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June 22, 2026

Culture in the Byron Shire for the Week Beginning 7 November, 2019

Latest News

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Other News

Eclectic Selection for the week beginning 17 June 2026

Eclectic Selection: What’s on this week is a taste of some of the events that can be found in the Byron Shire and beyond this coming week.

Pottsville Beach Community Hall celebrates 40 years

The Pottsville Beach Community Hall is celebrating its 40th birthday and the whole community is invited to join the party.

Trumpism

Is it naïve to think of a promise in the political context as no more than intention to do...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Plastic Is Forever

Our family has been trying to give up plastic. And I’m not just talking single-use straws or takeaway cups or bottled water. Like most people we did that years ago. I’m talking about all the other plastic that we ingest either directly or through chemical leaching. In the period of time since I was a child, to a child born now, the fossil fuel industry has become implicated in nearly every part of our daily routine.

Community housing industry call for major expansion in upcoming NSW budget

The community housing industry are calling on the NSW government to use next week's State Budget to unlock a major expansion of community housing.

Shark culls not the answer

It has been a confronting and devastating year with a 12-year-old killed by a shark in Sydney and another shark attack in Coogee over the weekend. The NSW government has said there is nothing off the table in response to the latest shark incident. But it is vital that we don’t just start going out there and randomly culling sharks.

Queenie Van De Zandt

Queenie van de Zandt sings Joni Mitchell

Brunswick Picture House  |  Sunday 10 November  |   4pm  |  Adult $35, Concession $30

Australian cabaret chanteuse and musical theatre star, Queenie van de Zandt, renowned for her artful storytelling and raw, emotive vocals, brings to you the songs, stories and art of the music legend that is Joni Mitchell and her 1971 album Blue.

Using voiceovers and intimate storytelling, Queenie takes us on a sonic journey through Joni’s life, losses and loves, affectionately reinterpreting her melancholy music, and intimately revealing the stories behind some of her most haunting songs such as A Case of You, Both Sides Now and Little Green.

Brunswick Picture House, Sunday 10 November, 4pm Adult $35 | Concession $30


Kiera Knightly in Official Secrets

British Film Festival

Palace Cinema, Byron Bay  |  9–10 November

Proudly presented by Palace Cinemas and MINI, the British Film Festival returns for its sixth and biggest year yet. The Festival features some of the most eagerly anticipated British films of the year including powerful true stories, literary adaptations and biographies, and modern classics starring some of Britain’s best known and beloved stars.

Thirty exceptional films from emerging talent and accomplished industry professionals will be showcased on the big screen in seven cities and 19 cinemas across Australia. With 16 Australian premieres, you won’t want to miss out on this year’s exceptional line-up!

The MINI British Film Festival runs from 30 Oct–13 Nov, at Palace, Byron Bay. For more details visit britishfilmfestival.com.au/sessions/byron-bay


A Cheeky Eky on Acid

Cheeky Cabaret

Brunswick Heads Picture House  |  Friday 8 November, 7pm: Adult $40, Concession $35  |  Saturday 9 November, 7pm: Adult $45, Concession $40

The signature show of the Brunswick Heads Picture House, the Cheeky Cabaret, is back — bigger, bolder and brasher than ever!

The team behind the Cheeky Cabaret and the Brunswick Picture House have been touring two circus/cabaret/variety shows internationally over the last 15 years — the award-winning La Soirée, which recently completed its eighth winter season in London, and its baby sister, Club Swizzle, which embarked on a world tour and thrilled audiences at the Sydney Opera House, Perth Fringe World Festival and most recently, at the iconic London Roundhouse. Brunswick Heads is now the home base for these international blockbuster shows and the Cheeky Cabaret embraces very much the same spirit of Soirée and Swizzle.

Three years in, people continue to talk about the Cheeky Cabaret which features a different cast of troubadours, miscreants, delectable divas and cabaret queens every month, so that no two shows are ever the same! You’ll leave spellbound, titillated and amazed. As always, bring grandma but leave the little ones at home.

Brunswick Heads Picture House, Friday 8 November, 7pm: Adult $40 | Concession $35. Saturday 9 November, 7pm: Adult $45 | Concession $40


A Midsummers Night Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Byron Theatre  |  9 November  |  1pm  |  Full $25 – $15 | Group of 10 or more $15

A feuding fairy King and Queen of the forest cross paths with four runaway lovers and a troupe of actors trying to rehearse a play. As their dispute grows, the magical royal couple meddle with mortal lives, leading to love triangles, mistaken identities and transformations… with hilarious, but dark consequences.

Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedy is captured live from the Bridge Theatre in London. Gwendoline Christie (Game Of Thrones), Oliver Chris, David Moorst and Hammed Animashaun lead the cast as Titania, Oberon, Puck and Bottom.

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, this production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream builds on the success of his immersive staging of  Julius Caesar (NT Live 2018) .

The Bridge Theatre becomes a forest – a dream world of flying fairies, contagious fogs and moonlight revels, surrounded by a roving audience following the action on foot.

Click here for more information


Mullumbimby’s Biggest Littlest Choir

Day of the Dead

Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens  |  Sunday 10 November  |  3.30pm |  Free

Thirteen years ago, the Natural Death Care Centre saw the need for a secular, community ceremony to remember and honour those loved ones who have died.

Members of the NDCC and friends came together and held the first ceremony and event in Heritage Park, Mullum.

Over those 13 years, hundreds of people have come with their photos, mementos, even the Ashes of their families and friends.

The annual Day of the Dead Ceremony is an opportunity for everyone to come together to honour those who have died, are dying, or who are lost to us in some way. Although it has the same name as the South American celebration, this is a uniquely Australian cultural experience, open to any religion, spirituality, belief or culture.

As part of the NDCC local celebrant and Deathwalker, Zenith Virago facilitates the event, starting with local community artist Sam Collyer on hand to inspire, guide and help with her organically themed and sustainable creativity.

You are invited and encouraged to bring photographs or a special something for the shrine, as well as writing messages for loved ones.

Crystal Castle gates open with free entry at 3.30pm, art from 4pm, then at 5pm Zenith will conduct an inclusive Ceremony of Love and Remembrance accompanied by the Biggest Little Town Choir.

At the close of the ceremony, participants can choose to join a silent procession along the Rainforest Walk to the sacred grove – the Forest of Friends and Family, to leave their crafted mementos, which will slowly return to the earth. Children are welcome, but please keep them with you during the ceremony. Please note, this walk is not suitable for those with mobility issues but their mementos can be carried by others and placed on their behalf.

Sunday, 10 November, Crystal Castle & Shambhala Gardens. Free Entry from 3.30pm.


Michael Braun, Principle Dancer

The Nutcracker with special guest, principal dancer Michael Braun

Byron Theatre  |  Friday 15 November,  7pm \ Saturday 16 November, 2 & 7pm  \   Sunday 17 November, 5pm  |  $33-$22 ( Children ages 1–2 years free, seated on lap)

Tickets: Adult $33 | Child U18 $22 | Family of 4 $88 | Children ages 1–2 years free, seated on lap.

The Byron Ballet once again brings the world`s most popular ballet,  The Nutcracker, to Byron Theatre with a stronger cast than ever before.

Tchaikovsky`s musical score is sublime, instantly recognizable and a perfect introduction to classical music. Young audiences will be mesmerized by this coming-of-age story and children will be delighted as The Christmas party mysteriously transforms into a battleground between the mice and toy soldiers.

In ACT I,it is Christmas at the Stahlbaums’ house and their annual Christmas party begins. Clara is given a magical Nutcracker doll by her mysterious Godfather, Drosselmeyer.

Unknown to Clara, the Nutcracker is a young prince who has been turned into the doll by the wicked Mouse King.

Clara is drawn into a magical battle where she must help to break the spell and release her beloved Nutcracker Prince. Her room is transformed, toy soldiers come to life and enormous mice invade. The Mouse King is defeated and Clara and the Prince travel through a land of dancing snowflakes.

In ACT II, Christmas Angels celebrate the arrival of Clara and the Prince to the Land of Sweets.

The Queen of Sweets welcomes them and invites them to dance. They are entertained by a kaleidoscope of dancing treats.

In hundreds of towns and cities across the globe,  The Nutcracker is performed annually to packed houses. Why? It is simply the best and most accessible ballet in the world.

Tickets: Byron Theatre


Josalie Morris sings for the poets

Dangerously Poetic: Voices for the Earth, poetry and music for a living planet

Mullumbimby Community Gardens  |  3pm  | Sunday 10 November  | $10

Dangerously Poetic will be presenting a benefit poetry reading for the Mullumbimby Community Gardens on Sunday. All are welcome to come to the gardens.

The Biggest Little Town Choir led by Peter Lehner will open the event with songs for the Earth. Featured readers will be Lilith Rocha, Kien Hannah, and Susan Hayward.

Local singer, Joselai Morris will perform some of her original songs in her folk-rock acoustic style, inspired by nature. The audience are invited to bring along an original poem on the theme of love poems for the Earth, or a piece by someone else that you admire for the open section.

Seating is limited so bring a lawn chair! Suggested donation: $10. Sweet and savoury treats will be available for purchase to benefit the gardens. Mullumbimby Community Gardens on Sunday, 10 November, 3pm.


Fleabag presented by the National Theatre Live

Fleabag Encore

Byron Theatre  |  Saturday 9 November  |  7pm  |  $25-$10

See the hilarious, award-winning, one-woman show that inspired the BBC’s hit TV series  Fleabag, recorded live for the big screen from London’s West End and Presented by National Theatre Live there is an encore screening of Fleabag this weekend.

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge ( Fleabag, Killing Eve) and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life.

Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.

Playing to sold-out audiences in New York and London, don’t miss your last chance to see this ‘legitimately hilarious show’ ( New Yorker), filmed live.

9 November, 7pm Byron Theatre. Ages 15+. Full $25 | Concession $23 | Byron Theatre Club $20 | Student under 18 $15 | Group of 10 or more $15.

For more info>



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Hemp industry given boost with development plan

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Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

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Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

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Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.