By Al McCall
Rather than wring his hands and lament that political satire seemed to be in its dog days, Dave Riley decided to do something about it.
"Good satire", he told 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, "is rare. It rages for a time, then rests. It's time to wake it up."
With a pilot project called the Satire Workshop, Riley has been trying to hone old blades.
"We've been networking locally and overseas to get in touch with bona fide satirists", he says.
"Unfortunately, much contemporary satire is of the right, rather than of the left persuasion, with misogyny and "political correctness" being favoured topics. Rather than have our plans thwarted by these discoveries, the charter for the workshop seems to have grown in relevance."
Riley, a regular columnist for 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, is to edit a new magazine soon to be launched by the Satire Workshop.
"We're calling it GRAFFITO. Initially it will be an e-mailed bulletin — something of a cross between a newsletter and an anthology. But we're keen to move to a printed form as soon as we can.
"Early subscription floats indicate that there are quite a few people out there who are keen on this project, so we're sure to be guaranteed a core readership."
Riley said another aim is "to turn the Satire Workshop into a resource for left greens and green lefts. Any scripts, songs, poetry or the like which have a sharp satiric edge, we're keen to distribute to those campaigns where they can do the most good.
"So as well as publishing submitted works we want to maintain an extensive database of material that can be employed again and again in campaign work.
"We're looking for street theatre and cabaret skits especially — routines that can be utilised to liven the message we're all on about."
According to Riley, the project has "got to the stage where we can offer to write to order. If, say, there's a major event coming up — a rally or march, public meeting or conference — that could do with a bit of theatrical pizzazz, the workshop is now offering to work on assignment within certain prescribed parameters.
"Of course, it logically follows, that what we also need to do is sponsor performances, even performing groups. Give us time."
Riley is seeking submissions for GRAFFITO. Each edition will be published as soon as enough material is received. "Any would-be satirists out there should get in touch ASAP", Riley says.
Subscriptions to the GRAFFITO e-mail edition are free. Anyone who wants their name listed for the printed version — when it becomes available — should submit their name and address now.
Of course, like any project such as this, GRAFFITO and the Satire Workshop need all the financial assistance they can get. Contributions can be made payable to Cultural Dissent Culture Fund.
Subscriptions, submissions and inquiries should be sent to: The Satire Workshop or GRAFFITO — contemporary political satire on line c/- Cultural Dissent, PO BOX 394, Broadway NSW 2007, or e-mailed to dhell@ozemail.com.au. Editorial direct, phone: (07) 3266 4281.