even listed on the website, according to this.
(Hedges believes his talk on Gaza was cancelled following pressure from the pro-Israel lobby):

Statement on Cancellation of Chris Hedges’ confirmed appearance at the National Press Club of Australia — Australian Friends of Palestine Association

AFOPA is responding to the Statement published on 4 October 2025 by the National Press Club of Australia ( NPC) in relation to their cancellation of Chris Hedges’ confirmed appearance at the National ...

www.afopa.com.au

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Reposted by Stephen A Russell

Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

Aisha Dee rocks it once again in Stan’s stalker thriller Watching You bit.ly/472Xdih

The malicious online threats and shocking twists of local drama Watching You

A risqué rendezvous, a hidden camera, and the horrifying message “I’m watching you” make for gripping drama about consent and innocent lives ruined.

bit.ly

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

What's funny and what's beyond the pale, asks Tom Ballard's intriguing Melbourne Fringe play Jks: a comedy(?) bit.ly/4o0wVmq

In 'Jks: a comedy(?)', a heated debate on the nature of stand-up gets seriously spicy

This is the latest Melbourne Fringe show from Tom Ballard, “that gay on the ABC” (his words, not ours).

bit.ly

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

Return to Manderley with Rebecca at MTC bit.ly/4nzZK9o

Rebecca review: a dark and deathly dream at the MTC

Anne-Louise Sarks cuts a little too much meat off the bone in Rebecca, but Nikki Shiels excels as always.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Stephen A Russell

Adam Parkhomenko @adamparkhomenko.bsky.social · 2d

Oh look the party that screams “family values” every five minutes is silent when one of their megachurch darlings pleads guilty to child sex abuse. But they’ll trip over themselves to ban books and attack drag shows. Tells you everything you need to know.

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 1d

But it’s so lovely down there!!!

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 1d

That was an oddly disappointing flex, along with all the R words, but I think I got a touch more from it, flawed as it is.

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

What's funny and what's beyond the pale, asks Tom Ballard's intriguing Melbourne Fringe play Jks: a comedy(?) bit.ly/4o0wVmq

In 'Jks: a comedy(?)', a heated debate on the nature of stand-up gets seriously spicy

This is the latest Melbourne Fringe show from Tom Ballard, “that gay on the ABC” (his words, not ours).

bit.ly

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

Gosh France sure burns through PMs in a way that makes even Australia and the UK’s funny turns look chill

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

Aisha Dee rocks it once again in Stan’s stalker thriller Watching You bit.ly/472Xdih

The malicious online threats and shocking twists of local drama Watching You

A risqué rendezvous, a hidden camera, and the horrifying message “I’m watching you” make for gripping drama about consent and innocent lives ruined.

bit.ly

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 2d

Return to Manderley with Rebecca at MTC bit.ly/4nzZK9o

Rebecca review: a dark and deathly dream at the MTC

Anne-Louise Sarks cuts a little too much meat off the bone in Rebecca, but Nikki Shiels excels as always.

bit.ly

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 5d

Ooft. And I thought Tortured Poets was instantly forgettable…

Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 5d

Scary monsters, quixotic visions and possibly maybe alien invasions, oh my! It’s almost time for Adelaide Film Festival bit.ly/46xkTLz

Rejoice, Adelaide Film Festival and its great 2025 selections approach

Flicks is very proud to be an official media partner for Adelaide Film Festival – check out our picks, and we hope to see you there!

bit.ly

Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 6d

Rip up reality and rebuild it in two remarkable Fringe shows by UK mob Subject Object bit.ly/4pZWeqL

work.txt and Instructions review: fourth wall building and breaking at Melbourne Fringe

Subject Object’s mesmerising Melbourne Fringe highlights, work.txt and Instructions, will have you questioning reality.

bit.ly

Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 6d

The fact that I loved it and didn’t know it was there but still stumbled across it cracks me up. I can be pretty dizzy sometimes

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 6d

OMG

I literally thought the same. Wrote it in my review lol

Because I’m a sick puppy it’s my fave painting. First met it in a school book.

Was v surprised by just how BIG it is when first accidentally stumbled across it in the Louvre.

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Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 7d

Or one of the 18 upcoming Frankenstein adaptations

Stephen A Russell @stephenarussell.bsky.social · 8d

Nekminnit

NY Times Pitchbot @nytpitchbot.bsky.social · 11d

Donald Trump is pursuing retribution the right way.

by Ezra Klein

Reposted by Stephen A Russell

Martyn @martynpedler.com · 8d

Jimmy Fallon would absolutely tell the authorities where you were hiding.

Jimmy Fallon Plans to ‘Keep My Head Down’ and Avoid Politics on ‘The Tonight Show’: ‘We Hit Both Sides Equally’

Jimmy Fallon says he plans to "keep my head down" and avoid politics on "The Tonight Show."

variety.com

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Sean T. Collins @seantcollins.com · 8d

I don't understand not knowing what your role is as a writer right now, I really don't. To me it's never been clearer.

Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 8d

Short passage captures so much so lucidly. Gurri’s point captures the essence of what was missing in Klein’s Biden age stuff. degenerateart.beehiiv.com/p/you-don-t-...

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Patrick Marlborough @cormacmccafe.bsky.social · 8d

New Yorker is blasting my insta feed with Ezra Klein content, but every comment is New Yorker readers saying how much they hate him. He is such a drooling midwit—I shouldn’t know his name.

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