Latest news with #SteveThomas
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
From ‘convict stain' to badge of honour: Tasmania's early criminals inspire celebrated musical
In 1802 Martha Hayes was transported from England to what was then called Van Diemen's Land, accompanying her convict mother. The teenager was the first white female to set foot in the new colony and, having become pregnant on the voyage, she gave birth to the first white child – a baby girl – on the island we now call Lutruwita/Tasmania. While that child had a convict grandmother, her father was Lt John Bowen, a colonial administrator who led the first white settlement, at Risdon Cove. Martha's story is symbolic of so many Tasmanian family trees post-colonisation: part-convict, part-free settler or colonial master. It's one of 17 brought to life in the musical theatre show Vandemonian Lags, co-written by the musician Mick Thomas of Weddings, Parties, Anything fame and his film-maker brother Steve. Premiering to sellouts and standing ovations at the first Dark Mofo in 2013, the show is back from hiatus for a small run of Victorian performances with a cast including Jeff Lang, Tim Rogers, Brian Nankervis, Darren Hanlon and Claire Anne Taylor. Vandemonian Lags had its genesis in the Founders and Survivors project: a multi-university research collaboration drawing from Tasmania's unusually large and detailed trove of more than 70,000 convict records, which was added to the Unesco memory of the world international register in 2007. One of the creative outcomes was a website presenting 17 convict stories in an accessible, interactive format. Vandemonian Lags ('lag' being the contemporaneous slang for convict) takes these stories and gives them a theatrical life, with live songs – composed and performed by the talented cast of musicians – storytelling, and a combination of film and still imagery. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning It's a joyous, emotional and humanising reclamation of stories that were hidden for so long, often due to shame. 'One of the very early songs I wrote is Two Grandfathers,' Mick Thomas says. 'This kid's got a grandfather who's a pillar of the community, he's very visible. And that grandfather's got a chauffeur who the kid doesn't really think much about. 'The kid only finds out much later in his life that the chauffeur was his other grandfather – but he was a convict. So even though they made allowances for him and got him a job and stuff like that, he was not talked about.' The Thomas brothers have convict ancestry in their own family, which has roots in Victoria (where they grew up) as well as Tasmania. 'The family folklore was very much focused on northern Tasmania,' explains Mick, 'but it was pretty much on a great-grandfather who was a banker; it was definitely not convict-oriented.' There was far less attention given to the other side of the family – the one with the strong convict link. The historian Prof Hamish Maxwell-Stewart, an expert on convict life whose research informed much of Vandemonian Lags, says shame about convict ancestry was particularly persistent in the island state, where marriage between classes was more common and upwardly mobile convicts sought to hide their ignominious past. Steve Thomas says denial was still common when he moved to the state in 1979. 'There was still evidence of that 'convict stain' [mentality], where people would deny they had convicts in their family, or they were ashamed, and often the convict side of the family was erased from history.' But statistics don't lie: 'If you look at the entire Australian population, over 20% of them are descended from convicts,' he says. 'In Tasmania, it's closer to 70%. [It was] this major influx of dispossessed British people being used to build this colony virtually as British slaves. It remains one of the biggest forced migrations of the 19th century.' It was disastrous for the island's Aboriginal people. 'There's no doubt that the arrival of convicts was terrible news for First Nations Australians,' Steve Thomas says, 'and we open the show with this.' The arrival of British graziers from the 1820s coincided with the war against the Aboriginal population; those who were not killed were banished to Flinders Island in Bass Strait. 'The land grab was enormous,' Thomas says. 'But, you know, I guess our contention is that convicts did not choose to be here. They were forced and most of them had no way of getting back.' Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion In 1851, as gold was discovered in Victoria, Tasmania's former convicts joined the thousands flocking to seek their fortune. They were not welcome. In 1852 the Melbourne Argus described a Vandemonian as 'a pestilential addition to our population' and said 'his coming is an evil we must guard against at all costs'. In the same year the Victorian government passed the Convicts Prevention Act to prevent Vandemonians from making the trip across the strait. It didn't work. And, while many Vandemonian visitors failed to find their fortune on the goldfields, turning to crime or dying paupers, some did very well indeed – including Samuel Phillips, who had been sentenced to transportation for poaching. Eventually given his ticket of leave, he made his way to the goldfields and had a huge strike. 'He was smart enough to just hide it and get back to England as a rich man,' Mick Thomas says. 'And – this is a true story – he purchased the estate on which he got caught poaching!' (In the show, Darren Hanlon brings this story to life in his song The Wildest Dreams of Samuel.) Steve Thomas says views about convict ancestry have changed significantly. 'Genealogy has become really big and this shame that many Tasmanians had about their convict past … gradually has faded, so that what was a stain is now a bit of a badge of honour … people are actually sort of looking back at their convict past. Now they talk about things like convict chic!' The 2013 performances in Hobart were 'so emotional for people', Mick Thomas says. He recalls one young woman, the descendant of a convict featured in the show, accosting him in the foyer. '[She said:] 'You don't know what this means to my family. This is so raw.'' Thomas says the heavy material the team was working with had to be balanced with lightness and humour, a delicate mix required to get the stories across in an entertaining yet truthful way. 'In the end, they are ripping stories,' he says. 'It comes down to the thing that Mark Twain said when he toured Australia, that Australian history reads like a pack of lies but it's all true. So they're ripping yarns. But, you know, they're still people's lives.' Vandemonian Lags is at Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo, on 22 May; Melbourne Recital Centre on 23 May; Her Majesty's Theatre, Ballarat, on 24 May; and Frankston Arts Centre on 25 May
Associated Press
01-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
BX Studio Achieves Webflow Enterprise Partner Status - Joins Elite Group of Certified Enterprise Solutions Providers
Los Angeles, CA — March 31, 2025 — BX Studio, a leading web design and development agency specializing in Webflow solutions, today announced it has been named an official Webflow Enterprise Partner. This prestigious designation recognizes BX Studio's deep expertise in leveraging Webflow's platform to deliver enterprise-grade digital experiences. The Webflow Enterprise Partner certification is awarded to a select group of agencies that demonstrate exceptional proficiency in implementing Webflow solutions for large-scale enterprises. As a certified partner, BX Studio is positioned to help organizations harness the full potential of Webflow's no-code platform while ensuring enterprise-level security, scalability, and governance. 'Achieving Webflow Enterprise Partner status represents a significant milestone in our journey,' said Jacob Sussman, Founder and CEO of BX Studio. 'This recognition validates our team's commitment to mastering Webflow's capabilities and delivering exceptional value to our enterprise clients. We're excited to expand our service offerings and help more organizations transform their digital presence through Webflow's powerful platform.' BX Studio's elevation to Enterprise Partner status enables the agency to offer enhanced services including: Enterprise-grade website architecture and implementation Advanced security and compliance solutions Multi-site management and global content governance Custom integrations with enterprise systems Dedicated support and training for enterprise clients 'Enterprise organizations increasingly seek the agility and design freedom of Webflow combined with the security and scalability their business demands,' added Steve Thomas, Director of Project Management at BX Studio. 'As a Webflow Enterprise Partner, we're uniquely positioned to bridge this gap, helping enterprises achieve digital excellence without compromising on their specialized requirements.' BX Studio has already successfully implemented Webflow Enterprise solutions for clients across industries including technology and professional services. The agency's portfolio showcases its ability to create visually stunning, high-performing websites that meet the complex needs of enterprise clients. ### About BX Studio BX Studio is a premier web design and development agency specializing in creating exceptional digital experiences through Webflow. Founded in 2021, the agency combines creative design thinking with technical expertise to deliver websites that drive business results. BX Studio serves clients ranging from ambitious startups to global enterprises, with a focus on creating intuitive, high-performing, and visually compelling digital experiences.
The Guardian
30-01-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
English Heritage plans up to 200 redundancies and winter closures of some sites
Staff at English Heritage have been shocked to discover that the cash-strapped organisation is planning up to 200 redundancies and the winter closure of various castles, abbeys and other historic sites in its care. At least 7% of the workforce could be affected, with curators being particularly targeted, it is believed. Under the cuts, 22 sites will become 'hidden gems', opening only on specific and limited days. They include properties as significant as Ranger's House in Greenwich, London, a Georgian villa with an important art collection, where part of Netflix's popular television series Bridgerton was filmed. A further 21 sites will be closed for winter. They include Lullingstone Roman Villa in Kent, begun in about AD100 and among the most outstanding examples in Britain; Totnes Castle in Devon, built 900 years ago during the Norman conquest, almost certainly by one of William the Conqueror's commanders; and Furness Abbey in Cumbria, once the largest monastery in north-west England, founded in the 12th century. 'This is seriously worrying,' one insider said. There are also fears for the demise of irreplaceable experience as experts could be made redundant or have some of their responsibilities handed over to a new layer of managers. One insider said staff were dismayed and that a colleague was in tears after last week's meeting about the organisation's 'reshaping'. 'All of our jobs are basically at risk. They won't tell us an exact number, but it's affecting virtually every department. Sacking so many people is unbelievable.' Another source said: 'We think we are talking 150 full-time equivalent redundancies – potentially up to 200 actual people.' English Heritage cares for more than 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. Since it is a charity, it does not receive a government grant, relying instead on membership, tickets and sales in its shops and cafes. It has 2,535 employees and more than 5,000 volunteers. Staff understand that the new structure will be in place in April. A source said among those invited to the meeting were three London curators who are on maternity leave: ' Basically, the whole thing has just been handled so badly.' Curators fear that responsibilities for 'collection management' and 'interpretation' – will be transferred to younger – and cheaper – 'collection managers' brought in to oversee them. A source said: 'That means getting rid of people who are extremely skilled, but who would require more money. Adding a new team of managers is going to add to the bureaucracy, layers of managers who are not necessarily art experts. I believe in giving young people opportunities, but they'll basically just employ people with absolutely no skills to fill these gaps and pay them probably peanuts. It's not right.' Prospect and the PCS, the unions that represent the heritage sector, are concerned. Steve Thomas, Prospect's deputy general secretary, said: 'Staff at English Heritage will be understandably worried about their future after hearing this news and worried about the future of the historic sites they work so hard to keep open to the public. 'We have been working with the employer to minimise redundancies … We recognise that the financial situation is difficult. But it is also true that the skilled and dedicated staff who keep our history alive are the very heart of this organisation. Losing these skills and this experience would damage our heritage as much as losing the sites themselves.' Fran Heathcote, the PCS's general secretary, said: 'We stand committed to protecting the jobs and livelihoods of our members … [who play] a key role in the vital task of preserving English history.' An English Heritage spokesperson said: 'All organisations need to review their structure from time to time and English Heritage has not done so for several years. In that time, our world has changed dramatically. The pandemic and its aftermath led to lasting changes in visitor expectations and behaviour, both domestically and internationally, while many of our visitors and members are facing challenges with the cost of living. 'High inflation has increased the cost of conservation work at our sites, but significant and ongoing expenditure is still required if the condition of the sites in our care is not to deteriorate. 'The aim of these proposals is to ensure that English Heritage is financially resilient and can fulfil our charitable purposes . We're committed to working with our employees and our trade unions to find ways to avoid and reduce redundancies where we can … Under these proposals, we will continue to have a team of more than 75 expert curators, historians and conservators.' He added that to exclude those on maternity leave from consultation would be unlawful. He argued that a reduction in opening hours would affect 'a relatively small number' of sites, some of which attract few visitors during the winter months: 'For instance over one weekend in November, a number of these sites only welcomed 11 visitors.' He added that 22 of the other smaller sites would have special guided tours and temporary exhibitions to 'provide a richer experience than what we currently offer'. Nothing will be confirmed until after a formal consultation period.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
English Heritage plans up to 200 redundancies and winter closures of some sites
Staff at English Heritage have been shocked to discover that the cash-strapped organisation is planning up to 200 redundancies and the winter closure of various castles, abbeys and other historic sites in its care. At least 7% of the workforce could be affected, with curators being particularly targeted, it is believed. Under the cuts, 22 sites will become 'hidden gems', opening only on specific and limited days. They include properties as significant as Ranger's House in Greenwich, London, a Georgian villa with an important art collection, where part of Netflix's popular television series Bridgerton was filmed. A further 21 sites will be closed for winter. They include Lullingstone Roman Villa in Kent, begun in about AD100 and among the most outstanding examples in Britain; Totnes Castle in Devon, built 900 years ago during the Norman conquest, almost certainly by one of William the Conqueror's commanders; and Furness Abbey in Cumbria, once the largest monastery in north-west England, founded in the 12th century. 'This is seriously worrying,' one insider said. There are also fears for the demise of irreplaceable experience as experts could be made redundant or have some of their responsibilities handed over to a new layer of managers. One insider said staff were dismayed and that a colleague was in tears after last week's meeting about the organisation's 'reshaping'. 'All of our jobs are basically at risk. They won't tell us an exact number, but it's affecting virtually every department. Sacking so many people is unbelievable.' Another source said: 'We think we are talking 150 full-time equivalent redundancies – potentially up to 200 actual people.' English Heritage cares for more than 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. Since it is a charity, it does not receive a government grant, relying instead on membership, tickets and sales in its shops and cafes. It has 2,535 employees and more than 5,000 volunteers. Staff understand that the new structure will be in place in April. A source said among those invited to the meeting were three London curators who are on maternity leave: ' Basically, the whole thing has just been handled so badly.' Curators fear that responsibilities for 'collection management' and 'interpretation' – will be transferred to younger – and cheaper – 'collection managers' brought in to oversee them. A source said: 'That means getting rid of people who are extremely skilled, but who would require more money. Adding a new team of managers is going to add to the bureaucracy, layers of managers who are not necessarily art experts. I believe in giving young people opportunities, but they'll basically just employ people with absolutely no skills to fill these gaps and pay them probably peanuts. It's not right.' Prospect and the PCS, the unions that represent the heritage sector, are concerned. Steve Thomas, Prospect's deputy general secretary, said: 'Staff at English Heritage will be understandably worried about their future after hearing this news and worried about the future of the historic sites they work so hard to keep open to the public. 'We have been working with the employer to minimise redundancies … We recognise that the financial situation is difficult. But it is also true that the skilled and dedicated staff who keep our history alive are the very heart of this organisation. Losing these skills and this experience would damage our heritage as much as losing the sites themselves.' Fran Heathcote, the PCS's general secretary, said: 'We stand committed to protecting the jobs and livelihoods of our members … [who play] a key role in the vital task of preserving English history.' An English Heritage spokesperson said: 'All organisations need to review their structure from time to time and English Heritage has not done so for several years. In that time, our world has changed dramatically. The pandemic and its aftermath led to lasting changes in visitor expectations and behaviour, both domestically and internationally, while many of our visitors and members are facing challenges with the cost of living. 'High inflation has increased the cost of conservation work at our sites, but significant and ongoing expenditure is still required if the condition of the sites in our care is not to deteriorate. 'The aim of these proposals is to ensure that English Heritage is financially resilient and can fulfil our charitable purposes . We're committed to working with our employees and our trade unions to find ways to avoid and reduce redundancies where we can … Under these proposals, we will continue to have a team of more than 75 expert curators, historians and conservators.' He added that to exclude those on maternity leave from consultation would be unlawful. He argued that a reduction in opening hours would affect 'a relatively small number' of sites, some of which attract few visitors during the winter months: 'For instance over one weekend in November, a number of these sites only welcomed 11 visitors.' He added that 22 of the other smaller sites would have special guided tours and temporary exhibitions to 'provide a richer experience than what we currently offer'. Nothing will be confirmed until after a formal consultation period.
