Byron Shire Echo – Issue 30.35 – 10/02/2016

Page 30

ISSUE# 30.35

gig

February 10 – February 17, 2016 Acting Editor : Eve Jeffrey Editorial/gigs : gigs@echo.net.au Advertising : adcopy@echo.net.au P : 02 6684 1777 w : echo.net.au/entertainment

guide PAGE 37

TERRIFIC TALKING TWATS! ALL YOUR NORTH COAST ENTERTAINMENT

LIVE MUSIC...P33 | CULTURE...P35 | CINEMA...P36 | GIG GUIDE...P37 ZENITH VIRAGO

GABRIELLE GRIFFIN

RENEE SIMONE

MANDY NOLAN

T H I S S U N DAY I S VA L E N T I N E S DAY. A N D B E F O R E YO U T H I N K I T ’S A L L W I N E A N D ROS E S A N D CO R N Y C A R DS A B O U T T R U E LOV E , R E M E M B E R T H AT I T ’S A L SO V DAY – PA RT O F A G LO BA L R E VO L U T I O N TO P ROT E ST AG A I N ST V I O L E N C E AG A I N ST WO M E N A N D C H I L D R E N A RO U N D T H E WO R L D. Starting at 7.30am on Main Beach with a flashmob (wear red!) and culminating in a powerful contemporary show created by local women: Vagina Conversations at the Byron Theatre in the evening. Organiser and event MC Zenith Virago spoke with The Echo.

Eve Ensler led the way and shone a light on a very under-exposed part of our community and national conversations, but I feel she would be the fist to say ‘well done, women, take it away, and tell your own stories’.

Tell me about the concept of Vagina Conversations.

With sheer willpower, a strong desire and a great team. When we realised that there wouldn’t be a VM this year, I spoke to several outspoken, gutsy, local performers, some people also contacted us, and within no time we had a crew and a waiting list for people who wanted to be a part of the show.

Having been involved as MC in the Vagina Monologues productions for the past two years here, and for another production which you were also part of some years ago, it is always abundantly clear that women want to talk about, listen about, laugh and cry and shout about their vaginas. I have been thinking for a while that we need to tell new, more contemporary, evolved stories. Our stories.

How have you managed to pull it together?

Why did you think it was time to move on from The Vagina Monologues? Many women have been to several productions of the Monologues over the past 20 years; younger women are

just discovering that thrill. The VM are powerful and must be reproduced word for word. I wanted to be more diverse, open the subject matter up more, peer inside and reveal more juicy parts. Your recent yoni piece was a great example of a widening conversation. How do you balance the stories of celebration alongside the stories of trauma? The number of women who experience sexual abuse, assault or rape is one in three. As with all my work, I want to be real and honest, but want the show to be powerful and uplifting, and really celebrate women and our diversity and strengths. What are some of the stories or themes developed in the show? Our culture is highly serviced by pornography. In the last few years sexual

therapy and sex workshops have come out into the light of day, and there is more of a mature attitude that its not something naughty or bent. Sex is a healthy, sacred and adult activity, mixed with mutual consent, lust or love; it is the something many of us are participating in and enjoying. The more women are empowered and courageous and outspoken the better our chances for equal, satisfying experiences. Better for everyone involved. Men could learn a lot about women from coming to the show. Will the audience get a chance to share any of their stories? Yes. The second half is a conversation between the audience and the team. Why are we talking vaginas anyway? We are talking about vaginas, yonis, cunts, pussies…whatever familiar, comfortable or confronting name we

want to call our most amazing and essential body part. The clitoris is the only part of the human body designed for pleasure and has some extraordinary number (something like 80,000! not sure exactly) nerve endings. That’s something to know, to master, and to celebrate and enjoy. Where does the money go? The BBCC are donating the hall. We have some small tech costs, but it all goes to the Byron Shire Women and Children Escape fund. So come along, support a very worthy cause, learn something and have a great night out with a group of wild women. Vagina Conversations at the Byron Community Centre on Sunday at 6pm. $15 at the door or through the BBCC website byroncentre.com.au.

coming soon WED 10

JESSE PUMPHREY

THURS 11 THE SWAMPS SAT 13

THE DELICATES

SUN 14 MON 15

DAN HANNAFORD SCOTT DAY-VEE

TUES 16 MARSHALL OKELL 30 February 10, 2016 The Byron Shire Echo

19 FEB EDEN MULHOLLAND 20 FEB BANOFFEE (LIVE) 26 FEB THE BADLANDS 27 FEB OSAKA PUNCH 4 MAR SONS OF THE EAST 5 MAR THE SEA GYPSIES FRIDAY 12 11 MAR GOONS OF DOOM DROP LEGS 12 MAR TROPICAL ZOMBIE HOTEL GREAT NORTHERN • thenorthern.com.au • 6685 6454 Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.