Dawn Beaumont-Stevens’ long musical career, and remarkable life, is being celebrated with a biographical musical to be performed in Griffith - where she is a singer, music teacher, and community leader.
A group of Dawn Beaumont-Stevens’ current and past students are well into rehearsals for a show about Dawn’s life, written by Mark, Shari, and Clare Blumer (all former students of Dawn). The 25 strong cast ranges in age from 8 to 80.
“Dawn is a champion of the bush. This show is very much about Dawn, but it’s also about those pioneering women who came from the cities and the coast to live in a very harsh place and managed to soften and civilise their environment by championing music and art,” said Mark Blumer who is directing the show. “And most of all, they provided entertainment.”
“My grandmother Nancy Blumer was another of those women, like Dawn, whose strength and courage I respect. That’s why I personally wanted to make this show with the help of my daughters Shari and Clare.”
The show will be held at the Griffith Regional Theatre, the location of many popular community shows Dawn musically directed or contributed to, like Griffith Remembers and Ten: The Show.
The musical dramatises her remarkable life, beginning as a child who contracted polio at 3-years-old, and showing her successful singing career in her late teens and early twenties in Sydney and as a protégé of singing star Gladys Moncrieff.
“We interviewed people in Dawn’s life and found out what her story really is,” said Blumer.
“We’ve found press clippings, written records, photographs, radio recordings and scripts from the 1950s. All of this added up to a unique but also a representative story of pioneering women of the twentieth century.
The musical contains many of the popular songs that Dawn’s students performed all around Griffith, including some of the classic hits that made Griffith Remembers memorable, and featuring a song written especially for this show by Steven Bailey.
“It’s great to have some of Dawn’s star students gathering in Griffith to honour Dawn with this show.”
Directed by Mark Blumer (Griffith Remembers, Ten the Show, K-Tel Killers Kocktail Kabaret), musically directed by Steven Bailey (who directed Griffith: The Musical), produced by Margie Couch (Hermit, My Place), and assisted in direction and design by Don Hillam (Beauty and the Beast and many others), the team has had vast experience in creating community shows in Griffith.
Friday, 23 October 2015
Wednesday, 14 October 2015
Tricks and treats at Lillypilly Winery this Halloween
Leeton’s Lillypilly Winery is teaming up with local musician Jason Richardson to host a Halloween party from 7pm on Saturday 31 October.
“It’ll be fun for all ages with creative pursuits, music and a spooky story,” said Mr Richardson.
“Traditionally it’s the time of year when spirits visit our world and Lillypilly are very kindly offering a complementary wine tasting for visiting adults, which should help raise spirits.”
The event will provide a venue for people who want to dress-up to mark the occasion.
“As a parent I know how much kids want to get into a costume and roam the streets in search of sugar. It got me thinking that it would be much better to provide an event where families could gather and share the thrill.”
Entertainment will include stories, hands-on activities, a movie and more.
“In previous years I’ve screened a silent movie in town as well as projecting my music videos and the film for this event will bring together both, with a silent film suitable for kids that I’ve created a soundtrack from music written and recorded in the last year or so.”
‘The Lost World’ is a classic film from 1925 that is based on a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, better known for writing the Sherlock Holmes stories. It’s remarkable for being the first feature to use stop-motion animation, as well as being the first film to be shown to airline passengers.
“I’m also looking forward to telling people about the troll that once lived in Leeton,” said Mr Richardson. “It’s a little-known fact that he was directly responsible for the creation of Fivebough Wetland.”
Learn more at Lillypilly Winery from 7pm on 31 October.
“It’ll be fun for all ages with creative pursuits, music and a spooky story,” said Mr Richardson.
“Traditionally it’s the time of year when spirits visit our world and Lillypilly are very kindly offering a complementary wine tasting for visiting adults, which should help raise spirits.”
The event will provide a venue for people who want to dress-up to mark the occasion.
Entertainment will include stories, hands-on activities, a movie and more.
“In previous years I’ve screened a silent movie in town as well as projecting my music videos and the film for this event will bring together both, with a silent film suitable for kids that I’ve created a soundtrack from music written and recorded in the last year or so.”
‘The Lost World’ is a classic film from 1925 that is based on a novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, better known for writing the Sherlock Holmes stories. It’s remarkable for being the first feature to use stop-motion animation, as well as being the first film to be shown to airline passengers.
“I’m also looking forward to telling people about the troll that once lived in Leeton,” said Mr Richardson. “It’s a little-known fact that he was directly responsible for the creation of Fivebough Wetland.”
Learn more at Lillypilly Winery from 7pm on 31 October.
Friday, 9 October 2015
Sketchy addition to local festival
Western Riverina Arts ask that people attending participating venues this October to sketch their experiences.
"As part of the TASTE Festival this year we've delivered coasters to Narrandera, Leeton and Griffith with instructions to draw something you've tasted in the Riverina," said Derek Motion, Regional Arts Development Officer.
"Please provide a quick sketch of something you've tasted in the Riverina. Use words if you prefer or perhaps a quill dipped in a local shiraz and just provide an outline of a local flavour."
The coasters will be collected for display at the end of the Festival.
Participating venues in Narrandera include the Eipper's farm and Trent's Coffeehouse, in Leeton at Pages on Pine and in Griffith at the Exies.
"Or visit Western Riverina Arts and collect a couple to take along with you to a TASTE Festival event and show us your flavour," said Mr Motion.
"Please provide a quick sketch of something you've tasted in the Riverina. Use words if you prefer or perhaps a quill dipped in a local shiraz and just provide an outline of a local flavour."
The coasters will be collected for display at the end of the Festival.
Participating venues in Narrandera include the Eipper's farm and Trent's Coffeehouse, in Leeton at Pages on Pine and in Griffith at the Exies.
"Or visit Western Riverina Arts and collect a couple to take along with you to a TASTE Festival event and show us your flavour," said Mr Motion.
Haunting installation to transform the banks of the Murrumbidgee as part of On Common Ground
As part of On Common Ground, two special night time events will transform the banks of the Murrumbidgee River into a haunting video and sound performance.
Watch as a 60-metre wide video projection wraps around trees, water, river banks and more, bringing to life stories from the past and present. Haunting is a stunning artwork made by Vic McEwan, Artistic Director of The Cad Factory and George Main, Curator at the National Museum of Australia.
Over the last six months Vic and George have been working with collection items from the National Museum of Australia and the Narrandera Museum that relate to the Riverina area. The photographs of these items have been projected onto shifting environmental conditions like fog, mist and smoke on the banks of the Murrumbidgee river in Canberra.
The show was presented to a sell out audience in Canberra in September and received critical acclaim. It will now be remade to fit the banks of the Murrumbidgee in Narrandera. George says, “Haunting celebrates our hidden histories and seeks to foster an exploration of some of the more difficult situations now facing humanity.”
On Friday 16 October and Saturday 17 October this work will be presented at Second Beach in the Narrandera Common with a few added twists. Vic says, “We have been working with local artists Fiona Caldarevic, Elizabeth Gay Campbell, Wagga poet David Gilbey and visiting artist Greg Pritchard to add extra performative elements to the event. As well as projecting onto the banks of the Murrumbidgee, we will also project onto the artwork Vanishing Point: Swan Hopper Legacies which spans the entire 110 metre width of the river."
These night time events will be held from 7pm - 10pm at Second Beach. Cars can drive into the Common and park near the Koala count marshalling area. Audience numbers are limited so if you would like to attend this event, please go to www.cadfactory.com.au to book your free tickets.
Bring along dinner and a picnic blanket to enjoy a fun evening of conversation, artworks and ideas in Narrandera’s beautiful natural environment, the Common.
From Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October, the Narrandera Common will be taken over by nineteen Riverina artists, seven visiting artists and over 50 community members for a spectacular art experience. You can view over 24 artworks between 10am - 4pm on Friday 16 October, 1pm - 6pm on Saturday 17 October and 1pm - 6pm on Sunday 18 October.
Over the last six months Vic and George have been working with collection items from the National Museum of Australia and the Narrandera Museum that relate to the Riverina area. The photographs of these items have been projected onto shifting environmental conditions like fog, mist and smoke on the banks of the Murrumbidgee river in Canberra.
The show was presented to a sell out audience in Canberra in September and received critical acclaim. It will now be remade to fit the banks of the Murrumbidgee in Narrandera. George says, “Haunting celebrates our hidden histories and seeks to foster an exploration of some of the more difficult situations now facing humanity.”
On Friday 16 October and Saturday 17 October this work will be presented at Second Beach in the Narrandera Common with a few added twists. Vic says, “We have been working with local artists Fiona Caldarevic, Elizabeth Gay Campbell, Wagga poet David Gilbey and visiting artist Greg Pritchard to add extra performative elements to the event. As well as projecting onto the banks of the Murrumbidgee, we will also project onto the artwork Vanishing Point: Swan Hopper Legacies which spans the entire 110 metre width of the river."
These night time events will be held from 7pm - 10pm at Second Beach. Cars can drive into the Common and park near the Koala count marshalling area. Audience numbers are limited so if you would like to attend this event, please go to www.cadfactory.com.au to book your free tickets.
Bring along dinner and a picnic blanket to enjoy a fun evening of conversation, artworks and ideas in Narrandera’s beautiful natural environment, the Common.
From Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October, the Narrandera Common will be taken over by nineteen Riverina artists, seven visiting artists and over 50 community members for a spectacular art experience. You can view over 24 artworks between 10am - 4pm on Friday 16 October, 1pm - 6pm on Saturday 17 October and 1pm - 6pm on Sunday 18 October.
Friday, 2 October 2015
Bell Shakespeare's Hamlet
Off the back of directing the critically acclaimed, award winning Henry V for Bell Shakespeare in 2014, Damien Ryan will deliver a new production of Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies at Griffith Regional Theatre on Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm.
Hamlet is a detailed family portrait in the political landscape of a “rotten” Denmark, a country furiously preparing for war, not realising that the enemy lies within.
Hamlet is a young man cast in an unfamiliar role in a story he never expected to tell. Deeply saddened by the sudden death of his father, he is further shocked to find his mother quickly remarried to his uncle, the dead king's brother.
Haunted by his mother’s perceived crime, Hamlet is a mass of contradictions and a modern anti-hero. He is at once vulgar, misogynist and cruel while being overwhelmed by insecurities and indecision. He stands before us and speaks the truth, confronting us with just how fragile our ideals of family, love, community, loyalty, faithfulness and the courage to ‘act’ can be.
Manager Griffith Regional Theatre and Art Gallery, Sarah Boon said Hamlet is the play about everything: death, life; sex, love; revenge and punishment; ambition, power, war and conquest; fathers, mothers, sons, daughters; heaven, hell and in between; friendship; fate.
“Hamlet is such an interesting and riveting story: anguish, passion and desperation collide in an incredible production which makes the story fresh, accessible and relevant,” said Mrs Boon.
“Hamlet is one of the most complete experiences theatre can provide and Shakespeare casts his spell through the sheer scope and grandeur of this story - beginning with a dead man walking and ending with a stage littered with bodies.”
Advance purchase ticket price of $25 ends October 1, 5pm. Tickets are available online at www.griffithregionaltheatre.com.au or by calling the Box Office on 6962 8444.
Hamlet is a young man cast in an unfamiliar role in a story he never expected to tell. Deeply saddened by the sudden death of his father, he is further shocked to find his mother quickly remarried to his uncle, the dead king's brother.
Haunted by his mother’s perceived crime, Hamlet is a mass of contradictions and a modern anti-hero. He is at once vulgar, misogynist and cruel while being overwhelmed by insecurities and indecision. He stands before us and speaks the truth, confronting us with just how fragile our ideals of family, love, community, loyalty, faithfulness and the courage to ‘act’ can be.
Manager Griffith Regional Theatre and Art Gallery, Sarah Boon said Hamlet is the play about everything: death, life; sex, love; revenge and punishment; ambition, power, war and conquest; fathers, mothers, sons, daughters; heaven, hell and in between; friendship; fate.
“Hamlet is such an interesting and riveting story: anguish, passion and desperation collide in an incredible production which makes the story fresh, accessible and relevant,” said Mrs Boon.
“Hamlet is one of the most complete experiences theatre can provide and Shakespeare casts his spell through the sheer scope and grandeur of this story - beginning with a dead man walking and ending with a stage littered with bodies.”
Advance purchase ticket price of $25 ends October 1, 5pm. Tickets are available online at www.griffithregionaltheatre.com.au or by calling the Box Office on 6962 8444.
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