A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S QUEEN FUNDRAISER CABARET

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 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.

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.

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.

Ghosting the Party is a funny play about a serious topic. At its core is 87-year-old Grace, who’s ready to call it quits. Her daughter Dorothy, always looking for silver linings, tries to cheer her up, while Suzie, Dorothy’s daughter, has fled to Canada to focus on her career. The family reunites for a funeral, where Grace shares her bold intentions.

We are casting for Dorothy (late 50s)

Dorothy is a school teacher. She divorced, overweight, lives alone and her daughter lives in Canada.

Nevertheless she is an optimist. She always finds the joy and fun in life. She does Zumba, Spanish classes and Book Club.. When her mother tells her that she’s had enough, she diagnoses her with depression and takes it on herself to cheer Mum up. She sees it as a golden opportunity to start a whole new phase in their relationship. But under the pizzazz she is lonely and desperate still for Mum’s approval and love. And she wishes her daughter would return home.

This is a major role in an acclaimed Australian play first performed to great critical and audience acclaim by Griffin Theatre in Sydney in 2022.

The play begins rehearsals on Saturday the 26th July for six weeks followed by Production week September7th then opening week September 14th. The play is on for four shows a week, Thurs though Sat nights at 7.30pm and Sundays at 5pm. First preview is Thursday 18th Sept, Opening night is Friday 19th Sept. and closing night is Oct 5th.

If you are interested, please email a biog and photo to the director, Liz Chance at [email protected] to arrange a time.

The film society screens classic cinema at an affordable price with comfortable tiered seating and air-conditioning. Order delicious snacks and beverages from the bar, and be part of our lively film discussions after each show.