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Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Exploration of neurodivergence in engaging show
Hic Sunt Dracones presents The NeuroSpice Girls, by Lizzie Tollemache Wednesday, July 23 24 Filleul St pop-up space Review by BRENDA HARWOOD A large and responsive audience gave a warm welcome to Christchurch-based playwright/actor Lizzie Tollemache's wildly engaging, high-energy exploration of the life-long impact of neurodivergence during last night's premiere performance of The NeuroSpice Girls. Described as ''a funny and ferocious neurodivergent odyssey, from gut-punching denial to celebration,'' the show is directed by Kim Morgan, who also produces through her local theatre company Hic Sunt Dracones (HSD). The NeuroSpice Girls centres on the challenges faced by Tollemache — as a child in the playground, as a teenager and as an adult, when she could finally set about dealing with her issues. Along the way, she shares intimate details — some hilarious and others heartbreaking — of the many times her unique thought processes led to embarrassment, anxiety and punishment. An entertaining and sympathetic performer, Tollemache's masterful performance is superbly supported by a ''Greek chorus'' of top notch local actors, Marama Grant, Lexie Tomlinson, Ellie Swann and Destiny Carvell. Each with their own stories of neurodivergence and challenges, the chorus help keep the energy levels high and add immensely to the show's frequent moments of hilarity with impeccable comic timing — especially during satiric moments like the wickedly hysterical ''therapy for the patriarchy'' sequence. They can really sing as well. Alongside its many very funny sequences, The NeuroSpice Girls is filled with relatable moments, such as the triumphant announcement of ''boundaries'' and the moving sharing of the women's whakapapa through their mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. An important aspect of the HSD kaupapa is to ''go off the map'' and find distinctive venues for each of its productions and the space at 24 Filleul St (next to the Urgent Pharmacy), sourced with support from the Dunedin Dream Brokerage, is a real coup. Clearly, a lot of work has gone into turning the space into a black box theatre, complete with a simple, effective and adaptive set designed and created by Matthew Morgan, into a fantastic performance space. The large, accessible venue has allowed HSD to cater for diverse audiences as well, with sofas, cushions and mats, as well as a ''chill out room''. Lighting design by Garry Keirle, sound and music by Matthew Morgan, and tech support by Jordan Wichman enhance the theatricality of the piece, while also minimising potential sensory overload. All in all, HSD's production of Tollemache's The NeuroSpice Girls is a triumph, bringing a fresh, informative and thoroughly entertaining approach to an important subject. Congratulations to all involved on a superb show. The NeuroSpice Girls continues at 24 Filleul St until Sunday, with performances at 7.30pm, and also 3pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Performers (top from left) Marama Grant, Lexie Tomlinson, Lizzie Tollemache, Destiny Carvell and (bottom) Ellie Swann during rehearsals of The NeuroSpice Girls. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Express Tribune
18-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Passenger train fares jacked up by 2%
The Pakistan Railways has made a 2% increase in the fares of passenger trains in view of a hike in the price of High Speed Diesel (HSD). This increase in fares will take effect from today, July 18. An undated office memorandum seen by The Express Tribune directed the director IT to ensure the announcement of the new fares on the PR website. The railways has also increased the rate of its freight trains transporting coal by 3% and the trains transporting rock phosphates and fertilizers by 2%. These hikes will apply from July 21. The government on Tuesday raised the prices of petroleum products by up to Rs11 per litre for the second half of July in a regressive step that is likely to exacerbate the economic hardships of people. According to a notification issued by the Finance Division on July 15, petrol price went up by Rs5.36 - from Rs266.79 to Rs272.15 per litre, while the price of the HSD rose by Rs11.37 per litre - from Rs272.98 to Rs284.35 for the July 16-31 period. This hike in the HSD price increased the cost of the PR operation by Rs4 million [39,86,500] per day and around R199 million [119,500,000] per month. On an average, the PR consumes around 350,000 litres of HSD on a daily basis.
Business Recorder
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Petrol price up by Rs5.36, HSD's by Rs11.37
ISLAMABAD: The federal government announced a significant hike in petroleum product prices on Tuesday, effective for the fortnight beginning July 16, 2025. This increase will see consumers paying considerably more at the pump. In a statement, Finance Division announced that petrol is set to rise by Rs 5.36 per litre, bringing the new ex-depot price to Rs 272.15 per litre, up from Rs 266.79. High-Speed Diesel (HSD) will see an even steeper increase of Rs 11.37 per litre, raising its price from Rs 272.98 to Rs 284.35 per litre. This follows a previous price adjustment where petrol increased by Rs 8.36 per litre and HSD by Rs 10.39 per litre, primarily attributed to fluctuations in international crude oil prices. Interestingly, the Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM) has been adjusted upward. For petrol, it's now fixed at Rs 8.89 per litre (up from Rs 6.96), and for HSD, it has also been up to Rs 6.04 per litre (from Rs 2.09). The government also kept petroleum levy unchanged on petrol at Rs 75.52 per litre and Rs 74.51 per litre on HSD. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Fuel prices likely to increase
ISLAMABAD: Petrol and diesel prices in Pakistan are expected to increase by up to Rs6.60 (2.5 percent) per litre for the next 15 days starting from July 16, 2025, according to an estimate of the petroleum industry. The estimated increase includes Rs6.60 per litre increase in petrol and Rs5.27 per litre (1.9 percent) rise in High-Speed Diesel (HSD). However, other petroleum products - kerosene oil and Light Diesel Oil (LDO) - may witness reductions of Rs3.74 (2 percent) and Rs2.23 per litre (1.3 percent), respectively. The estimates are based at Rs78.02 per litre Petroleum Levy (PL) and CSL on petrol and Rs77.01 per litre PL/CSL on HSD. Inland Freight Equalization Margin (IFEM) is assumed at Rs8.89 per litre on petrol and Rs6.04 per litre on HSD. Exchange rate adjustment on petrol may be Rs3 per litre on petrol and Rs2 per litre on HSD. Govt hikes petrol price by Rs8.36, diesel by Rs10.39 per litre According to the estimates, the premium on petrol is $9.68 per bbl and $3.25 per bbl on HSD. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) will finalise its recommendations on 15 July based on the latest global market trends and government's budgetary target of PL and carbon tax and Finance Division will announce new petroleum prices. In case the estimates of oil industry implements, the price of petrol would go up from Rs266.79 per litre to Rs273.39 per litre and HSD's price would rise from Rs272.98 to Rs278.25 per litre. On July 1, the federal government has increased petrol and HSD prices significantly attributing the hike to global market volatility amid the Iran-Israel war. Petrol increased by Rs8.36 to Rs266.79 per litre, and HSD by Rs10.39 to Rs272.98, based on OGRA's recommendation. Pakistan imports refined petrol around 85 percent of its petroleum consumption and 15 percent crude oil. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PAC questions PSO MD over oil spill incident
ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) grilled Pakistan State Oil (PSO) managing director (MD), who failed to satisfy the committee regarding an incident where 1.190 million litres of HSD worth millions of rupees was spilled. The committee met under the chairmanship of Junaid Akbar Khan which took notice on an application of Jamshed Dasti and observed it as major negligence. Secretary Petroleum Division while expressing ignorance about the incident, termed it a major negligence and recommended formation of an independent multi-stakeholders' inquiry committee which could also find out whether other criminality including theft was involved in it or not. The PSO MD informed the committee on 23rd August 2024, an oil spill incident occurred at JIMCO, while taking HSD receipt from PAPCO. After taking 1st receipt in tank 803, line up was developed for tank 818 and receipt was started for 2nd parcel. But receipt valve of 803 remained open, and tank overflowed which occurred during the Friday prayer break. Upon identification of issue, pumping was immediately stopped from PAPCO and retrieval process was started with bets efforts and available resources. The spilled quantity was 1,190,967 litres of HSD. After initial retrieval and reconciliation in August 2024, 167,313 litre have been retrieved subsequently. He further said that an internal enquiry was conducted and punitive action was taken against five employees along with termination of service and Rs41 million was recovered. Moreover, GM Operation was also demoted and removed from the department. PSO's share of loss was Rs187.9 million. However, the committee rejected the report while raising questions on the selection criteria for the environmental audit. It also rejected the report of PSO and the Ministry of Petroleum on the matter and asked what impact it had on the environment. It asked what input was taken from the EPA, on which the officials were unable to respond. The committee referred the matter to a sub-committee for investigation. The committee also took audit objections regarding Pakistan Post Office. An unauthorised use of funds of Rs4 billion by the Post Office was revealed. The committee said that the matter should be resolved within three months. The committee revealed that NADRA has been occupying the State Bank building in Islamabad for 25 years. The committee was informed that during audit of State Bank of Pakistan, Banking Services Corporation (SBP-BSC), Islamabad for the year 2020-21 and 2021-22, it was observed that NADRA occupied building of SBP-BSC, Islamabad in year 2000, without any agreement and payment of rent. The Ministry of Finance (MoF) convened several meetings to resolve the issue between SBP and NADRA, in which, it was decided that compensation charges @ Rs7.00 per sq ft will be paid by NADRA and NCD to SBP since occupation till year 2003 and thereafter with enhancement as per provision of Rent Restriction Ordinance, 2000. However, it was observed that Rs20.961 million (124,770 sq ft @ Rs7.000 per sq ft @ 24 months) for the year 2020-21 and 2021-22 was not recovered by the management nor the space was vacated by NADRA till date. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
