ENTERTAINMENT
FESTIVAL OF THE IMAGINATION Festival of the Imagination is the Ocean Shores Primary School’s major celebration for the year and is open to everyone, young and old. Run in conjunction with Ocean Shores Art Expo, and held annually at the school, it is a great opportunity to view some fabulous works from local and emerging artists. The fun day offers rides for the children, great food, awesome coffee and a fabulous sausage sizzle sponsored by Salumi Australia; there are games, face-painting, music and entertainment by students and some of the musicians living in the community; there are workshops and a tour of the school’s wonderful regenerated wetland that backs on to the Billinudgel nature reserve. Opening night celebrations begin on Friday at 7pm and the festival continues on Saturday at the pubic school on Shara Boulevard, North Ocean Shores, 10am–3pm.
SPRING INTO COMEDY Most people say that comedy must be the hardest job. It’s not true. Andrew Nason was a high-school teacher, and after you’ve faced a bunch of disengaged teenagers every day for ten years, then the relative quiet of a comedy club
audience was simply a dream. In fact, there is nothing a comedy audience can do to put Andrew Nason off. Stink bombs, swearing and scrotums, Nason has seen them all. With a keen wit and incisive style, Andrew Nason remains one of the most popular comedians on the SE Qld Comedy Circuit, both as a headline act and MC. He is this month’s feature act at Comedy in the Garden, the monthly standup comedy evening at the Byron Brewery. With unseasonably warm summer nights creeping in, what better way to celebrate the first day of spring than a night of comedy in the great outdoors! With Paul McMahon as MC and Aaron Pratt as support. Byron Bay Brewery Beer Garden. Friday 1 September. Starts at 8pm. Free.
DANGEROUSLY POETIC This Sunday, Dangerously Poetic Press present music and dance at the Ocean Shores Art Expo grand finale! It will be held at the Ocean Shores Public School Hall, Shara Blvd, over 1.30–3pm and features local art, music and poetry with special guests Mana Aloha Hula Troupe. With a short sound journey by local musician Adam Rankin and featuring poets and readers Lisa Brockwell, Kathryn Riding, and Laura Jan Shore. Poets and poetry-lovers are invited to bring a poem to share on the theme Spirit of the Land, your own or someone else’s.
FEELING DUSTY SECOND TIME ROUND! Back in March, Dusty Rich was supposed to headline the Ballina RSL’s monthly Big Gig, but on the day, the rain was coming down. A lot. Roads were closing, and by lunch time the gig was off. The whole of the northern rivers was inundated. It was the first time in 10 years that we had to cancel the monthly comedy night.This month Dusty Rich returns to headline at the Ballina RSL. It’s the same night he features briefly in the Sydney Comedy Festival Roadshow over in Lismore, and early September he’ll be in Byron, but he’ll be hightailing it over to Ballina to do his full show. A true original, his style is manic but impactful. The mystical art of comedy bursts through his veins (and mouth) coupled with his razor-sharp wit, taking no prisoners. Dusty Rich is, without question, an unnaturally naturally talented comedic anomaly. Catch Dusty Rich at the Big Gig at the Ballina RSL on Thursday 31 August with Paul McMahon as support and Mandy Nolan as MC. 8pm. Free.
34 August 23, 2017 The Byron Shire Echo
Stars with Lilith
SYDNEY’S BEST IN BYRON The funniest comedians from this year’s Sydney Comedy Festival are hitting the road and bringing an all-star comedy showcase to Byron Bay with an epic lineup expertly curated from this year’s festival. MC for the night is Sean Woodland. Sean has built up an arsenal of comedic observations and experiences that he is ready to unleash in a barrage of jokes. Joining him will be Al Del Bene (USA), a seasoned comedy veteran and staple of New York City’s underground comedy scene. Other highlights include firebrand South African comic Dusty Rich, Daniel Connell, and winner of the 2017 Billy T Award at the NZ International Comedy Festival Angella Dravid (NZ), and upand-comer and one of the hand-selected ‘Fresh’ comedians from the 2017 Sydney Comedy Festival Mitch Garling! Saturday 2 September at the Byron Theatre.
LATIN DANCE! The Byron Latin Dance Collective is bringing the latin fire to Sassy Salsa’s Friday Fiesta this Friday at Club Mullum. Teachers Leyla, Kylie, Nadia, Paul and Robert have a passion for all things latin. Leyla and Rob have won the Australian National Master Division Salsa Couple for the last three years. Join them in this night of dance that will start with a FREE salsa workshop at 6pm (no partner required). You too can discover why dancing salsa, cha cha cha and bachata (among other things) is so much fun.
NORPA’S MASTERCLASSES An impressive team of highly skilled theatre-makers has joined northern NSW-based theatre company NORPA as associate artists to deliver a greatly increased creative program. Janis Balodis, Jade Dewi, Caroline Dunphy, Darcy Grant, Mitch King, Valley Lipcer, Kate McDowell and Emma Saunders will work alongside Julian Louis (artistic director) and Kirk Page (associate director) to create new devised works for NORPA; deliver masterclasses, workshops and training programs; host artist residencies; launch a program for children, families and school students; as well as develop their own works and strengthen creative connections into the northern rivers community.Immediate opportunities for people to take advantage of the expertise of the new associate artists are via masterclass series and a weekly drop-in class. These are a dance-theatre masterclass with Emma Saunders (Dance Theatre Masterclass 31 Aug till 2 Sept) and a physical theatre and acrobatic masterclass with Darcy Grant (Balancing Dynamics 18–22 September), plus a drop-in weekly class exploring improvisation and performance with Jade Dewi (Training Ground 18–22 September). NORPA artistic director Julian Louis will also be involved in all classes. NORPA is offering three complimentary places per masterclass series. For more information about all classes visit http://norpa.org. au/2017-masterclasses-and-training/.
THE PLANETARY FESTIVAL OF RETROGRADES DEEPENS THIS WEEK’S EMPHASIS ON RE VERBS SUCH AS RETRACE, RECONNECT, REVIEW, RETRIEVE, RECLAIM, REFLECT, RELEASE, REBOOT, RENEW… ARIES: If exchanges start heating up, your forthrightness can put you at a disadvantage with others less ardent, more calculating. That said, the present retrograde transits have tremendous growth potential for Rams who are able to compost stressful energies of anger, frustration and hurt into the creative turnarounds of this week’s roadshow. TAURUS: If this week offers challenging narratives; they may also come with a side order of forgotten promises, unconvincing excuses and depressing disappointments. Obviously not what you ordered on this week’s menu, but to paraphrase the ageold wisdom of the I Ching, what’s trouble other than opportunity in work boots? GEMINI: Geminis’ mentor planet Mercury is rather like a celestial tour guide indicating the best route from one place to the next. If this week brings a choice-at-thecrossroads moment, your cosmic signpost’s presently suggesting education: either starting or completing a course of studies to benefit yourself and the world around you. CANCER: If others close off emotionally this week, use the support of Venus in your sign to stay connected. Don’t let trepidation hold you back from breaking old patterns and new ground. Do be vigilant about protecting your personal information online. And finally, remember generous gestures open the way to lucky breaks. LEO: After this year’s second Leo new-moon eclipse rocketed you into the spotlight, how you’re seen, the way you behave and what you say now will all affect the next six months. So here’s the thing: Remember the Lion King’s problem-free philosophy: Hakuna Matata? Or as Aussies say: No worries. VIRGO: Welcome to your happy birthday month, Virgos – may it be deliciously healthy and gloriously rewarding. This week kicks off with the annual reassessment as Mercury retrograde in your sign requests a deeper look at stresses, pressures and desires. Are demands from others, and/or yourself, overriding what’s really important? What needs to change?
LIBRA: If this week’s people seem agitated or unreliable and harmony’s hard to find, then at least let Mercury the choice-maker planet help organise your inner democracy into agreement and accord. Also, Jupiter in your sign wants you reconnecting with the wisdom and beautiful stories you used to know. And still do… SCORPIO: Professional convolutions and shakeups rumbling in the career jungle? A quick rethink could flick these to your advantage, though be wary of misinformation where aggressive agendas are concerned. Check your sources. And don’t hit overdrive. Consider all delays a blessing in disguise, because calm consideration absolutely trumps hasty moves. SAGITTARIUS: Assertion and straightforwardness can be a double-edged sword when information is incomplete, inaccurate or exaggerated. So refrain from judging till you’re sure of the facts, or better still, trade in judgment for curiosity. This week’s practitioners of tantrum yoga are best met with mature mediation techniques – and humour. CAPRICORN: The celestial weather report forecasts relationship strains and complications, along with group dramas featuring exasperating argy-bargy and arguing over who’s in charge. Everybody knows Capricorns are never wrong, but still this week you’ll probably prefer to check, rather than have to hear someone other than yourself say Told you… AQUARIUS: If this week’s projects or communications develop unexpected elements, these will be beneficial or detrimental depending on your response. Suggestions? Dance with change, make it a game. Leverage retrograde setbacks to your advantage. Find the secret ingredient in challenging personalities you can turn into a useful ally. Get creative. PISCES: Navigating this week’s volatile personalities is like treading on eggs in stilettos. So just do your best to charm grumpsters, diffuse moody mindsets and relieve tense situations in a way that refreshes the page for all concerned. Then leave the bothersome demands of fatiguing people and lavish yourself with some feel-good comfort love.
Byron Shire Echo archives: www.echo.net.au/byron-echo