Byron Latin Fiesta
Get those salsa bodies ready, the Byron Latin Fiesta is now in its 11th year and gearing up for one inspired, sweaty showdown of instructors, performers, Latin bands and DJs.
Festival Hub is the Byron Theatre with beginner workshops at Club Byron (The Bowlo), a pre-party on 3 November at the Ginger Pig, and all the after-parties at Guzman y Gomez. Latin bands include Chukale, directed by percussionist and singer Gustavo Cereijo. The band has supported international salsa icons Sonora Carrusueles from Columbia, Venezuela’s Grammy winners Los Amigos Invisibles and Grammy-winning Cuban cultural institutions Los Van Van and a whole lot more. Dedicated to creating a benchmark for Latin music in Australia, the one thing you won’t be doing when these guys are playing is sitting on a bench. It’s impossible to keep that booty static.
For a taste of what’s in store go to the Bangalow Bowlo on Saturday, from 6pm for salsa and latin. Byron Latin Fiesta, 4–6 November: byronlatinfiesta.com.au.
All Women All Shakespeare
Hard to believe that more than 400 years ago Shakespeare penned his farewell to pure comedy: Twelfth Night. Balancing the gaiety, boisterousness and drunken carousing of Sir Toby Belch with the pathos of unrequited love and the pomposity and self-deception of Malvolio and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, this is the perfect vehicle to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of our greatest poet. For the upcoming performance by the Drill Hall Theatre Company, the script has been edited in a more contemporary light, enlivening the celebration with the production set in the 1950s, including eight songs played by a live band and featuring four circus interludes. And because in Shakespeare’s day only males were allowed onstage, now in 2016 the theatre company are presenting the show with an all-female cast.
The Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby – Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 21 October till 6 November. For tickets go to the Mullumbimby Bookshop or go online to drillhalltheatre.org.au.
Periwinkle Project
Periwinkle Preschool is a unique not-for-profit community-based preschool that has been serving local families for thirty years. They have been given the chance to purchase the land on which Periwinkle Steiner Preschool sits on Sunrise Blvd in Byron Bay. Right now the preschool is crowdfunding to repay a loan of $237,000.
Those interested in finding out more are invited to the Brunswick Picture House on Friday at 6pm.
Your $32 limited-availability tickets include a curry, and of course there are raffles, silent auctions, an art auction and musical performances by Maple: Bridget and Monica Brandolini and Lecia Roberston and Davey Bob’s Blue Healers. And raffles: If you want to make a donation go to www.gofundme.com/periwinklebyron. 6pm.