Norpa News

Anything is possible

Award-winning cabaret performer, vocalist and actor Paul Capsis (pictured) is bringing his "best of" show to Lismore City Hall on July 22.

As part of the show he will be singing highlights from his last three shows at the Sydney Opera House, accompanied by award-winning keyboardist, Aron Ottignon.

The show includes songs by his muses and inspirations - Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, Nick Cave and Lou Reed. There will also be gospel, blues, soul and Sinatra.

Capsis said he can't remember a time when he didn't want to perform for people, but his Maltese parents were not in a position to support his yearning, and it wasn't until he was 19 that he started in youth theatre, and started taking classes.

"Eventually I worked my way up to amateur theatre, then to fringe, then to professional theatre," he said. "I took the looooong road [chuckles]. But if you want to learn, you do learn, and you do get there. There are lots of people who don't fit the mould and who make their own path - it's very important people know this is possible."

Paul says while it may have not always been easy, following his dream of performing was worth it.

"I'm really proud I've managed to have this career despite everything," he said. "There's a whole cross-section of people who come to shows. And there is a section of the arts community that has embraced me and allowed me to be an artist, and I love and respect those people, and they love and respect me. It's not impossible. Anything is possible. It's worth the struggle and the wait."

Tickets to Paul Capsis live at Lismore City Hall on July 22 are $35.20/$29.20/$15.20. They are on sale now at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre in Molesworth Street, Lismore. Phone 6621 5600.

Events and giveaways

• Tickets to the three shows of our mid-winter music weekend - Paul Capsis on July 22, Ruby's Story on July 23 and H'Sao on July 24 - are selling fast. Don't forget you can get tickets to all three shows at a huge discount simply by picking one more show from the rest of the season (such as Zigzag Street on June 28 and 29 or Alana Valentine's The Prospectors on September 22 and 23) and becoming a subscriber. Phone 6622 0300 for your free brochure, or visit the website for more information.
• Come along to NORPA's Giant Garage Sale at the Lismore City Hall gardens this Saturday, June 18, from 9am until noon, and bag yourself a bargain. An eclectic selection of goods will be on sale including furniture, computers, clothing, bric-a-brac, odds and sods, bits and pieces, and even a pogo stick! To hold a stall or donate goods, phone 6622 0300 for further info. Funds raised will go to improvements at City Hall.
• NORPA C-Lab is currently holding a residency for a multimedia dance piece, The Drovers Wife, planned to premiere at the 2006 Perth Festival. Subscribers will be invited to a special showing of the work later this month (there's another good reason to become a subscriber!)
• Win a double pass to Paul Capsis live by telling us your 'impossible dream'. Write it down with your name, address and telephone number as well, and slip it in an envelope with an Echo masthead, and send it to Tickets to Inspiration, NORPA, PO Box 225, Lismore, 2480, by next Monday, June 20.