Byron Gets RAW
Last month Arna Rogers from No Frills, the band with a huge online following and national success on X Factor, showed that she has still more untapped talent when she took out first place at the RAW Comedy heat in Mullumbimby last month and will be heading north to Brisbane for the state final later in March. There is still one more local heat for up-and-coming comedy talent in this nationwide search by Melbourne Comedy Festival for future comedians. Once again 16 new and emerging comedians with their sights set on super-stardom, or at least 15 minutes of fame – or perhaps shame – line up for what is sure to be a night of spills, thrills, but this time No Frills! Headed up by comedian Mandy Nolan, RAW comedy heats are always brilliant fun with the comedians on the night really upping their game but delivering routines that are always a few notches above their usual standard! Judges on the night are comedian Ellen Briggs, Paul McMahon, and one-time comedian and comedy lover, ABC radio’s newsman Bruce McKenzie.
So be part of the fun and cheer your local comics on – with one of the winners going through to the Qld state final!
Who knows – you could be witnessing the birth of a comedy genius. Or you could just be a little bit pissed!
RAW comedy with MC Mandy Nolan | Byron Services Club | Monday 8pm |Doors at 7pm | $15 | Tix at the door or online at mandynolan.com.au
Heart for Fukushima
Sunday 11 March 2018 is the seventh anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that continues to spew radioactivity into the water, land and air, threatening not just Japanese citizens but the global community.
The Channon Market will see a day of action, speakers, music and art focusing on Fukushima and what we can do about this dire situation.
Activist from Fukushima, Toshiko Okada, will speak on the issues affecting Fukushima residents. Toshiko is a member of a citizens’ group that is fighting to enact the Chernobyl Law in Japan, so the Japanese government can provide continuing support to all those who have been evacuated owing to radiation issues.
Standup comic S Sorrensen will MC a day-long program, featuring Kirtan by Mico Sundari, Shivam Rath and Armando Ornano, young performers from Nimbin and Byron, Bo Kaan, flamenco guitarist Bart Stenhouse, Dinkum Bohos, Japanese reggae artist JT Rastasamurai, Latin grooves by Passando, Brazilian diva Priscila Rios, Welcome to Country and a big drum up.
There will also be an art show, featuring the work of Masami Nakagawa – who combines healing and readings with art – and local artists, including Manga artist Nozomi Yamashita and Lismore TAFE student Tien Winston, with all artwork available for sale.
A magic hat will be passed around with all proceeds from the art show and donations going to Japanese NGO Citizens’ Network for Evacuation from Radiation.
The day starts at the Rainbow Chai Tent at 10am. At 12 noon there will be a march around the market to protest the inaction of governments over the Fukushima crisis.
Shakespeare Live
The Royal Shakespeare Company creates theatre at its best, made in Stratford-upon- Avon and shared around the world. You can catch their performance of Twelfth Night when it is screened live at the Byron Theatre on Saturday at 1pm.
Peepshow
Circa’s Peepshow will have its world premiere at NORPA before heading overseas to perform at the Underbelly Festival in London for three months followed by a six-month European season. Peepshow is described as a seductive dance through the hall of mirrors that is the imagination.
Thursday 22 March till Saturday 24 March | Lismore City Hall | Tickets on www.norpa.org.au
Stories on creativity
This Sunday Stories in the Club: Drawn from Life invite tellers on the theme of creativity. Presenters are Simone O’Brien, Suvira McDonald, Oonagh omZUna, Charlie Starret and Jenni Cargill-Strong. Each teller gets 8–10 minutes and stories can be factual, fictional or factional – which is a blend of the two. Simone O’Brien, former creative director of Spaghetti Circus, will tell a tale of Con Calleano, a local Aboriginal man who became the world’s most famous tightwire artist and the inspiration behind social circus project Cirque du Coraki. Suvira McDonald is a longtime resident of the Shire and is a practising sculptor and potter. He is also a founding member of Creative Mullumbimby, who are currently overseeing the Mullum Sculpture Walk. He will tell of how the sculpture walk came to be and where it is headed. Love CLUB founder, host and Floetic MC Oonagh omZUna is an improvised poet, presenter and performance activist whose back catalogue includes a memorable nude talk on body consciousness at the Sydney Opera House. She will share a funny/poignant tale of triumphant public humiliation, land and creativity, featuring her good self, DaDaTree (Daevid Allen, GONG) and Elliet Mackrell (Kangaroo Moon).
Charlie Starrett is an experienced award-winning Toastmaster, who was for two years their international director. Currently he runs Sacred Attraction events and workshops for both men and women looking for their ideal partner. His beloved, Kageni, told a story in November.
Jenni Cargill-Strong, who curates the event, is a professional storyteller and teaches storytelling (a unit her friend Susan Perrow wrote) at Southern Cross University, will also tell a tale on the theme.
Sunday | 3.30pm for a 4pm start |Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, Dalley Street | Entry by suggested donation of $10 | Stories end by 5pm.
Grace Jones: An enigma
I saw her at Bluesfest a few years ago. I couldn’t believe the energy she had. I was guessing she was 70. Strong, flexible, energetic, powerful. I started wondering if Grace Jones wasn’t in fact from another planet. She certainly doesn’t age like we do down here. The Brunswick Picture House are presenting Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, an electrifying journey through the performance, private and public worlds of pop cultural icon Grace Jones. Jones’s bold aesthetic echoes throughout the film as director Sophie Fiennes creates a powerful cinematic experience, contrasting musical sequences with intimate personal footage and reaching beyond the iconic mask.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday | 5pm.
Corny Comedy
Fundraising is vital for the survival of rural halls. Maintenance and insurance on these old buildings is very costly and ongoing. The income from fundraising is often the only way communities can meet the halls’ financial obligations. At Corndale, comedy has been an integral part of this process for many years.
After some time away, Jonathan Atherton is back in Australia performing for us, after spending some eight years establishing, developing, and encouraging standup comedy in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
In countries where free speech may not be as freely accepted as it is here, comedy provides a way, even if it is a bit edgy, for ideas and values to be exchanged.
Jonathan has selected a fantastic cast for the return of comedy to Corndale. Jonathan himself will be performing, along with headliner Peter Berner ably supported by Mandy Nolan and several others.
The comedy night is to be held on Saturday, starting at 7.30pm. Entry is $30. Intermission supper provided. Around halftime, there is an open microphone, with a golden drinking voucher ($50 note!) for the winning joke from members of the audience. Comedy returning to Corndale Hall will be keenly anticipated. Book now, for a great night of fun and laughter. Come along and be part of it all.
Talking through his Teddy
International comedy star David Strassman will have audiences in stitches with his hilarious brand-new show iTedE. iTedE is an uproarious take on our technology-laden lives. The sharp-tongued Chuck Wood and loveable Ted E Bare have been thrust into the world of social media, constantly on their iPads and iPhones, not interacting with the real world. With everyone connected to the internet 24/7, will Strassman get them back under control?
Combined with cutting-edge lighting and jaw-dropping production, Strassman and his well known puppet characters will bring mayhem and theatrics to a set designed by one of New York’s most renowned stage designers, Luke Cantarella.
At the Byron Community Centre on Friday 16 March at 7pm. Tickets at byroncentre.com.au. Bookings: Richard 6688 2052, or Jason 0427 100 911.
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