(Mis) Conceive
What does an Aboriginal Australian look like? Act like? Sound like? Do they all have black skin, live in the bush and are they naked? Choreographer Thomas ES Kelly will give you a clue – not all of them.(Mis)Conceive is a powerful new dance-theatre work by Thomas ES Kelly, who recently received the 2018 National Indigenous Art Dreaming Award for an emerging artist. The show challenges the idea that knowledge equals comprehension. Using an exciting mash-up of traditional and contemporary styles, dance and spoken word, (Mis) Conceive simultaneously rejects, reveals and re-educates (mis)undertsandings about what it means to be an indigenous Australian.
NORPA, Lismore City Hall | Friday 29 June | 7pm | Saturday 30 June 2pm & 7pm | $20–36
HMS Pinafore: Ballina Players
Ballina Players Theatre | 15 June till 1 July | $22–30
HMS Pinafore by Gilbert & Sullivan is to be the next Ballina Players production in June/July, with Jaime Sheehan in her first solo venture as director and choreographer, and two musical directors: Warwick Binney and Marie Caldwell. The storyline has Ralph Rackstraw (Mick Webb, recently as the prosecutor, Ross, in A Few Good Men) being in love with the Captain’s daughter Josephine (played by Jessica Davison in her first role for Ballina Players). This match is difficult for both of them as they are each from a different social class, Ralph being a mere sailor on the Pinafore. Also, Josephine is reluctant to consider a marriage proposal from Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. Josephine reveals to her father that she loves a humble sailor in his crew, but she assures him that she is a dutiful daughter and will never reveal her love to this sailor.
Tickets are available now: online at ballinaplayers.com.au/bookings (no fee) or at Just Funkin’ Music in River St, Ballina, near the pedestrian lights ($2/ticket booking fee) in person or on 6686 2440. Tickets are $30/Adult and $22 Child 16 and under). Opening Night Special: Canapes and FREE glass of champagne from 7.15
I Can I Will Skydiving Day
Tyagarah Airfield | 16 June
Comedian Michael Bennett and his wife Donna-Leigh Perfect are the Dream Guards. They have developed an anti-bullying program powered by the belief that no child should feel afraid while getting a quality education. To help them enact their P.E.A.C.E. program Gold Coast-based journalist Marlena May Katene is doing something quite extraordinary: she’s jumping out of a plane to raise money for their project. Just doing the jump is impressive, but Marlena has cerebral palsy, is wheelchair bound, and can’t speak. She’s travelled the world interviewing hundreds of celebrities, including Richard Branson, Robbie Williams and the Dalai Lama, so this should be a piece of cake! The jump is happening in Byron at Tyagarah airfield on 16 June and she’ll be joined by fellow jumper Michael Bennett.
To find out more about the Dream Guards go to dreamguards.com.au and to contribute to the jump go to Gofundme, I Can I Will Skydiving Day: www.gofundme.com/i-can-i-will-skydiving-day
Federal Film Night: The Disaster Artist
Federal Hall, Jasper Corner | Saturday 9 June | 6.30pm
The Knitting Nannas are raising funds to donate to the Environmental Defenders Office to use for the benefit of people in the Narrabri and Pilliga area who are resisting Santos’s proposed 850-well CSG expansion. Sue Higginson (formerly of the EDO) will be giving a short (5-min) talk on what the EDO does and can do for farmers and families resisting CSG mining in their localities at Jasper Corner at Federal Hall this Saturday before the screening of The Disaster Artist. The film is a surprisingly poignant and charming movie about a movie that explores the creative process. Catered for by the Knitting Nannas!
Food by The Knitting Nanas
Stories in the Club
Story lovers gather this Sunday at Club Mullum for Stories in the Club: Drawn From Life. This month’s theme is Earth Love. Ten-minute oral stories will be shared by Athol Compton, Dr Eshana Bragg, Maximo Bottaro, Hanna Nevarra, Henry Coleman and event curator Jenni Cargill-Strong. Athol Compton is a Minyunbul traditional custodian, featured in the book Our Way Stories,and has also acted in several feature films. Dr Eshana Bragg, doctor of ecopsychology, is an energetic, passionate environmentalist and co-creator of The Joyality Program for Empowering Conscious Changemakers.Henry Coleman has been a change-maker since childhood – a passion that grew out of a deep love and concern for nature. Hanna Nevarra has been involved in frontline activism through film, media and non-violent direct action.
Maximo Bottaro has been passionately engaged in ecology throughout life, having always been sensitive to nature. Curator of Stories in the Club, professional storyteller Jenni Cargill-Strong will tell an original environmental story with a folktale flavour.
Stories in the Club is supported by The Ngara Institute, Creative Mullumbimby, Toastmasters, The Story Tree Company, and Stories on Foot. More information about this event and Jenni’s storytelling workshops atwww.storytree.com.au or call Jenni on 0403 328 643. Sunday at Club Mullum at Mullum Ex-Services at 4pm. Tix $10
Splendour Tickets
Memorial Hall, Brunswick Heads | Saturday 10 June | 8am – 2.45pm
When it comes to old and gold, a Splendour ticket definitely falls into the GOLD category, especially considering the event is sold out. The good people have donated a double pass to the Bruns Visitors Centre so they can auction them off to raise money at the Old & Gold Festival. So if you missed out on tickets and you want to see Gang of Youths, Hilltop Hoods, or Henry Rollins and Lorde in their only Australian show, put in your best bid for two 3-day passes to Splendour (20–22 July) this Saturday at Brunswick Heads’ Old & Gold festival.
Bids for the tickets valued at $798. The highest bidder announced at 3pm. All funds raised support the Brunswick Heads Visitor Centre, with thanks to the team at Splendour and Secret Sounds.
Byron Ballet Triple Bill
Byron Theatre, Community Centre | Friday 7pm | Saturday 2pm & 7pm
Byron Ballet’s current production this Friday and Saturday is a triple-bill gala featuring the Grande Pas de Deux from Don Quixote.
Michael Braun and Tahlia Downey will guest perform this excerpt in what is sure to be a supreme level of ballet artistry and technique by these two master artists.
Michael Braun, who has performed with the Byron Ballet as principal male dancer for the last four years, is a former principal of both the Queensland Ballet and The Royal NZ Ballet.
Byron Ballet will also be performing the complete Bolero by Maurice Ravel with its hypnotic rise to climax. Byron Ballet artistic director Yvonne Hall has choreographed the work as an homage to the feminine.
The third piece is the comedic and effervescent Act 2 of Coppelia, one of the lightest and most likeable ballets in the world repertoire. An eccentric toymaker makes life-size dolls and an escapade of mistaken identity unfolds. A ballet sure to delight all ages.
www.byroncentre.com.au | 6685 6807
World Oceans Day
Heart Space Warehouse, 3/46 Acacia St, Byron | Friday | 7pm | $10 at the door
World Oceans Day is a global day of ocean celebration and collaboration for a better future for us and our oceans, kicking off with sunrise yoga and surf with Fluoro Fridays down at The Pass. Wear your brightest clothes to raise awareness for mental health and join in on the beach clean to give back to the mother ocean. Later that night gather at Heart Space Warehouse, 3/46 Acacia St in Byron, for evening events. Commencing with an Indigenous ceremony dance with Manoa playing his set shortly after and finishing the evening with Boatkeeper performing. The two artists will be showcasing their work that is purely targeting marine life. Little Wahaca food truck will be there serving delicious Latin American food as local stalls set up by the fire pit out the back.
Secret Parlour
Club Mullum, Mullum Ex-services Club | Saturday 9 June | 7pm | $35
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. 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
