Entertainment

Contemporary Bundjalung stories on stage

Northern NSW based theatre company NORPA will bring Bundjalung stories to the fore at Byron Writers Festival with Bundjalung Nghari (meaning: story), a special evening of theatrical readings of stories, poems and essays penned by Bundjalung writers. Bundjalung Nghari - Indigenise is a Feature Event at this year’s Byron Writers Festival.

Leading Bundjalung director and curator, Rhoda Roberts AO has commissioned four Bundjalung writers, Steven Oliver, Daniel Browning, Kylie Caldwell and Ella

Noah Bancroft, to refect

on homelands, clan and kinship, and the legacy that lives on in the everyday. Award-winning Bundjalung writer Melissa Lucashenko has also contributed a piece to Bundjalung Nghari - Indigenise. Musician Kauri Munro-Greentree will provide a live score for what will be a passionate and entertaining evening of storytelling.

“These multi-disciplinary, creative thinkers and writers share thought-provoking

stories, refecting on the

collisions and intersections of belonging in two worlds with opposed philosophies and perceptions of what land and ownership truly means,” says Rhoda Roberts, Creative Director First Nations at NORPA.

“We are still here, with the same voice and language of our ancestors,” says Rhoda.

“Bundjalung NghariIndigenise enables a

new amplifcation of the

continued truth telling in the 21st century. The authorship and control of this project is Aboriginal led and will focus on Bundjalung artists and practitioners across all disciplines either living on and or off country.”

Don’t miss this powerful celebration of Bundjalung stories presented by NORPA in association with Byron Writers Festival on Sat 27 August 4pm & 7:30pm & Sun 28 August 4pm. Tickets at www.norpa.org.au

Event Details:

Bundjalung Nghari – Indigenise Presented by NORPA in association with Byron Writers Festival Brunswick Picture House Sat 27 August 4pm & 7:30pm Sun 28 August 4pm. $20 - $45 Tickets at www.norpa.org.au

First Nations voices to be front and centre at Byron Writers Festival

This year’s Byron Writers Festival will feature more than 20 Indigenous writers and storytellers, with a large contingent of local Bundjalung voices joining the festival to lead discussions with a focus on healing and learning.

The stories of Australia’s eminent and emerging First Nations writers will be at the forefront of the festival held on Arakwal Bumberbin and Minjungbal country of the Bundjalung Nation, where stories have been told for thousands of years.

Writers and festival patrons will be welcomed to the festival grounds on Friday 26 August by Minjungbal elder Aunty Leanna Jenkins.

Big discussions about the ongoing impacts of colonisation will be presented at the main festival site with some of the country’s leading intellectuals including Marcia Langton, Jackie Huggins, Chelsea Watego and Veronica Gorrie, who won the Victorian Prize for Literature for her memoir, Black & Blue. The Thea Astley Address will be delivered by Professor Judy Atkinson on the power of stories to heal.

Black Comedy stars Steven Oliver and Aaron Fa’aoso will join a lineup of entertaining and talented writers that includes Bronwyn and Ella Noah Bancroft, Danny TeeceJohnson and emerging authors Megan Albany and Mykaela Saunders.

The program will showcase experts in First Nations science including Bruce Pascoe, Corey Tutt and Krystal De Napoli and Karlie Noon, whose book Sky Country explores Indigenous astronomy.

Every year Byron Writers Festival fundraises for the important work undertaken by the Indigenous Literary Foundation. Festival patrons are encouraged to make a donation in one the orange boxes that will be circulating the festival site with volunteers or at the ILF tent.

YOUTH STAGE 2022 LAUNCHED

Byron Music Festival and Byron Youth Service have teamed up to provide an exciting and potentially career

defning opportunity

for four local artists from the Northern Rivers youth community.

BMF Youth Stage is a two-month music mentoring program to encourage creation of new works by emerging artists between 12-24 years. The program is open to original musicians of all styles.

Through an online audition process, four artists will be selected to work alongside four of our region’s most renowned and successful musicians who are taking on mentoring roles for the project and will help produce an original song at a local recording studio.

The program will culminate in a radio-ready song for release and a showcase performance at Byron Youth Arts Centre on Saturday 15 October 2022.

Artists can apply now until 21 August via www. byronmusicfestival. com.au