Most of the region’s halls brought to life as part of Arts Northern Rivers’ If These Halls Could Talk project are historic structures dating back a century or more.
But Broadwater’s Rileys Hill Hall is just about to celebrate its 20th birthday and a big bash is planned this coming weekend.
Local favourites Spaghetti Circus and Roundabout Theatre in collaboration with Joey Ruigrok van der Werven will be celebrating by throwing a free community event and parade in the town on October 1.
If These Halls Could Talk features international and locally renowned artists and creative teams who have each transformed one of the seven halls in the project into an immersive site-specific work in response to the unique narrative of the hall and its community.
Riley Hill Hall’s 20th birthday party will begin with a vibrant street parade to deliver a giant cake to the hall.
Leaving from the Fisher Street Field at 4pm, the parade is inspired by the local Richmond River and will incorporate river themed floats and decorations that the community made during creative making workshops lead by artist Joey Ruigrok van der Werven.
At the hall there will be an all-out theatrical party with a long table feast, party games, live music and dancing, community performances, cheeky speeches and surprising birthday gifts to the hall and lots more.
Spaghetti Circus will be conducting specialty circus workshop with 30 young people from Broadwater and surrounding area over the school holidays to create a unique performance for the celebration.
‘We are really excited to be able to use the stories of the hall as inspiration to create our own magical story and to use circus as a way to bring this to life. There are some really talented and enthusiastic young people around Broadwater and we can’t wait to work with them’ says Spaghetti Creative Director, Simone O’Brien.
Arts Northern Rivers CEO Peter Wood said Arts Northern Rivers is proud to have worked with these acclaimed artists and creative teams to be able present this program in our region.
‘We scored a trifecta at Broadwater Hall having two of the best physical theatre companies in Australia Spaghetti Circus and Roundabout Theatre team up with Joey who creates large-scale sets and creations guarantees that this will be the most spectacular birthday a hall has ever seen and everyone is invited to be part of it!’
The four-month If These Halls Could Talk program includes theatre, opera, visual arts, film and circus and runs from the 17 September – 17 December 2016.
20th Birthday Party
Date: 1 October 2016
Time: 4pm – 8:30pm
Where: Broadwater Rileys Hill Hall, Little Pitt Street, Broadwater
Parade: Meet at Fisher Street Field 4pm
$: free event
Limited space event – bookings are encouraged via the website www.ifthesehallscouldtalk.com.au
