A play that goes to hard place
Director Penelope Chater returns to the Drill Hall to direct a new two-woman play starring two local actors, Linda Rutledge and Amanda Sebasio-Ong. This Pulitzer prize-winning drama was lauded for its emotional honesty and realistic dialogue. The play deals with the suicide of Jessie. At first her mother refuses to take her seriously but as the show continues we can see that this is the last unstoppable moment that ends her profound unhappiness. This eloquent, enthralling and ultimately shattering play explores the final hour in a life of a young woman who has decided that life is no longer worth living.
‘Night Mother shows on 23, 24, and 25 September. Bookings at drillhalltheatre.org.au or tickets at the Mullumbimby Bookshop.
Getting women writing
Screenworks is currently calling for applications to The Athena Project from regionally based female screenwriters and directors across Australia. Applicants can be individual writers and/or directors or teams of two – a writer and director. With applications closing next week (8 September), the support from the multiple funding bodies, in addition to support from Screen Australia, means that approximately $5,000 will be offered to each participating individual or team selected. The financial package for participants will be administered by Screenworks, who will also provide ongoing support for 12 months to all participants to assist them in implementing their career plans. To apply, applicants need to demonstrate initial success in the screen industry, identify the barriers they face in trying to advance their careers, and submit a draft career plan.
For more details, eligibility and how to apply visit screenworks.com.au/theathenaproject.
Inspired by flight
Damien O’Mara’s Dreamliner series on show at the Ballina Airport this month take the viewer on a journey through the complex structure and the industrial designs of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner series. The series departs from traditionally objective modes of representation by depicting the subject in an abstract way by focusing on detail and material. At the Ballina airport until 2 November.
Okay Jesus, One More Time with Feeling
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have revealed Jesus Alone, the first track from their new studio album to be released next week – Skeleton Tree. Accompanying the track is footage of the band performing the song taken from Andrew Dominik’s 3D black-and-white feature film One More Time with Feeling.
Screening Thursday at Pighouse Flicks in Byron.
Most Komikal Kabaret!
RealartWorks’ annual fundraiser is The Most Komikal Kabaret – a unique opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together!
Emerging and professional artists with and without disability perform circus, dance, spoken word and song. The event even features a 100-strong flashmob. For the past six weeks Mandy Nolan has been working with a group of aspiring comedians.
The all-inclusive course includes a young man with cerebral palsy, a woman undergoing chemotherapy, a blind musician and Lismore City mayor Jenny Dowell!
Emceed by Jimmy Willing and Mandy Nolan, this Friday is an event not to be missed.
Tix are $20 at the door or online at the Lismore Workers Club.
Singing in spring
Song comp for young musos, Saturday 17 September will see Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School celebrating the annual Spring Fair ‘The Earth is our Garden’ with the songwriting competition as the biggest drawcard.
This is the seventh consecutive year that Cape Byron Steiner have run a songwriting competition, with contestants and past winners coming from all over Byron, Ballina and Lismore areas.
The Spring Fair is the school’s biggest event each year, running from 10am till 3pm and the songwriter competition from 12 noon till 1pm. Winners will be announced at 2.45pm on the day.
With prizes including tickets to Bluesfest, tickets and performing at Mullum Music Festival, recording time at Double Bassment, an acoustic guitar from Byron Music, this is one comp well worth entering.
For more information go to the school website: capebyronsteiner.nsw.edu.au.
The Big Meow
Post-post-modern diva Meow Meow’s unique brand of ‘kamikaze cabaret’ and performance-art exotica has hypnotised, inspired and terrified audiences globally.
The spectacular crowdsurfing queen of song ‘drags cabaret kicking and screaming into the 21st century’, with trail-blazing sell-out seasons from New York’s Lincoln Center to London’s Apollo Theatre and the Sydney Opera House. And she is about to hit NORPA at Lismore City Hall for two wild nights of sequins and satire, original songs and re-imaginings of witty wicked Weimar, Brel, Brecht, Kitt and Radiohead, music, politics and mayhem.
Friday 30 September & 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.
Ballina Players in Paddy play
There’s money in Irish history, realise Fintan Kinnore (Mike Sheehan) and Dermod Gibbon (Daniel Richards). They named the Patrick Pearse Motel after one of the greatest heroes and martyrs in the 1916 Rising against English rule. He was executed for his leadership role. Each of the motel’s rooms is named after another national hero, and Fintan and Dermod plan to open a chain of motels, cashing in on pride in Irish heritage. The stage is almost set for The Patrick Pearse Motel.
Written by Hugh Leonard and directed by Sue Belsham, The Patrick Pearse Motel will be staged at the Players Theatre from 9 till 18 September, Thursdays to Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 2pm. Book online at www.ballinaplayers.com.au or at Just Funkin Music, 6686 2440 (a booking fee applies).
