Moat Bar and Restaurant

Neil Pigot and David Tredinnick perform Luigi Pirandello's "The man with the flower in his mouth" while Anton Delecca plays jazz

Well known artists play with words and music. The first Wednesday of every month from 9:00pm

Every performing artist has a dream role. The Thane or Hamlet spring to mind as two roles coveted by actors from plays that are in turn jealously revered by most writers. And then there are the plays and stories we just love, not for their status or grandeur but because for some reason they ring a bell inside us and connect with something far deeper than our career ambitions. They are part of what we call our “creative conversation”, the works that inspire, challenge and intrigue us.
The great artist salons of early 20th century Europe were places of ideas ,places where fiery conversations on the true meanings of art exploded in full voice fuelled by cheap wine accompanied by live music.
What are we doing here? will attempt to blend these essential elements; the love of storytelling from some of our towns most prominent performance artists, music by a selection of Melbourne’s best musicians. To this we’ll add some wine from a selection of Victoria’s best wineries and toss them all together in the chic surrounds of The Moat Restaurant in the basement of the State Library.
Melbourne artists doing the things they love for people who love something just a little offbeat done with panache on the first Wednesday of the month between 9 and 10 pm.
Wednesday 7th September
Neil Pigot and David Treddinick perform Luigi Pirandello’s one act masterpiece
“The Man with the Flower in his Mouth” while Anton Delecca performs jazz.
Luigi Pirandello was the greatest Italian playwright of the 20th century and is widely regarded as the father of Absurdism. His plays explore the concepts of social authenticity and insanity, the humanity in human behaviour. “Logic is one thing, the human animal another. You can quite easily propose a logical solution to something and at the same time hope in your heart of hearts it won't work out.” The Man with the Flower in his Mouth” aside from being Pirandello’s best is widely considered one of the greatest plays of the modern age and besides its Neil’s favorite.
Anton Delecca is arguably Melbourne’s pre-eminent jazz saxophonist and as the sax was invented in Belgium it makes perfect sense to pair these two artists.
What are we doing here? will continue on the first Wednesday of each month On October 5th we will be hosting three of Melbourne’s most celebrated playwrights as the read their favorite pieces from plays that have inspired them accompanied by classical guitar.