Winner 2019-2023 NT Media Awards, Best Magazine or Lift Out
THIRTY, FLIRTY & THRIVING
BALANCE & HARMONY
Araluen Arts Centre turns 40
fabALICE celebrates iconic Aussie film
Get Zen with Arafura Music Collective
MARCH
20 24
RUBY RED CENTRE
MUSIC
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PERFORMING ARTS
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VISUAL ARTS
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BOOKS & FILM
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FOOD & DRINK
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EXPLORE
YOUR FREE WHAT’S ON GUIDE TO THE NT
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INSIDE
OFFTHELEASH.NET.AU E: editor@offtheleash.net.au T: 08 8941 7413 GPO BOX 2325, Darwin NT 0801
W
elcome, dear readers, to the first edition of Off The Leash for the year. If you think this edition looks a little different, you’d be right.
F R OM T H E
r o t i d E
The stitch and trim machine at our printers is currently out of action, and rather than cancel the magazine, we adapted to get this slightly shorter edition through the press and into your hot little hands. Shout out to our design wizard Danny for his ability to roll with the punches, to Mark and our Darwin-based printing team, plus the legends at Colemans Printing for helping us get this one over the line. Now, please take a moment to swoon over this month’s gorgeous cover artwork – isn't it a beauty? We are so incredibly thrilled to have the work of the late and great Albert Namatjira grace the cover of this edition, in honour of the 40th anniversary of Araluen Arts Centre. From grassroots beginnings in 1974 to the incredible facility it has grown into today, Araluen is a shining example of the resilience and determination of those that reside and create in the Red Centre of this country. Join the celebrations for Araluen’s ruby anniversary, because this party is rolling out. All. Year. Long.
Also adding to desert festivities is fabALICE Festival, with four days of glitz and glam. This year, fabALICE honours the 30th birthday of iconic Aussie flick, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. With free and ticketed events for all, this fab fest of fun has inclusion written all over it.
If you’ve been dreaming of lands far, far away – and feeling a bit more confident to travel abroad now that the pandemic has backed off – explore some exciting international destinations at the Darwin Travel Festival. If you’re keen to see what’s on offer locally, our friends at Tourism Central Australia have some tips for the desert region in their new monthly column. Of course, there’s a bunch of action in the Top End with fitness classes, gigs and comedy shows to get around. I’m personally over the moon to see the Burnett House afternoon tea series return, kicking off this month in honour of International Women’s Day. I love a spot of afternoon tea, and in that beautiful location? Too dreamy.
FEATURE | 4 & 5 AROUND TOWN | 6 PERFORMING ARTS | 8 FESTIVALS | 10 FOOD & DRINK | 14 VISUAL ARTS | 16 BOOKS & FILM | 18 EXPLORE | 19 MUSIC | 20 CALENDAR | PULL-OUT
NEXT GEN GIGGLE GETTERS | 8
BURNETT HOUSE BLISS | 14
With incredible art exhibitions to peruse, fab flicks to see, and music to treat your ears to, there’s no shortage of art and culture to soak up across the NT in March. Enjoy!
MAÎTRES FRANÇAIS | 22
Tierney Seccull Managing Editor & Development Manager
Danny Crichton Graphic Designer
OTL is proudly supported by
Betty Sweetlove, Jenna Hoare & Kate Conway Contributing writers Off The Leash Inc. acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
S T R A T E G I C
A C C O U N T A N T S
In 2022, OTL became a Territory-wide publication due to the generous support of Michael Sitzler, for all Territorians.
Got an event in April?
If you've got an exciting event or experience anywhere in the NT next month, we can help you get the word out. From free promotion on our website to cost-effective rates in our print magazine, there's something to suit all budgets.
TUE 5 MAR website listings
Cover proudly sponsored by Araluen Art Centre Albert Namatjira, 'Amphitheatre, Palm Valley' (detail), 1943, watercolour on paper. Gifted to the Araluen Arts Centre by the Burns Family in 2022
Scan to download our media kit
(upload anytime – this just gives you a chance to get a free listing in print!)
MON 11 MAR advert bookings FRI 15 MAR advert artwork due Although all care is taken ensure information in Off The Leash in is correct, is subject to change. recommend checking offtheleash.net.au updates. Although alltocare is taken to ensure information Off TheitLeash is correct, it isWe subject to change. We recommend checkingfor offtheleash.net.au for updates.
This edition may contain the names, images, artworks and stories of people who have passed away. Please read with care. March 2024
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FEATURE
RUBY RED CENTRE 4
I Araluen Arts Centre celebrates its grassroots history during its 40th anniversary year, proving that from little things, big things grow. By Betty Sweetlove
N JUNE 1984 , after years of campaigning by the Alice Springs Art Foundation and other arts-loving locals, the Araluen Arts Centre was officially opened. A state-of-the-art theatre, multi-purpose studios and exhibition galleries were at last on offer for the people of Central Australia. Until then, a full-scale exhibition celebrating Western Arrernte painter Albert Namatjira had never been held in Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Local artist and Araluen advocate Mona Byrnes curated the opening retrospective of Namatjira’s work, putting the brand-new arts centre firmly on the nation’s cultural radar. Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, Chansey Paech says, in the years since, Araluen’s kept the pulse strong in the heart of Australia. “Since it opened, Araluen has played a pivotal role in supporting, shaping and promoting arts and culture in Alice Springs. Nationally important exhibitions like The Alice Prize and Desert Mob have called Araluen home for decades, while international and Australian acts
have delighted audiences in the theatre,” he says. To this day, Araluen is the destination for tourists and locals alike, allowing them to experience significant contemporary artworks by First Nations artists, as well as diverse works by non-Indigenous artists. And as the cooler weather rolls across Arrernte Country, the precinct buzzes with festivals, awards ceremonies and world-class performances. “The Araluen Arts Centre is not only a wonderful meeting place, where audiences can experience touring shows like Shakespeare or the Australian Ballet, it is where local artists get their first taste of performing in front of a live audience,” says Minister Paech. On every visit, stunning pieces of public art can be found nestled into the precinct. Director Felicity Green says, over the last four decades, Araluen has accumulated a vibrant collection that reflects the rich culture of the desert. “Indigenous artists are central to the Araluen Arts Centre – its building, its collection, and its exhibition program. Artworks feature throughout the building, including the enormous stained-glass window in the foyer that articulates the
Tjukurrpa for Mparntwe, as told by celebrated Arrernte artist Wenten Rubuntja,” she says. “The Araluen Stained Glass Project, produced in collaboration with Yirara College, also adorns the front of the Arts Centre. These multi-panels of glass depict the students’ Country. Opposite is Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri’s six-metre masterpiece, consisting of six sections each representing a specific Tjukurrpa story.” After more than four decades, the group that advocated for Araluen to be built is still going strong. The Friends of Araluen keep up to date with the local arts scene, and support the Director to expand the ever-evolving collection. “They have acquired works by local artists, such as Franca Barraclough and Dan Murphy … They raised funds to acquire a new grand piano in 2021, which was an astonishing achievement. In the recent past they have contributed … by organising and hosting the Living Histories events,” says Green. Local arts lovers can become a Friend by signing up as an Araluen Arts Centre member, the perfect 40th birthday gift to the institution and for your loved ones – especially as birthday celebrations are planned throughout the year, with some extra-special events yet to be announced.
“Araluen is planning an exciting exhibition program for its 40th anniversary, beginning with Kunmanara (Pepai) Carroll’s ngaylu nyanganyi ngura winki (I can see all those places), a JamFactorydeveloped travelling exhibition,” says Green. Visual arts aficionados can check out the much-anticipated Alice Prize, the biennial showcase of nationally-acclaimed contemporary art, and film buffs can also enjoy a fabulous cinema program throughout 2024. Also on the cards this year are the improvised antics of Ross Noble, the ARIA-nominated, award-winning vocals of Emma Donovan, and The Flying Fruit Fly Circus. “We have an amazing line up planned, with a real focus on our community,” Green says. “Our visual arts team is working on a major exhibition, opening in June, and we have decided to turn that opening into our birthday party – cake will be mandatory!” It’s almost impossible to imagine the arts scene in Alice Springs without Araluen, and this milestone anniversary celebrates the visionary artists and trailblazers of the past, present and future. Go and join the party.
INFO
araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
IMAGE: Library & Archives NT. (1983). Alice Springs, Performing Arts Centre, Araluen Northern Territory Government Photographer Collection, PH0136/0025
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LISTINGS
AROUND TOWN
Hello
WORLD Get your passports ready, globetrotters and holiday makers... If you’ve been dreaming of lands far, far away, grab your travel buddies and make tracks to Darwin Airport Resort for the 2024 Travel Festival. By Tierney Seccull
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hether you choose to take flight, hit the road or sail the seas, a wide range of travel operators are on deck to answer your burning questions, making this a one-stop-shop to plan your next international adventure.
The Travel Festival is facilitated by Helloworld Darwin City in cahoots with travel agent Lisa Malnar, reuniting after a successful event in 2023. Malnar says things are slowly starting to balance out since the pandemic cancelled, well, everything.
The Last Supper Raclette Arvo Love your cheese? Love your cheese melted? Join a gathering of fellow cheese enthusiasts and indulge in the cosy charm of Raclette Arvos at The Last Supper. A beloved Swiss tradition, raclette involves melting cheese and scraping the gooey goodness onto your plate, where it's paired with a delectable assortment of accompaniments. Yum.
WHEN SAT 2 & SUN 3 MAR | 4-5PM
COST INFO
$250 | $375 COUPLE pathwaystoretiring.com.au
International Women’s Day The 2024 International Women’s Day theme is Inspire Inclusion. Join the global recognition of women’s social, political and cultural achievements, and celebrate the wonderful women in your life and across the globe. Let’s hear it for the ladies!
WHEN FRI 8 MAR INFO Internationalwomensday.com
SAT 16 & SUN 17 MAR | 4-5PM
Territory traveller trends have changed slightly in recent months, with holiday-makers more mindful of the hip pocket.
Willing Distillery Masterclass Leap into the world of local spirits guided by David Willing, founder and head distiller at Willing Distillery. This is your chance to explore the unique and diverse flavours of local award-winning products. Cin-cin!
“Towards the end of last year, and going into this year, we have seen people a little more hesitant with the price. Airlines are not up to the full capacity or flights they had pre-COVID, so there’s still not as many flights as we used to have,” Malnar says.
WHEN AT COST INFO
“Last year, after being grounded for two-and-a-half years, people saved a lot of money and a lot of excitement to go and see the world,” she says.
AT COST INFO
“We saw people just going. They didn’t necessarily care where, or about the cost, they just needed to get somewhere!”
THE LAST SUPPER $47.50 facebook.com/ thelastsupperdarwin
Pasta Class
SUN 10 MAR | 2-3.30PM THE LAST SUPPER $55 facebook.com/ thelastsupperdarwin
“We’re seeing the growth, though, and I think by the end of 2024, we’ll be back to normal, pre-pandemic numbers.” The NT is well repped when it comes to local travel, with places like Tourism Top End, Tourism Central Australia and other fab local travel operators on deck to assist with your Territory travel plans. But when it comes to international travel, it can be a little daunting to know where to even begin. With four airlines and a swag of travel operators at this year’s Travel Festival – including luxury ocean and river cruises, sustainable travel options, and group tours – it’s worth popping by for a face-to-face chat with real humans. Plus, there’s the chance to jag a real bargain. “We have some exclusive specials on the day, and staff are available to take on-the-spot bookings,” Malnar says. “One example I can tell you about is Compass – a diving company from Timor-Leste, and one of the best in the world. They’re going to have a fantastic four-day dive special that will only be available on the day.”
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2024 Travel Festival WHEN SAT 23 MAR | 10AM-3PM AT DARWIN AIRPORT RESORT COST FREE INFO travelfestival.com.au
As well as the chance to score exclusive holiday deals, the first 1,000 travel-seekers through the door receive a free gift bag, perfect for holding brochures picked up along the way. Given the 2024 Travel Festival is held in the sweet setting of Darwin Airport Resort, no-one could blame you for kicking back poolside, a cocktail in hand, to plan your next big adventure. Dreamy as.
In this cooking class, learn how to make pappardelle pasta and create layers of flavour using special ingredient, black garlic. Delizioso!
WHEN AT COST INFO
SUN 3 MAR | 12.30-3.30PM THE LAST SUPPER $85
International Women's Day Skate & Paint Celebrate International Women’s Day at this social shred session and paint jam for all skill levels. This drug-free event is for females and allies of all gender expressions aged 12+. Bring your skates, BMX, skateboards and scooters, and get rollin'.
facebook.com/ thelastsupperdarwin
Pathways To Retiring Seminar Explore the financial and personal challenges faced as you approach the end of your working lives. Superannuation, government benefits and tax rules can be quite complex and changeable, so head along to learn how to make your retirement be the best it can be. Snacks, water, tea and coffee provided, as well as a handout with presentation details.
WHEN WED 6 MAR | 5.30-8.30PM AT REINT TRAINING ROOM
WHEN AT COST INFO
SUN 10 MAR | 3-5PM LEANYER SKATE PARK FREE launchdarwin.com.au
TRE Tension and trauma release exercises (TRE) use movements like shaking, tremoring and stretching to help the body release stored patterns of pain, stress and trauma. Many ancient cultures have used shaking medicine to heal bodies, minds and spirits, and TRE is a simple way to access the innate power within. Shake it off.
accompanied by various music genres. No dance experience is required with low, medium and high impact options provided. Get those hips shakin'!
WHEN MON 11 & 25 MAR 6.30-7.30PM
AT COST INFO
THE WELLNESS HUB DARWIN $20 nebula.net.au
Movement Medicine WHEN EVERY SUN | 10-11.30AM AT NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY CENTRE
COST INFO
$20
WHEN EVERY WED | 6.15-7PM AT MALAK HARMONY HALL COST $5 WHEN EVERY WED | 3.30-4.30PM COST FREE
movement.magic@yahoo.com
Jam Skating Workshop
Power Up – Confidence To Exercise Indoors
HEALTHY DARWIN darwin.nt.gov.au Bootcamp Looking for a fun and inexpensive way to stay active? Join Chico's Fitness Bootcamp! From intense HIIT to circuits, this bootcamp offers it all, and everyone is welcome. BYO water bottle and towel.
Get into the groove with the Darwin Skate School. Through music, develop an expression of your unique skill set and continue to advance as you unlock new moves at these fun sessions.
WHEN SUN 3, 17 & 24 MAR | 3-4PM AT NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY CENTRE
COST INFO
$10 shinertown.com.au
St Patrick’s Day Don your best green threads, drink the dark ale, and get merry with the thriving Irish community. That’s the craic!
WHEN SUN 17 MAR Harmony Day Harmony Day recognises diversity and Australian multiculturalism, with an aim to celebrate and foster inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
WHEN EVERY MON | 5.15-6PM AT MALAK HARMONY HALL COST $5 Empowering Women Mums and ladies of Darwin! Are you looking for a quick 45-minute fitness class that is baby and child friendly? This fun interactive exercise session is designed to get your whole body moving, with a strong focus on functional compound movements.
Mums & Bubs Pilates Join Rich Life Health & Fitness for baby-friendly Pilates. Strengthen, stretch and rejuvenate with your baby, and increase your flexibility and strength. For mums with babies under one-year-old, bring a mat for your little one. If your baby is asleep during class, there's plenty of space for prams.
WHEN EVERY WED | 10-11AM AT RICH LIFE HEALTH & FITNESS COST $5
CITY OF PALMERSTON LIBRARY
Seniors Aqua Aerobics Darwin Seniors! Are you looking for a way to get active and beat the heat? This mid-to-low-intensity fitness program consists of resistance exercises and low cardio activities. Workouts are suitable for all levels of fitness and adjustable for those with injuries and ailments.
Late Nights at the Library Hula Hooping Workshop Unleash your hula skills with the wonderful Tip Top Circus crew.
WHEN FRI 1 MAR | 6-7.30PM COST FREE Library Lego Club Kids aged 6-12 are invited to tap into their imaginations, build amazing structures, and make new friends in a special Lego wonderland.
Let Healthy Living NT assist you to reach your goals to get fit and gain confidence. This structured circuit-style exercise class targets all muscle groups to improve strength, flexibility, general health and wellbeing.
WHEN EVERY THU | 8.30-9.15AM AT NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY
LOVE YOUR TIRVIA? Grab your mates and put your bookish smarts to the test at another great Book Club Trivia Night. Enjoy a fun evening of literary trivia while raising funds to support the NT Writers Centre programs, including the 2024 NT Writer’s Festival. And the prizes? You guessed it – books, books, and more books! WHEN AT COST INFO
THU 21 MAR | 6.30-PM DARWIN TRAILER BOAT CLUB $20 (INC. ONE BEER) ntwriters.com.au
CENTRE
COST
$5
Zumba Mashup
WHEN EVERY TUE | 9.15-10AM AT LYONS COMMUNITY CENTRE COST $5
WHEN WED 21 MAR INFO harmony.gov.au
palmerston.nt.gov.au
NT Writers' Centre BOOK CLUB TRIVIA fundraiser
WHEN EVERY WED | 12-12.45PM AT NT SWIM SCHOOL COST $5 Zumba Join Zumba Sistas for a dance that incorporates salsa, merengue, Bollywood, hip hop and more,
Join the Zumba Crew for a fun-filled, low-to-medium Zumba session. Zumba Mashup starts as a normal session followed by weights, and ends with a cool down. Bring your water bottle and those dance moves.
WHEN EVERY THU | 6.15-7PM AT MALAK HARMONY HALL COST $5 Aqua HIIT This fun class combines intense and recovery exercises in water, using buoyancy to reduce impact. It's a safe and efficient way to boost strength and fitness without impacting joints. Deep water workouts with music and equipment are accessible to all, no swimming skills needed.
WHEN EVERY SAT | 8-8.45AM AT DARWIN SKI CLUB COST $5
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PERFORMING ARTS
NEXT GEN
Alexi Oblescuk
By Tierney Seccull
Giggle Getters
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NJOY A CHUCKLE thanks to local young folks, as Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s one-of-a-kind talent competition does the rounds in Australia on the hunt for the next gen of giggle getters. With alumni including Joel Creasey, Rhys Nicholson and Annie Louey, Class Clowns gives secondary school students the chance the try out their comic creations in front of a live audience.
Photo: Lim Lee
A two-hour workshop, facilitated by local creative Sarah Rueben in cahoots with host and Darwin comedian Brent Watkinson, gives participants the best crack at drawing a cackle or two from the crowd. This year’s cohort sees students aged 14-18 take the stage to deliver a short set of their original material, through varied forms.
RAW WITH LAUGHTER RAW TALENT COLLIDES with raw humour this month at the NT final of RAW Comedy, Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s (MICF) open mic competition. Armed with nothing but a microphone and their wits, hopeful performers battle it out for the chance to represent the NT in the national grand final at this year’s MICF in April. Returning for a 28th year, RAW Comedy is widely regarded as the crème de la crème of comedy competitions in Australia. The line-up of past competitors features some of the most recognised names in Aussie comedy, including Celia Pacquola, Matt Okine and Darwin’s own Dave Woodhead.
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West Aussie comedian Brett Blake is on board to emcee the evening,
and is another of the competition’s successful alumni. The chance to host the platform that gave him his start in comedy is a full circle moment in his career, and a role he’s uniquely qualified for. “I know exactly what all the performers are feeling because I felt that 12 years ago. Hopefully I can make their job a bit easier, make everything a bit more comfortable for them and if they need any words of wisdom, I’m happy to help,” he says. With comedy specials titled Bogan Genius and Go Hard or Go Home, the mullet-haired, self-confessed loudmouth says he’ll feel right at home in the Territory. “I’m very loud, excitable, energetic.
“There’s character comedy as well, which I think we’ve seen a lot in the media over the years but maybe haven’t quite put our finger on what exactly it is – a lot of the big comedians we know these days, they’re big character comedians. Musical comedy is also an amazing way to enter the industry, and we had some incredible musical comedians last year.”
Although there can only be one winner – scoring a cash prize of $1500 and a spot in the national final, if you don’t mind – Rueben says there’s something to gain for all contenders. “Comedy can be such an incredible tool for young people, and it’s not just about forging a career in comedy. There’s so much that can be gained – about confidence, about articulating ideas, about connecting with other people – and if you can do all of that while you’re laughing, well, that’s the dream, isn’t it?”
Taking part in Class Clowns can lead to exciting opportunities, right here in the NT. “Alexi, who won last year, I see him up and about all the time! And to see this direct lineage, from doing Class Clowns to now gigging all the time around Darwin, it’s just unbelievable.”
Class Clowns WHEN MON 4 MAR | 7PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST INFO
$15 yourcentre.com.au
Photo: Jim Lee
“It can be straight stand-up comedy,
one person with a mic telling jokes and sharing stories … but then you can also do sketch, so group sketch and solo sketch,” Rueben says.
By Kate Conway
I’ll probably have too many beers as per usual, but I’m always having a good time,” he says. "I’m excited for it, I love the NT and I’m looking forward to getting back up there." Gather your crew and prepare for an evening filled with witty one-liners and side-splitting jokes from the Territory’s up-and-coming comics.
RAW Comedy NT Final WHEN SAT 23 MAR | 8PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST INFO
$35 yourcentre.com.au
Brett Blake
Kell’s Bells Comedy
Top Floor Comedy
The Alphabet of Awesome Science Young minds ignite when art meets science in a fun and informative hour, as professors Lexi Con and Noel Edge (aka the Word Nerd and the Science Freak) take young minds on a thrilling voyage through the alphabet. By Tierney Seccull
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RITTEN AND DIRECTED by David Lampard, who plays the role of Professor Noel Edge (say that name slowly out loud), inspo for this wild hour of science comes from his time working professionally in science and the arts.
“My career’s a weird one – I’m a scientific communicator, as well as a theatre creator, opera director, and designer,” he says.
WE TOP ENDERS love a good chuckle, and you can bet you’ll get a good belly laugh when it’s a Top Ender dishing out the jokes. Every Friday night at The Last Supper – one of Darwin’s hottest hubs for events, drinks, pizza, cooking classes, and even paint and sips! – local comics take the mic for two hours of comedy, sometimes joined by southern guests. Enjoy a drink or two with a feed before you’re entertained by a diverse line-up of funny folks. It's a top [floor] way to kick off your weekend!
WHEN AT COST INFO
EVERY FRI | 7-9PM THE LAST SUPPER $25 topfloorcomedydarwin.com.au
“One of the things I used to do was to go into schools and do incursion work with kids. I found that, whenever I threw out a big word, kids would want to say that word, they’d revel in it, they wanted to explore it and chew on it, and I thought, ‘hmm, I reckon there’s a show here!'” He was right. And finally, after touring the world and over 230 performances, Darwin’s the last capital city in Australia for The Alphabet of Awesome Science to perform. The duo of geniuses has just 52 minutes to complete 26 scientific demonstrations – that’s one for each letter of the alphabet. And if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, there’s an exciting element of surprise. It’s up to the audience to determine the order of the letters, except for a few special letters and their corresponding experiments. “There’s six experiments that get locked in across the show, because we know they’re the big spectacular ones … Our last letter is always the letter N, which is for nephelococcygia – it’s a fantastic word, and literally the act of observing shapes in clouds, like when you see a fluffy duck in the sky,” Lampard says. Despite plenty of room for things to go wrong, with experiments and tricks coming down to the wire, the audience is in for a very good time. Armed with dad jokes and a knack for pulling pranks, the professors make things float and fly, squish and squirt, and just plain explode. Lampard says it’s important young minds are exposed to the world of science. “It is an ever-changing world, we are facing so many things – the climate crisis, the rise of AI – there are so many things we need to give kids language around to be able to engage in conversations,” he says.
WHEN THU 21 MAR | 5.30PM FRI 22 MAR | 9.30AM & 12PM
AT
DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST INFO
“For us to be able to present a show that is a variety show of science, with so many basic concepts and ideas … it begins that conversation so that science isn’t scary.”
$25 | $20 CONC/CHILD yourcentre.com.au
With an exciting and unique show, every single time, even the grown-ups can enjoy this hour of utter scientifical chaos, so head along to learn The Alphabet of Awesome Science.
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Top photos: Oliver Eclipse. Bottom: Ian Laidlaw
FESTIVALS fabALICE Highlights Prepare to be dazzled by the 2024 program as it bursts at the seams with jaw-dropping extravaganzas. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store!
THIRTY
flirty
& THRIVING
fabALICE Festival is the annual celebration of drag, cabaret and LGBTQIA+, and returns to the Red Centre this month. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of legendary and iconic Australian flick, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and the inspo behind this year's frivolity. Get the glitter. By Betty Sweetlove
FABALICE IS BACK and bigger than ever, with free and ticketed events for the whole family in Mparntwe/Alice Springs over four fabulous days. A unique showcase of drag and cabaret culture, the program sparkles with an inclusive and diverse line-up of events for all ages. An homage to the hit 1984 Aussie film, this year’s theme is Priscilla (Dirty Thirty). Expect glitz and desert glamour, as festival-goers embark on a journey of comedy, community and a celebration of all things Priscilla. Event Manager Dale McIver says the iconic film’s connection with the Red Centre inspired the founding of fabALICE by a passionate local group, including Festival Chair, Stuart Ord. “Priscilla and Alice Springs go very well together, and obviously with the 30th anniversary, it’s a great opportunity to really tap into that. People will see that across the performances across the weekend, with lots of Priscilla-themed outfits, music and performances,” she says. In a huge scoop for the festival, award-winning electric-soul duo Electric Fields headline Saturday night’s event Under the Stars at the old Quarry. The five-hour extravaganza is hosted by NT’s much-loved Miss Ellaneous and Marzi Panne from Party Passport, and includes a host of performers tearing up the star-lit stage. “Alice Springs has got a really good reputation for performers, it’s one of those really iconic destinations for them to come,” McIver says.
WHEN THU 7 MAR | 6-7PM AT ALICE SPRINGS CONVENTION CENTRE (ASCC)
COST
FREE
Priscilla – Movie Screening & Drag Queen Show Celebrate Priscilla’s dirty thirty in style with a spectacular screening. Enjoy soundtrack singalongs and pop-up performances from Drag Territory, Donnie Piccolo and Estelle.
WHEN THU 7 MAR | 7.30- 9.30PM AT ASCC COST $43 | VIP $73
headline acts The Huxleys, Victoria Mami, Estelle and Freddie Merkin, alongside local artists including CoCo&Co and Lilly Evelyn.
WHEN SAT 9 MAR | 10AM AT TODD MALL COST FREE Priscilla Under The Stars Festival Extravaganza Jump on the bus – in true Priscilla style – and head to the Quarry for a balmy night of non-stop entertainment. Featuring Electric Fields, Hannah Conda, Drag Territory, Freddie Merkin, The Huxleys, DJ Jacqui Cunningham and DJ Krissy, this huge highlight on the annual calendar is hosted by Party Passport.
WHEN SAT 9 MAR | 5-10PM AT THE OLD QUARRY
Comedy & Cabaret
(BUS DEP. FROM ASCC)
COST
$155 | $359 VIP
Across the four-day festival, the spotlight is on inclusion and celebration. Behind the scenes, a dedicated volunteer board gives their time and expertise to grow the festival year on year. Fuelled by the growing appreciation of drag culture across Australia, McIver says the committee is eager to contribute by enriching local talent.
Budget Barbie Camper Town Tours Drag Queen tour guides take the bus for a spin around town in a fabulous, fun-filled one-hour guided tour of Alice Springs.
“It’s something we’re definitely looking at as we grow the event – how we can help support and grow those local artists that want to come along for that journey. Hopefully we can be their stepping stone to being national artists as well.”
WHEN FRI 8 MAR | 2-3PM
Not just for the grown-ups, fabALICE is full of fabulous free events to delight the whole community. Families are invited to sing along at the Library for Drag Queen Storytime, and grab their [eco-friendly] glitter for the Priscilla Street Parade and Family Fun Day. McIver says it’s a festival of, and for, all. “We just encourage everyone to come and enjoy the festival, whether it be a paid ticket or one of free community events – come and be a part of it.”
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fabALICE Official Opening & Launch of the Priscilla Bar Kick off the party with a trip to the Priscilla Bar, raise a glass to the beloved film and toast the start of another fabALICE Festival.
fabALICE WHEN THU 7 – SUN 10 MAR INFO fabalice.com
SAT 9 MAR | 12-1PM
COST A night of hilarity awaits! Be entertained by the sensational Geraldine Hickey and Rhonda Burchmore alongside Cerulean, Constantina Bush, Freddie Merkin, Party Passport, and even more.
WHEN FRI 8 MAR | 8-9.30PM AT ASCC COST $73 | $104 VIP Priscilla Street Parade Hit the streets and join the parade! fabALICE takes to the streets, led by
$27
Drag Queen Bingo Grab a pen and drink in the drag bingo mega madness hosted by Party Passport and Donnie Piccolo. There’s the chance to snag some seriously spectacular prizes, but if you’re heading along, you’re already a winner in our eyes.
WHEN SUN 10 MAR | 1-3PM AT ASCC COST $43 | $83 VIP
11
See Music 22
22
18 Flix in the Wet
Fri
Thu
9 The Alphabet of Awesome Science 9 Top Floor Comedy 17 The Alice Prize (opening) 23 Fridays @ Dom’s 23 Weekends at Willing
28 7 Power Up – Confidence to Exercise Indoors 7 Zumba Mashup 16 Wild Wonders (opening)
Sat
17
18 Arthouse Cinema
Sun
21 Balance and Harmony
16 22 French Masters
Sat
7 Empowering Women
See Music 21
Sun
18 Flix in the Wet
24
6 2024 Travel Festival
EASTER SATURDAY
7 Movement Medicine 7 Jam Skating Workshop
See Visual Arts 16
Mon
23 Wednesday Night Swing
18 7 Bootcamp 17 A collection of works from Warlukurlangu Art Centre (opens)
See Books & Films 18
EASTER SUNDAY
Sun
23 Club Liaison
Sat
16 Hibernate (last chance)
7 Movement Medicine
31 7 Aqua HIIT 23 Weekends at Willing
30
7 Aqua HIIT 8 RAW Comedy NT Final 22 One Thousand and One Nights 23 Weekends at Willing 23 Nathan Dawe
23
6 The Last Supper Raclette Arvo 7 Movement Medicine 7 Jam Skating Workshop 7 St Patrick’s Day 18 Flix in the Wet
Fri
6 The Last Supper Raclette Arvo 7 Aqua HIIT 21 Balance and Harmony 23 Weekends at Willing 23 Top End Punk Vol III
See Around Town 6
GOOD FRIDAY
29 9 Top Floor Comedy 23 Fridays @ Dom’s 23 Weekends at Willing
Tue
18 Ocean Film Festival
19
Mon
7 Empowering Women
25
6 TRE 7 Bootcamp 18 Arthouse Cinema
See Music 23
20
Wed
Tue
7 Library Lego Club 7 Mums & Bubs Pilates 7 Seniors Aqua Aerobics 7 Zumba
26
7 Empowering Women
Thu
23 Weekends at Willing
21
Wed
7 Harmony Day 7 Power Up – Confidence to Exercise Indoors 7 Zumba Mashup 7 NT Writers’ Centre Book Club Trivia Fundraiser 9 The Alphabet of Awesome Science 15 Bumble Bean Chocolates Easter pre-orders (last chance)
27
7 Library Lego Club 7 Mums & Bubs Pilates 7 Seniors Aqua Aerobics 7 Zumba
AROUND TOWn Books & fILM Performing Arts Visual Arts Food & Drink Music FESTIVALS explore
offtheleash.net.au
Although all care is taken to ensure information in Off The Leash is correct, it is subject to change. Not all events can be listed on this calendar, so we recommend checking offtheleash.net.au for updates.
Fri
See Food & Drink 14
Fri
6 International Women’s Day 9 Top Floor Comedy 10 fabALICE Festival 16 Hibernate (opening) 18 Chix Flix 23 Fridays @ Dom’s 23 Weekends at Willing
8
See Music 23
MARCH 2024
1 Thu
7 Late Nights at the Library 9 Top Floor Comedy 20 The Australian INXS Show 23 Fridays @ Dom’s 23 Weekends at Willing
7 Sun
7 Power Up – Confidence to Exercise Indoors 7 Zumba Mashup 10 fabALICE Festival
10 14 International Women’s Day High Tea
6 Willing Distillery Masterclass 6 International Women’s Day Skate & Paint 7 Movement Medicine 10 fabALICE Festival 18 Flix in the Wet
See Music 22
Sat
3 Sun
18 Flix in the Wet
2 23 The Dreggs supported by The Wanted Gems
Tue
6 The Last Supper Raclette Arvo 6 Pasta Class 7 Movement Medicine 7 Jam Skating Workshop 23 First Sunday Blues 23 Sunday Reggae Sessions
Mon April bookings deadline
7 Empowering Women
12
6 The Last Supper Raclette Arvo 7 Aqua HIIT 16 52 Actions (opens) 18 Recording Oral Histories 20 The Australian INXS Show 23 Weekends at Willing
11
6 TRE 7 Bootcamp 18 NT Literary Awards (entries open) 18 Arthouse Cinema
See Music 21
Wed
See Books & Films 18
13
7 Library Lego Club 7 Mums & Bubs Pilates 7 Seniors Aqua Aerobics 7 Zumba 23 Wednesday Night Swing
4
Mon
7 Bootcamp 8 Class Clowns 18 Arthouse Cinema
Thu
See Visual Arts 17
14
7 Power Up – Confidence to Exercise Indoors 7 Zumba Mashup 18 Ocean Film Festival
5
Tue
April web uploads deadline
7 Empowering Women
See Festivals 10
See Visual Arts 16
6
Wed
Sat
6 Pathways To Retiring Seminar 7 Library Lego Club 7 Mums & Bubs Pilates 7 Seniors Aqua Aerobics 7 Zumba 18 Queer Writes with Clare B 23 Wednesday Night Swing
9
10 fabALICE Festival
April ad artwork deadline
Fri
7 Aqua HIIT 23 Weekends at Willing
15
16 Bryan Bulley Happy Maladies (opening)
9 Top Floor Comedy 17 What I See In My Coffee (opening) 23 Top End Punk Vol III 23 Fridays @ Dom’s 23 Weekends at Willing
FOOD & DRINK
The simplest things in life can often be the most indulgent, and one such activity that humbly brings an air of sophistication to one’s day is enjoying afternoon tea in a beautiful garden.
I
F THIS IS your jam [and cream], you’d be delighted to know afternoon tea at Burnett House makes a welcome return, kicking off the year with a special event to celebrate International Women’s Day. Fay Gurr is the Secretary of National Trust NT and says it’s a lovely experience in a very special place.
“To be able to sit outside in a beautiful garden, at a house that has weathered many storms and speaks to you in its own quiet way, makes it very special,” she says. “The energy of the people that come, they’re so excited to be here. Although the offering we have here is a very simple one, I think that’s part of its charm. It’s not extravagant, it’s not over the top, but it’s charming in the sense this was built as a house for families, so there’s a certain level of that.”
Burnett House BLISS By Tierney Seccull
Burnett House, a K type building, is the only remaining two-storey house designed by architect Beni Burnett. Built in the 1930s, it’s situated in the Myilly Point Heritage Precinct, an area that has endured the blasts of WWII as well as the catastrophic winds of Cyclone Tracy. The resilience of Burnett House is something to celebrate, and International Women’s Day is the ideal occasion to welcome back the afternoon tea series, with women playing a bigger role in Darwin’s early days than you might realise. “These houses were built for executive government people, who were brought up from down south. The houses in the ‘20s were lowset houses and they were terrible, the families left within the first few months. The women did not have a sense of the community, they did not feel part of anything, and the houses were so hot it was very hard to raise their children,” Gurr says. “While International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women all around the world … this is also an achievement by women who came here and didn’t work, which was part of the culture and the time. They made homes and social connections, and supported the infrastructure of Darwin by enabling the whole family to remain. “That in itself, pre-war, built a level of expertise and professionalism that sustained the government and the leaders of this town through dire times. I feel honoured to be part of this story and to share that with the tour groups.” Indulge in a pastime of yesteryear in the gorgeous gardens of Burnett House. Spend a sweet afternoon sampling scones and sandwiches, washed down with tea and coffee – even a glass of bubbly. Tickets are limited, so get onto them tout de suite!
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International Women’s Day High Tea WHEN SUN 10 MAR | 1.30PM AT BURNETT HOUSE COST $45 (INC. GLASS OF BUBBLY OR JUICE ON ARRIVAL. NO BYO) INFO nationaltrustntstore.com
By Tierney Seccull
SWEET BUZZ of BUMBLE BEAN Easter’s coming in hot. If you’re on the hunt for the perfect gift – or a sweet treat for yourself because, you know, Easter! – look no further than Bumble Bean Chocolates. With eggs, truffles and chocolate boxes galore, there’s something for the sweet tooth in your life.
THIS LITTLE SHOP of treats in Stuart Park is the creation of born and raised Darwinite, and head chocolatier, Leo Cleanthous, born from a passion of the craft and a desire to prove something to the naysayers. “I started making chocolates as a hobby, I’m an accountant by trade and still work as an accountant, but this is just my project I did on the side … The more people told me, ‘you can’t do chocolate in Darwin’, the more I wanted to prove them wrong,” he says. And boy, are we glad he stuck to his guns. Over the last five years, Bumble Bean Chocolates has churned out chocolate in their Darwin shopfront, using world renowned Belgian Callebaut chocolate to bring a touch of luxury to Top End tastebuds. Leo Cleanthous
WHEN WHEN MON-FRI, 8AM-3PM | SAT, 9AM-2PM
“I had a little factory set up upstairs in the same building [as the shop], which is now the kitchen
for Klimataria Greek Restaurant. I was making chocolate just for fun, mainly, and friends would buy it … It was around 2018, I’d say, that we moved into the shop here today.” A shop you can grab a coffee in too, by the way. Chocolate and coffee? Dream combo. True to his ethos of buying local produce when possible, Cleanthous loves to experiment with local flavours. “I bought some chillies to dry for chilli chocolate … We use rosella, Kakadu plum and dragon fruit, and I’ve made cumquat chocolates with fruit from my daughter’s cumquat tree. Whatever local ingredients I can get that I think will work, we’ll try to use.” Not only does Bumble Bean chocky taste local, it even looks local.
Territory-based, so we’ve got the crocs, frogs and barramundi bars … If somebody comes up on holiday from down south, they can take something back that’s Territory, and locals travelling down south often take something from here,” he says. For Cleanthous, he’s proud to showcase the town he’s always called home. “Darwin’s a good place. It’s provided for myself and my family … There’s a lot of opportunity here for young people, and you can pretty much do anything if you just try, you know?” The friendly team also offers regular workshops and free tastings, allowing you to a sweet sample before you make the difficult decision on which chocs to choose. This Easter, skip the supermarket for this local biz, and experience the sweet buzz of Bumble Bean Chocolates.
“I ended up commissioning chocolate moulds that are more
EASTER PRE-ORDERS CLOSE THU 21 MAR
AT INFO
2/5 PRESLEY STREET, STUART PARK bumblebeanchocolates.com.au
15
VISUAL ARTS MAGNT Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
PAUL JOHNSTONE GALLERY
DAILY, 10AM-4PM
WED–FRI, 10AM-5PM | SAT, 10AM–2PM
19 Conacher Street The Gardens, Darwin NT | magnt.net.au
Harriet Place, Darwin | pauljohnstonegallery.com.au
52 ACTIONS
Bryan Bulley Happy Maladies
Chun Yin Rainbow Chan, 'Fish Song, Bird Song', (still, detail), 2020, single-channel video, 2mins 12secs
Bryan Bulley, 'Family beach day', 2023, acrylic on board, 64x57cm
ACCLAIMED EXHIBITION 52 ACTIONS from Artspace in Sydney continues its national tour at MAGNT, featuring works from 52 Australian artists and collectives from each state and territory.
BRYAN BULLEY’S COLOURFUL , playful, yet complex landscapes entice the viewer into an enigmatic world. His constant use of fable and fairytale creatures encourage a sense of mirth and fun, sometimes a whimsical melancholy, an existential moment, a sexual desire, but at times a sense of menace and alienation.
WHEN SAT 2 MAR – SUN 2 JUN
WHEN FRI 15 MAR – SAT 6 APR | OPENING FRI 15 MAR, 5.30PM
EXiT ART
TACTILE ARTS
19 Conacher Street, Fannie Bay | tactilearts.org.au TUE-SUN, 10AM-4PM
EXIT ART IS a celebration of the talents and creativity of the next generation of artists and designers, presenting the very best contemporary art and design from Northern Territory Year 12 students 2023. This year, 46 Territorian students have been selected to showcase their artwork in the 2024 exhibition. Tsabita Nabila
UNTIL
SUN 2 JUN
DARWIN VISUAL ARTS 8 McMinn St, Darwin | dvaa.net.au
WED, 12–5PM | THU & FRI, 10AM-5PM | SAT, 10AM-2PM Anastasia Maximova, 'Inevitable Dawn', 2023, watercolour & ink on paper, 60x45cm Text Prompt Monkeys, 'Hibernating in comfort', 2024, digital art, 8000x8000px
Hibernate HIBERNATE EXPLORES THE profound concept of nesting, incubating, and going internal. Drawing inspiration from the natural tendencies of creatures and animals, the exhibition also challenges us to reflect on the significance of hibernation in human nature – a time for a reset, a departure from the relentless hustle of everyday life.
16
WHEN FRI 8 – SAT 30 MAR | OPENING FRI 8 MAR, 6PM
Wild WONDERS
THROUGH THE LENS of a contemporary botanical artist, this exhibition unveils the beauty and fragility of the Top End's native flora. Each piece narrates the story of the Northern Territory's pristine nature and the delicate balance among plant species and their environments, emphasising the vital role of each organism in maintaining ecological equilibrium. WHEN THU 28 MAR – SAT 13 APR | OPENING THU 28 MAR, 5.30PM
ABORIGINAL BUSH TRADERS
NCCA Northern Centre for Contemporary Art
MON-FRI, 9AM-3PM
WED-FRI, 10AM-4PM | SAT, 8AM-2PM | OR BY APPOINTMENT
Shop 4, 19 The Mall, Charles Darwin Centre | aboriginalbushtraders.com
Vimy Lane, Parap | nccart.com
Saraeva Napangardi Marshall, 'Mina Mina Jukurrpa', acrylic on canvas, 107x61cm
Cleverman: A Superhero For The Past, Present And Future
A collection of works from Warlukurlangu Art Centre ESTABLISHED IN 1985 Warlukurlangu Artists Aboriginal Corporation is a not-for-profit organisation that is 100% Aboriginal-owned by its artists from the remote desert community of Yuendumu in Central Australia. Warlukurlangu means 'belonging to fire' in the local language, Warlpiri, and is named after a fire dreaming site west of Yuendumu.
THE AUSTRALIAN CENTRE for Moving Image (ACMI) comes to the NT for the first time. Cleverman explores First Nations storytelling, language and creativity through production design, costumes and props, and invites visitors to listen-first and immerse themselves in a powerful and contemporary expression of Indigenous stories.
WHEN MON 18 MAR – SAT 27 APR
UNTIL
ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
UNTITLED GALLERY + STUDIO
Cleverman, 'Koen' (detail), 2016, colour photograph
61 Larapinta Dr, Alice Springs | araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
SAT 27 APR
Unit 3/1 Clocktower Caryota Crt, Coconut Grove darwincommunityarts.org
DAILY, 10AM-4PM
WED-FRI, 11AM–4PM | SAT, 10AM-12PM
The Alice Prize
WHAT I SEE IN MY COFFEE
Levin Diatschenko, 'She appeared to me six times', 2023, pen on paper Adrian Jangala Robertson, 'Family in Yalpirakinu', 2021, acrylic on canvas, 122x61cm
WHEN SAT 23 MAR – SUN 12 MAY THE ALICE PRIZE is an acquisitive national contemporary prize that celebrates artists working in any medium or theme from across Australia. Over 50 years, it has become one of the most significant national regional art prizes, facilitating an important collection of Australian art for the people of Central Australia.
OFFICIAL OPENING & WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT FRI 22 MAR, 6PM
COST
THIS EXHIBITION GREW out of a routine that Levin A. Diatschenko took up after delving into Tasseography or telling fortunes from coffee grains. Each Sunday he made Lebanese coffee and then practiced reading the grains — but he thought the images he saw were beautiful and started drawing them instead. This is a collection of circular (cup and saucer) drawings, which serve as still photographs of the artist’s active subconscious.
$8 | $6 CONC FREE NT RESIDENTS
WHEN FRI 15 MAR – THU 4 APR | OPENING FRI 15 MAR, 5PM
17
LISTINGS
CHIX FLIX AS PART OF International Women’s Day, Fist Full of Films, the Territory’s original homegrown short film festival, celebrates leading women in the NT screen industry. Enjoy a specially curated selection of award-winning short films, documentaries and animations, made by Territory women. Catch homegrown Australian Idol contender Prayer Corby for a sweet performance during interval, and stick around after the screenings for a special Q and A with the filmmakers.
WHEN FRI 8 MAR | 7-9PM AT HAPPY YESS
COST INFO
male egos threaten to unravel the gendered power imbalance even further.
hangs up his badge, he agrees to do a favour that will have unexpected and dire consequences.
WHEN SUN 3 MAR | 5PM
WHEN SUN 24 MAR | 3PM
$15 | $20 VIP happyyess.com
2023 NT Literary Awards winners and finalists
Wonderful WORLD OF WORDS
Recording Oral Histories Oral historians Charlie Ward and Ben Ross introduce oral history, from its historical roots to the ethical issues of interviewing, and how to safely manage sound files.
Lie With Me By Tierney Seccull
PUT PEN TO paper or tap fingers on keyboards, as the NT Literary Awards return to celebrate the written words of Territorians. Established in 1984 by Northern Territory University – now Charles Darwin University – the annual awards are facilitated by the NT Library & Archives (LANT) in cahoots with NT Writers’ Centre. Created to celebrate the achievements of Territory wordsmiths, the Awards have featured unpublished works by both established and emerging writers, storytellers and academics. There are seven categories to enter, including theatre scripts, academic essays, fiction and poetry. In addition to winning the honour, there’s a swag of prizes up for grabs, including cold hard cash and industry opportunities. Julie U’Ren took out the prize in the 2023 Flash Fiction category, and says she was honoured to receive the accolade. “It was a real buzz to win. I have entered [the Awards] before and have been a finalist in the Flash Fiction section, which was lovely, but to actually win, I was surprised,” she says. “It was such a buzz. Knowing that your writing has somehow connected with someone else, is fantastic in and of itself.” Submissions open this month and run until May, with shortlisted entries announced in July before NT literature’s big night of nights in September. According to U’Ren, the existence of the Awards means the NT’s better for it.
WHEN AT COST INFO
If you’ve got a tale rolling around in your mind, some prose to expose, or knowledge on a Territory topic to impart, let them loose at the 2024 NT Literary Awards.
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NT Literary Awards WHEN MON 11 MAR (ENTRIES OPEN) | MON 13 MAY (ENTRIES CLOSE) INFO lant.nt.gov.au
ARTHOUSE CINEMA
HARBOUR VIEW PLAZA
ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE $17 | $14 MEMB/CONC araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
$95 | $75 MEMB ntwriters.com.au
Queer Writes with Clare B Queer Writes has been running on Larrakia Country since 2022. Each session consists of a variety of writing prompts, designed to elicit diverse stories. A relaxed space for folk who like to write but maybe don’t do it enough.
WHEN AT COST INFO
WED 6 MAR | 5.30-7.30PM
Next Goal Wins Returning to his hometown for the first time in decades, Stéphane Belcourt cannot escape memories of his youth. He finds himself reflecting on decisions made, and not made, loves won and lost, and the different life he might have lived.
RED HOT ARTS $20 | $10 MEMB/UNWAGED
WHEN SUN 10 MAR | 3PM
ntwriters.com.au
Ocean Film Festival This unique collection of short films from around the globe documents the beauty and power of the ocean, above and below the water’s surface.
WHEN THU 14 MAR | 7-10PM AT ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE COST $34 | $31 CONC/STUD | $30 GROUP
INFO “We know Territory stories that are told are unique about place, Country, culture – the interactions between people. As such a rich setting for storytelling, it’s just fantastic the writing is nurtured by the NT Literary Awards, it’s fantastic what the Library & Archives and NT Writers’ Centre do in terms of encouraging people. It’s really worth a lot.”
SAT 2 MAR | 10AM-3PM
The Old Oak A community, feeling deserted after the closure of its mining industry, struggles to reconcile their own poverty with the settlement of Syrian refugees in empty houses. Flooded with compassion for his fellow human, the landlord of The Old Oak makes it his mission to welcome the newcomers despite the rising tension and racist rhetoric.
Directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi, this feel-good comedy is based on the true story of the American Samoa soccer team, who infamously suffered a brutal 31-0 FIFA loss to Australia.
WHEN MON 4 MAR | 7PM Coup De Chance Fanny and Jean have everything. They are the ideal couple, and seem to be as in love as the first day they met. But when Fanny comes across Alain, a former high school friend, her perfect world is rocked.
araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
WHEN SUN 17 MAR | 3PM
FLIX IN THE WET BCC CASUARINA $18 | $14 CONC | $10 MEMB/CHILD flixinthewet.com The Royal Hotel Two Americans are living the backpacker dream, until they run out of money and decide to take a job at a pub in a remote town. The beauty of their outback location belies a sinister undertone, where fragile
WHEN MON 11 MAR | 7PM
SUN 24 MAR | 5PM
The Last Night of Amore
An exemplary career policeman, Franco Amore, is finally ready to retire. However, just before he
Fallen Leaves The beguiling new comedy romance from celebrated auteur, Aki Kaurismäki, follows two lost souls who meet by chance in the Helsinki night and then try, in turbulent times, to find companionship. Fallen Leaves was the best-reviewed film of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded the Jury Prize.
WHEN MON 25 MAR | 7PM
Photo: Tourism NT/Jarrad Seng
EXPLORE
DISCOVER CENTRAL AUSTRALIA HOT MONTHLY TIPS FROM OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT TOURISM CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
Simpsons Gap
2024
IS SHAPING up to be an exciting year in Central Australia, with an array of unique and utterly entertaining events to be held across the whole region. From local community events to major events, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy. Kick off the events calendar in March with some glitz and glam as fabALICE shines its light on Mparntwe/Alice Springs. There’s never the chance to be bored, as the Alice Springs Cup Carnival showcases some of the best horses and jockeys in the country, followed by the iconic Aileron Bush Festival to round out the action-packed month. As we head into the 2024 tourist season, we look forward to showcasing the unparalleled beauty of Central Australia, along with the extraordinary tourism products on offer, all the way from Yulara to The Barkly. Our breathtaking little – or not so little – part of the world is a must-visit for any adventure seeker and outdoors lover, 4x4 drivers, arts and culture enthusiasts, and anyone looking for something just a little bit different. It’s a place like no other, leaving a lasting impact on anyone who comes to visit, and those that call it home.
INFO
discovercentralaustralia.com
To book tours, accommodation and car hire, drop in and see the friendly staff in the Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Visitor Information Centres. Go on, discover Central Australia.
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T
TED GEM N A W HE
S
Photo: Ben Russoniello Photography
MUSIC
DISCOVERED Madison and Micaela Hull are The Wanted Gems, a twin-sister band from Mparntwe/Alice Springs. You could say they’ve had a massive start to the year.
IMMERSIVE
ROCK
Are you ready to rock? After nearly a year of touring, The Australian INXS Show finally arrives in the Territory, with two electrifying evenings in Alice Springs and Darwin that pay homage to one of the greatest frontmen this nation has ever known. By Jenna Hoare
I
T'S NO EASY feat bringing the high-calibre performance of the late Michael Hutchence to life, but artist Dellacoma Rio and his accompanying band members are gaining recognition for their rock-legend mastery on stage.
“This is a super high-energy show – we’ve got full video production, and we’ve created original video footage for each song with the idea of sharing what it would be like seeing INXS for real at a full stadium,” Rio explains. “We’ve spent a lot of time crafting the performance to make it stand up for its entertainment value, as well as deliver for the diehard INXS fans out there.” It’s a first-time visit to the NT for Rio and most of the band members. “A couple of the guys have been to the NT before, but none of us have been to Alice Springs, and about half the band has been to Darwin,” he says. “We’re looking forward to checking out a part of Australia that’s in many ways so iconic worldwide and yet here we are as Australians, and we’ve never been. I’m really looking forward to seeing the heartland of the country.” For those wondering what to expect from the show, Rio assures there’s as many songs as they can fit into a full two-hour performance, with the added theatrics of original visuals played as the backdrop throughout the evening.
The Australian INXS Show Alice Springs WHEN FRI 1 MAR | 7.30PM AT ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
COST INFO
$75 | $60 CONC/MEMB araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
Darwin WHEN SAT 2 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
20
COST INFO
$75 | $69 CONC | $65 MEMB yourcentre.com.au
“Our drummer Noel Tenny, playing as Joel Farris, and guitarist Adam Heath, as Tim Farriss, both took it on board to start creating the videos, mixing in live footage and editing to fit each song." Rio’s resemblance to Hutchence is almost like for like, and when asked whether there’s an affinity musically, he says lyrically there’s a passion they both have in common. “I’m a real lyrics person and I also write a lot of poetry. That was close to Michael’s heart as well. He wrote a lot of poetry.” The six-piece band is set to perform at the Darwin Entertainment Centre and Araluen Arts Centre, with back-to-back nights featuring all the favourites in a high-quality show that’s full of rock. This is your permission to rock out.
They've launched original songs, were unearthed on triple j (twice!), and have been hand-picked to support The Dreggs in Darwin this month. Jenna Hoare caught up with them for a chat. Last time you sat down with Off The Leash you mentioned some big pauses due to COVID, tell us where your music journey has taken you since then. Madison: We were on a high at the end of 2020. We’d just won the NT Music School Battle of the Bands and were preparing to play at BASSINTHEGRASS but COVID cancelled us, then we were lined up to play at Territory Day but it was cancelled for the same reasons. At that time our band disbanded, and we thought, well … we’ve just got to keep going and that’s how The Wanted Gems started. You’ve certainly come a long way, which leads us to the exciting news of your original release, ‘Trusted You’. Care to tell us about it? Madison: We recorded four original songs last year and ‘Trusted You’ was the first song we ever wrote. We were really excited for it to be heard by people, be played on Spotify, things like that. A few days before the song officially launched, triple j Unearthed confirmed they would play it, and on the same day, we were contacted by Home and Hosed with Ash McGregor to say that it would be playing on triple j. They gave us a shout-out. It was insane! That’s triple the love! How have you found local support as your music grows? Micaela: The local support has been amazing. We get sent videos on Instagram of people enjoying and
INFO
facebook.com/thewantedgemss
listening to our songs. We walked into the local store and heard ‘Trusted You’ playing. It makes us feel so happy. Madison: When we first started playing, we performed at Jump Inn Jam Sessions in Alice Springs, and that’s where it all started. We gained our confidence to play, and everyone has been so supportive towards us. It’s amazing. Can you tell me about how you scored the support gig for The Dreggs in Darwin? Micaela: They posted a video on Instagram giving bands the opportunity to support their shows while on tour and we thought, we have to apply! We submitted a video of us singing one of their songs as an acoustic cover. We asked our followers to tag The Dreggs in the post, and we had so many people commenting, especially from Alice Springs, and supporting us. And then we got added to a chat and it said ‘Welcome to Tour’ from The Dreggs. We can’t wait to play. We love their music. That’s awesome. Anything else we should keep an eye out for? Micaela: We do have a new song coming out called ‘Scarf’ on the day we play with The Dreggs, and we think it’s our best release yet. It’s a whole story. The video was shot in Alice Springs so it shows off Central Australia. We’re excited!
Photo: Paz Tassone
By Tierney Seccull
Good VIBRATIONS Arafura Music Collective makes a gentle return in 2024, kicking off their annual program with two beautiful performances of Balance and Harmony. Immerse yourself in the relaxing sounds of the Collective as they guide you on a peace-seeking musical journey, featuring some exciting new local compositions. ARAFURA MUSIC COLLECTIVE Creative Director Claire Kilgarrif says music has the power to reach us on a spiritual level, and is the inspiration behind the performance. “Balance and Harmony promises an unforgettable immersive experience of different musical perspectives, where we explore through music the delicate equilibrium that connects our inner and outer worlds.” Taking centre stage is Johann Sebastian Bach's timeless composition, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G, characterising balance and harmony through its intricate
interplay of instruments. Featuring a small group of soloists – three violins, three violas, and three cellos – the instruments engage in harmonious dialogue to signify the balance we seek within ourselves, and through the interactions we have with the external world. Lost Country by Kamilaroi composer Adam Manning is a wonderful addition to the program, in which the fiery passion of Flamenco meets the serene contemplation of Japanese Zen. “It contributes another perspective on the concepts of balance and
harmony, bridging ancient traditions with contemporary expression,” Kilgarrif says. Through [Manning’s] music, balance emerges – a delicate dance between heritage and innovation. His music is balanced by music." The music of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, a maestro of the Renaissance era who sought to evoke spiritual equilibrium, is balanced with exciting new works by Territory composers Netanela Mizrahi and Annette Anderson. Kilgarrif says the works were created specifically for the occasion.
“In celebration of the perspectives of women composers, we have commissioned new works, in which our audience is invited to take part in the process of seeking and contributing to a state of balance and harmony.”
Balance and Harmony WHEN SAT 16 MAR | 4PM AT PALMERSTON SENIOR COLLEGE
If you’d really like to bliss out, bring along your yoga mat and get comfortable, as the sweet sounds of Arafura Collective wash over you. There are just two performances of this immersive experience, and they differ slightly. Either way, Balance and Harmony is something serenity seekers shouldn’t miss.
COST
$22.50 | $20 CONC | $10 U18 FREE U12
WHEN SUN 17 MAR | 5PM AT SUPREME COURT, DARWIN COST $38.50 | $34 CONC | $10 U18 FREE U12
INFO
facebook.com/ arafuramusiccollective
ARTBACK NT PRESENTS
LATE LAST YEAR , the Borroloola Woman’s Cultural Song Group, together with Dr Shellie Morris AO, took to the stage at Woodford Folk Festival as song group, Arrkula Yinbayarra – Together We Sing. They introduced their beautiful album, Waralungku, to the festival crowd, something song group founder Marlene Timothy (Karkadoo) says was an amazing experience. “We got standing ovations at each of our six performances, and so many people came up to thank us for being there,” she says. “It was really important to form the Women’s Cultural Song Group to represent the four language groups
Photo: Matt Wells Good Well Productions
For the Love of Language in Borroloola, so we can keep our culture alive for our kids and share it with the world.” Borroloola sits in Yanyuwa Country on the banks of the McArthur River in the Roper Gulf Region. It’s home to four clan groups – the Yanyuwa, Garrwa, Gudanji and Marra People. Their languages are celebrated on the album, lyrics translated by members of the song group as well as Assoc. Professor at Monash Indigenous Studies Centre, Dr John Bradley. According to Bradley, there are only six fluent Yanyuwa speakers left in the world, nine Garrwa, four Gudanji and one Marra. He has a four-decade long relationship with the community and has safeguard-
ed the Yanyuwa language through a dictionary, Yanyuwa Wuka: language from Yanyuwa Country. The making of Waralungku was supported by Artback NT, through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Languages and Arts Program (ILA) of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
“Projects like Arrkula Yinbayarra promote First Nations cultural expression and creativity, which is what grant funding from the ILA program endeavours to support,” says Frank Shanahan from the Department. “Artback NT is an extremely proud project partner of Waralungku”, says Artback NT CEO Shay Vigona-Goudge.
“Language is such a significant anchor of identity, and it is of great importance to us to support the preservation and celebration of traditional languages through our programs.”
INFO
artbacknt.com.au
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Photo: Tim Nicol
By Tierney Seccull
of peaceful in a way, I’m not sure that’s the right word, but it does convey this mood of serenity, of peace, of gentleness. “It’s also full of beautiful melodies sung by both the choir and two soloists, Greg Anderson and Fiona Wake. Fiona will sing the wellknown, fabulous Pie Jesu, and Greg the stirring Libera Me.” The first half of the performance features eight shorter works before Fauré’s Requiem adopts the second half. Deciding which composers to include was no mean feat, but one Loughlin was up for, the result a showcase of old friends, a reunion of sorts.
Maîtres
Français EXPERIENCE THE BRILLIANCE of some of France’s most esteemed composers of all time, as Darwin’s Vocalective presents their first performance of the year, French Masters. Singing in French and Latin, the 32-strong choir is backed by a string quartet and organ in the Darwin Memorial Uniting Church, setting the scene for an unforgettable musical journey to Paris, circa the late 1800s to the early 1900s.
The program includes choral works by French greats Saint-Saëns, Gounod, Poulenc, Ravel, Franck, Massenet and the Boulanger sisters, but the jewel in the crown of the evening is Gabriel Fauré’s 35-minute Requiem, his most famous piece. Normally composed of two violins, a viola and a cello, the string quartet in this performance features two violas and two cellos, played by members of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.
Vocalective Conductor Michael Loughlin says the seven-movement work evokes a sense of calm. “There’s a characteristic of all of them, and Fauré in particular, of a fairly gentle mood. The music is not powerful in the sense the Verdi Requiem is powerful, it has a serenity about it I suppose you could say,” he says. “It has louds and softs, but it’s not massively huge music. It is sort
“Most of [the composers] knew each other and followed on from each other at various posts in Paris, for example the Paris Conservatoire or some of the big cathedrals and churches as organists, and so on … there was a real connection between most of these [composers] actually, it’s very interesting.” With most of these composers rubbing shoulders in Paris during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the French city was renowned as a
mecca for the creation of exciting art. “The way that the arts developed in Paris, I’m not really sure why, but certainly it was a really vibrant place for music, and everything actually – painting and poetry. They called it the fin de siècle – or the ‘end of century’,” Loughlin says. “It went right through until the first world war … I’m not sure why it was so vibrant at the time, but these guys had become popular at the time and their popularity has lasted up until now.” Delight in the sounds of the French Masters and pull up a pew for a unique musical experience that is sure to be très bien.
French Masters WHEN SAT 16 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN MEMORIAL UNITING CHURCH
COST INFO
$30 | $20 U15 facebook.com/ vocalective.singers
By Kate Conway
OVERTURE to THE SEASON
THE WAIT IS over for fans of Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) as the beloved ensemble kicks off their 2024 season with One Thousand and One Nights, an exciting triple bill featuring works by composers Mozart, Pärt and Rimsky Korsakov. The last work ever written by Mozart, Symphony No.41 cleverly juxtaposes simplicity with complexity, inventive melodies and deep emotion. DSO Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Jon Tooby says the piece is the most Mozart of the prolific composer’s catalogue. “In Mozart’s life he was effectively a servant delivering work to order. His genius was that he was able to do it so effortlessly, but it was very prescriptive. With his last works, he was very much more focused on what he felt,” he says.
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The evening begins with a mesmerising work from Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. The evocative Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten opens
with the tolling of a single bell, before strings hauntingly descend through A minor scales performed at different tempos. “I like to think it’s like looking through a kaleidoscope as it morphs into different shapes and colours. Because it’s basically strings and just one bell that rings throughout the whole piece, that’s the link that holds your attention. Everything else is kind of like this moving, meandering colour,” Tooby says. “It’s just so beautiful. It’s not a tune, it’s an immersive experience.” Closing out the program is Scheherazade, an orchestral suite by Russian composer, Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov, inspired by One Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Middle Eastern folktales also known as Arabian Nights. One of the most famous pieces ever written, the music vividly transports the audience on a journey through exotic and mythical worlds.
The three works span the breadth of genre, from avant-garde to pure classical. Tooby says the varied concert is a taster for what’s to come this season. “I think we often try in DSO to really mix things up. Because we’re not delivering a concert a week, which many state and territory orchestras do, we’re afforded that opportunity to create something pretty unique. It’s not a stuffy classical music program at all, it’s a real banger,” he says. “We have the term 'overture' that depicts the opening of the concert, this whole concert is kind of like the overture to the season. It’s a welcome back.”
One Thousand and One Nights WHEN SAT 23 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST INFO
$22-$65 dso.org.au yourcentre.com.au
TOP END PUNK VOL III
GIG
guide OTL's quick and essential guide to live music in the NT.
TWO NIGHTS, EIGHT bands. Stone Cold Records brings together some of Darwin's best and upcoming bands, with the return of Top End Punk for a third year. Enjoy the original punk sounds of Kathryn and the Overbytes, Danger Den, Temperamental and more, across two huge nights. Punk, yes.
To find out more, head to offtheleash.net.au
WHEN AT COST INFO
TOP END The Australian INXS Show
WHEN SAT 2 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
COST INFO
$75 | $69 CONC | $65 MEMB
good vibes. Bring your friends and enjoy the musical journey with your favourite cocktail in hand.
COST INFO
WHEN AT COST INFO
Fridays @ Dom's
SUN 3 MAR | 4.30-7.30PM DOM’S BAR & LOUNGE
FREE facebook.com/ firstsundayblues
$30 | $20 U15 facebook.com/ vocalective.singers
$22.50 | $20 CONC | $10 U18 FREE U12
WHEN SUN 17 MAR | 5PM AT SUPREME COURT, DARWIN COST $38.50 | $34 CONC | $10 U18 FREE U12
INFO
facebook.com/ arafuramusiccollective
One Thousand and One Nights WHEN SAT 23 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN ENTERTAINMENT
COST INFO
WHEN AT COST INFO
dso.org.au
Wednesday Night Swing Break up the working week and join Swing Dance NT for a spin around the dancefloor, accompanied by the 19-piece Hot and Cold Big Band. Perfect for any age and ability, dust off your dancing shoes and give it a whirl!
WHEN WED 6 & 13 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB
EVERY FRI | 4PM-LATE
The Australian INXS Show WHEN FRI 1 MAR | 7.30PM AT ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
DOM’S BAR & LOUNGE
OOPS, NUDIE RUDIE! We didn’t receive any desert gigs submitted to our website, so this section is a little scarce for Red Centre sounds this month. WHEN SAT 2 MAR | 7.30PM COST $45-$65 Nathan Dawe Known for hits like 'O800 HEAVEN' with Joel Corry and Ella Henderson, Nathan Dawe hits the decks at Mayberry to spin the hottest tracks.
domsdarwin.com.au
If you’re based in Central Australia – or anywhere in the NT – and want a chance to see your gigs listed here, submit a free listing to our website.
WHEN SAT 23 MAR | 9PM COST FREE (BEFORE 10PM) Club Liaison
WHEN EVERY FRI & SAT
GET GIGGY WITH IT!
FROM 12PM
AT COST INFO
$75 | $60 CONC/MEMB araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
FREE
Weekends at Willing Kick off your weekend at Willing Distillery with tasty tucker from local food trucks, and chilled live tunes from homegrown musos. There’s award-winning gin, a curated cocktail list and NT craft beers to cater to all tastes.
$22-$65 yourcentre.com.au
Experience the ultimate Sunday session with the incredible Dj Ragga Rae. Let the infectious rhythms of Reggae music wash over you, filling the air with positive energy and
Don't feel like driving into the city for a cheeky Friday night bev? Dom’s Bar has got you covered in the sweet seaside suburb of Nightcliff. Enjoy fine cocktails during happy hour, and let DJ Jay Dub bring in the weekend.
COLLEGE
COST
RED CENTRE
COST INFO
CHURCH
COST INFO
CENTRE
Sunday Reggae Sessions
on the heels of a massive year performing festivals and headlining shows across the country, it's the Top End's turn to soak up the band's signature acoustic folk style. Supported by The Wanted Gems.
domsdarwin.com.au
SOCIAL CLUB
COST INFO
facebook.com/stonecoldrecordsdarwin
FREE
Balance and Harmony WHEN SAT 16 MAR | 4PM AT PALMERSTON SENIOR
WHEN SUN 3 MAR | 3PM AT TRACY VILLAGE SPORTS &
swingdancent
HAPPY YESS $17 SINGLE | $28.60 DOUBLE
French Masters WHEN SAT 16 MAR | 7.30PM AT DARWIN MEMORIAL UNITING
yourcentre.com.au
The atmosphere is welcoming and supportive at this beloved monthly arvo of music. Relax with a cold bev and kick back as talented local musos take to the stage. If you’re keen to belt out a tune, give it a crack with support from a live blues band.
$10 facebook.com/groups/
FRI 15 & SAT 16 MAR | 9PM
WILLING DISTILLERY FREE facebook.com/ willingdistillery
MAYBERRY facebook.com/mayberrydarwin The Dreggs supported by The Wanted Gems Catch Aussie indie-folk sensations The Dreggs as they hit the Darwin stage on their regional tour. Hot
Mayberry becomes the 'House of Holy' this Easter long weekend, as legendary duo Harvey and Monte – aka Client Liaison – bring their Summer Tour to Darwin. Influenced by '80s and '90s electronic beats, their unique style guarantees an unforgettable night of disco vibes and non-stop dancing.
WHEN SUN 31 MAR | 8PM COST $40+BF (18+)
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