26 C
Byron Shire
September 15, 2026

Ten plays. Ten minutes. You decide.

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Hot shorts

What can happen in ten minutes? A retirement village might need a child. A cat could outsmart its human. A fortune teller may know more than you bargained for. Or a routine drive could turn into something altogether stranger.

From 17 to 27 September, Hot Shorts returns to Mullumbimby’s Drill Hall Theatre with ten original short plays by local writers, selected from 24 entries and developed through months of workshopping, rewriting and rehearsals.

Now in its 15th iteration, Hot Shorts has been part of the local theatre landscape for 30 years.

As Artistic Director Mike Russo puts it, ‘Hot Shorts again celebrates our community’s creative skills and energy’.

That energy is everywhere in this year’s program, with stories spanning comedy, drama, mystery, love, family and the wonderfully unexpected.

And audiences have a job to do. After the show, every audience member can vote for their three favourite plays, with three cash prizes totalling $1,500 awarded to the playwrights.

So come for ten very different stories, discover some terrific local talent – and help decide the hottest short of 2026.

Hot Shorts, 17 to 27 September at the Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby

Thursday to Saturday 7.30pm, and Sunday 5pm.
Tickets: drillhalltheatre.org.au



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Interview with Pat Powell from the Melbourne Ska Orchestra

Hot off the heels of a wild year touring in Canada and Australia, and Byron Bay, the Melbourne Ska Orchestra’s (MSO) Spaghetti Western wagon trail rolls on, and they’re bringing along the super deluxe edition of their acclaimed album The Ballad of Monte Loco with all the faves, plus a swag of brand-new tracks and honky-tonk renditions of MSO’s staples to Brunswick Heads.

Richmond RiverFest returns to Ballina on World Rivers Day

This spring, the Richmond River comes alive with a month-long celebration of culture, community, and Country as Richmond RiverFest 2026 runs from 27 September to 24 October.

Big weekend at Wandana

Wandana Brewing Co. is set to host a big weekend, kicking off on Thursday with their popular weekly Trivia Night.

Ten plays. Ten minutes. You decide.

What can happen in ten minutes? A retirement village might need a child. A cat could outsmart its human.