Douglas has been a professional food writer since 1986. A former Gold Plate judge, he is a self-confessed food addict - 'I'm up to three meals a day' he admits.
Recently I found myself in Margaret River on a Sunday night at a loose end. I was down for the weekend to be one of a p... [more]
In Italy, there are tiny eating places called trattoria, which are less formal than restaurants, but more so than osteri... [more]
Some years ago there was an advertisement on TV along the lines of 'I liked it so much I bought the company'. And let's ... [more]
When I was young lad I used eagerly to anticipate visits from my grandparents because at the end, no matter how long or ... [more]
One of the joys of being a food writer and reasonably well-known is that you get a lot of delightful suggestions about w... [more]
If one thinks about Caversham House in the Swan Valley, one immediately thinks of a rather posh wedding venue.
A... [more]
The concept of mistaken identity has been a standard thigh-slapping comedic device since Shakespeare - think of Twel... [more]
Any actor cast as Sir Winston Churchill has a huge challenge on at least two levels.
Firstly, Churchill is possibly ... [more]
Despite the fact that it is such recent history the Partition of India in 1947 is largely ignored by writers and filmmak... [more]
I don't know if you remember but some years ago in Perth there was a fashion for 'Progressive Dinners' which were entreé... [more]
Kalamunda Dramatic Society's latest production, by actor/director/playwright Vanessa Brooks and directed by Anita Bound ... [more]
Much-acclaimed community theatre group Kalamunda Dramatic Society is pleased to announce their latest production, by act... [more]
Forensic anthropology: "Is scientific work at its most committed and advanced, helping to meet humankind's most primal n... [more]
In the interests of full disclosure, let me begin by saying that I was formally trained as a historian, spent a great de... [more]
I am no stranger to long lunches. In the 1980s, before the FBT, lunches would merge imperceptibly into dinner, sometime... [more]
Devotees of the Perth Fringe World will be aware of the huge contribution made to the Fringe by The Blue Room Theatre, a... [more]
Budding authors are always told 'Write about something you know." Not good advice for JK Rowling, perhaps, but excelle... [more]
As part of the Anzac Day commemorations the State Library of Western Australia have mounted a display of original illust... [more]
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a rare blood cancer of the white blood cells. Its cause is largely unknown and treatm... [more]
Michael Gow is one of Australia's most respected and prolific playwrights, probably best known for his play Away (1986).... [more]
One of the oldest stories is that of the persecuted heroine who triumphs over almost insuperable odds.
Rhodopis, fo... [more]
For the first time Saturday March 25, 2017 marks the date of the inaugural annual Toodyay Music Fest.
There will... [more]
Lose yourself in the wonder of yesteryear with a day out at the Rose and Crown Guildford Heritage Festival with a celebr... [more]
Hooray, it's coming round to the Act-Belong-Commit Toodyay Moondyne Festival time again.
Each May the small rural tow... [more]
Stirling Players have a long history of encouraging young talent, emerging writers and innovative thinking.
Their nex... [more]
Are you having Fringe withdrawal symptoms? Are you at a loss for entertainment of an evening? Are there shows you miss... [more]
The time is1943, the place - somewhere in Europe. A troupe of burlesque showgirls are working, undercover and in under... [more]
Cilla Black was a great talent, a singer and a woman of very considerable charm.
This is also true of Danielle O'Mall... [more]
I know a good deal about Sherlock Holmes, I founded the Sherlock Holmes Society of Western Australia in 1983 and now ser... [more]
Johnny Grim is a Perth-based playwright who started the theatre company A Lad Insane (touch of the hat to the late David... [more]
Fringe World casts its net wide and deep and some very strange catch is trawled up as a result.
Two such odd fish a... [more]
Katy Warner's award-winning play A Prudent Man opened at Fringe last night to a sell-out house.
The play is a fifty m... [more]
It has been said that the in-fighting at universities is so vicious because the prizes are so small. It's certainly tru... [more]
Karaoke is a ten billion dollar a year industry. The name is Japanese for 'empty orchestra' and there isn't a city anyw... [more]
Nigella Lucy Lawson is an English journalist, broadcaster, television personality, gourmet, food writer and domestic god... [more]
Alone Outside is the debut solo performance of experienced actor Jo Morris whose previous work includes roles in Black S... [more]
Zac Gower is a Perth lad, born and bred, although he has spent a fair portion of his young life in Los Angeles and the E... [more]
Those of my readers old enough to know who Sophie Tucker was will be familiar with the ethos of Ms Dolly Diamond. She i... [more]
According to Wikipedia Priscilla Maria Veronica White OBE (1943 – 2015), known by her stage name Cilla Black, was an Eng... [more]
Québécois-born illusionist and magician Pierre Ulric now lives in Perth and works here and all over the world.
A... [more]
There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who are not bothered by 'Fresh Egg's for Sale' and those whose rage i... [more]
One of the joys of the Fringe World Festival is that it can be a trial and contest arena for new performers and producti... [more]
As any performer will tell you, improvisation is the most difficult, frequently terrifying and exhilarating form of thea... [more]
A huge event such as Fringe World 2017, the world's third largest festival must, of sheer necessity, be spread over a ve... [more]
Surreal showgirl, the Obscene Beauty Queen and Sex Clown Betty Grumble, comes to town and raunches her way into the Circ... [more]
Circuses have a long and ancient history. They can trace their lineage back through the Roman Circus which was exclusiv... [more]
Supporters of the arts in Western Australia, the City of Busselton, Rivendell Estate and Howling Wolves in conjunction w... [more]
Possibly more than any other year 2017's Fringe World has a high proportion of adult only entertainment, with frank disc... [more]
The Valley View Restaurant has had something of a chequered history before ending up in its present incarnation of resta... [more]
Avid Fringe fans, and I know there's lots of you out there, will remember Trygve Wakenshaw's Kraken and Squidboy.
He'... [more]
Once upon a time in Fremantle a couple, Deadly Serious and his wife, Ivana B Serious, created Cut-throat Cabaret, which ... [more]
From time to time a friend may tell you their dream - often bizarre, often boring, sometimes creative.
Art student Ka... [more]
It is no secret now that the South West of WA hold a craft beer festival each year and that each year since its inceptio... [more]
The award-winning team of Izzy McDonald and Geordie Crawley have returned to Perth's Fringe World for 2017.
Ardent th... [more]
Stuart Bowden is a prodigious Australian theatre maker with a truly impressive output for one so young. He works profes... [more]
There can be no area of expertise so befuddled and clouded with mystery and ignorance than wine.
For every actual exp... [more]
Tom Thum, a name that frankly reeks of pseudonym, is a remarkable man, he plays every known electrical instrument plus a... [more]
Katy Warner is a rising young playwright whose work is starting to attract serious attention both here and overseas.
... [more]
Trevor Jones is quite a sensible man and a gifted musician and teacher. Specialising in classical and operatic music h... [more]
Canadians are, in the view of those who don't know any, polite, apologetic and shy. Which is about as accurate as all S... [more]
When I was a little boy I loved going to the circus. The clowns, the pretty ladies standing on the backs of horses, dar... [more]
One can only imagine the sign of relief with which Jane Austen finished her manuscript about the Dashwood sisters and in... [more]
Sex has never failed to be a subject of fascination, but perhaps we speak about it more freely now than ever before, esp... [more]
Regular Fringe World lovers will remember Ginger and Tonic from past years, in particular earlier this year, when their ... [more]
Our ABC has come under severe criticism over the past few years, but what no one can say is that ABC TV doesn't encourag... [more]
Stirling Players are a community theatre company dedicated to supporting local talent and providing an outlet and (dare ... [more]