Roll Up Roll Up!
Australia’s contemporary circus world comes to Mullumbimby at the end of this month for the Mullum Circus Festival.
Over three days, the Mullumbimby Showgrounds will be alive with circus, physical theatre, cabaret, sideshow, comedy, music and more. Seven stages including big top, flying trapeze, outdoor mainstage, aerial rigs, carnie alley, bar, cafe, market stalls, workshops, talks, cinema and unexpected delights.
First staged in 2013, the biennial festival is presented by Mullumbimby-based Spaghetti Circus. Spaghetti Circus is one of Australia’s leading youth circuses, providing highly specialised circus and physical theatre training since 1992.
Preceded by a sold-out training program for circus practitioners and professionals and the National Youth Circus Symposium, the Mullum Circus Festival is a ‘gathering of the tribe’ for circus artists, aspiring youth, schools, administrators, advocates, friends and circus fans. Headline acts include Gravity & Other Myths, Die Roten Punkte, The Chipolatas, Trash Test Dummies, Ninja Circus and more.
Experience the inspiring edge of Australian circus and immerse yourself in wonder at the Mullum Circus Festival. 25–27 September, 2015, Mullumbimby Showgrounds.
Single-day, weekend and three-day camping tickets available from mullumcircusfestival.com.
Getting a spring in your song
Cape Byron’s Steiner School is renowned for its creativity, and this year it continues to foster the talents of young people in the region with their sixth consecutive songwriting competition.
Celebrating the annual spring fair Seed to Soul, contestants will be coming from all over Byron, Ballina and Lismore areas. The competition is open to all high-school-age students in the local area and they are to perform their song on the day. Prizes include an SAE recording package, two tickets to Bluesfest 2016, tickets and performance opportunity at Mullum Music Festival 2015 and a Byron Music/Double Bassment rehearsal time and voucher. Special guest performer judge is Lucie Thorne with other judges Glenn Wright and Kate Atkinson.
Entries close 4 September. Applications online: capebyronsteiner.nsw.edu.au/community/festivals-and-events/song-comp/.
For more information go to [email protected].
Using Your Grayling Matter
Internationally renowned philosopher AC Grayling’s lucid and stimulating books are grounded in the idea that philosophy should engage with the world and make itself useful. As he says in his essay on The Public Intellectual:
‘Without people who are alert and engaged, who are eager to debate, and who have some expertise to offer from their studies or experience, the public conversation would be a meagre thing. What such people offer is exactly what the public conversation needs: ideas, perspectives, criticism and commentary. What anyone who offers them should expect in return is robust examination of what they offer.
‘Whether ideas come to be accepted or rejected, everyone gains by having them discussed.’
Professor Grayling will be presenting his talk The Challenge of Things, where he examines the world in a time of war and conflict. By thinking through difficult topics in troubled times, Grayling explores the habits and prejudices of mind that might otherwise trap us in a sterile cul-de-sac and opens up the possibility of more creative approaches.
Whether he is discussing the legacy of the first World War, the killing of Osama Bin Laden, free speech, the advantages of an atheist prime minister or the role of science in the arts, his insights are always life-enhancing, thought-provoking and hopeful.
Thursday 10 September at the Byron Theatre at 6pm, $30 members / $35 non-members.
Return of the Boy with Green Thumbs
By popular request TreeTop Theatre return for three shows only with their special locally grown theatre show TISTOU, The Boy With the Green Thumbs. This is 45-minute show features Tistou, an eight-year-old boy, who reminds us that life can flower into so much more than the fixed ideas many adults bring to it.
Shows will be held at Coorabell Hall, Saturday at 4pm and Sunday at 11am, and at Broken Head Hall Sunday at 11am.
Tickets $5 per child three and older, $10 per adult and $20 per family (up to four people).
Bring your own cushions.
Moonlight and Magnolias
Ballina Players production of Ron Hutchinson’s fast, sharp and very funny play Moonlight and Magnolias tells the farcical story behind the making of Gone with the Wind. Selznick insisted on using only the dialogue of the novel in the film script. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
Moonlight and Magnolias will be staged at the Players Theatre over 4–19 September. Evening performances will commence at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Opening-night patrons will receive a complimentary glass of champagne.
Book online at ballinaplayers.com.au or at Just Funkin Music, 6686 2440.
Poetry at the Rails
Byron’s Writers at the Rails will be back for the spring poetic show this Sunday and feature the region’s tip-top hip-hop poet Daniel ‘Triple Nip’ Pearson along with Scott ‘Darkwing Dub’ Wings just back from gigs in India. Afternoon show will also include invited readings and the popular Poetry Slam. Kicks off at 2pm. Free entry.
Sydney comedian to head up Comedy at the Court House
One of Australia’s funniest headline acts, Sydney comedian Brett Nichols, has been knocking them dead for more than a decade in comedy rooms all over the country. He has strutted his stuff on The Footy Show and The Comedy Channel’s Stand Up Australia, and has entertained Aussie and New Zealand troops in East Timor and the Solomon Islands. His versatility and ad-libbing excellence sees him transfer every show into a night you’ll never forget!
Brett Nichols is the featured MC at the Court House Hotel in Mullumbimby for the monthly Court House Comedy on Thursday at 8pm. Free! Exciting new acts live and local!
Dancing for Cancer
Based on the idea of a popular television dancing show, Stars of Byron Shire Dance For Cancer, the popular fundraiser sees 10 high-profile Byron Shire residents teaming up with 10 local dance teachers to learn a choreographed dance routine.
The local ‘stars’ will perform their routine at a gala charity event this Saturday at The Byron Theatre. To purchase your ticket call 6685 6807 or visit byroncentre.com.au. Be quick – tickets are running out fast! Tickets are $50 per head and includes light food, drink on arrival, and entertainment.
One-day puppet-making workshop
Puppets are a powerful tool for communicating with children. Ideal for teachers, therapists and activity officers. Create your own puppet & bring it to life.
9am till 4pm, Sunday 13 September in Ocean Shores. Cost: $250 – includes lunch. Contact 6680 5895 or email [email protected].
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