Acting UP about domestic violence
For the past eight weeks ten women have engaged in theatre workshops with local social arts theatre company Public Act.
Through the practice of applied theatre and based on the techniques of The Theatre of the Oppressed created in the 1970s by the legendary Brazilian theatre director and activist Augusto Boal, this group has developed what is described as a Forum Theatre performance titled Here We Stand. Public Act Theatre partners with community services organisations, forming theatre troupes with community members, many of whom have never participated in theatre or performed onstage before, people facing pressing social, economic, health, and human rights issues, and in this particular instance women brave enough to share their lived experience and understanding of the complex cultural issue of family, domestic violence, and trauma.
In Forum Theatre scenes are created from stories shared in relation to the lived experience of the performers; the scene is then replayed and the audience is invited to feed back through discussion or action if they feel the individual can do or say something differently that would therefore bring about a more positive outcome.
The audiences are not only invited to be a spectator but to become a ‘spect-actor’. Audiences have the opportunity to both act and observe, to engage in self-empowering processes of dialogue that help foster critical thinking. The theatrical act is experienced as conscious intervention, as a rehearsal for social action, rooted in a collective analysis of shared social issues affecting our community as a whole.
Here We Stand has been produced in partnership with the Mullumbimby and District Neighbourhood Centre, Byron Bay Community Centre, The Women’s Resource Service, Women’s Health NSW, and is supported by Women NSW Local Domestic and Family Violence Committee – vital community groups continually aiming to empower and assist women toward safety and wellbeing in our community.
In addition, Public Act Theatre will also be host to the Byron Youth Theatre, who will be performing Broken, a devised theatre piece that takes a fresh look at the theme of DV from the perspective of our local youth and their experience. Broken is a heart-wrenching and thought-provoking production touring local high schools and the Byron Shire community. This original production exposes the devastating effects of domestic violence on one particular family.
Wednesday 23 November at Byron Theatre 6.30pm. Tickets can be bought through the Byron Theatre website or at the door.
Poetry on a Sunday
On Sunday, at 3–5pm at Bangalow Heritage House, all are invited to join Dangerously Poetic Press for music and poems that surprise. Featuring three mystery guests, and an open section where readers are invited to bring a poem that surprised them as either a writer or reader.
Music for the afternoon is by Jesse Morris, performing conscious blues, roots and reggae music. Enjoy his original lyrics and uplifting songs about the earth, travel, change and growth. He may even write a song to surprise us especially for the occasion! Heritage House Tea Rooms, $15/ $13 for DP members. Everyone welcome.
The Genius of Lloyd’s Lithographs
The upcoming exhibition at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron will show 30 lithographs rich in grandeur and drama by renowned Australian artist Lloyd Rees, all printed by master lithographer Fred Genis over a period of nine years during the 80s.
Fred Genis had worked as a partner in the Hollanders Workshop in New York in the late 60s, early 70s. He worked with Robert Rauschenberg, Willem De Kooning, Sam Francis, Jasper Johns, Larry Rivers and James Rosenquist to name a few.
A collection of these artists’ lithographs, plus works from Europe, was held at the National Gallery of Victoriaunder the title The Artists and the Printer in 1982. Lloyd Rees lithographs at the Lone Goat Gallery in Byron opens Friday and runs through until 6 December.
The biggest buzz to ever hit Byron Bay is coming this summer! Circus Arts Australia, Byron’s very own flying trapeze experts, are bringing their knee-shaking, adrenalin-pumping, super fun 10m-high flying trapeze to Denning Park and everyone is invited. Circus Arts Park & Fly is a flying trapeze and community arts event set to transform the Byron Bay foreshore for 60 days between Friday and 12 February 2017.
Circus Arts Park & Fly will offer a mix of flying trapeze classes, flying trapeze shows, entertainment, fun and games all summer long. Take in the iconic landscape of beautiful Byron Bay as you soar 10m high through the air on the flying trapeze. Hour-and-a-half classes are on offer for those who want to learn all the basics in one class, and never-before-offered single swings are available for the once-off thrill-seekers in town. Weekends will see free flying trapeze shows at dusk, buskers and roving entertainment activating the space. Comfy seating, games and circus equipment will complete this family-friendly park space. ‘Byron has some fantastic spaces that are under-utilised and Denning Park is one of them. We are really grateful for this council initiative, which has given us a platform to create an event for our community that is focused on health, wellbeing and the arts.
We have partnered with some fantastic local businesses to create an experience that is great value for the community and truly reflective of Byron’s unique culture,’ says Kate Priddle, Circus Arts Park & Fly project manager.
Circus Arts Park & Fly is an initiative of the Byron Shire Council’s Placemaking Seed Fund and a catalyst event for the Byron Bay Town Centre Masterplan. This is a space created by the Byron community for both locals and visitors to enjoy. Sit, stay, watch, laugh, fly and enjoy Circus Arts’ Park & Fly this summer only! Like the Circus Arts Facebook page to stay up to date with Park & Fly or
visit www.circusarts.com.au/parkandfly.
Back to Byron for Women Like Us!
After 30 shows around the country, Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs bring their smash hit comedy show Women Like Us back to the Byron Theatre at the Community Centre for a special pre-Xmas laugh in! Having performed to packed houses at Brisbane’s Sit Down Comedy to sell-out shows at Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Adelaide Fringe and Perth Festival, the girls have also taken their comedy stylings off the grid, performing to packed houses in Orange, Bathurst and Katoomba.
Women Like Us is two hours of standup comedy – an hour a piece. The two friends decided they should hit the road when they realised that not only did they have a lot in common, they also enjoyed spending time together. The two would compare notes over a cup of tea about the various shows they’d done and how some audiences, women in particular, just couldn’t get enough. The two eventually theorised that this was because those women often didn’t see their lives or their experiences reflected on the stage. The comedians in the spotlight tended to be men and they tended to talk about bloke stuff. So when Ellen and Mandy talk about housework, chickens, love, big undies, disappointment, resentment, sex when you’re drunk, fitbits, yoga farts and being a menopausal woman dealing with teenage angst, everything just fell into place.
When coming up with a show title, Women Like Us just turned up. ‘They’re Women Like Us,’ laughs Mandy. ‘Our audiences love our shows because our lives are like theirs. We’re not rarefied trophy wives. We’re capable, overworked, overwhelmed and totally over-it women! And because of sharing stories like that, women like us!
‘We want to make you laugh, but most of all we want you to go home feeling good about yourself. Women spend too much time not liking themselves, beating themselves up for being too old, too fat, a bad parent, a terrible cook, but we just say, hey, it’s what makes us human! Celebrate your imperfection!’
Women Like Us at the Byron Theatre at the Community Centre on Friday 9 December at 8pm. Doors at 7pm. Tix $28/25. Byroncentre.com.au or phone 6685 6807.
The Sound of Musicals
in Mullum!
In 2016, the hills are alive with the sound of music. You don’t have to tell me that – this is Mullumbimby. The hills are definitely alive around here. Music can be heard floating from the foothills, thumping through the thickets and blowing on the breezes. It’s not unusual to see locals spontaneously breaking into song, joining in a chorus of joyous harmony. They say here that the ‘Goddess is dancing and magic is afoot’. This is true – some less kind folk might say that they are dancing like a wounded seagull – but they are dancing nevertheless.
So why is it that so many people look down their noses at musicals? They are, after all, a bunch of people telling you a story and spontaneously breaking into song and synchronised dances. I know that isn’t the real world for most people but, then again, most people don’t live in Mullumbimby. It’s an everyday occurrence here – and we love our town for this and many other reasons.
Mullumbimby High School presents The Sound of Musicals, a cabaret showcasing a selection of all the best songs from all the best musicals. Take the greatest hits from Grease, Rocky Horror, Mama Mia, Lion King, Disney classics, School of Rock, Hairspray… mix it up with a dash of disco, a shake of sugar-pop and serve it up from inside a 5m pink glitter TV.
Mullumbimby High School auditorium. Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 November 7pm. Adult $8; Child $5; Family $22. Tickets at the school office or at the door if not sold out.
Mother Tongue
Mother Tongue is one of Melbourne’s most acclaimed and successful spoken-word events. A place for passionate, powerful, vulnerable and honest performance. For a night of poetry and stories and women’s spoken word come to Kulchajam in Byron on Friday from 7.30pm. Featuring Essie Thomas and Fleassy Malay and an open mic. A Speak Up workshop is to be held on Sunday at Kulchajam.
Bentley on film!
Following sell-out screenings in Byron Bay, Lismore and Nimbin, The Bentley Effect is hitting the big screen at Murwillumbah’s Regent Cinema this Friday .
The film won the Byron Film Award at the Byron Bay International Film Festival recently and is touring select cinemas throughout the northern rivers before a wider distribution plan is hatched to send the film national and around the world.
To assist the film’s rollout, the production has partnered with Enova Energy, Australia’s first community-owned renewable energy company. Enova has come on board with the help of some of their supporters who have donated to help spread The Bentley Effect message and promote the alternative to CSG – locally owned clean energy.
Enova signed its 1000th customer, Terri Nicholson, after she saw the film in Lismore and heard about Enova’s benefits. Following the screening, the Murwillumbah audience will have the opportunity to stay for a discussion panel that will include the film’s director, along with Tweed Lock the Gate representative, Michael McNamara, Murwillumbah resident and author of Gasfield Free NSW Northern Rivers: Non-Violent, Non-Negotiable Richard Deem, and president of Northern Rivers Guardians, Scott Sledge. Tickets are $20 and are available from the Regent Cinema or online at
www.trybooking.com/241746.
Everything Burlesque for You!
Don’t miss out on Everything Burlesque! directed by Nina Jeftic. Two shows only this Friday and Saturday.
This is the most entertaining show on the planet! You won’t be able to sit still or stop singing along to this show! Dynamic, saucy, exotic and exhilarating pieces from Burlesque the movie, Fifty Shades of Grey and some Bob Fosse classics will keep you enthralled! Mandy Nolan will MC the night! Not to be missed! Tickets available now $38.00 adults and $33.00 concession! Not recommended for children under 15. Phone the Byron Theatre on 6685 6807 or
buy tickets online at
www.byroncentre.com.au.
They Don’t Like Young People
Australian stage and screen legends Jackie Loeb and Gretel Killeen have joined forces again to storm Sydney and NSW with their hit show We Don’t Like Young People.
You’ve seen them individually as comic casts or guests on most TV shows nationally; you might have heard them on radio, read their writing or sung along to their songs.
But you’ll kick yourself if you don’t see them live with their encore show due to popular demand at The Comedy Store and additional shows added around NSW with We Don’t Like Young People. Jackie Loeb has recently won Best Standup Comedian at the 2016 Mo Awards, so these will be her first Australian shows since her return from the USA. Gretel and Jackie say, ‘Young people should be seen and not heard until they’re at least forty. We don’t like young people, in particular we don’t like good-looking, confident young people who are in love.
So, we’re starting a revolution! We’ve had enough of their clear-skinned selfie smiles and deluded optimism. It’s time to set the record straight with our inspiring tales of the futility of life, the agony of love and the joys of being broke, old and sexless. Yay!’ Join bitterly hilarious life warriors Jackie Loeb and Gretel Killeen for a night that you will never forget… but they very well might.
Ocean Shores Country Club, Saturday 10 December, 8.30pm. $35 Bookings: 6680 1008.
