THE BLEACH FESTIVAL SHOWS STARS A VERY DIFFERENT GOLD COAST ON P39 This year’s Gold Coast Bleach Festival gives hope to artists and creative practitioners that we are making our way back to innovative gatherings and cultural happenings. Artistic Director is Rosie Dennis, who returns to the region after her tenure as a placemaker with the Urban Theatre in Sydney. Her appointment at Bleach last year saw her in the unique position of being able to come home. ‘Pre-covid it was amazing’ says Rosie, ‘a dream come true to move back to where I grew up and have a job in the creative sector – you can’t underestimate that.’ Of course COVID-19 changed the landscape significantly, but Rosie is thrilled that Bleach is able to adapt and go ahead. On a positive note, covid has had some positive effects for artists in SEQ – with so many of them being engaged in Bleach’s programming this year. ‘I have spent all my career in Sydney – working between Melbourne and Sydney where there is a huge flow – so losing all of them, it’s actually been an interesting way to program a festival! I have met a lot of artists I may not have met in the first year because I had to go hyper-local. There are great artists practising up here.’ A good festival director knows they have to be resourceful, so with limitations on the scope of where Rosie could draw her artists from, she went deep, instead of wide. Indigenous story will occupy a significant part of the programming.
The Gold Coast is not somewhere ordinarily associated with the arts, but there is a growing creative community there who are having an impact on this coastal mecca that has long been perceived as a resort town. ‘I think people have perceived superficiality and that the Gold Coast is pro development, there are lots of nouveau riche, and because so many more people are buying property and raising family here, the southern Gold Coast in particular is nothing like it was when I was a kid; it’s really cool – great coffee, and bakeries and bars. There are these great pockets of bars and art studios, and you can see in a few years you will have self-determined cultural precincts.’ Rosie believes the Gold Coast could become a home to artists. ‘There are a handful of artist-run spaces, and we need more. There are challenges to move through – with local government embracing the arts – I think there is an untapped resource – we have amazing beaches and a growing art scene and we’re so close to the airport – you can get anywhere in the country and have a relatively cheap space to make your work in. The cost of living here, as an artist, is great.’
‘The program has a big First Nations program, with the shift in covid restrictions and having no internationals and no interstate artists, it was time to have a conversation with First Nations artists living on the Gold Coast – our Burleigh program is heavy on First Nations story telling – it’s not something people would necessarily align with the Gold Coast to have a large and hungry First Nations artistic community. There is a growing appetite for people who want to dive in and be part of learning more about the place they live in. Superficially it looks like it doesn’t exist, but scratch the surface and there it is.’
Bleach runs through Burleigh Heads, Benowa Botanic Gardens and Chevron Island with a program featuring work by 204 artists in more than 214 unique arts experiences. It’s not about just turning up at some venue – expect the unexpected! Such as the commissioning of artists to paint houses that are soon to be demolished! ‘We are working across four houses that are going to be painted – Rebecca Ross, Glenys Briggs and the Mint Arthouse Collective – the house is their canvas and they have a week to paint it. So it becomes Chez Nous on Chevron – the home to cabaret, live music, spoken word, queer stories, a bunch of different works – it really will be a very fun place to come. I hope audiences will come and check out the artwork on the houses, spend the night on the Gold Coast and see some great performances, I think that’s a big part of the festival’ says Rosie.
A renowned placemaker, Rosie has innovated the opening of the event to be more reflective of the times we have just lived through. Times that saw so many coastal people wake early and start their day with long beach walks. ‘One of the things that I love, my most favourite thing is – the way we’re beginning every festival now, is that we launch at sunrise. The dignitaries and the stuff that would happen at night is now happening in the morning in Burleigh Heads – a two-hour plus ceremony. The ticket allocation for that is exhausted.’
Session Times: Thu 5 Nov - Wed 11 Nov FOR BRITISH FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAM PLEASE VISIT: PALACECINEMAS.COM.AU/ FESTIVALS BRITISH FF OPENING NIGHT BLITHE SPIRIT (CTC) Tix selling fast! Tue: 7:30PM RETRO SCREENINGS STARSHIP TROOPERS (MA15+) Fri: 6:45PM JAWS (M) Mon: 6:45PM STUDIO GHIBLI: HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE (PG) Thu: 6:30PM Sat: 2:00PM
SPECIAL EVENTS IDIOT PRAYER - NICK CAVE ALONE AT ALEXANDRA PALACE (M) Tix selling fast! Thu: 7:00PM BALL & BOE: BACK TOGETHER (CTC) Sat, Sun: 4:00PM ROYAL BALLET: GISELLE (CTC) Sun: 1:00PM Wed: 11:00AM BABY DONE (M) Thu, Mon, Tue: 12:15, 2:15, 4:50 Fri: 12:15, 2:15PM Sat: 12:00PM Sun: 2:30PM Wed: 4:50PM
108 Jonson St, Byron Bay Admission Prices: Adults: Stud/Conc: Senior: Child:
$14 $12 $11 $10
Wednesday All tickets
$10
BRAZEN HUSSIES (M) NFT Thu: 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 7:20PM Fri, Mon, Tue, Wed: 12:00, 2:00, 6:50PM Sat, Sun: 11:30AM, 2:00, 4:00, 6:50PM CORPUS CHRISTI (MA15+) Daily: 11:40AM, 2:00, 4:20, 7:30PM HONEST THIEF (M) NFT Thu: 2:50, 5:00PM Fri, Mon, Tue, Wed: 2:50, 5:00, 7:20PM Sat, Sun: 12:00, 2:10, 7:20PM ON THE ROCKS (M) Thu, Tue: 12:00, 2:15, 6:30PM Fri, Mon, Wed: 12:00, 2:15, 6:50PM Sat, Sun: 12:00, 2:15, 7:10PM RADIOACTIVE (M) NFT Thu: 12:15, 2:30, 7:15PM Fri, Mon, Tue: 12:15, 2:30, 4:00, 7:15PM Sat, Sun: 12:15, 2:30, 4:50, 7:15PM Wed: 11:50AM, 2:15, 4:00, 7:15PM
Running 12–22 November – check out the program on bleachfestival.com.au
NFT = No Free Tickets
CINEMA
RAMS (PG) NFT Daily: 11:45AM, 2:10, 4:30, 7:10PM THE CRAFT: LEGACY (M) NFT Daily except Sat, Sun: 5:00PM Sat, Sun: 5:00, 6:50PM THE EMPTY MAN (MA15+) NFT Daily except Thu, Tue: 4:30, 7:15PM Thu, Tue: 4:30PM THE MYSTERY OF HENRI PICK (M) Thu, Fri, Mon, Tue: 12:30, 2:30PM Sat, Wed: 2:30PM Sun: 12:00 THE SECRET GARDEN (PG) Thu, Tue: 12:00, 2:15, 4:20PM Fri, Mon, Wed: 12:00, 2:15, 4:20, 6:30PM Sat: 12:00, 2:00, 4:20, 6:30PM Sun: 12:00, 4:20, 6:30PM TROLLS WORLD TOUR (G) Thu, Fri, Mon, Tue: 12:15, 5:00PM Sat: 12:00, 5:00PM Sun: 11:00AM, 5:00PM Wed: 12:15PM
Some people can’t believe in themselves until someone else believes in BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS them first.” Book online now at PalaceCinemas.com.au
Thursday November 5 to Wednesday November 11
NOVEMBER
Tel: (02) 6686 9600 ballinafaircinemas.com.au
THU 5TH
FRI 6TH
SAT 7TH
SUN 8TH
MON 9TH
TUE 10TH
WED 11TH
HONEST THIEF M 98 min
12:05pm 3:00pm
12:05pm 3:00pm 5:25pm
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12:05pm 3:00pm 5:25pm
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12:05pm 3:00pm 5:25pm
HOPE GAP M 100 min NEVER TOO LATE M 98 min
10:25am
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10:15am 2:15pm
10:15am 2:15pm 10:35am 12:45pm 4:50pm 7:00pm 1:55pm 3:40pm 7:15pm 4:05pm 6:35pm
10:15am 2:15pm 10:35am 12:45pm 4:50pm 7:00pm
10:15am 2:15pm
10:15am 2:15pm
10:15am 2:15pm
10:35am 12:45pm 4:50pm
10:35am 12:45pm 4:05pm
10:35am 12:45pm 4:05pm
3:40pm 7:15pm
3:40pm
1:55pm 4:50pm
1:55pm 4:50pm
4:05pm 6:35pm
4:05pm
3:40pm
3:40pm
10:15am 2:15pm 10:35am 12:45pm 4:50pm 7:00pm 1:55pm 3:40pm 7:15pm 4:05pm 6:35pm
12:20pm
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10:25am 1:55pm
10:25am 1:55pm
RAMS PG 119 min
Purchase A Ticket To Win An Aussie Holiday for Two
THE CRAFT: LEGACY
M 94 min
THE EMPTY MAN MA15+ 137 min THE TRANSLATORS M 105 min French Movie With English Subtitles
TROLLS WORLD TOUR G 91 min
10:35am 12:45pm 4:05pm 1:55pm 4:50pm 3:40pm 12:20pm
www.echo.net.au/byron-echo Byron Shire Echo archives
12:20pm
– Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting
GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY 4
Q HOTEL GREAT NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6.30PM MUSICAL BINGO Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JON J BRADLEY Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM RICHIE WILLIAMS, 8PM JASON DELPHIN
THURSDAY 5 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE SWAMP CATS Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM KARUAH, 8PM TWO MOONS Q BYRON THEATRE 7PM MULLUMBIMBY’S MAGIC — PART 3: THE ARTS Q BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM CHEEKY CABARET, 7PM LOCAL BANDS STEP UP FOR BAY FM Q OCEAN SHORES COUNTRY CLUB 6.30PM TRIVIA Q SLIPWAY TAVERN, BALLINA, 7PM TIM STOKES
FRIDAY 6 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, HARRY NICHOLS Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM PHIL HOWELL, 5.30PM JOCK BARNES, 8.30PM JOE WEST TRIO Q BYRON THEATRE THE BUCKLEYS Q HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6.30PM MUSICAL BINGO Q BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM CHEEKY CABARET Q SLIPWAY TAVERN, BALLINA, 7PM SARAH GRANT Q BALLINA RSL LEVEL ONE 7PM CROAKER & THE HONEYBEE Q KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL 7PM EMILY WURRAMARA AND TASMAN KEITH Q CURRUMBIN RSL 5PM JON J BRADLEY Q COOLANGATTA HOTEL 5PM RICK BARRON, 9.30PM MIKE EDWARDS
SATURDAY 7 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MAJESTIC KNIGHTS Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 1PM JOE CONROY, 4.30PM NATHAN KAYE, 8PM JESSE MORRIS TRIO Q BYRON THEATRE 6.30PM ‘HEROIC DEEDS’ PRESENTED BY BRIGHT LIGHTS PERFORMANCE SCHOOL Q BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM CHEEKY CABARET Q KULCHA JAM, BYRON BAY, TONY BACKHOUSE A CAPPELLA Q WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM DJ ROBIN SYDNEY, 6.15PM DJ MATTY P Q SLIPWAY TAVERN, BALLINA, 7PM CHRIS ARONSTEN Q MARY G’S, LISMORE, 7.30PM SARAH GRANT Q KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL 7PM THE GIN BUGGS Q SHEOAK SHACK, FINGAL HEAD, 3.30PM FELICITY LAWLESS AND BLACK RABBIT GEORGE Q COOLANGATTA HOTEL 5PM SHAWN MARKHAM, 9.30PM LOCKY
SUNDAY 8 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JAMIE ASHFORTH TRIO Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 1PM JOE CONROY, 1PM DUSTY BOOTS, 4.30PM SARAH GRANT TRIO, 8PM DALLAS JAMES DUO Q KULCHA JAM, BYRON BAY, TONY BACKHOUSE A CAPPELLA Q WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM HARRY NICHOLS Q BALLINA RSL PIANO BAR 2PM SHARNY RUSSELL Q CHILLINGHAM MARKET 8AM ROBIN GOGAI Q SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 2PM JON J BRADLEY Q COOLANGATTA HOTEL 4PM LIVING IN THE 70S
MONDAY 9 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JASON DELPHIN Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM ADAM HARPAZ 8PM GUY KACHEL Q BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM TOM GLEESON – LIGHTEN UP Q COURT HOUSE HOTEL, MULLUMBIMBY, 6.30PM ART IN THE PUB
TUESDAY 10 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, SUNSTONE DUO Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM BEN WHITING, 8PM SAM BUCKINGHAM Q BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM TOM GLEESON – LIGHTEN UP
WEDNESDAY 11 Q RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, SARAH GRANT Q BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM MIGHTY MAX FOG, 8PM BEN WALSH Q BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM TOM GLEESON – LIGHTEN UP
mşưĕŔćĕſ ǫǽ ǩǧǩǧ The Byron Shire Echo 23