Hello Northern Rivers

Here's the latest from NORPA and Lismore City Hall.... original post can be seen HERE.

Thanks for dropping by HELLO NORTHERN RIVERS....

FLOOD UPDATE

The shows will go on! Following the devastating impact of the flood on our venue we're pleased to announce that, with the help of many wonderful volunteers, NORPA and Lismore City Hall has got to a state where we are able to put on the following shows.

The theatre and bar is as lovely as it was before but the downstairs level was severely impacted by the flood. Please note we are operating with one phone so please be patient if your queries are not responded to immediately. Over the counter sales are available at a temporary box office upstairs but we encourage people to purchase tickets online. At this stage we are not able to provide the diner before NORPA shows and we encourage people to visit a local cafe or restaurant.

We've been overwhelmed by the support of the Australian arts community who started this fund for us N ORPA Needs Our Help

A heartfelt thank you for your support and understanding.

From all the team at NORPA and Lismore City Hall.

Circus Oz bring their new show Model Citizens to Lismore..

Circus Oz // Model Citizens
Friday 12 & Saturday 13 May

Set in a beautiful yet chaotic model kit world, Model Citizens seamlessly blends the risk, beauty and rawness of acrobatic circus with pumping live music, stunning lighting, breathtaking physical improbability and no shortage of absurdity.

Breaking conventions of scale, oversized everyday objects become an intriguing world of possibilities for our all-human ensemble - as these enlarged set pieces offer new life as exciting and unexpected circus equipment. Imagine hand standing on the top of an upright giant peg or juggling whilst balanced on an oversized stack of weighing scales.

Workshops: In the lead up to the performances of Model Citizens, Circus Oz will also be conducting workshops at Lismore City Hall 27 - 29 April.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Doug Anthony All Stars // Near Death Experience

Two new dates announced!
Friday 14 July & Saturday 15 July

Existing ticket holders: Please contact Ryan at the Box Office onboxoffice@norpa.org.au or 1300 066 772 to transfer your tickets or refund if dates are not suitable.

***

In the '80s and '90s, they terrorised the world with their infamous live shows; provocative, psychologically manipulative, gleefully tasteless - D.A.A.S kicked political correctness out the door and gave it a damned good thrashing outside.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Circus Oz // Model Citizens

Friday 12 & Saturday 13 May

Circus Oz explodes back onto stage, audaciously unpacking the myths of modern Australia with their latest high octane circus show Model Citizens. Set in a beautiful yet chaotic model kit world, Model Citizens seamlessly blends the risk, beauty and rawness of acrobatic circus with pumping live music, stunning lighting and breathtaking physical improbability.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Felix Riebl (of The Cat Empire)

Saturday 3 June

Felix Riebl is one of Australia’s most unique and accomplished songwriters and musicians. As singer and percussionist with his legendary live band The Cat Empire he has spent the last decade and a half performing on some of the world’s most illustrious and exciting stages.

For the In Your Arms national tour, he will be joined on stage by some of the country’s most celebrated musicians, weaving songs from Paper Doors, Into the Rain, new works, and re-imagined material from his extensive catalogue with The Cat Empire. A spellbinding performer, this show promises to be intimate, sublime, and highly dynamic – not to be missed.

Supporting Felix is Byron Bay singer/songwriter Sam Buckingham.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Big Think // Tracey Spicer In Conversation

Sunday 4 June

Tracey Spicer was always the good girl. Inspired by Jana Wendt, this bogan from the Brisbane backwaters waded through the 'cruel and shallow money trench' of television to land a dream role: national news anchor for a major network.

But the journalist found that, for women, TV was less about news and more about helmet hair, masses of makeup and fatuous fashion, in an era when bosses told you to 'stick your tits out', 'lose two inches off your arse', and 'quit before you're too long in the tooth'. Still, Tracey plastered on a smile and did what she was told. But when she was sacked by email after having a baby, this good girl turned 'bad', taking legal action against the network for pregnancy discrimination.

Tracey will be in conversation with co-founder of the Feminist Writers Festival, Dr Cristy Clark. This is Tracey Spicer full frontal: expect n entertaining, warm, witty and possibly shocking afternoon!

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show

Wednesday 14 June

One of the most-read and famous children’s books of all time, The Very Hungry Caterpillar emerges off the page in a masterful theatrical experience for the whole family.

Journey through Eric Carle’s incredible stories as they come to life on stage in this enchanting show, which will excite, educate and entertain new readers and first-time theatre-goers, while those who grew up with these books will delight in experiencing one of the most popular children’s books ever written.

This is a timeless classic for all generations.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Australian Chamber Orchestra Virtual

8-24 June

Imagine standing on stage surrounded by the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s virtuoso musicians, watching bows and fingers fly, feeling the power of the bass line, or hearing the exquisite tones of Artistic Director Richard Tognetti’s Guarneri del Gesù violin up close. ACO Virtual, the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s ground-breaking virtual orchestra installation offers this, and more.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Ilbijerri and Belvoir // Coranderrk

Friday 30 June & Saturday 1 July

At a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry in 1881, the men and women of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve went head-to-head with the Aboriginal Protection Board. Their goal was both simple and revolutionary: to be allowed to continue the brilliant experiment in self-determination they had pioneered for themselves on the scrap of country left to them.
A powerful work by Ilbijerri Theatre Company and Belovir.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Pete Murray // Camacho Tour

Wednesday 12 July

Byron Bay singer-songwriter and one of Australia’s most loved musicians, Pete Murray brings songs from his recently released album Comacho to Lismore City Hall.

Guaranteed to be lapped up by new and old fans alike, Pete Murray has delivered a cool, uplifting, emotive, and powerful album and it will be celebrated and brought to life on the greatly anticipated Camacho Tour throughout Australia.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

Play School Live in Concert // Prince of Bears

Sunday 23 July

The most interactive show ever. Audiences will be singing all their favourite nursery rhymes and interactive songs with assistance from two presenters and the stars of the show Humpty, Jemima, Big Ted ,Little Ted, Fergus and special appearances for the first time on stage Slush, Sam the lamb, Scrap , Meeka and Diddle.

Prince Big Ted has a royal crown, he has a royal cloak but doesn’t have a royal castle. He sets off to find one, and is joined by his friends Humpty, Jemima, Little Ted and the Play School toys as he travels through a fun filled world of nursery rhymes, songs and stories. Get ready to sing, dance and jump for joy, with a live show that will delight and captivate all Play School fans.

[ MORE INFO ] [ BUY TICKETS ]

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Grinspoon - 1 September [ More ] [ Buy Tickets ]
Isla Grant - 17 September [ More ] [ Buy Tickets ]
Russian National Ballet 'Rome & Juliet' - 12 December [ More ] [ Buy Tickets ]
Russian National Ballet 'The Nutcracker' - 13 December [ More ] [ Buy Tickets ]

[ See everything on at Lismore City Hall ]

Lismore Flood Recovery

Helping recovery & coordinating volunteers in Lismore and Villages

[ MORE INFO ]

Circus Oz Workshops!

27, 28, 29 April

Lismore City Hall

[ MORE INFO ]

Creatability 2017

23 April
Applications close
[ MORE INFO ]

Northern Rivers Youth Orchestra

School Holiday Workshop
[ MORE INFO ]

If These Halls Could Talk

Until 6 May
Grafton Regional Gallery
[ MORE INFO ]

Pop Up Play Spaces

13, 20 & 22 April

Byron Bay

[ MORE INFO ]

Emily Wurramara

14-16 April

Boomerang Festival

[ MORE INFO ]

Crankfest

22 April

Evans Head

[ MORE INFO ]

Have you taken out a NORPA subscription for the 2017 Season? Save 20% when you buy 3 or more shows. Read more.

Being an immigrant in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, Australia, for the past four to five years, I have taken part, as a spectator, in the ANZAC Day Parade each year.

Part of why I do it is my desire to belong and be part of the community I have decided to spend the rest of my life in. I also do it as a parent, whose children take part in the parade as an important component of their school activities and education.

From the first time I watched and participated in the ANZAC Day Parade in Lismore, way back 25th of April 2013, I have done some reading, online mostly, on what the day means for the community. And as most people do, I turned to Wikipedia.

As I learned then, Wikipedia explains that ...
“ Anzac Day /ˈænzæk/ is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".[1][2] Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, and Tonga, and previously also as a national holiday in Papua New Guinea and Samoa.[3][4]”

This years parade has become more significant for the Lismore community, as the area has just survived a massive flood that destroyed many homes and businesses.

It was very comforting to see many of the residents of Lismore as well as the surrounding areas in the Northern Rivers, come together on this day to “Remember” those who served and sacrificed their lives for the freedom and prosperity that each member of the community enjoys today.

My son, Luke, marched with his school contingent, Trinity Catholic College – Lismore, and Sylvia, my better half, and I, took pictures of him, his friends, and others who participated in the parade.