World Environment Day
Knox Park, Murwillumbah | Sunday 3 June | 10am–3pm | FREE
Our annual World Environment Day Festival is on this Sunday at Knox Park in Murwillumbah. Promoting sustainability and protection of the natural environment and encouraging people to care for the environment by providing the information, resources and encouragement to reduce our environmental footprint.
The festival will include presentations, demonstrations, stalls with local community groups, schools and sustainable businesses, environmental art, children’s activities, speakers’ space, musical entertainment and delicious food.
Performing on the day is Shai Shriki and Band playing up-tempo Eastern European Gypsy melodies, Middle Eastern, Latin and original songs. Out of Range present their quirky cabaret, swing, gypsy, roots and balkan beats. Environmental Law expert Sue Higginson will be speaking, along with Jeremy Tager, a consultant for Friends of the Earth Emerging Tech Project and the chair of the Tweed Water Alliance. Author of The Activists Handbook: A Step by Step guide to Participatory Democracy Aidan Rickets will be speaking along with lawyer and Alternative Prime Minister, Mark Swivel, who will be launching his killer 10-point plan for a Country Worth Living In.
Renewable energy will be showcased by the Tyalgum Energy Project solar trailer producing power from the sun on the day, electric bikes, stalls by Enova Energy, the northern rivers-based community-owned electricity retailer Sunbeam Solar, Stop Adani groups, Zero Emission Tweed, Let’s Waste Less, Northern Rivers Guardians and other local environmental protection groups.
Secret Parlour at Club Mullum
Club Mullum | Saturday 9 June | 7.30pm |
On Saturday 9 June, Club Mullum will transform into The Secret Parlour. It’s a wild and wonderful night of dark cabaret, featuring gypsy swing band Out of Range, El Bari flamenco and showgirl troupe Class Act Creative. Dress up and join the fun.
Always wanted to be a cabaret star yourself? Secret Parlour’s showgirls, Class Act Creative, are holding a 90-minute dance workshop on the same day.
Learn the moves and finesse of a cabaret star from these internationally acclaimed dancers.
Book a seat or table or find out more at www.guiltypleasures-shows.com
Getting regional directors onscreen
Aspiring directors across Australia have the opportunity to get closer to achieving their career dreams by spending two days with Walkley Award-winning documentary filmmaker Anna Broinowski (Forbidden Lies) and multi-award-winning drama director Ana Kokkinnos (Pulse) who will both present at Screenworks’ Directing Intensive being held at Linneaus Estate on 7 and 8 July. There are only 12 places available for early career screen directors and, to be eligible for the Intensive, applicants must have some experience directing content for screen. Application deadline 12 June | www.screenworks.com.au
Love Lennox
Ballina Street, Lennox Head | Saturday 2 June | 9am | Free
Lennox Head is having a party and everyone is invited! Yes it’s music, culture, markets and fab street food all celebrating beach culture in an incredibly chilled-out family-friendly atmosphere. Discover art and craft stalls, be entertained by popup street performers and the popular Dogs of Lennox dog show.
In another tent, watch a Masterchef-style competitive food event called Flavours of Lennox. See more in Good Life about this (page 29). Music has been organised by Tintenbar Upfront; there’s a Skateboard Gromfest at the skatebowl. Plenty of activities to entertain the little kids too, including a petting zoo, and what little kid doesn’t love the thrill of sitting in the front seat of a fire truck? (I like it too, but I like the fireman to still be on the seat.)
The Love Lennox Festival is a celebration of everything you love about Lennox Head – beautiful beaches, family ambience, superb quality food and drinks, chic boutiques, great music and exciting entertainment for all, with special events for the kids. Saturday Lennox Head main street.
Writers at the Rails
Railway Friendly Bar | Sunday 3 June | 2pm | Free
Writers at the Rails return to the poetry stage at the Rails this Sunday with special feature: writer, journo, uke player, comedian… and poet S Sorrensen. The much-loved wordsmith was recently in action co-compering the Nimbin MardiGrass Hemp Olympics, something that’s become rather a cult event. Along with S there will be open and invited readings, some original songs and a poetry slam.
Shai Shriki and Luka Lesson create poetry and music at the Byron Centre on Saturday
Shai Shriki & Luka Lesson
Byron Theatre, Byron Community Centre
Saturday 2 June | 8pm | $20–27
Local poet and local musician team up again for a night of music, poetry, and connection. The talented singer/songwriter, guitar and oud player Shai Shriki and internationally respected wordsmith Luka Lesson, fresh from his collaboration with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, come together for the second time only to create a powerful event of storytelling and musical meanderings at the Byron Theatre inside the Byron Bay Cultural Centre this Saturday. The first time these two powerful artists collaborated they won the hearts (and a standing ovation) from the sold-out crowd, sharing songs and stories from across the Mediterranean and beyond. Don’t miss this encore performance of their special creative connection.
Zen and the Art of Book Design Workshop with WH Chong
Lone Goat Gallery | Sunday 3 June | 10am–1pm
How does a design happen? How does the raw manuscript travel through the many, many discussions in a publishing house before it shows up in a bookstore? Join WH Chong, one of Australia’s foremost cover designers, for this practical and educational workshop that will teach you how to design a book cover.
WH Chong is one of Australia’s foremost cover designers, winner of multiple awards, and is an inductee in the Book Designers Hall of Fame. Chong’s exhibition Everything Changes is now showing at Lone Goat Gallery until 13 June, with a special artists’ reception 4–6pm this Saturday. But to do the workshop go to lonegoatgallery.com
Woyzeck
Shearwater School, Mullumbimby | Friday 8 June, Tuesday 12 & Wednesday 13 June | 7pm | $12 or $8 concession
Woyzeck was one of the first plays I properly studied when I was at university. This unfinished work holds a sinister sad darkness, an existential awkwardness, something that has inspired filmmakers such as the great Werner Hertzog and many other theatre practitioners along the way.
Georges Buchner began writing Woyzeck when he was just 22 years old, just two years before his death. The play is considered the ‘first ever working-class tragedy’ as well as the first very ‘truly modern drama’.
ShearTheatrix, the theatre troupe from Shearwater, have developed the play organically into an exploration of the exploitation of the poor rather than the story of a crime of passion. ‘We try to express the tragedy of this poetically, through different styles of performance and movement, inspired by Pina Bausch, the evocative music of Tom Waits, the theatre techniques of Bertolt Brecht’s Epic Theatre as well as a symbolic set.’
ShearTheatrix presents Woyzeck by Georges Buchner. Tix available at the front office 6684 3223.
Rocky Horror Revisited
Brunswick Picture House | Friday and Saturday | 7pm | $16 / 12
When the Brunswick Picture House first brought this camp classic screening to Bruns two years ago, tickets flew out the door and the stage was packed with some truly beautifully dressed contenders. And now Rocky Horror Picture Show is back for TWO screenings! And in true Brunswick Picture House style, this will be much more than just a screening!
A true social phenomenon and audience-interactive experience that has transcended its place in cinematic history – it was called ‘tasteless, plotless and pointless’ upon its release – we think it’s time you all brought out the fishnets, corsets, knee-highs and glitter from your closets, or simply a cheeky smile and a glint in your eye. If you are so inclined, there will be prizes for best dressed each night! So don’t dream it… BE IT!
HMS Pinafore
Ballina Players Theatre | 15 June – 1 July | $22–30
Jaime Sheehan is set to make her directorial debut with Ballina Players, in their next production, HMS Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan, with Warwick Binney and Marie Caldwell as musical directors. This is not your traditional HMS Pinafore, this version being updated and made much more into a comedy to showcase the talents of Simon Gallaher and Jon English, by ESSGEE productions who conquered Australia and New Zealand by touring a trilogy of Gilbert & Sullivan productions in the mid-to-late 1990s. For Ballina Players the trio are played by: Candace Baldwin (who appeared in their 2017 production The Marvellous Wonderettes ); Lee Millward (who in 2017 played the part of the Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat ); and Karen Goodsell (in her first major role after appearing as Mrs Correy in Mary Poppins last year). The three girls have been working extremely hard to perfect the tight harmonies while dancing to the tricky choreography.
Ballina Players Theatre, 24 Swift St. Tix are at ballinaplayers.com.au
Court House Open Mic Comedy with Ellen Briggs
Court House Hotel, Mullumbimby | Thursday 7 June | 8pm | Free
Come on down to Mullum’s Court House Hotel for another hilarious batch of untried and untested standup victims. MCed by Ellen Briggs, the recently published comedy writer and one half of the much-loved and ‘so hot right now’ Women Like Us comedy duo. Ellen is an award-winning comedian, used to performing in packed rooms, sellout halls and overflowing auditoriums around the country. Ellen knows how to get a room warmed up and will be introducing the new breed of wannabe local comedians. Watch as they ascend the stage full of hopes and dreams, desperately hoping that their latest attempt at observational comedy will generate more than just cricket and loud coughing from the back row.
It’s going to be great; laugh at them or with them, it’s up to you; well it’s up to them and their material, their delivery and their stage presence. If they can do it right watch them soar. Do it wrong, and watch the façade unravel under the unrelenting stares and harsh judgment of the cruel Mullum Court House comedy critics. The crowd is as much a part of the show as the performers. Standup Open Mic like no other, anywhere else in the world.
Gotta see it to believe it.
Capitalism the culture killer
Brunswick Picture House | Thursday 7pm | Sunday 5pm | $15/12
Disaster Capitalism is a compelling documentary that goes inside Afghanistan, Jaiti and Papua New Guinea to reveal the dark side of money-makers and aid exploiters unafraid to make a killing from the misfortune of others. Best-selling journalist and author Antony Loewenstein joins award-winning filmmaker Thor Neureiter on a six-year journey through the world of shady miners, resilient locals and secretive government.
