Entertainment

Blacktown Night Markets are back and Riverstone Markets launched

The Blacktown Night Markets are back after a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. BLACKTOWN 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 fi rst 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.

“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

HENRY 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 fi rst 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 fi rst saw the play as Third World Blues in its fi rst 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 fl awed 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 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

The Cast 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.

Keren – Amber-Mai Feeley (Westmead)

This is Amber-Mai’s fi rst 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 fi rst 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 diff erent 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 fi rst 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 fi lms and learned how to breathe fi re, 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 fi rst 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.”