Right On Said Fred
Local comedian Ellen Briggs has put together another Comedy for a Cause gig, this time for locals Bill Nicholls and John (Fitzy) Fitzgerald, who are taking off on a 300km walk to raise awareness and research funds for Type 1 Diabetes.
The night features Ellen as MC, an auction, raffles and door prizes, and the one and only Fred Lang from Brisbane.
Fred used to be a butcher and has stepped out from behind the meat counter to become one of Australia’s most sought-after comedians, performing all over the country at all the major clubs and events.
He has the unique ability to relate to every person in the audience, leaving them wanting more.
Friday, Mullum Ex-Services Club, 8pm, $20. Tickets available at the club or the newsagency, or on the door if not sold out.
Artsexposure
The Byron Bay Brewery welcomes a new regular Thursday event: Artsexposure, a night that features graffiti artists creating their art on the spot, decor installations, DJs playing hip-hop, glitch, dub, liquid DNB, progressive psy and minimal tech, and fire spinners!
All will be performing on the night. 7pm.
Different Women, Same Dress
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress is a seriously humorous play by Alan Ball that combines a celebration of female friendship with a satire on the pretensions and foibles of the upper middle class and the exposé of the skeletons in their closets.
Poor people don’t have the room to hide skeletons! This is a play that women will identify with, and men will whimper at the sight of secret women’s business, especially what women think and talk about when men aren’t present.
Shows Friday and Saturday at 8pm at the Drill Hall and 5pm on Sunday. Tickets $25 – go to drillhalltheatre.org.au.
Writers at the Rails Turns 22
On the Writers Festival weekend the Writers at the Rails will celebrate its 22nd anniversary with a special show featuring festival guest Omar Musa, a Malaysian-Australian rapper and poet, former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and Indian Ocean Poetry Slam, along with popular Lillian Rock poet Christine Strelan.
The Sunday arvo show starts around 2pm with invited readings, and there will also be a poetry slam. Free entry.
Thank Goodness for the Goddess!
When Aphrodite, goddess of love, sex and creativity returns to Earth to find the reincarnation of her true love Adonis, she finds the place in chaos, pointless warring between nations and the sexes, values such as sensuality, compassion and cooperation demeaned and cruelty, objectification, cynicism and competition all the rage. Nothing, as you might notice, has changed in 2,000 years!
Unimpressed Aphrodite gives humanity one more chance and calls on four other powerful goddesses: Morrigan, the swearing Irish goddess of vengeance, Persephone the compliant depressed daughter and goddess of the underworld, Diana, party animal and goddess of the moon, and Quan Yin, a goddess who embraces her broken-ness to become the goddess of compassion.
Conversations with Goddesses is a wonderful play written and performed by local actor Louise McCabe. Byron Centre on Friday at 8pm. Tickets are $25 online at byroncentre.com.au or call box office on 6685 6807.
Kennedy at the Big Gig
Simon Kennedy is one of Australia’s most intelligent, insightful, and versatile comedians. Why just this year he released his first book 9/11 and The Art of Happiness – about the tragic loss of his mother in the now-infamous dark day of terrorism.
Kennedy is also a regular host of Studio 10 and has guested on Channel 7’s and Channel 9’s The Morning Show and The Project. With more than 14 years as an international headline comedian, presenter and writer Kennedy has a diverse bag of tricks. He is also a gifted voiceover artist with lead roles in numerous animated short films and series.
In addition to hosting The Show With No Name and Kennedy & Philp on Sydney’s Nova 96.9FM, Simon was the chief creative writer and comedy brain for the Nova radio network across Australia for seven years.
Simon has also provided characters and comedy sketches to Triple M Sydney. Simon is joined by Peter Willey, a geologist making his welcome return to the stage after a short retirement. ‘Willey is a genius,’ says Nolan. ‘I am so glad to welcome him back to the stage! His show rocks, and I don’t just say that because he’s a geologist.’ Mandy Nolan is the MC at the Big Gig at the Ballina RSL this Thursday from 8pm. Free.
SNIPPETS
OS Art Expo
Entries for artworks for the OCEAN SHORES ART EXPO are due soon. Painters, printers, artists of all kinds, photographers and sculptors are all welcome to enter. Go online www. osartexpo.com for all details and online entry by midnight on Sunday August 3.
Byron Sophia
Byron Sophia Philosophical Group: Who is Running the Show? presented by Sean & Rachelle White, Gnostic Society Byron Bay. Thursday 31 July, 1–3pm, at Masonic Centre, 6 Byron St, Byron Bay. Info: Celia 6684 3623.
Byron Forums
Thursday 31 July at 6pm Byron Forums is discussing the topic of war, revolution and violence in Gaza and the Ukraine. Cafe Oska, 1 Carlyle St, Byron Bay.
Lone Goat exhibition
Lone Goat Gallery presents ‘SPRUNG!!’ by Byron photographer Katrina Folk- well. The show launches with a special performance by the dancers on Friday 1 August at 6pm and runs until 13 Au gust. Contact John Rado info.sprung@ gmail.com.
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