Rosso at Case 22
Tim Ross heads to the northern rivers for his first Byron Bay show this week at Case 22. The Aussie comedian is set to perform live at mid-century furniture specialists Case 22 on after being approached by the showroom’s co-owners Kincade Wilks and Aaron Treloar. A huge fan of mid-century modern furniture, self-proclaimed design nerd Ross has been performing his one-hour show How much for the green chair with the wooden legs? across Australia in various retail spaces and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Despite being a regular visitor to the northern rivers, this will be Ross’s first live show in Byron Bay. His show draws inspiration from his latest book The Rumpus Room, a collection of stories around his obsession with collecting furniture, Australian architecture and more.
Friday at Case 22 from 6:30pm. Tickets $26 + fee . Available online from www.case22.com.au.
Screen Pathways
Since being selected for Screenworks 2017 Director Pathways Program, Bangalow-dwelling writer/director Sophie Hexter’s career has escalated. In the past 12 months she has directed a short documentary Drummer Girl as part of Create NSW’s Seed Program, completed a first-draft screenplay of her feature film, participated in the Accelerator Program at the Melbourne International Film Festival and is engaging one of Australia’s top film and television directors to mentor her in 2018.
Opportunities like Sophie’s are now on offer to other regional NSW-based screen directors through Screenworks’ 2018 Director Pathways Program. Screenworks Director Pathways Program is open to screen directors who work in any genre and live in regional NSW. The program is best suited to early-career directors who are genuinely committed to building their skills and are looking for support and opportunities to further their career. Further details about the program and how to apply are available on Screenworks’ website www.screenworks.com.au.
Latin Dance Fiesta!
The 12th Annual Byron Latin Fiesta is fast approaching. Dancers strap on their heels for 3–5 November 2017 at the Byron Theatre, the main festival hub, and feeder venues throughout Byron to experience a weekend feast of latin music and dance. The 2017 daytime events feature more than 40 latin dance workshops for beginners to experienced dancers, masterclasses with international artists and a new talk series with motivational speakers. Across the four nights of the event, there are parties with a vast array of dance performances from international, national and local artists. Also, top live latin bands and a huge lineup of latin DJs playing all styles of latin music for great social dancing!
International artists Mike Evens and Macarena Paton (France/Spain) will make their debut appearance in Australia bringing us the popular style of Urban Kizomba and returning internationals Edwin Ferreras, ambassador for the Dominican Arts and his partner Dakota Romero (DR/USA) will teach and perform Dominican Bachata, Bolero and Merengue.
Saturday night will feature world-renowned live band C Major & Son Veneno from Sydney. They have travelled the world together and conquered every stage they perform on. Friday night will feature live band El Timbon. This band is one of Australia’s newest groups, directed by Gustavo Cereijo from Chukale, together with some of the most talented musicians from Brisbane. Known as one of the most affordable latin dance events in Australia, the Byron Latin Fiesta offers different ticket types to suit all budgets. The event offers something for everyone. Emerge yourself in the energy, the passion and the vibrancy of latin music and dance. Full passes, beginners passes and day passes are available on www.byronlatinfiesta.com.au.
Stories in the Club
This month Storytellers in the Club move to St Martin’s Hall for a session with featured storytellers Athol Compton, Zenith Virago, Paul Josif, Gabby le Brun, John Imbrogno and Jenni Cargill-Strong.
Athol Compton is a local traditional custodian and former screen actor, who tells traditional and contemporary tales. In August, Athol gave welcome and told a modern tale of the ancient creatress banshee Dirrangan and this month he will again give welcome and share a story.
Zenith Virago, deathwalker, adventurer, activist will share a tale about what death teaches about living life to the fullest, not missing those moments when life offers you something big! Paul Josif of the Ngara Institute worked for many years in health in Aboriginal communities in northern Australia and he’ll tell The Last Hunt about a helping to make a documentary of the Pintubi people in the Western Desert.
John Imbrogno is a passionate and gifted storyteller and musician and was a member of the Byron Circle of Tellers. He has been working with young men and men for more than 10 years and uses story as therapy in his work. He is a senior facilitator for a variety of rites-of-passage programs as well as men’s behaviour-change programs.
Gabby le Brun of the Byron Bay Writers Festival and member of the Cassettes will tell IFO, the tragicomic tale of not heeding warnings, of showing off, of friendship, of doing stupid things in your 40s and a wakeup call. Jenni will tell the story that asks to be told on the day.
Stories can be factual, fictional or factional – which is a blend of the two. Stories in the Club is supported by the The Ngara Institute, Creative Mullumbimby, Toastmasters, The Story Tree Company and Stories on Foot. More information about this event and Jenni’s storytelling workshops at www.storytree.com.au or call Jenni on 0403 328 643.
Sunday 4pm at St Martin’s Hall, 38 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby. Donation $10.
The Shape of Things
Art Piece Gallery in Mullumbimby welcomes three minimalist, reductive artists to Mullumbimby after their shows in New York and Holland.
With an international career stretching from Tokyo to New York, Brent Hallard has recently returned from extensive work at the Museum Waterland, Purmerend, Netherlands.
Now settled in Byron Bay, he continues to explore colour and dynamic dimensionality. Sydney-based Louise Tuckwell exhibits in Sydney and Melbourne. Her work is the most playful and the most personal of the three. Seeking a system of balance and harmony, Tuckwell uses the limitless combinations of colour, pattern, shape and texture for her vibrant, non-objective and subtly humorous paintings. Louise Blyton is based in Melbourne and is well known for her reductive pigment-on-linen works in both 2D and 3D and for her matter-of-fact simple shapes. She has exhibited in France, Germany, USA and England.
Brought together by a similar aesthetic, each artist seeks to interpret the concrete world we live in. Opening at Art Piece Gallery on Thursday at 6pm.
Scavenger chase for Uncle and BYS
Ready for a challenge? Good at solving riddles? Love working out clues? Grab some friends, make a team, register online or on the day and come join the biggest all-ages scavenger hunt called Byron Quest on 14 October. Now in its fourth year, organisers Chad Kolcze from the Uncle Project and Berri Drum from Byron Youth Service are excited to announce some major prizes for this year’s event.
The Quest will commence with registration from 8am at Future Dreamers HQ, 24 Marvell Street. Teams are then on a race to solve the given clues which will have them interacting, performing, laughing, asking, answering, sharing, fossicking and more, taking them to community sites and businesses around town to complete tasks in the fastest time. Berri, who is the Byron Flea Market organiser, where the Quest will end, suggests: ‘Get some friends together and form a team of 4–6 people, any age, and register at www.byronquest.com for just $5 for the whole team, as soon as possible.
This year Byron Youth Theatre members will be involved as mysterious characters providing some of the tasks and challenges. For more information and registration please visit www.byronquest.com.
From Cardiff to Mullum
The Drill Hall Theatre presents Australian play Do Not Go Gentle by Patricia Cornelius. This production is a collaboration between The Drill Hall Theatre Co and Everyman Theatre, Cardiff, Wales. The play employs the metaphor of Robert Falcon Scott’s ‘long and ultimately fatal trek’ to reach the South Pole in 1912 with the reality of the ageing process. Patricia Cornelius’s Gentle heroes are elderly characters who inhabit the polar explorer’s expedition, even taking their names. Scott, Bowers, Wilson, Oates and Evans grapple with life’s big questions, pitting their wits against the ‘dying of the light’ (or do they?). As they trudge across an ‘alien landscape’ questions emerge about the nature of their ‘fragile world’ and who they really are. There is a genuine response to life’s sufferings and challenges and a silent prompt: to never be so afraid of death that we forget to live.
The play has just been performed in Cardiff and returns to Mullumbimby for six performances from 13 October.
Downe and OUT!
Owing to overwhelming demand, Murwillumbah’s most famous hand model and TV personality, Bob Downe, is back in Bruns! As one of Australia’s most-loved and enduring comedy characters, Bob Downe promises to have the audience in stitches as he couples a signature cheeky irreverence and razor sharp wit with a warm innate likability. It’s hard not to fall in love with his madcap character as he glides and jives his way through an eclectic array of feel-good, high-energy show tunes and hilarious, laugh out loud standup.Unequivocally lauded as Australia’s greatest MC, Bob Downe will tear the roof off of the Picture House with his own brand of flamboyance and sparkle! Don’t miss out on the Prince of Polyester’s return in these Byron Shire exclusive shows! Adult tickets are $30. Concession $27. 10 per cent discount is applied during the early bird period.
Friday 13 and Saturday 14 October at the Brunswick Picture House tickets at brunswickpicturehouse.com.
Teens to Queens
Miranda Chance, founder of ModernRites, has created a mother-and-daughter Teens to Queens rites-of-passage program to help deepen the bond between mothers and daughters, giving them a solid base, to empower them to have ongoing honest and open dialogue about some of the trickier issues in life. Teens to Queens pays homage to the ancient transformational qualities of rites of passage while keeping a strong connection with the teens of today so the investment is worth their while and relevant to the world they are living in. By studying the origins and looking closely at the structure and key components of a rite of passage, Teens to Queens is compilation of observations and invaluable insights from discussions with teens combined with traditional processes while offering a modern-day focus.
In collaboration with Future Dreamers the first Teens to Queens program is being held over 3–5 November 2017, and is presented as 3-day glamping experience at the beautiful and renowned Coorabella property in the Byron Bay hinterland. The program offers a vital foundation for future growth and resilience.
For further information and bookings visit teenstoqueens.com.au or email [email protected].
Frock Up for Lovemore!
Lovemore Cabaret is a chance to frock up, have fun, and be part of a joyous community activation in support of marriage equality.
Organiser Dee Dee Chenille, Lismore’s first burlesque exchange student from Whakatane, New Zealand, says art, creativity and humour are often the best ways to ‘go deep’ and really touch people’s hearts.
‘Like many, I’ve been horrified by the hatred and bigotry that has spewed forth as part of the “respectful debate” surrounding the marriage equality plebiscite,’ she said.
‘As a New Zealand citizen, who’s unable to vote, I’m taking positive action by organising an event in celebration of love – which is what marriage equality is all about.
‘I’ve never subscribed to trans-Tasman rivalry – pavlova, Phar Lap, Crowded House… who cares? The Bledisloe Cup?… I’m like, “Didn’t we settle this last year?” But come on, Australia!
You’re the last English-speaking country in the world without marriage equality. You don’t wanna win the bloody slow cup!’
A multifaceted performer and colourful chameleon, Dee Dee Chenille made her international burlesque debut at the Lismore Bowling club in 2013, performing with Babes Against Gas as part of a Knitting Nannas fundraiser.
Dee Dee Chenille and her dance troupe The Flannelettes will perform a saucy, satirical marriage-equality burlesque number, joined onstage by special guest star, former Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell, who will be crowned Queen of Lovemore on the night, in honour of her support for marriage equality along with diversity and inclusiveness in all its many facets. The Lovemore Cabaret lineup includes MC Mae Wilde, who’s bringing along a sexy side-dish to assist with a marriage medley, the artistic partnership behind Killer Fridays – Essie Thomas and Alikeen Killer – sharing a story of long-distance love expressed through music and dance, and Spiral Orbit, who’s been described as ‘an angel of liberty and gender fluidity’.
Other performers include Arte Gitana Flamenco, Jex Lopez and the Gravediggers, Foxy Brown-Eye, Vinegar Tom, Dragan Zan Wright and pop-up cameos galore.
Lovemore Cabaret, this Saturday at 7.30pm, Star Court Theatre. Pre-sales $22, $18 (concession), $11 (under 12s accompanied by a full-price adult) www.starcourttheatre.com.au or $33 on the door.
From Sporty Spice to Comedic Advice…
International-award winning comedian Greg Burns has hobnobbed with the best of them. He’s dated Sporty Spice. He’s appeared in episodes of The Office. He has also hosted the Summertime Ball from Wembley Stadium, which probably stands as one of the world’s biggest live gigs. He has worked in shows such as Have I Got News For You and The Catherine Tate Show and has 10 years experience working the UK comedy circuit as a club favourite.
It’s no wonder, Greg is hilarious, and has that natural infectious charm complimented by his well constructed and clever routines. In the UK Greg is renowned for being one of London’s most well-loved broadcasters. Google him and you’ll find a host of pictures of him swanning the red carpet. He was brought out to Australia by NOVA as their mornings host. Slick, charismatic and loaded with material,
The Sunday Times says ‘As loveable comedian as you’re likely to find. Confident, funny and Clever.’
He performs at the Byron Services Club on Saturday 21 October with support by exciting Aboriginal Comedy Allstars newcomer Matt Ford. Hosted by loved local funny woman Mandy Nolan, this is sure to be a night of world-class laughs. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets $25/30 online at mandynolan.com.au, at the club or book on 6619 0529.
