LATEST SHOWS
VISITING EVENTS
ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN FOR
HOT SHORTS 2026!
The Drill Hall Theatre Company is calling for entries to HOT SHORTS 2026.
Northern Rivers writers are invited to submit their 10minute plays for consideration to be included in next year’s program. Audiences will vote for their favourite plays and prize monies totalling $1,000 will be awarded to the three most favoured plays and a further prize of $500 will be awarded to the best written play as judged by the Byron Writers’ Festival Committee.
Entries close on December 31 this year and writers will be informed of the selection results by January 31. Eight performances of the final selection will be held over two weeks in September 2026.
To enter please email Hot Shorts 2026 Artistic Director Mike Russo at [email protected] OR fill out the online form below.
Four Projects, Endless Creativity:
Thanks to the Regional Arts Fund!
The Drill Hall Theatre Company is thrilled to share the exciting results of four projects made possible by the Regional Arts Fund. Hot Mess for Kids, A Midsummer Night’s Queen, The Chronicles of Eldershaw, and Displace I Call Home showcase a diverse range of artistic styles, pushing creative boundaries and offering audiences innovative theatrical experiences. From immersive life drawing to a reimagined Shakespearean musical, these productions reflect the exceptional talent and bold vision of our local artists. Discover more about these groundbreaking productions and their upcoming performances.
Hot Mess for Kids
This innovative project, spearheaded by Sophie May and Gabrielle Miller, saw the creation of a captivating children’s version of an immersive life-drawing show.
July 2024 saw the development of a flower costume, shadow puppets, and a dynamic moving shadow screen. Mentorship from Valley Lipcer of Roundabout Theatre provided invaluable guidance, shaping the final product. The design and development phases are complete, with a planned launch later in 2025.
A Midsummer Nights Queen
A brand-new musical—a vibrant reimagining of Shakespeare through an LGBTIQ lens—emerged from October 2024. Michael Sharmon masterfully crafted the script and music, with production support from Jake Dix, bringing together a talented cast and crew. Preview performances at the Lismore Showgrounds Tropical Fruits New Year’s Eve featuring Sharmon, Rees Laird, and Tia Nelson generated rave reviews.
The full production will have its much-anticipated premiere at the Drill Hall Theatre in November 2025. Partnerships with Tropical Fruits and ACON significantly amplified promotional efforts.
The Chronicles of Eldershaw
This ambitious project transformed Stephen Edgar’s narrative verse novel into a compelling theatrical experience. Beginning with creative development and sharing in March 2024, audience feedback was incorporated to refine the script, resulting in a highly successful nine-performance run in October 2024.
Gregory Aitken’s adaptation, along with Kate Horsley’s directing expertise, were key to this success. John Rayment’s input to Sunita Bailey’s lighting design, combined with the captivating live music of Avia Sebasio-Ong, Yasir Assam, and Hielrick Fidele d’Armour, created a multi-media spectacle, enhanced by the incorporation of family photos and video. Future productions are already in the works.
Displace I Call Home
This unique and deeply moving play, developed at the Drill Hall in July 2024 and set to premiere at the Byron Theatre in mid-2025, explores themes of belonging, displacement, and mortality through the story of Jacqui, a botanist confronting a terminal illness. Bianca Sirianni’s powerful script, brought to life by the talents of Sally Davis, Noa Rotem, and Igor Kreyman, utilises physical theatre, projection mapping, and an immersive soundscape to create an unforgettable experience.
By showcasing regional talent and providing training opportunities for emerging artists, Displace I Call Home embodies the ethos of “a home for the arts, a home for everyone”, aiming to foster lasting cultural and social change within the Northern Rivers community and beyond.
DRILL HALL THEATRE PARTNERS
The Drill Hall Theatre would like to thank all the organisations and businesses who support us in our mission to bring theatre experiences and performing arts education to our region.
We rely on Government funding, sponsorship, philanthropy and the support of our members and volunteers to run our venue. We truly could not do it without our sponsors and project partners, so thank you to all who have been part of our work.
As a heritage venue, the Drill Hall has needed major renovations and we would like to thank our government partners for their ongoing support to upgrade our stage and backstage amenities.
If you would like to join this amazing network of partners or volunteers please get in touch with us.
UPCOMING AUDITIONS
A Midsummer Nights Queen is a bold and dazzling new Australian musical that reimagines Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing through a fierce and fabulous LGBTQ+ lens, bursting with love, laughter, and theatrical magic. Expect camp, chaos, and romance in a world where everyone gets their moment in the spotlight!
We are still looking for actors for two roles. The play begins rehearsals in February and the season runs from 7-24 May 2026.
If you are interested, please email Michael Sharmon at [email protected].
BECOME A MEMBER
Become an associate member of the Drill Hall Theatre and receive special discounts to our shows. Click the link to become a member now!
