VISITING EVENTS
GET READY FOR HOT SHORTS 2026!
Calling Actors and Directors
Over the three Mondays from March 31 the Drill Hall Theatre Company will be holding auditions for actors and directors for our HOT SHORTS 2026 short play competition to be staged in September.
These auditions will be held at the Drill Hall Theatre, Mullumbimby on Monday 31 March and April 6 and 13 from 7:15pm. HOT SHORTS 2026 will be a season of 10 minute plays and we are looking for actors of various ages from 18 to 80. Actors with little or no experience are welcome to audition.
We are also looking for directors with some, even a little, experience of theatre. Interested directors should come along to the auditions.
If you can’t make any of these Mondays or want more information please email Mike Russo at [email protected]
Backstage Upgrade:
A More Accessible Drill Hall Theatre
The Drill Hall Theatre has completed a backstage upgrade that improves accessibility, functionality and working conditions for performers, while enhancing the experience for audiences.
The project includes a new internal bathroom with shower and an all-abilities toilet, allowing performers to access facilities during rehearsals and performances without leaving the building. Previously, performers were required to share the audience bathroom and exit the theatre mid-show.
An internal wall was removed to extend the dressing room, creating a more flexible backstage space, and a new stage entry was added via large barn doors to improve circulation and access for performers.
Alongside the removal of the raised stage, the Drill Hall is now a flat-floor, fully accessible performance space. This supports flexible seating, mixed-ability performances and greater participation across the community.
These upgrades bring the Drill Hall Theatre in line with contemporary performance standards, making it safer, more inclusive and more attractive to artists, audiences and hirers.
This project was supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW’s Creative Capital – Minor Works and Equipment program.
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.
Backstage Upgrade: A More Accessible Drill Hall Theatre
The Drill Hall Theatre has completed a backstage upgrade that improves accessibility, functionality and working conditions for performers, while enhancing the experience for audiences.
The project includes a new internal bathroom with shower and an all-abilities toilet, allowing performers to access facilities during rehearsals and performances without leaving the building. Previously, performers were required to share the audience bathroom and exit the theatre mid-show.
An internal wall was removed to extend the dressing room, creating a more flexible backstage space, and a new stage entry was added via large barn doors to improve circulation and access for performers.
Alongside the removal of the raised stage, the Drill Hall is now a flat-floor, fully accessible performance space. This supports flexible seating, mixed-ability performances and greater participation across the community.
These upgrades bring the Drill Hall Theatre in line with contemporary performance standards, making it safer, more inclusive and more attractive to artists, audiences and hirers.
This project was supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW’s Creative Capital – Minor Works and Equipment program.
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
Hot Shorts will need lots of actors, if you are keen to get involved come try out one of our free acting classes with Mike Russo at 7:15pm every Monday night. For more info contact Mike 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!
