EntertainmenT
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ISSUE 12 | March 2022
Blacktown Night Markets are back and Riverstone Markets launched LACKTOWN City Mayor Tony Bleasdale has announced the long-awaited return of the Blacktown Night Markets and launch of the first ever Riverstone Night Markets. The vibrant food markets will return to Blacktown Council’s calendar of events after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time, the Blacktown Night Markets will be held at the new Warrick Lane redevelopment in the heart of Blacktown’s CBD. “I invite everyone to come on down and celebrate the return of the Blacktown Night Markets in a brand-new location,” Mayor Bleasdale said. “I’m also excited to announce the launch of the Riverstone Night Markets, which I’m sure will be a fantastic event for the whole family.
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The Blacktown Night Markets are back after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Blacktown Night Markets will feature a full array of food trucks while the Riverstone Night Markets will add stalls and live music to the occasion. “It’s great to have these markets back on in Blacktown City after what has been a challenging time for us all. “Blacktown City is back open for business–so please come on down, support these vendors and soak up the atmosphere.” For more details, visit the website: https://www. blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Events-and-activities
Blacktown Night Markets Thursday, 10 March 2022–5pm-9pm Warrick Lane Precinct, Warrick Lane, Blacktown
Riverstone Night Markets Saturday, 12 March 2022–5pm-9pm Bambridge Lane, Riverstone
David Williamson’s Third World Blues ENRY Lawson Theatre is proud to welcome you back to the theatre this month as it presents David Williamson’s Third World Blues. Directed by Heather McGreal of Blaxland, Williamson revisits his early play Jugglers Three, set in Australia against the background of the Vietnam War and first performed in 1972. Graham (Matthew Doherty of Petersham) is a conscript and has just returned from Vietnam, keen to see his wife, Keren (Amber-Mai Feeley of Westmead). The reunion gets complicated when Keren’s lover Neville (Anthony Ashdown of Penrith) arrives, followed by Neville’s pregnant wife, Elizabeth (Diane Darlington of Glenmore Park). On top of this domestic comedy comes Graham’s reverberating question about the need to stop the war and the politics of protest. Making her directorial debut, McGreal said she first saw the play as Third World Blues in its first performance at the Opera House as a year 10 drama student and wanted to bring it to life. “I fell in love with humanity of the characters, all so beautifully flawed and real,” she said. “The play has no perfect hero or dastardly villain as each character encompasses both hero and villain in their own story. “When I started to consider directing a show, this one came to mind as on that I would love to see alive again.”
The Cast
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Graham – Matthew Doherty (Petersham) Matthew studied performance at Western Sydney University and continued his studies at the Actor’s Centre Australia. Since then he has appeared on stage in dozens of plays. He will be appearing in Glenbrook Players’ production of Cloud Street later in the year. He said Third World Blues is a “captivating play”, and is very excited to be part of such an incredible cast and production.
The cast of Third World Blues.
Preparations for the production began in 2020 with plans for a September performance but was only able to audition for parts in June 2021. “The dedicated cast has worked through illness, lockdown, and doubt to bring this amazingly work of David Williamson to life,” she said. “Seeing it brought to life on stage has shown me facets of characters I thought I knew so well. It’s a play that truly understands the complex nuance that is being human.” Third World Blues will run from Friday March 4 to Saturday March 19 at the Henry Lawson Theatre, 144 Henry Lawson Avenue, Werrington County. Tickets $25 adult, $20 Concession/returned service men and women. Bookings: Henrylawsontheatre.com.au
Keren – Amber-Mai Feeley (Westmead) This is Amber-Mai’s first production with Henry Lawson Theatre, stepping onto the stage as Keren. Having just completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts at The Academy of Film, Theatre and Television, Amber-Mai is ecstatic to perform with such a talented cast in her first show post-graduation. Her recent production was William Shakespeare’s The Tempest at the Casula Powerhouse, Amber-Mai is excited to portray Keren in this production as the character is very different to her standard roles. Neville – Anthony Ashdown Anthony hails from a long career as a dancer. Growing up in Penrith, he studied ballet under the loving hand of Jennifer Attrill. After graduating from the National Theatre Ballet School he went on to perform for the Melbourne Ballet Company before hitting the high seas with Norwegian Cruise Lines and the Jean Anne Ryan
production company. He has since gone on to direct his first production "The things I could never tell Steven". Elizabeth – Diane Darlington (Glenmore Park) Dianne Darlington returns for her sixth role with the Henry Lawson Theatre as Elizabeth. She has also played woodwind instruments in the orchestra for both Penrith and Blue Mountains musical societies and is a saxophone player with Blue Mountains Concert Band. Jamie – MJ Krivansky (Blue Mountains) Hatched many years ago in Sydney, then was moved west to the Blue Mountains as a DJ, MJ also dabbled in short films and learned how to breathe fire, since then, has been a suit character, commenced writing a book, been an extra in a web-based series and developed his his skills in audio and lighting. This is his first time treading the boards and we think you will love him! Greg – Aurel Vasilescu (St Clair) Aurel was bitten by the stage bug after performing with Cumberland Gang Show in 2001, 2002 & 2003 appearing in many musicals and plays around Sydney as set construction/painting and photography work for community theatre groups. Aurel says “I hope that I’m able to do this for a while longer, as one of the great joys of community theatre is the friendships formed and being able to help our audiences forget what worries them for a while.”
