Real, Raw & Rivetting
The play ’Night, Mother by Marsha Norman, a co-production between the Drill Hall Theatre Company, Mullumbimby, and White Swan productions is directed by Alka (Penelope Chater) and stars two of the region’s favourite actors, Linda Rutledge and Amanda Sebasio-Ong.
Marsha Norman received a Pulitzer prize for Drama for ’Night, Mother in 1983. Critics lauded the play for its emotional honesty and realistic dialogue, with much praise on the play’s unflinching depiction of a family, specifically a mother and daughter, in crisis.
The production will be the first play in the rejuvenated Drill Hall Theatre. With comfortable tiered seating, air-conditioning and additional lighting, the space is fast becoming a quality venue without losing its Mullumbimby character.
’Night, Mother plays for three performances: 7.30pm Friday and Saturday and 2pm Sunday. Tickets ($20 & $25) are on sale now at drillhalltheatre.org.au or at The Bookshop Mullumbimby.
Raising the Boomerang for Blues
Boomerang Festival, Bundjalung country’s very own world-class Indigenous arts and culture festival, is launching a series of satellite events to raise awareness and funds for its long-term future. Boomerang needs upwards of $800,000 to become a standalone festival once again, and a minimum of $200,000 each time it presents at Bluesfest.
The ultimate goal is to make Boomerang Festival the foremost Indigenous arts and culture festival in the world. Local businesses and individuals are standing side by side with Boomerang, building an exciting program of events that focuses on creating access to Aboriginal culture and knowledge.
Bluesfest is committed to hosting and building support each year until the goal is achieved. Details of upcoming Boomerang fundraisers will be released through the year, and information will be available via www.boomerangfestival.com.au.
The first upcoming event is the Wild Harvest Dinner and Foraging Stories at Harvest in Newrybar on 19 October (bookings via Harvest only harvestnewrybar.com.au).
Saved by a poem
Most of us have reached for a poem in a moment of strife or love or grief. What poems have held your heart? Dangerously Poetic Press is exploring the theme Saved by a Poem at its next reading on Friday, 7–8.30pm at St Martin’s Anglican Hall, 42 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby. You are invited to share a short poem that has served to heal or sustain in some way.
$12/10 DP members. Bring a cushion.
The Anti-Chris at the Big Gig
After a white-bred, middle-class upbringing, Chris turned out an arty-trendy sort of try-hard, and a magnet for dominant women. A product of his environment, Chris lives a life of weird repetitions with no time for rational thought.
Chris’s suave attitude has seen him steadily climb the comic ladder. In 1998 he won the title of Comedian of the Year at the famous Harold Park Hotel in Sydney, joining past winners such as the Umbilical Brothers, Flacco, Carl Barron and Kenny Graham. Chris was also successful in taking out the Grand Final for the 1999 Triple J Raw Comedy Competition in Melbourne, which earned him a trip to Edinburgh Comedy Festival.
Sharp witted and daringly clever, Chris’s fresh brand of comedy is guaranteed to bring any audience undone. From corporate functions to exclusive presentations, Chris has taken his fun and intelligent standup routine throughout Australia and overseas. Chris Wainhouse is the headline act at the Ballina RSL’s Big Gig comedy night this month with Mandy Nolan as MC and Greg Sullivan as the support.
Thursday 29 September at 8pm. Ballina RSL. Free.
New Standups stand up!
This Monday sees 14 new standup comedy hopefuls throw caution to the wind and take that first step into the blazing spotlight. ‘Being onstage is a powerful place,’ says Nolan, who has been applying herself to the dark art of standup for the past 30 years. ‘When you are up on stage on your own with no props, no instrument, no people to hide behind, you get this incredible experience of it’s all being you. And it is. Standup is only about your ability to connect with an audience. Nothing else will do. No tricks. No pretending. That’s what makes it so dynamic.’ Over the last six weeks Nolan has delivered the basics on joke crafting, on structure, on how to find your voice and, most importably, how to stand in the spotlight and be funny. ‘They’re great,’ says Nolan. ‘Really, really funny.’
Catch the first ever performance at their Virgin Sacrifice on Monday at the Byron Services Club. Tickets at the door or can be booked on 6619 0529.
Very Arty Party!
The Arty Party, a free one-day arts festival event for children and families, returns to Spinks Park in Lismore during the school holidays 11am–4pm,
6 October!
The three local, creative women behind the one-day festival – Claudie Frock, Valley Lipcer and Gabrielle Griffin of Roundabout Theatre – want to keep The Arty Party a free event, so if you are in a position to ‘pay it forward’ to families in our community who couldn’t afford to attend if there were an entrance fee, please support their crowdfunding campaign at pozible.com/project/the-arty-party.
Bloody funny Kev
Without traditional media support, all of Kevin Bloody Wilson’s albums and DVDs have achieved gold sales status globally, with many reaching platinum, and one, Kev’s Back, awarded an amazing quadruple platinum. Ironically, twenty-five years ago, Kevin Bloody Wilson was arrested for performing his songs in public yet, on Australia Day in January 2010, he was officially nominated for Australian of the Year for doing exactly the same thing. Don’t miss your chance to see Kevin Bloody Wilson in your own backyard – Club Mullum at The Ex-Services, Friday 8pm. Tickets $55 available now online at www.clubmullum.com and at the door.
Theatre workshops for women with trauma
Public Act Theatre are launching a series of theatre workshops for women who have experienced domestic violence or trauma. It will run over 10 weeks and conclude in a public theatre forum. Fee is $120. Contact Philippa Williams on 0422 882 319.
Cheeky Cabaret at the Picture House
Roll up, roll up … That’s right folks; it’s that time of month again. Watch on and let your jaw drop wide as this multifarious clique of circus superstars, tricksters, daredevils and extraordinary entertainers come from far and wide to present yet another, not-to-be-forgotten, cheeky cabaret weekend at The Brunswick Picture House. The laughter will be infectious, records will be broken and the stage will sizzle. Don’t miss out. As always, bring grandma but leave the little ones at home. Friday and Saturday, 7pm at Brunswick Picture House, 30 Fingal St, Brunswick Heads.
Tickets at brunswickpicturehouse.com.
What’s new, Pussycat?
Named ‘cabaret diva of the highest order’ by New York Post, one of the Top Performers of the Year by The New Yorker, ‘The Queen of Chanson’ by the Berliner Zeitung and ‘a phenomenon’ by the Australian press, multi-award-winning Meow Meow’s solo works have been curated by David Bowie, Pina Bausch and Mikhail Baryshnikov among others.
In a 5-star review of her recent performance of Feline Intimate at the 2016 Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Advertiser writes, ‘Meow Meow reels us in with mock production dilemmas, uses us to meet her diva whims and manipulates masculine limbs to accommodate her needs… Some acts raise the bar so high it requires Olympic training to clear it. In the world of cabaret that delightful diva is Meow Meow.’ Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October, 7.30pm. Diner and bar open from 6pm. NORPA at Lismore City Hall. $22–56, Bookings: www.norpa.org.au or 1300 066 772
