Terrapin Puppet Theatre present Red Racing Hood
NORPA at Lismore City Hall | Friday 31 August, 6pm | Saturday 1 Sept, 11am | $15–38
Terrapin Puppet Theatre’s Red Racing Hood reimagines everyone’s favourite characters from the famous fairytale into the small town of Grinalong. When the new mayor announces the return of the local motor race, the Grinalong Classic, the whole town is excited. But the race will go through Tangled Woods, where a giant wolf is rumoured to live. With everything she knows and loves at stake, Red must convince her mechanically savvy Gran to let her compete and overcome her own fears in the process. The story is inventively brought to life using slot-car racing, with cameras situated around the circuit magnifying the action live onscreen, putting the audience in the driving seat as they follow Red on her adventure.
Recommended for children aged 5+ and their families. Bookings: www.norpa.org.au or 1300 066 772
Mark Swivel: Make Austraya Slightly Better than Average Again
Mullum Drill Hall Theatre | Friday 31 August, 7.30pm | Sunday 2 Sep, 5pm | $10
Sometimes life imitates art and sometimes art becomes life. That’s pretty well what has happened with Mark Swivel, whose one-man show about a left-leaning politician jaded with the system has drawn loyalty and support with the catchcry: ‘Why don’t you actually run for politics?’ Well he is. Swiv has the crossbench in the crosshairs. He’ll be running for the Senate – because satire has run its course and it is time to get elected. He says: ‘Clowns like Leyonhjelm and Anning need to be replaced by a different kind of clown. One who can dilate the cervix of our common wealth and sing in Gumatj.’ Hear Swivel’s ten-point plan to Make Austraya Slightly Better Than Average Again using nothing but hula hoops, Venn diagrams and fully costed faux policies. Swiv is MC of genuine fake Russian choir Dustyesky, who played Womad 2018 to delighted festival-goers. By day Mark runs a community legal clinic, Barefoot Law, and is company secretary at Enova Energy, a renewables retailer. Mark toured Dad. Joke. and How Deep is Your Love? all over Australia, which led him to Late Night Live with Philip Adams, who gave Swiv a coveted koala stamp, and Studio 10 co-hosting with Ita Buttrose. Mark is a playwright whose productions include Water Falling Down (QTC Brisbane 2011 and B Street Sacramento 2012) and Struth (Griffin Theatre Company 1990). Proceeds split between Ngara Institute and Mullum Neighbourhood Centre.
NRCF Industry Panel: Developing creative industries for young people
Brunswick Picture House | Wednesday 29 August | 6pm | $50
This region’s leading community charity organisation, known as NRCF, has a fundraising gig with a difference on Wednesday 29 August at 6pm.
Moderated by Kerry O’Brien, they present an onstage Q&A with ABC’s Deadlock producer Billie Pleffer, Ken Crouch, CEO of Screenworks, and Harry and Emily Page who run a lighting-and-production company.
MCeed by Mae Wilde with a silent auction to raise funds for the NRCF (Northern Rivers Community Foundation).
To book go to www.eventbrite.com.au
The Big Gig at the Ballina RSL
Thursday 30 August | 8pm | Gold-coin donation (fundraiser for NSW farming communities)
The Ballina RSL hosts a comedy fundraiser for drought-stricken farmers AND two big Aussie comedy stars, featuring Chris Radburn with support act Shayne Hunter.
With the whole of NSW now in severe drought, communities are pulling together to raise money for those most affected out in the bush.
The Ballina RSL is one of the businesses doing what it can and alongside a $2k donation from the staff’s charity fund, $2 from every coffee and cake sold, a supply drop-off and general donations, the club is taking advantage of the big crowds at their monthly Big Gig Comedy night to send the hat around!
Yep, it’s comedy for a cause, and this month’s feature is former lawyer Chris Radburn. He’s left the courtroom for the comedy stage and these days he uses his sharp conniving mind for the forces of comedy rather than fleecing people out of dollars…
Over the past 15 years Chris has performed at all the major comedy festivals across Australia, and has also performed in the US, Malaysia, throughout the South Pacific, New Zealand, and even in Egypt and Dubai entertaining the Aussie troops. While in the US he was an international finalist of America’s hit comedy show Last Comic Standing.
Chris is also an award-winning writer/actor and director with his short film Embellish and his two comedy web series Guide to Being a Successful Man and The Parents.
Chris is supported by Shayne Hunter, one of the must-see up-and-coming new emerging comics on the circuit. MCeed by comedy queen and the Big Gig’s favourite small- town girl Mandy Nolan.
www.rsl.ballinarsl.com.au/entertainment/
Festival of the Imagination
Ocean Shores Public School | Saturday 25 august | 11am | Free
Imagine that you are about to enter another dimension, not only of sight and sound but of taste, touch and mind, a journey into the colourful and ambient surrounds of Ocean Shores, whose only boundaries are that of the imagination…
Well you don’t have to imagine; you can simply come along on Saturday from 10am till 3pm to the Ocean Shores Public School in Shara Boulevard. Not only are there all-day rides, sideshow stalls, market and artisan stalls, creative workshops, the wonderful Spaghetti Circus, and the inspiring Ocean Shores Art Expo. There are raffles, entertainment, great food, cakes and coffee; there are people of all ages, there is fun, laughter, joy and frivolity.
It’s a Festival of the Imagination! What makes a festival click? YOU DO! See you there.
Ocean Shores Art Expo
Ocean Shores Public School Hall | Friday 24 August | Opening night | 7pm | $15
Viewing Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10am–4pm
This weekend sees the Ocean Shores Art Expo present 313 adult works all on display and all for sale.
Opening is on the Friday night with awards totalling $5,500 being announced. Art can be viewed all weekend, from 10am till 4pm, Friday to Sunday.
For more info go to osartexpo.com
Dangerously Poetic
Ocean Shores Public School Hall | Sunday 26 august | 1pm | Free
The theme for this year’s Ocean Shores Art Expo is Treasures. This year Dangerously Poetic present a cultural afternoon of poetry and local choirs and the Mana Aloha Hula Troupe.
Poetry lovers are invited to bring along a poem they treasure by someone else or a poem about something they treasure for the open reading. Phil Williams and Public Act’s Studio 55 will be reciting treasured poems. The Rebel Rebel Girls Choir and The Bowlo Choir from Brunswick Heads will both perform, led by Janet Swain.
Women Like Us – Mullum Public & High School Fundraiser
Mullum Ex Services | Saturday 15 September | 7pm | $35
Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs are the comedic superstars behind the successful touring show Women Like Us. They’ve been touring their smash hit comedy show for three years with interviewers and audiences around the country all declaring: ‘Do you really come from Mullumbimby?’ It seems unbelievable to those outside the bubble that there could be one, let alone two crackingly funny comedians… who happen to be blonde middle-aged mums with attitude problems. Yes. They are not just from Mullumbimby, they draw many of their stories and much of their inspiration from living in the unique village.
‘All my jokes are bespoke; I shop for them at the farmers market,’ says Nolan. ‘Ellen gets hers at Woolies.’
The girls are bringing their comedy loving back to their home town for one giant fundraiser for the Mullumbimby Public School and the Mullumbimby High School Formal.
