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Made to measure
Art, science and the obesity epidemic
As part of Seymour's Centre's premiere season of Made to Measure by Alana Valentine, this special Sydney Ideas event explores the role the arts has to play in investigating major public health issues.
Made to Measure takes the story of a bride-to-be's search for her dream wedding dress to delve into ideas around body shape and social prejudice.
Writer Alana Valentine spent over 12 months engaging with scientists working at the forefront of tackling obesity to develop this stunning new work.
Following the performance, join us for a discussion that investigates the connection between the performing arts and science, and asks: can it really change perceptions?
This Sydney Ideas event is co-presented with Charles Perkins Centre and Seymour Centre.
Made to Measure runs from 16 May – 1 June at Seymour Centre. It is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Presented in association with the Bupa Health Foundation.
The speakers
Alana Valentine is an Australian dramatist, and was a Writer-in-Residence for 2017 at the Charles Perkins Centre, an innovative research facility addressing diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Her play Ear to the Edge of Time, researched at Parkes Observatory and in consultation with prize-winning astrophysicists won the S.T.A.G.E International Award in 2012. Alana works with Bangarra Dance Theatre as dramaturg. Recent books include Dear Lindy (NLA) and Bowerbird: The art of making theatre drawn from life (Currency Press).
Stephen Simpson is Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre, foundation member of the Obesity Collective and Chair of its Curators group, and Professor in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney. He has been named NSW Scientist of the Year (2009), elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London (2013) and made a Companion of the Order of Australia (2015). Stephen has also been prominent in the media, including presenting a four-part documentary series for ABC TV, Great Southern Land.
Santina Porpiglia is Creative Director at Collezione Santina & Ms Santina. A Rag Trade baby, having grown up amongst Australia's elite Designers, creating and working with beautiful fabrics is a natural occurrence for Santina. Santina has been dressing women for all occasions since 1987, coming from a line of textile makers & dressmakers, including her mother who is still an integral part of the creating process.
Lead image credit: promotional image of Made to Measure. Supplied courtesy of Seymour Centre.