Kyogle Writers Festival – Close To Home?
Kyogle will host its Writers Festival in May, with more than 60 authors and poets appearing at the event to be held at several venues in and around the area, under the theme ‘Close to Home?’.
With a mixture of free, community-based and affordable events, the Kyogle Writers Festival aims to include the entire Northern Rivers community in its celebration of the spoken and written word.
Close to Home
Leveraging off the Close to Home? theme, the exciting programme includes Mullumbimby-based cooking writer, Belinda Jeffery; acclaimed novelists Melissa Lucashenko, Delia Falconer, Jessie Cole, Mandy Beaumont and Michael Burge; nature writers Harry Saddler and Ben Walter; and creative nonfiction author Patti Mills. Poets who will be performing and discussing their poetry include Richard Tipping, Gavin Yuan Gao, Stuart Cook, Ellen van Neerven, Chris Mansell and Uki children’s book author, Tina Wilson.
Indigenous chef and SBS personality, Bundjalung man, Mark Olive, aka ‘The Black Olive’ will speak on cooking and culture on the Friday evening before the Festival’s official opening under the big marquee in Stratheden Sreet.
Many talented writers and poets
Creative Director, Paul Shields said that after all the challenges that the drought, fires, COVID-19 and the devastating recent floods have brought to the Northern Rivers, they are very excited to have put together a programme featuring so many talented writers and poets. ‘We really hope that people will come and enjoy the ideas, perspectives and insights that our writers offer.’
Panels of authors will explore topics such as our relationships with nature, LGBTQI+ identities and notions of home, Indigenous writing, home cooking, and creativity after the fires. If you are keen to hone your writing skills, workshops are being offered on writing creative nonfiction/memoir, historical fiction and the sensual world, as well as podcasting.
The Power of Words
A free session aimed at secondary students called, The Power of Words, will feature youth climate action leader, Jean Hinchliffe; paramedic, author and film-maker, Ben Gilmour; and creative writing teacher, Melaina Faranda.
On the Thursday evening prior to the Festival, will be a family friendly fundraiser movie night screening The Princess Bride at Kyogle Cinemas. Money raised will be donated to Arts Northern Rivers Flood Appeal.
The festival runs 13–15 May. For more information visit: www.kyoglewritersfestival.com.
We love this yeah, yeah, yeah…
Sixty years on from their debut album, no band has accrued more success, more fame or more respect than The Beatles. With 600 million record sales and 20 Number One hits, the influence of ‘The Fab Four’ remains as strong today as ever before.
Beatles Unplugged is a show created through a collaboration between Shane Rushbrook from Rivar Entertainment and international entertainer Thomas Armstrong-Robley. Thomas initially developed the concept while working as an entertainer with a major cruise line in 2018.
What was intended as a one-night event aboard the ship quickly grew to a must-see cabaret every voyage.
As Director of the project, Thomas further workshopped his original idea and has crafted a brilliant show combining stunning four-part harmonies with two guitars and strings. The arrangements are truly stunning, and celebrate the musical genius of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Ringo Star.
Beatles Unplugged captures the intimacy and energy of the popular MTV Unplugged series. The show boasts over 20 memorable hits from the Fab Four – ‘Black Bird’, ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Help’, ‘Here Comes The Sun’, ‘Get Back’, and ‘A Hard Day’s Night’.
Beatles Unplugged is performing at the Byron Theatre on Saturday 30 April at 7.30pm.
Book your tickets now through Byron Theatre. www.byroncentre.com.au.
The Magic Toyshop
The renowned Victorian State Ballet are back by popular demand with the wonderfully enchanting classical ballet The Magic Toyshop.
With a cast of internationally recognised artists, The Magic Toyshop will bring excitement and ballet splendour to the stage, performed by the superb and highly skilled artists of the Victorian State Ballet. The wonderful storyline and vibrant choreography by Director, Michelle Sierra, bring an unforgettable experience to ballet lovers young and old.
The Magic Toyshop is one of the world’s most loved children’s ballets, with its colourful and exciting musical score, which has audiences on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. The story is told through excellent staging, simple and direct mime, and superb classical ballet technique and choreography, which bring to life an altogether magical theatre experience.
Don’t miss out on seeing the dolls come to life after midnight in the magic toyshop. Wonder at the dynamic Can-Can dolls, the Ballerina dolls, the Cossack dolls, the Porcelain dolls, the mesmerising pas de deux and more. Bring family and friends along these April school holidays to enjoy the sheer delight and beauty of classical ballet at its finest.
Byron Community Centre Venue Manager, Tanja Greulich, says Byron Theatre is thrilled to see the return of the Victorian State Ballet. ‘After their sold out shows in 2019, you don’t want to miss the 2022 season of The Magic Toyshop. The exquisite skills of these maestro dancers set within the intimate setting of Byron Theatre will bring this timeless classic to life.’
The Magic Toyshop is the perfect outing these school holidays and a unique ballet experience that is appropriate for all ages.
Four performances: Friday 22 April, 7pm, Saturday 23 April, 2pm & 6pm, Sunday 24 April, 5pm.
Tickets at byrontheatre.com.au
Emerging from the depths
After 12 months of intense writing and rehearsing, Liquidelic emerges from the depths of the Byron Hinterland to bring a full-production live show to the local community.
Liquidelic is a collaborative live performance art project featuring three highly-skilled artists from different disciplines: Music, Visual Art and Dance. A visually stunning analogue liquid light projection-show cascades over choreographed dance pieces, with a soundtrack of hybrid live original music. These elements combine into a finely-rehearsed multimedia performance in which three elements become a single piece. Members Yao Mikami (visuals) and Karen Minami (dance) infuse this modern production with inspiration from their Japanese cultural heritage, while Tim Parry (music) brings contemporary music composition to the ensemble.
The result is a synergy of old and new, east and west, sight, sound, movement and creativity intertwining on stage for 70 minutes. It is common for audience members to be moved to tears during the show, which has been described as ‘powerful colour-therapy’ and ‘incredible, the highest form of art’.
Liquidelic will perform at Byron Theatre on Friday 29 April. This concert will showcase a full-production show that the ensemble has been building for over 12 months.
But that’s not all. In a first-time event, Liquidelic are also partnering with ecstatic DJs Monsieur Diop and Xenia to deliver an immersive dance experience.
This groundbreaking event will invite the audience into the world of Liquidelic, literally immersing them within the colour and movement of Liquidelic visuals. The boundaries between performer and audience are broken down, as all become participants in a freeform explosion of colour, life and movement.
Audience members are encouraged to come dressed in comfortable plain-white dancing attire.
Liquidelic – Byron Theatre, 29 April at 6.30pm. Doors from 6pm. Tickets available through www.byrontheatre.com.au. Dress code: ALL WHITE.
What’s coming up at Byron Theatre
As the impact of the recent severe weather event subsides, the Byron Community Centre is very excited to present a special line-up of live events across April and May at their beloved Byron Theatre.
Rescheduled from March, join Kerry O’Brien and fellow journalist, academic and author of The Idea of Australia, Julianne Schultz, for a timely discussion about the ‘idea’ of Australia. What defines the soul of our nation?
On Tuesday 26 April at 6pm, presented by Byron Writers Festival.
Three Lords are back with a larger-than-life film screening of Pink Floyd: The Wall in 2K resolution in honour of its 40th anniversary. A confined but troubled rock star descends into madness in the midst of his physical and social isolation from everyone.
Showing on Thursday 12 May at 7.30pm.
A fitting film event as the recent and ongoing consequences of worldwide events have begun to unfold before our eyes. A must see film on the big screen!
A truly special film is turning 50! Tracks Magazine are presenting a meticulously remastered 4K version of Morning Of The Earth (MOTE) on Saturday 14 May at 7pm. In addition to the remastered version of MOTE, the anniversary screenings will also feature the short film 50 Years Around the Sun, which showcases never-been-seen-outtakes from the MOTE ‘Lost Reels’, as well as a (Zoom) Q&A with Albe Falzon.
Byron Theatre presents their next Art On Screen documentary on Wednesday 18 May at 2pm. Meet the Golden King on the big screen in Tutankhamun: The Last Exhibition! to celebrate the centenary of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Narrated by Iggy Pop.
The always popular BANFF Mountain Film Festival is back for two huge nights: Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May, at 7pm. Adventure Reels once again brings you a celebration of the mountain and adventure sport world. Sharing the best and most exhilarating short films from explorers, mountain bikers, skiers, paddlers and climbers from around the globe.
Then, on Wednesday 25 May, from 5pm, Byron Theatre hosts the next event in the Let’s Talk series presented by the Byron Community Hub. Four women panelists bring their expertise from various angles and share their knowledge about how women can prepare themselves physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually for the menopause journey.
For these shows and more, visit: byrontheatre.com.au
The Broadbeach Blues
Now in its 21st year, Blues on Broadbeach, one of Australia’s largest music festivals, is proud to announce the second tranche of extraordinary blues artists added to an already stellar bill.
Headliners, James Morrison Motown Experience, Robben Ford (US) and R.L. Boyce (US) are being joined by Karise Eden, Osaka Monaurail (Japan), Blue Empress All-Stars, Matty T Wall, and many more, in a 2022 line-up you won’t want to miss.
This extraordinary collection of international and national artists will take to the Gold Coast stages over four days.
Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, highlighted this ray of sunshine; ‘It’s been a tough couple of months for SE Queensland and other parts of the east coast with the recent floods, so it’s nice to be sharing some good news, and music certainly has a way of putting a smile on people’s faces and bringing us together.’
‘We’re so excited for this year’s Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival, and by the looks of the artist line-up, 2022 is going to be bigger and better than ever.
‘I can’t wait to dust off the boots and get down to Broadbeach in May to enjoy this four-day celebration of blues music – and I hope to see all of you there.’
Festival Director, Mark Duckworth said this year’s Blues on Broadbeach is all about returning to its roots. ‘We want to continue to bring our festival fans a selection of artists which celebrates all the different music styles in the blues genre as well as a few surprises.’
‘It is so important to us that we bring out not just the big names, but those artists that are true to the festival and represent the very best of what blues music has to offer. With our international borders finally open again, we’re excited to welcome to our stages some truly incredible international artists and some unique performances that you won’t see anywhere else and won’t want to miss.’
Blues on Broadbeach, 19–22 May.
For more information visit: bluesonbroadbeach.com.
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