Factory Art
Factory 16 | Friday 22 Feb | 6pm | FREE
During February, artist Caleb Reid will be exhibiting his latest series of large-scale abstract paintings in Mullumbimby.
He uses an array of materials to create images that land somewhere between children’s sketchbooks and the ink-blot images of the Rorschach test.
His work is on show at Factory 16 at 26 Mill St, Mullumbimby this Friday.
Say Hello to Byron Comedy Fest!
Byron Surf Club | 17-19 May
Sometimes all you need to do is have a dream. That’s how the brand-new Byron Comedy Fest was born!
One day a group of friends met for a birthday lunch enjoying good vibes and uncontrollable laughter and it was remarked how wonderful a feeling that was! Why was Byron missing a comedy festival? There were four women at the lunch that day; only two were keen to follow through with the grand plan!
That was the day Zara Noruzi and Mell Coppin dreamed up the idea of creating the Byron Comedy Fest.
Originally a writer from a media background, Zara has been involved with fundraising for local schools in Byron Bay, and Mell Coppin comes from Peterpans Travel Group. Byron Comedy Fest central is the surf club, nestled right on the Bay. ‘It’s why people come to Byron,’ says Zara. ‘To see the Bay. Why would you have a comedy festival and not include the location as part of the event? Mell says her vision for the Byron Comedy Fest is a candlelit beach and a lineup like whacky Daniel Kitson, hilarious Carl Barron, and concluding with Tim Minchin barefoot at his piano! It’s not an impossible dream!’
This year sees the Byron Comedy Fest take its first steps towards that dream with headline shows Best of the British featuring Jeff Green, Dan Willis, and Bob Franklin. Mixed Nuts sees comedy superstar Glenn Robbins, the man who won our hearts with Russell Coight and Kel Knight, join forces with his fellow Kath & Kim series co-star Peter Rowsthorn (aka Brett) and fellow comedian Dave O’Neil (Spicks & Specks) – a once-only opportunity to see these three gold-star comics in one place at the same time!
Sample the most exciting new voices in comedy when Dave Thornton is joined by Mel Buttle and Nikki Britton. Denise Scott aka Scotty turns up the heat for a Sunday morning comedy brekkie session! There’s also a comedy debate where some of the country’s funniest minds battle a ‘#Metoo’ theme of ‘Women Rule the World’.
The festival also offers Laughter Yoga, a family show Talking Dogs with Joel Salom and his beloved electric dogs Eric and Allen; Mandy Nolan presents Funny Kids – standup show by kids for kids; there are even pie-throwing and slapstick workshops facilitated by former London-based circus performer Alex Frith! And late Saturday night Mandy Nolan MCs Show Us Your Wits – the edgy gender- and age-fluid performance of local talents directed by Alex Frith whose most recent credits include direction with Circus Oz.
Tickets are on sale now. As the venue has limited capacity it is recommended that patrons purchase now to avoid disappointment! For full program and ticket purchase go to byroncomedyfest.com.
HOTA Circus
HOTA- Home of the Arts | 29-30 March | 10.30am & 3pm | $22.50
On March 29 and 30, the highly acclaimed Flying Fruit Fly Circus return to HOTA with their exhilarating new and fun-filled show Junk.
Stepping back in time to the 1940s, this thrilling circus adventure is set in a rural junkyard where playing in the street with the kids on the block was the greatest time of all.
Junk tells the story of an inventive exploration of the changing world of childhood, set in a time before kids had access to television, computers, and expensive toys, and used their imagination to transform household trash into a magical landscape of thrilling circus adventures.
Junk swings into HOTA 29 & 30 March with two shows daily: 10.30am and 3pm.Tickets at hota.com.au.
Viva Zion!
Brunswick Picture House | Friday Feb 22| 5.30pm | FREE
Local artist Zion Stewart is possibly one of most prolific and impressive artists in our region. His work has an energy and a life reminiscent of a modern-day Picasso. In fact his last exhibition was titled Picasso Would Be Jealous! Zion is 40 years old, and a well-loved local personality, usually adorned in a floral shirt and paint-spattered clothes in and around his hometown of Mullumbimby. Born with Down Syndrome, Zion’s distinctive artistic ability has produced hundreds of paintings, drawings, and pottery over the last 20 years. A love of life and people inspires his unique quirky works, reflecting his unique view of the world and its inhabitants. He is also the subject of a prize-winning short film The Fine Art of Being Zion.
His upcoming exhibition Viva opens at Brunswick Picture House on Friday at 5.30pm.
Top Knight at the Big Gig
Ballina RSL | Thursday Feb 28 | 8pm | FREE
This month’s Big Gig is going to be one of the best Big Gigs Eva! Internationally famous comedian, Mandy Knight, star of Jongleurs Comedy Chain, and The Comedy Store in London and Manchester, will be this month’s feature, with her trip to Oz topping off an extensive, headline world tour via Dubai, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, and South Africa.
Mandy has a strong following across the UK and Europe, her comedy has been described as ‘Inspired comedy’, ‘a stream of priceless gems’, and Mandy herself has been called
‘A virtuoso comedienne’, and ’As frisky as a terrier on heat!’ Can you believe?!
Mandy Knight is not your average comedienne; she’s sharp witted and quick tongued; she will leave you breathless with laughter; you won’t know if you should laugh or cry…
Mandy is not to be missed. She is performing at The Big Gig, Ballina RSL, on Thursday 28 February.
Monday 25 February
RAW Comedy in Mullumbimby
Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club | Monday Feb 25 | 8pm | $15
This Monday sees the funny people in the region battle it out for top spot at the local Raw Comedy Heat for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s nationwide search for new talent. People like Hannah Gadsby, Adam Spencer, and Charlie Pickering were all discovered in the country’s most prestigious joke-telling juggernaut.
With 14 hot new talents up on the talking stick and Mandy Nolan as MC this is a night not to me missed!
Tix are $15 on the door or online at mandynolan.com.au – get in quickly, these shows are super popular!
Mandy & Morley
Byron Services Club – Monday March 25 | Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club – Tuesday March 26 | 8pm | $25
Back in 1998 Simon Morley and David Friend left their dignity at the door and got their dicks out. It was the moment that would change their lives forever. Goodbye obscurity! Hello World Domination! They performed Puppetry of the Penis – awarded Outright Best Show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Puppetry of the Penis is built on the comedic genius of Morley and Friend, and their bizarre ability to create genital origami or dick tricks. Basically they make shit with their penis, testicles, and scrotums.
Mandy Nolan joins forces with Simon Morley, one half of the Penis show, when he presents Naked Ambition, the show that takes you on a journey through the creation of the two-man show spawned in the outback of Australia that made its way through Europe and even conquered North America.
Monday 25 March at the Byron Services Club; Tuesday 26 March at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services. Both shows at 8pm and are $25 at the club, or online at mandynolan.com.au.
