Arrebato Ensemble
Brunswick Picture House | Friday | 7pm | Adult $30, Concession $25
Arrebato Ensemble is contemporary flamenco with edge. Led by acclaimed flamenco guitarist Greg Alfonzetti and Damian de Boos-Smith (cello and guitar), the long-time collaborators are joined by Byron Mark (cajón, percussion and piano) and dancer Chachy Peñalver, founder and director of The Sydney Flamenco Studio. This new lineup creates passionately moving performances combining incisive ensemble playing, masterful solos and the beauty and power of flamenco dance.
The group’s much-anticipated third album Sofia’s Dream was released in October 2018. The group’s previous albums drew critical acclaim, with John Shand describing that, while their music ‘moves from pure flamenco in favour of a more contemporary style, the spirit – a dramatic, sexually charged and haughty sadness, remains intact’ (SMH). The group’s first album snared them the Best World Music Artist at the MusicOz Awards, and performances at WOMADelaide, Sydney Festival, Apollo Bay Music Festival, Sydney Opera House and International Australian Festival of Chamber Music, followed. The second CD Absolución was launched at the Sydney Opera House in 2011 to a sell out audience and also enjoyed rave reviews.
They play Friday at the Brunswick Picture House at 7pm. Tix are $25/30 from brunswickpicturehouse.com
Rembrandt – Exhibition on Screen
Byron Theatre, Community Centre | Sunday | 3pm
Every Rembrandt exhibition is eagerly anticipated, but this major show hosted by London’s National Gallery and Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum was an event like no other. Given privileged access to both galleries, the film documents this landmark exhibition, whilst interweaving Rembrandt’s life story with behind-the-scenes preparations at these world-famous institutions.
Exploring many of the exhibition’s key works, through contributions from specially invited guests, including curators and leading art historians, this Exhibition On Screen favourite makes a welcome return to the big screen – marking the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death.
For many, Rembrandt is the greatest artist that ever lived and this deeply moving film seeks to explore the truth about the man behind the legend. Sunday at the Byron Theatre, 3pm. byroncentre.com.au
Nit Boy
Byron Theatre, Community Centre | Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10am & 1pm | $25 / child $20 Family of 4 = $65
If you haven’t had nits then you haven’t been here long enough. There was a time when I had about 6 years of constantly dealing with nits in my kid’s hair. They became part of the family. That is what it’s like for Lewis, the main character in Nit Boy who has the worst case of nits in world history. Thousands. His parents and teachers want him to shave his head but Lewis loves them. He sees them as his pets. A great show for kids based on the book by Tristan Bancks.
Byron Theatre. Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10am & 1pm. Tix $25 / child $20 Family of 4 = $65 byroncentre.com.au
Defy 5G
Durrumbul Hall in Main Arm | Saturday 5 October | from 4.30pm
People who care about the impacts of 5G and electro-magnetic-radiation (EMR) will be gathering at Durrumbul Hall in Main Arm on Saturday 5 October from 4.30pm. They will be raising funds to fight 5G and to protect Byron’s biosphere – with its alternative lifestyles and perspectives – with the help of local DJs Short Circuit, Spliffin and Fago.
The event will have speakers and information on the effects of EMR on bees, insects, birds, human health and the environment. ‘Durr-um-bul is a term originating with the aboriginal community of the Water Rat people of the Brunswick River system,’ said one local organiser. ‘The main arteries that flow into that system are known as the Main Arm, the South Arm, Marshalls Creek and Simpsons Creek that all join at Mullumbimby. This water is the life blood of our Byron Shire.
‘Our people who now inhabit this region rely upon its waters and its beautiful native vegetation that creates our native biosphere to support our lives and health though its interaction with our Mother Earth’s energies and vibrations.’
A spokesperson for Stop 5G Northern Rivers says that, ‘The current EMF exposure standards are 30 years old, using a six foot dummy for six minutes phone time. This does not cover 97 per cent of the population.’
The group are also running the #wearenotsam campaign to raise awareness of the impacts of 5G.
Kuchipudi Narthanam
Byron Theatre, Community Centre | Tuesday | 7pm | $20/25
This Tuesday, Canberra’s Sadhanalaya School of Arts will be performing Kuchipudi Narthanam – a colourful, emotive, and dynamic showcase of Kuchipudi (one of South India’s classical Indian dance forms) at the Byron Theatre.
The Kuchipudi dance style has been in existence for thousands of years and originated in the village of Kuchipudi in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It was originally performed mainly by male dancers, and evolved as a religious art like many other forms of classical Indian dance. It is known for its fast-paced footwork set to complex rhythmic patterns and sensual movements, and for its dramatic aspects, which use intricate facial expressions and hand gestures.
Kuchipudi Narthanam features the Sadhanalaya School of Arts’ director, Vanaja Dasika – niece of the legendary Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer, the late Padmabhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam – and some of her students. Dasika is a compelling performer who has captured audiences with her gracefulness and storytelling abilities in India and abroad. It is Dasika’s desire to promote Kuchipudi as a unique art-form more widely in Australia through performance, and by teaching the art to future generations. This is the first time Dasika and her students are sharing Kuchipudi with regional communities in Australia and they are very excited about this opportunity. Assistance for this regional tour has been provided by the Australian Council for the Arts.
Tickets for this show can be purchased from byroncentre.com.au
Byron Live with Mandy Nolan
Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby | Saturday | 8pm | $35
How does a Byron boy become a Guinness Book of Records record-holding sword swallower – with statues of him at Ripley’s Believe it Or Not Museums? How does an actor become a leading force of change when it comes to inspiring people toward their own positive climate actions? How does a sweet natured girl-next-door type therapist start mapping yonis? How does a bloke even come up with the idea of painting with his penis? And what exciting news does Áine Tyrrell have on returning from her tour in the UK and Ireland? Who is Ellen Briggs picking up hitching? What is the conspiracy theory focus for this month?
All these questions, and more, will be answered when Mandy Nolan hosts Byron Live – our first ever local chat show!
Saturday at the Drill Hall at 8pm. Tix are $35 from mandynolan.com.au
Byron Internatonal Film Festival!
Venues though Byron & Tweed | October 18-27
The 13th Byron Bay International Film Festival today announced its official programme selection for 2019, to screen over 10 days across a diverse set of venues in Byron Shire and the Tweed. So mark October 18–27 in your diary for Australia’s independent showcase for cutting-edge films, documentaries and VR experiences.
Hugo Weaving, William Shakespeare and Pawno director Paul Ireland will conspire to bring a full measure of drama, style and cultural heft to the red carpet Opening Night of the Byron Bay Film Festival next month.
Not that the Bard will be there of course, but the audience will be wowed by Ireland’s re imagining of his ‘problem’ play Measure for Measure – neither comedy nor tragedy – here brought up to date, darkened, and set in Melbourne’s gritty underbelly; where ice, vice and inter-racial rivalries make for a tense urban landscape, where police pay-offs and violence are the tactics of first resort.
True to Will’s original script, Weaving’s Duke, as invincible capo, must make himself scarce for a while, the modern twist being that the move is provoked by a racist outrage from one of his lieutenant’s ice-addled customers.
But Duke’s not as far away as he wants everyone to believe, and he continues to run the show.
Meanwhile, a young Aussie stoner’s encounter with Lebanese Muslim, Jaiwara, leads to star-crossed love – the catalyst to plenty of subterfuge and ‘stage business’.
The young lovers are like babes-in-the-wood, and the wide-eyed performances of Megan Hajjar and Harrison Gilbertson are riveting, as is that of Fayssal Bazzi as Jaiwara’s lethally protective brother, whom audiences may remember from his BBFF outing last year in The Merger.
Measure for Measure (or M4M) was a natural choice for the opening night film, said Festival Director, J’aimee Skippon-Volke.
‘We support Australian filmmakers and this has everything: established stars and new faces on the rise; glossy cinematography; the glittering Melbourne cityscape in the background; topical interest, and a resolution that is a satisfying balance of joy and pain. Shakespeare would recognise the dichotomies and applaud.
‘It’s a perfect film to get everyone in the mood, both for the party afterwards and the 10 days of festival following.’
Opening Night is Byron’s most glamorous party of the year, where audiences will not only watch the screening, but are invited to walk the red carpet, mingle before the film and attend the exclusive after party! Tickets are $75 (until 7th Oct). Program and tix from bbff.com.au
Comedy Triple Bill with Matt Okine, Nick Cody, and MC Dan Willis,
Mullum Ex Services | Friday | 8pm | $25/30
Mandy Nolan presents a stand-up comedy triple header of international proportions; with UK comic, and star of the touring Best of British shows, Dan Willis as Mc, with a double feature of former Triple J morning presenter, and award winning comedian Matt Okine, and one of the only Aussies to be invited to perform for Conan O’Brien’s Late Night talk show, and Comedy Central, Nick Cody. This is an absolute blitzer of a line-up that gives comedy lovers a taste of a Melbourne Comedy Festival style gala!
Nick Cody has racked up rave reviews at every Aussie comedy festival, but also at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Soho Theatre in London. He has also performed numerous times at the invite-only Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, the New York Comedy Festival and Johannesburg Comedy Festival. Nick’s popularity abroad rose even further after making his US TV debut on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show – the fourth Australian at that time to do so. Cody became the face of Carlton Dry after the Carlton United Breweries made the red bearded wonder their very own ambassador. No stranger to the podcast world, his latest offering ‘Crushin’ it with Nick Cody’ is gaining listeners with every ep.
Matt Okine has scooped some major accolades in the past few years including an ARIA for his comedy release Live at the Enmore Theatre, and the prestigious Director’s Choice Award at the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival for his very personal show The Other Guy. Following the success of his live stand-up show, Stan announced The Other Guy as one of their new original productions for 2017.
Dan Willis may have started out a computer-science geek but somehow he made the transition to comedy and hasn’t looked back! A regular at the Edinburgh Fringe and at comedy festivals around the world as a producer, promoter and resident MC. Time Out in London declared him ‘a great comedian and a wonderful performer.’
Friday at the Mullum Ex Services. Tix are $25/30 at mandynolan.com.au
