Women Like Us at the Ballina RSL!
After 31 shows around the country, Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs bring their smash-hit comedy show Women Like Us to the Ballina RSL!
Having performed to packed houses at Brisbane’s Sit Down Comedy, to sellout 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.
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!’ Women Like Us at the Ballina RSL, Friday 6 January 2017 at 8pm. Doors at 7.30pm. Tix $30
18+ show. Tickets can be bought online at ballinarsl.com.au or at the club.
Looking for that unusual Christmas present?
The Drill Hall Theatre Company has earlybird tickets available for its next production, The Incorruptible, available until 31 December. The play, opening on 26 January, is a political exposé, so relevant in our current political times. And of course, if you just want to buy some tickets and save $5 a head, you can book too.
For more information visit www.drillhalltheatre.org.au/the-incorruptible.
The Party Shirt People Xmas Party
The Party Shirt People continue raising funds for mental health and suicide awareness by selling party shirts donated by the public. Win a surfboard worth $1,800 from Ed Sinnot Surfboards by buying or donating a secondhand party shirt. Playing on the day are Kyle Lionhart, Chris Capstone, Squeak Lemaire, M Jack Bee, Jock Barnes and Sarah Grant, Mark Ridout and Paul Adams (Badlands).
Refreshments from Stone & Wood by donation. Free entry.
Broadcast Live on Bay FM from The Surf Club Deck. 4–8pm Friday.
Shrek in Ballina
Everyone’s favourite ogre is back, appearing at Ballina Players Theatre in Shrek the Musical Jr based on the Oscar-winning smash hit film Shrek.
The ogre (River Fullagar) has journeyed to the kingdom of Duloc to petition the wicked Lord Farquaad (Lachlan McGeary) to rid his swamp home of an infestation of pesky fairytale creatures. He makes a deal with Farquaad, who sends him on a quest to rescue the feisty Princess Fiona from a tower guarded by a fierce dragon. The height-challenged and very unpleasant lord needs a princess bride if he is to become king of Duloc.
Little does Shrek know what will be the outcome of this dangerous journey as he sets off with his outspoken new companion Donkey (Sophie Brazenor). There is an unforeseen outcome for Donkey also as he is pursued by the dragon (Bella Broadley), who has fallen in love with him.
With its memorable characters, striking costumes, catchy songs and fairytale ending, Shrek the Musical Jr will be great holiday entertainment for the whole family.
The production team is very experienced in working in youth theatre. Geoff Marsh is director, with Sarah Jarvis assistant director and choreographer, and Leanne Broadley musical director.
Based on the Dreamworks Animation motion picture and the book by William Steig, Shrek the Musical Jr will be staged at the Players Theatre over 13–22 January. Book online at www.ballinaplayers.com.au or at Just Funkin Music, 6686 2440 (a booking fee applies).
All Shorts deadline extended
Byron All Shorts celebrates the filmmaking talent of the northern rivers region and encourages audiences to experience the many amazing films and local stories that are produced here each year. Filmmakers from across the region are invited to submit their short films of up to 30 minutes in length, from all genres. Prizes and cash to the value of around $3K will be included in awards for the Flickerfest-iQ Best Short Film Award, the SAE Qantm Emerging Talent Award, the SCCU Peoples Choice Award and more, recognising the incredible talent in our region. If you live in the northern rivers, or have produced a film in the northern rivers, or have made a film about the northern rivers, you can enter Byron All Shorts. Byron All Shorts finalists will screen on 28 January at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall.
Deadline extended to this Friday. Entry forms and info: iQ.org.au, 0414 779 881.
Swing It, Baby
Join in for a night of swing, circus and cabaret as the Byron Brewery is transformed into a 1920s speakeasy!
Entertainment includes Karen Minami and the Swing Up Girls, hula-hooping sensation Josie ‘Jailbird’ Jupiter, juggling superstar Phil ‘Fast Hands’ Humphreys, fearsome fire performers Bugsy Rodwell and Suki Diamonds, roving circus and fire from Puzzle Dust Circus, plus jazz dancing, piano playing and more! Enjoy bassy electroswing beats, big band swing and jazzy tunes throughout the night care of DJ CYP so make sure you wear your dancing shoes, and why not indulge in a little dress-up – go for flappers, dappers, Gatsby, cabaret, burlesque, 1920s–50s, mobsters, anything vintage!
Byron Brewery on Friday… free!
Addicted to the Nightlife
Paul Capsis needs little introduction. His voice has been described as ‘an act of God’; like Ziggy Stardust on LSD, the mesmerising performer is a gender-bending, gospel-shrieking force of nature. Be prepared to surrender and be seduced by this strong yet deceivingly fragile powerhouse.
In a specially curated show for NORPA, Paul Capsis will explore the music of Patti Smith, Skyhooks, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Ike and Tina Turner, Doris Day, Thelma Houston and many more. Capsis will perform at NORPA on Thursday 29 Dec and Friday 30 Dec. His performance on Dec 29 will be preceded by the Tropical Fruits Festival Street Parade that will finish at Lismore City Hall with the official Festival Opening Soiree from 5pm, including drag shows, a welcome by the mayor, DJs, Coopers bar, stalls and outdoor diner.
Paul Capsis in Addicted to the Nightlife NORPA at Lismore City Hall
Thursday 29 Dec & Friday 30 Dec, 8pm $50. Bookings: www.norpa.org.au.
Taste of Love Festival
The Taste of Love Festival features an international, national and local lineup of presenters on the topics of awakening, love and consciousness, and is scheduled to debut in Byron Bay 20–22 Jan 2017 for the second time after its first successful debut in February 2016. Building on the momentum created by the 2016 Taste of Love Festival, Byron locals Marion Ellyard and her team are joining forces again to create something special and unique for 2017.
They are bringing together the ingredients for an event that aims to appeal to a wide cross-section of the community, including a range of presenters from around the world offering sessions exploring various aspects of love, relating, consciousness, sacredness, connection, sensuality, sexuality, yoga, meditation and a diverse range of associated topics.
The Taste of Love Festival 2017 will feature well-known presenters such as Elaine Young (Ireland), Annetta Luce (US), Destin Gerek (US), Shantam Nityama (US), Elie Prana (Japan) and Eyal Matsliah (Australia) to name just a few. There are local and national presenters kept in balance to support everyone, musicians and artists whose work is highly regarded by peers and attendees alike. The full program is available on the website.
20–27 January 2017. For tickets and program information go to tasteoflove.com.au.
Starlight Festival shines
Bring in the new year at the Starlight Festival. Experience transformation, wisdom and soul nourishment. The Starlight Festival is for sharing information and gathering as a community of like-minded people. With live music, chanting, shamanic journeys, sound baths, workshops, yoga and more each day. It is the perfect opportunity to connect with your soul journey and celebrate conscious living.
5–8 January at the Bangalow A&I Hall.
Bus service from visitor centre twice a day (return ticket and festival pass $30).
Price: $20 admission. Four-day pass $50. Locals two-for-one day 5 January.
Tickets at the door or online www.starlightfestival.com.au.
King Punch on Triple J unearthed
Local DJ and founder of Mullum Underground, Inch Every (Strictly Vinyl BayFM), has just released his latest single Mullum Underground King Punch on Triple J Unearthed. The song raises awareness and is dedicated to the victims of unprovoked violence resulting in death.
An astounding 98 people have died since the year 2000 from brain trauma resulting from being king hit and a media campaign was launched to refer to them as coward punches. King Punch was written and produced in Mullumbimby and performed by locals Tess Latu (Miss Higgins’s music teacher at Shearwater) on vocals, rapper, Celestial Serpent, Dave Sanders on drums, Al Park on keyboards, lyrics by Taplo Johnson (UK) and written, produced and directed by Inch.
You can check out the song and clip on Mullum Underground YouTube channel, Mullum Underground on Facebook, and vote for King Punch on Triple J Unearthed: www.triplejunearthed.com.
Mullum Underground will be putting on an event in the upcoming months so stay tuned to the Facebook page for more info and don’t forget to vote!
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