Bill Direen Explained

William Direen
Alias:Bill Direen
Years Active:1975–present

Bill (also William) Direen is a musician and poet. He manages the music group Bilders and lives in Otago, New Zealand.[1]

Direen has appeared at Book Festivals in New Zealand, the USA and Eastern Europe, but is better known for his music and songs, recorded and performed with musicians in NZ and overseas. He has made small tours of USA,[2] Europe,[3] Serbia[4] and Australia,.[5] He is the subject of a documentary, Bill Direen, A Memory of Others, directed by Simon Ogston (2017).[6]

Books and Theatre

Direen directed the alternative Blue Ladder Theatre at 87 Cashel Street in 1984–85 [7] Christchurch,[8] [9] [10] and later produced a series of experimental "psycho-musicals" in Wellington.[11] Later writing (1994–present) ranges from criticism[12] and speculative fiction[13] to science fiction and poetry sometimes performed with collaborating musicians.[14]

From 2006 to 2017 he edited a trans-cultural literary annual Percutio, "dedicated to aspects of the creative process and to works that bridge cultures".[15] He edited a special anthology in 2021 to oppose cost-cutting depletion of New Zealand National Library's non-NZ books.[16] [17] He occasionally reads his works, and still performs music live, solo and in groups under the collective title Bilders.

Bibliography (for Discography see Bilders)

Evolition Poems. Publisher: 1995 (Printed letter press). R. S. Gormack (Printer), Nick Gormack (Printer), Nag's Head Press (Christchurch, N.Z.), F. Cartwright & Son (Binder)Print Book, English, 1995[28]

Awards and fellowships

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stoats of Otago. 30 June 2017.
  2. Web site: Bill Direen Keeps Learning About Himself Through Others.
  3. News: Sanssouci: Vorschlag. Die Tageszeitung: Taz. 24 March 1995. 28. Waechter. Johannes.
  4. Web site: Pelen – Bil Dirin.
  5. http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=51222 "a momentary Melbourne band of Barry Stockley, Jess McCann and Tama Stockley"
  6. Bill Direen: A Memory of Others |url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/bill-direen-memory-of-others-2017 |publisher=NZ On Screen Iwi Whitiahua |access-date= 10 December 2021
  7. "a genuine alternative theatre", Dr. Richard Corballis, NZ Times 14 October 1984
  8. Web site: BLUE LADDER THEATRE. THE WEDDING PARTY ON THE EIFFEL TOWER. ngataonga.org.nz.
  9. "a chamber version of grand guignol" Richard Corballis, NZ Times 14 October 1984
  10. Web site: Bill Direen Théâtre Les Cenci d'après Shelley et Artaud – Vidéo Dailymotion. Dailymotion. 8 November 2009.
  11. Bernadette Rae, NZ Herald, 25 July 1992.
  12. https://landfallreview.com/daring-to-take-the-leap-into-clarity/ Review of "Karl Wolfskehl, A Poet in Exile" by Friedrich Voit, Cold Hub Press, 2019
  13. Web site: The Imaginary Museum: Millennials (4): Song of the Brakeman (2006). 19 October 2019.
  14. Web site: Bill Direen's Ferocious. Radio New Zealand. 25 May 2020.
  15. Web site: William (Bill) Direen: 2010 University of Auckland Writers Residency. Michael King Writers. Centre. 2 August 2018.
  16. Scoop Publishing Ltd|= https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=140249/ |title=Ten writers at public protest against National Library plans to get rid of books |publisher= Scoop Foundation for Public Interest Journalism |access-date= 10 December 2021
  17. No Disposals Anthology|= https://nodisposals.neocities.org |publisher=Writers Against NZ National Library Disposals |access-date= 10 December 2021
  18. Publisher description: https://www.grapefruitrecordclub.com/products/william-direen-100-years-of-darkness-book
  19. NZ distributor description: https://southindies.neocities.org/html/100YearsDarkness
  20. Item description: https://unitybookswellington.co.nz/product/stream-light/
  21. Label description: https://www.discogs.com/release/27036921-Bilders-Mindful-expanded
  22. Graham Reid Reviews https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/writingelsewhere/10325/seasons-by-william-direen/
  23. Web site: Road Runner. Flying Out.
  24. Web site: Sport 18. 6 May 2011.
  25. Web site: Pelen – Bil Dirin. partizanska knjiga.
  26. https://search.worldcat.org/title/29367268
  27. https://search.worldcat.org/title/Inklings-:-poems/oclc/31037772
  28. https://search.worldcat.org/title/34179495
  29. Web site: Medals and awards search. Royal Society Te Apārangi.
  30. Web site: Scholarships at UC | University of Canterbury. www.canterbury.ac.nz.
  31. Web site: Graduate Search – Alumni Association | University of Canterbury. The University of Canterbury.
  32. Scoop Independent News | Title: Julius Vogel Awards for Science Fiction, Fantasy And Horror | https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1106/S00103/julius-vogel-awards-for-science-fiction-fantasy-and-horror.htm | June 8, 2011