The Scene - Local Entertainment News

You're making me Dizzi

One of Australia's best live dance acts, Afro Dizzi Act (pictured), which features a number of former Lismore lads, are coming down the coast from Brisbane to perform this Saturday, November 1, at the Great Northern in Byron Bay.

Afro Dizzi Act combine groove with heavy funk, hip hop, rock and improvised jazz to create a fantastic dance blend, which sees the band members playing both live instruments and electronica on stage.

The adventurous five-piece have had rave reviews for their flamboyant musical style, and while their albums are fantastic, live performance is where they really excel. They will be supported by Kid Confucious. The gig starts at 9pm and tickets are only $5 at the door.

Cross the Persian gulf

Continuing their tradition of bringing unique acts to the north coast, Ku Promotions will present a special concert featuring Khidir (pictured) this Saturday, November 1, at the Byron Bay Community Centre.

Khidir is an unusual multicultural group compromising two Persian and two Australian performers, who together perform works from the great Persian mystic poets, Rumi and Hafiz, accompanied by classical Persian music.

These 14th century poets produced what is thought to be some of the most inspirational poetry ever, and Rumi is still the worlds most widely read author, while the works of Hafiz outsell even the Koran in the Islamic world. Using old instruments such as the Ney (the oldest chromatic flute in the world) and the Komanche (the prototype of the violin), Khidir will reconstruct the ancient music of Persia around the spoken verses of poetry. It's a musical and literary journey that has transfixed audiences all over the world, and at the Woodford Folk Festival both their performances received unsolicited standing ovations.

The concert will begin at 8pm. Tickets are $20 at the door.

A country reunion

Country legend John Williamson will perform with fiddler Pixie Jenkins and guitarist Warren H Williams in a special concert next Tuesday, November 4, at the Ballina RSL Club, as part of his True Blue Reunion Tour.

John, Pixie and Warren are three of Australia's finest musicians, and together they have a fantastic rapport that has wowed audiences all over Australia.

Tuesday's concert will feature some of John's classic songs, including favourites Boomerang Cafe and A Thousand Feet.

The concert will start at 8pm and tickets are $30/25 at the door.

Go with the flow

A new exhibition of contemporary ceramics by Liz Stops, entitled Flow, is a timely reminder of the ever-increasing need to conserve our precious water.

Now on show at the Lismore Regional Art Gallery, Flow features polished, slip-cast porcelain that has been stained in varying shades of blue. The work is presented on a continuous shelf that winds around the gallery walls, bringing to mind the constant movement of the ocean.

Liz, who has worked at the Union Street Design Studio in Lismore since it was established in 1995, is a Bentley resident who knows all too well the importance of conserving water.

"We live out of town and we have to be very conscious of water usage and storage," Liz said. "We use a gravity feed system that has its ups and downs, leaks and spills. In these dry time, our focus is often on water."

Flow is on show until November 29. The gallery also currently features work by Southern Cross University lecturers Jan Davis and Gary Jolley.

Bigger than Ben Hur

After sell-out seasons in Mullumbimby and Byron Bay earlier this year, the Sea Horse Singers are bringing their variety extravaganza, the Biggest Little Show in Town, to Lismore this weekend.

The Sea Horse Singers are a 26-piece performing charity troupe from Mullumbimby, who perform more than 60 well-loved tunes in this three-hour spectacular. They are performing in Lismore to raise funds for the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and Brunswick Valley Rescue, giving locals one last chance to see this polished, vibrant show.

In this show the members perform songs from some of the world's greatest singers, including Frank Sinatra, Judy Davis, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis, plus well-known tunes from groups such as The Crystals and The Supremes.

The members have all designed stunning costumes for the show, and the result is a classy performance full of song, colour and movement. The Biggest Little Show in Town will appeal to audiences of all ages, and as well as seeing a great show audiences will be helping out two very worthy local charities.

The night will be compered by musical director Geoff Dart and Tracy Devine.

The show will be performed this Saturday, November 1, at the Lismore Workers Club, with a matinee at 1.30pm and an evening performance at 8pm. Tickets are $15/12 or $8 for children aged 4 to 16 years. They are now available from the club on 6621 7401 or you can try your luck at the door.

Freebie: The Echo has one double pass to giveaway to the 1.30pm matinee show this Saturday. To go in the draw to win phone 6622 2888 between 11 & 11.10am tomorrow, October 31.

Music workshop

The North Coast Entertainment Industry is presenting a one-day workshop with entertainment lawyer Sally McPherson, Ins & Outs of the Music Industry, next Tuesday, November 4 in Lismore.

Ins & Outs of the Music Industry will cover topics including standard recording agreements, sound recording licence agreements, pressing and distribution.

The cost of the workshop is $5 for non-NCEIA members and $2 for members. It will be held at the ACE building in Magellan Street from 12-2pm.

For information phone email nceia@nceia.org.au or phone NCEIA on 6622 0222.

Dance the night away

Australia's leading international female DJ, Bexter, will perform this Saturday, November 1, at the Powerhouse Nightclub in Lismore.

She will be supported by The Jackman and 5 O'Clock Charlie, and autographed copies of Bexter's Mixology 5 CD will be given away throughout the night.

The venue has secured a 5am licence for the gig, giving punters the rare opportunity to dance into the wee hours of the morning without going to an out-of-town doof.

Tickets are $10 at the door. The music kicks off at 10pm.

Calling all faeries

To help raise funds for the Faerie Community Land Fund, the Radical Faeries are hosting their 4th annual Faerie Glitter Ball this Saturday, November 1, at the Jiggi Hall.

The 60s-inspired event will be a total fluro fest, and people should go dressed in their best black light outfits for a night of non-stop dancing and debauchery. Music will be provided by DJs Musicus and Eclecticus, and there'll also be performances and food sale. The ball starts at 8pm. Tickets are $15/10.

For details and directions visit the website at www.geocities.com/ozfaeries or phone 6689 7070.

Matrix fundraiser

The Ballina Red Cross will hold a fundraising screening of the new Matrix instalment, Revolutions, on its opening night next Thursday, November 6, at Ballina Fair Cinemas.

All money raised from the event will go towards maintaining vital Red Cross services such as Telecross, where people make a daily phone call to ensure the ongoing wellbeing of isolated and elderly people.

Tickets are $11. To book phone the Red Cross on 6622 3244.

Reclaim the streets

A film screening to raise funds for the Lismore and District Women's Health Centre will be held following the Reclaim the Night peaceful rally and march against sexual violence this Friday, October 31.

The rally will be held outside the ACE building in Magellan Street from 5pm, after which everyone is invited to attend a screening of Cathy Henkel's touching documentary The Man Who Stole My Mother's Face at the Star Court Theatre.

The film tells of Cathy's personal quest to find justice for her mother, who was sexually assaulted nearly 15 years ago in Johannesberg. The documentary will be premiered in Australia and screened on ABC next year and this is a one-off opportunity to see it locally.

All funds raised from screening will go toward the Women's Health Centre's new building.

The screening starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are $10/8 or $6 for group bookings of 10 or more. They are available from the Women's Health Centre, Caddies or at the door.

Horsing around

Greg Sullivan headlines the Laughing Lizard Comedy Lounge Melbourne Cup luncheon next Tuesday.

If you're looking for a fun way to spend Melbourne Cup Day, go along to the Laughing Lizard Melbourne Cup Comedy Lounge next Tuesday, November 4, for a great day of horses and humour.

The luncheon will be held at the Prestige Cafe at Maggie Moores Pub from 12pm, and is a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Challenge entrant Nancy Jaeger. Tickets to the luncheon are $35 per person, which includes a two-course meal, sweeps and prizes, the fabulous talent of comedian Greg Sullivan, MC S Sorrensen, support comedy acts, a horsey joke competition that punters can enter, a mini auction and all the excitement of the race on a big screen.

There will also be prizes for the best dressed in (or with) pink, as pink is the colour that represents breast cancer awareness (hence Pink Ribbon Day recently).

Bookings to the luncheon are essential. Phone 6622 1888.

Dancing queen

Khadi (centre) with her best friends from ballet class (l-r) Maddy Ireland-Briggs, Sarah Purnell and Alex Lee.

Budding ballerina Khadi Wolf-Brooke is well on her way to achieving her dream in life, after being accepted into the Australian Ballet School's Interstate Junior Programme for the second year running.

Khadi has long dreamed of becoming a ballerina with the Australian Ballet, and despite the fact she's only 12 years old, she is more than happy to put in the long hours of training to reach her goal.

As part of the 2004 programme Khadi, who lives at Lillian Rock, will travel to Melbourne several times during the year, where she will join the school's regular classes, enhancing her technical ability as well as her artistic flair.

Her already gruelling schedule sees her practice four afternoons and one morning per week as well as all day Saturday. With the addition of her Melbourne classes Khadi will have little time for much else, but she's more than happy to put in the hard yards.

"It's hard work but the experience is definitely worth it - I'd rather dance all day than go to school!" Khadi laughed. "I was really excited to be picked again and the teachers are really good so you get the opportunity to learn heaps of new things. I just love ballet and I feel so happy when I dance - nothing else give me that feeling."

Khadi trains at the Karen Ireland Dance Centre in Lismore and with dance teacher Monique Feain in Alstonville.

On the green again

After a hugely successful gig last fortnight that drew more than 120 punters, local band El Gonzo Green are heading back to the Tatts Hotel for another performance next Thursday, November 6.

El Gonzo Green are renowned for getting people on the dance floor with their unusual mix of funk, rock, hip hop, jazz and techno grooves, which certainly got the Tatts Hotel cranking a few weeks back.

Keeping with their current format of bringing in an outside support act, El Gonzo Green has secured Brisbane group Brindle for this gig. Originally an acoustic based outfit, Brindle have taken plenty of twists and turns of late to become a more rock and groove based group. Led by Deb Suckling, Brindle is a band that's hard to box or label, with people drawing comparisons with everyone from Fugazi to Sonic Youth and PJ Harvey.

The music will kick off at 9pm and entry is just $4.

Still life with Slava

Acclaimed classical guitarist Slava Grigoryan (pictured) will perform with UK-based duo Still in a special performance next Thursday, November 6, at the Great Northern in Byron Bay.

Slava last collaborated with Still in 1998 to produce the CD Another Night in London, and this concert tour is a rare reunion after many years working on individual projects. Slava and Still (Simon Strevens and Phil Dearing) will be joined on the night by Austrian bassist Al Slavik and Australian musicians Luke Howard (keyboards) and Darryn Farrugia (drums).

Tickets are $21 at the door. The performance starts at 9.30pm.

Clark in Sarajevo

Written by Catherine Zimdahl
Directed by Brian McCarty
Reviewed by Stephen Wilcox

Lismore Theatre Company's new production of Clark in Sarajevo represents both a significant departure from the usual community theatre fare and a welcome return to form for this local institution. After nearly self-destructing three years ago due to personalities and poor business and artistic decisions, LTC has slowly regained its stability through a series of effective and compelling productions, including Bold Girls, Macbeth and Secret Bridesmaid's Business. The decision to attempt more challenging work was a good one and the beneficiaries are local audiences, as Clark is moving, powerful theatre, and worthy of our attention.

The siege of Sarajevo lasted for over three years in the early 1990s and claimed 12,000 civilian lives, including 1600 children. Catherine Zimdahl's play attempts to chronicle the experiences of a range of characters, including UN peacekeepers, snipers, lovers and families caught up in this conflict through their interactions with American journalist Clark Cant. Cant is an impotent anti-hero, played with comical angst by Mike Russo, who goes to Sarajevo to try and discover himself and is stunned by the rampant violence and desperation of the besieged city. Featuring stories from actual participants in the tragedy, it is a documentary style piece, which requires versatility from its performers and concentration from its audience.

This concentration is rewarded through a series of powerful characterisations from the eight actors within the chaotic, unsettling world of director Brian McCarty's excellent technical design. Russo creates a memorable character and is ably supported, particularly by Georgia Martin's smouldering profiteer Lala. The ensemble remains strong throughout the piece, and while the second Act may be overlong, the performers sustain their focus with dexterity and integrity.

I urge you to see this production. It is so rewarding to experience theatre that is serious, thought provoking, skilful and local.

The final performances of Clark in Sarajevo will be held this Thursday to Saturday, October 30-31, and November 1, at the Rochedale Theatre. All shows start at 8pm.

Tickets are $15/10 or $12 for LTC members from Caddies Bean Shop or at the door.

The Secret Death of Salvador Dali

By Stephen Sewell
Directed by Scott Maidment & Sue Rider
Starring Julie Eckersley & Trevor Stuart
Music performed & composed by Shenzo Gregorio
Star Court Theatre Lismore
Thursday to Saturday, November 6 - 8, 8pm

"The envy of other artists has always been the barometer of my success."

- Salvador Dali

Based in Brisbane, Strut & Fret Production House is quickly gaining a reputation as one of Australia's most vibrant young companies, producing shows with a unique 'catch-your-breath' style. They're also proving to be one of the country's most successful exports, touring shows throughout Australia, Italy, Ireland, Malaysia, Singapore and the UK.

The Secret Death of Salvador Dali, written by controversial Australian author Stephen Sewell, has become a signature show for this adventurous young company, with rave critical reviews and sell out shows for every tour.

"It's an amazing adventure every time we do this show," co-director, Scott Maidment, said. "It's basically a comedy circus - with thought provoking material about Dali's life."

The Secret Death of Salvador Dali will play at the Star Court Theatre next Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 8pm. For tickets to NORPA's final production of 2003 call the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 66215600 or visit www.norpa.org.au

Sponsor Aussie Battlers Breakdance

One of the most popular activities for the dance calendar is coming up again soon - the Lismore Australia Day Hip Hop event, titled Aussie Battlers, in January 2004. This time, NORPA Dance Action is looking for sponsors to provide the support that growing events require.

Aussie Battlers is a place where young people can battle and demo their skills in MCing, street funk and breakdance. Over the last two years, it has attracted participants from Queensland and all over the Northern Rivers, and has drawn large crowds to watch dancers from six years old and up. This year, NORPA Dance Action, with the help of a team of young Northern Rivers people, is broadening the scope of the event, with choreographic sections and MC battles. This is a place for young people to grow their Hip Hop skills, and to celebrate them. Please call Emma on 6622 3279 if you can help in any way.