In this episode, Michael and Nikki, a long-term married couple working in the Australian performing arts industry, discuss censorship and its impact on creativity and management within the arts sector. They reference recent events surrounding the 2026 Adelaide Writers Week Festival, where a Palestinian author was uninvited, leading to significant upheaval including board resignations. The discussion extends to their personal experiences with censorship in their careers and how funding bodies often control and limit creative expression. They also touch on the broader issues of political interference, the challenges of securing funding, and the evolution of festivals like Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival. Recorded at Mylor Cricket Oval, the podcast reflects on the role of art in society and the importance of maintaining artistic integrity in the face of external pressures.

APPLES

Written by Richard Milward
Adapted & directed by John Retallack

https://boundlesstheatre.org.uk/productions/apples/

A Mik Allen Concepts production

www.mikallenconcepts.com

In this episode of 'The Green Room with Mik and Nik, dive deep into the shifts in audience behaviour post-COVID. They discuss the challenges performers and theatre workers face in re-engaging with audiences who have lost social play skills and respect for traditional audience norms. They also examine the impact of technology and digital spaces on these changes and highlight the evolving nature of live performance. The episode includes a historical exploration of green rooms and anecdotes about teaching theatre during the pandemic and culminates in an optimistic view of the future, emphasising the potential for new and meaningful audience connections through avant-garde theatre and creative spaces.

A Mik Allen Concepts production

www.mikallenconcepts.com

  📍 This episode explores how audience behave as a collective organism, their rituals, their resistance to disruption, and what their reactions reveal about cultural expectation.

Among other things, we talk about our unique audience experiences as well as methods and techniques for shaping an audience. We try to get at the rituals, behaviours, and social scripts that underpin all audiences as a dynamic part of any event, rather than an aggregate mass.

If we can understand these fundamental components of how an audience is developed and constructed, we can use this as another creative element to be used, rather than a misunderstood, and marginalised creative element.

A Mik Allen Concepts production

www.mikallenconcepts.com

Introducing The Green Room: A Safe Haven for Performers

In the inaugural episode of 'The Green Room,' married duo Nikki and Michael Allen, both experienced theater professionals, introduce their podcast. Recorded on the Kaurna country of the Adelaide plains, they discuss the inspiration behind creating this safe space akin to a theater's green room, where performers can share unfiltered conversations. They delve into their personal and professional journeys, spanning over 80 years collectively in the arts, and how they've transitioned from performing to teaching and researching. This episode sets the stage for candid talks on performance, creativity, and cultural change, aiming to provide an honest, grounded, and reflective space for fellow artists.

00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgment of Country
00:28 First Podcast Episode: The Green Room
01:12 Setting the Tone and Framework
01:54 Hosts Introduction: Nikki and Michael
03:22 What is the Green Room?
05:31 Purpose and Vision of the Podcast
11:16 Nikki's Journey and Reflections
20:26 Michael's Journey and Reflections
25:24 The Green Room: A Safe Space for Artists
29:08 Ground Rules for the Green Room
30:36 The Essence of Connection in the Green Room
31:20 Unspoken Rules of the Green Room
31:41 The Importance of Genuine Interaction
33:44 The Sacred Space for Performers
34:22 The Reality Behind the Scenes
34:47 The Power of Shared Experiences
36:07 The Collective Journey of Performers
37:45 Why We Are Recording This
39:02 Capturing Lessons for Future Generations
40:03 The Intersection of Art and Academia
43:05 The Impact of Theater on Lives
44:37 The Journey of Our Craft
01:04:58 The Ephemeral Nature of Performance
01:08:56 Introducing Ourselves and Our Mission

A Mik Allen Concepts production

www.mikallenconcepts.com