byron@byron
This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing
BYRON YOUTH THEATRE TEENS EMBRACE DIVERSITY
Byron Youth Theatre’s, First BYT ensemble aged 13 – 17 years is bringing “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries and This Girl Does Nothing” by Finegan Kruckemeyer to the stage this month at the newly renovated Drill Hall Theatre.
This modern day fairy tale written by one of Australia’s esteemed playwrights for young audiences, revolves around three young sisters who are left in a forest by their woodcutter father and forced to find their own way in the world. From a classical beginning, three resolutions are made — one sister walks one way to find purpose, one the other to find adventure, and the third stays right where she is to create a home. The three sisters traverse the globe in their unique ways to find themselves and heal.
The play appeals to audiences of all ages, blending imaginative storytelling with poignant messages that children can appreciate and adults can delight in. Drawing inspiration from classic stories with a contemporary twist, First BYT aim is to captivate audiences across the Shire, both young and old.
Sally Davis has been facilitating this ensemble since the beginning of the year and responded to their enthusiastic request to create a production that embraces physical theatre, comedy, and social inclusion.
“This experience is giving the teenagers a sense of belonging, confidence and is opening their minds to the idea that theatre and the arts can be a potential career. Teenagers need risks and challenges and performing, designing and staging a show meets those needs and offers them a deep sense of fulfillment and pride to stage their work in front of their local community, peers and parents” shares Sally.
The teenagers have been involved in the entire production from set design, direction, staging, costume creation and prop design and it has demanded extra rehearsal time apart from their weekly class held on a Wednesday 4.45-6pm at the Drill Hall.
“Being a part of this awesome ensemble and doing this play has been so rewarding. I’ve been XYZ”
There are only 2 performances on WEDNESDAY 25TH at the Drill Hall Theatre, so bring the kids along to experience this dynamic production and support local youth theatre. Tickets available from
TRIGGER
A new original production from Byron Youth Theatre.
A new entertaining and interactive production from Byron Youth Theatre.
TRIGGER is an entertaining and interactive theatre production, exploring common triggers young people are facing in our region today, and the different ways we can respond to help. Using elements of Forum Theatre, we’ll explore internal, external, environmental and social trigger situations.
Participation is entirely voluntary — the performances will be highly entertaining for those who wish to observe as regular audience members.
Forum Theatre is a unique type of participatory theatre — a devised work, using fictitious characters to simulate real life events currently happening in the community. The play developed out of the process is performed once, all the way through, so the audience can see the situation and the problems presented.
The action builds to a crisis and stops there, offering no solutions. The play is then performed again, with audience members able to “freeze” the action at any point where they see a character struggling with a problem. An audience member yells “stop!”, comes into the playing area, replaces the character they recognise is in a moment of struggle, and tries out their idea. We call this an “intervention.” The Forum Theatre event is vibrant and empowering for all concerned.
The project is supported by the Byron Youth Service and was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia and Regional Arts NSW.
The Regional Arts Fund is an Australian Government initiative that supports sustainable cultural development in regional, remote and very remote Australia.
Please note: this event contains elements of audience improvisation and may contain strong language and adult themes. Suggested age 13+
BYT are deeply grateful for the the support of Brunswick Picture House and Umbrella Theatrical Productions
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Special Screening of Our Home Holiday Town
OUR HOME HOLIDAY TOWN
Age 12+
YAC, 1 Gilmore Crescent, Byron Bay
Thursday September 29th : 7.30pm
Tickets: $25
All proceeds go towards future youth productions
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/our-home-holiday-town-film-tickets-411645772587
Byron Youth Theatre (BYT) thought provoking, poignant social action theatrical production called Our Home Holiday Town which had to end its production last December early due to a COVID scare is back!
Fortunately the Company’s performance was filmed with eight cameras crewed by SAE Creative Media Institute students Lee Collier, Phoenix and Jovian Batchelor supervised by experienced local filmmaker SAE Animation Lecturer, Nigel Haslam. This has enabled BYT to hold a special screening in Byron for those who missed out in 2021.
“ It was devastating when we had to close the production early last December” shared Director Lisa Apostolides, “ We’d spent a lot of funding on bringing in a substantial lighting rig, creating a large main set and reorganising the venue space for the show and obviously many many hours of rehearsing!”
Feedback from community members, who did get to see the first two performances was outstanding! Local lawyer and Councillor Mark Swivel was one of the lucky ones!
‘Super engaging, fun treatment of a tough topic. Our kids will cop the worst of our housing crisis and policy fails. Bravo Byron Youth Theatre!’
This production was the result of a collaborative research project between BYT and the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University (SCU). Director of BYT, Lisa Apostolides and the cast members worked closely with Dr. Antonia Canosa, Dr. Catherine Simmons and Dr. Peter Cook to uncover tourism-related issues in the Byron Shire and the mental health concerns for young people. Trained as co-researchers during a series of workshops, cast members conducted interviews and surveys with their peers and community members to understand the effect of the impact.
The research revealed young people care deeply about their community, particularly when witnessing the negative impacts of tourism activity, including littering, anti-social behaviours, housing affordability, homelessness, and disrespect for Aboriginal sacred sites.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to work with Lisa and the cast at BYT. I am delighted that the screening is going ahead as my colleagues and I were among those who had booked last year and were extremely eager to see the finished result. This was an empowering experience for the young people who want to be actively involved in lobbying for more socially and environmentally just forms of tourism in their community” said Dr Canosa.
The project received funding from Regional Arts NSW ( CASP), Northern Rivers Community Foundation , Southern Cross University and sponsorship from The Regent Cinema , Mullum Hire ,Byron4kids, local psychologist Peter Chown, Liz Terrancini and Christina Gobet-Freeman and supported by Byron Youth Service, resulting in ä play that is raw, dynamic, engaging and critical for our times.
The special screening will be held at Byron Youth Service’s ( BYS) Youth Activity Centre (YAC) in the heart of Byron.
“It is great for The YAC to be able to host BYT’s film of this powerful production and support the poignant and meaningful work that they are presenting. I’m constantly impressed with the talent and creativity among young people in our community. It’s very important and exciting work.” comments Christian Tancred, Manager of BYS.
There will also be information about the Byron Way Pledge which was inspired by the production which seeks to promote responsible tourism.
LOVES ME LOVES ME NOT
A new original production from Byron Youth Theatre.
Byron Youth Theatre’s new original production Loves Me Loves Me Not — a dynamic and thought provoking play — once again displays the skill and talent of the eleven BYT cast members who are aged between 14–30 years. Loves Me Loves Me Not explores issues of consent and responsible relationships.
It refers to and includes references to abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. BYT are well known for their honest and open exploration of important issues and provides an excellent opportunity for parents, caregivers, teachers and youth-related organisations to engage young people in meaningful conversations on the topics raised.
Loves Me Loves Me Not follows several different relationships that intertwine and gives a powerful platform for both young people and adults to express their hopes, fears, confusion and deep longing about how we develop meaningful connection with one another. It includes live music, choreographed dance and dramatic scenes.
The cast attended the Wheel of Consent Training and Actor Boundaries and Professional Intimacy Consent workshops in the development of this original play. Funded by the Northern Rivers Community Foundation and Women’s Resource Service, the production also received a generous donation from Global Ripple, a strong advocate in the prevention of violence towards women and children. It is proudly supported by Byron Youth Service and Brunswick Picture House.
This production was funded by Northern Rivers Community Foundation, Women’s Resource Service, Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre and Global Ripple. BYT are deeply gratful for the their support and that of Byron Youth Service and Brunswick Picture House.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
OUR HOME HOLIDAY TOWN
For our latest production Our Home Holiday Town, funded by Northern Rivers Community Foundation and Country Arts Support program, Regional Arts NSW, we have partnered with the Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University. Currently in production, BYT cast members have benefitted from training as co-researchers with Dr. Antonia Canosa, Dr. Peter Cook and Dr. Catherine Simmons in exploring young people’s lived experience of growing up in a tourist destination. The findings from this research combined with facilitated experimental devising workshops has been incorporated into the script for our upcoming theatre performances of Our Home Holiday Town.
We are excited to be working again with Renee Galera-Hollis, an SAE Creative Media Institute Byron Bay Music production student in creating the sound track and Harry O’Meara our lighting designer and awesome technician.
Although the production has had to be postponed until DECEMBER ( see information below) , there are many wonderful people still busy working behind the scenes. Belle Budden, a Wakka Wakka woman living in Bundjalung country is creating a painting specifically for the production representing our beautiful Cavanbah ( the meeting place) otherwise known as Byron Bay, Australia. This is being timelapsed and will be used as a backdrop projection in parts of the performance. Nickolla Clark, another incredible local artist and proud Arakwal Bundjalung woman is developing a voice over recording to compliment the painting. The awesome Mike Russo has been creating the largest set BYT have had to date with Dee Spice assisting.
We also want to acknowledge the incredible support we have received from Christian Tancred and the staff of Byron Youth Service for allowing us to use the Youth Activity Centre (YAC) as our venue and Chris Chen & Brett Haylock from The Brunswick Picture House for the loan of some set pieces. The YAC will literally be transformed by the contribution of all these amazing people. Deep gratitude to all!!
COME SUPPORT LOCAL YOUTH THEATRE: UPDATED INFORMATION FOR OUR HOME HOLIDAY TOWN
Byron Youth Theatre have postponed their latest production until December
ALL SHOWS SOLD OUT!!
CLASSES FOR 2024
2024 : STARTING TERM 4 ABYT
VENUE: BYRON COMMUNITY CABIN, CARLYLE STREET, BYRON BAY
CONTACT: Lisa Apostolides : byronyouththeatre2481@gmail.com
Advanced BYT (ABYT) is for young people aged 16-24 yrs. It is preferrend that you have had some experience, either attended Drama classes in school or an out of school Drama/Theatre class previously.
MONDAYS 4.30-7.30pm, & SUNDAYS 4-7pm when close to performances.
Fee payment $175 per term ( 16-17 yrs) Fee payment $150 per term (18-24yrs)
** Registered for Creative Kids Vouchers** Anyone attending more than one BYT class can apply for discount
Auditions for Advanced BYT
Preparation:You will need to rehearse and perform a 2-3 minute monologue and a second piece from the list below:
Play a musical instrument
Perform a dance sequence
Perform a song
Deliver a speech which you have written
Perform a slam poem
Present a portfolio of original graphic design
Present a portfolio of lighting design
2024 : 1ST BYT BYRON BAY
VENUE: BYRON COMMUNITY CABIN, CARLYLE STREET, BYRON BAY
CONTACT: Sally Davis : buttercupbonanza@gmail.com
Drama/ Theatre classes for 12-16 yr olds. 1st BYT classes explore all aspects of Drama and Theatre and leads towards a range of performances, sometimes with audiences!! There is no pressure to perform for those who just enjoy participatng in class
TUESDAYS 4.30-6pm
Fee payment: $175 for 9 week term
** Registered for Creative Kids Vouchers
2024 : 1ST BYT MULLUMBIMBY
VENUE: DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY
CONTACT: Sally Davis :buttercupbonanza@gmail.com
Drama/ Theatre classes for 12-16 yr olds. 1st BYT classes explore all aspects of Drama and Theatre and leads towards a range of performances, sometimes with audiences!! There is no pressure to perform for those who just enjoy participating in class
WEDNESDAYS 4.35-6pm
Fee payment: $175 for 9 week term
** Registered for Creative Kids Vouchers
2025 : STARTING TERM 1 FEBRUARY
TRY BYT VENUE: UNITING CHURCH HALL, DALLEY STREET, MULLUMBIMBY
CONTACT: Adrienne Lester : connect@umbrellatp.com.au
Drama/ Theatre classes for 8-11 yr olds. TRY BYT classes are an introduction to drama and theatre. Classes focus on improvisation skills, characterisation, team building, langauge skills, and basic playbuilding. We offer performance opportunities however there is no pressure to perform for those who just enjoy participating in class.
WEDNESDAYS 3.30-4.30PM
Fee payment: $175 for 9 week term
Registered for Creative Kids Vouchers
How on Earth Part 1
In the wake of the Black Summer bushfires, drought, floods, and now a global pandemic young people across the region are grappling with the worry and uncertainty of how climate change will impact on their future. Enter the “How on Earth” project, a unique collaboration bringing together workshops and theatre to support youth to feel more resilient and empowered to engage locally with climate change and ecological decline.
This regional partnership between Byron Youth Theatre and The Joyality Project received a $30,000 “Increasing Resilience to Climate Change” grant from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment.
As part of this grant young people from six high schools across northern NSW were provided with interactive, resilience-building workshops by The Joyality Project alongside original performances by Byron Youth Theatre.
An original theatre performance named “How on Earth” is currently in development by Byron Youth Theatre. As an integral part of the process, cast members were interviewed by Director Lisa Apostolides about their experiences of eco-anxiety, climate change and the recent pandemic. This has been powerfully woven into a physical, verbatim style production choreographed by past BYT member Ebony Webb.
“It has been a deeply moving process in creating this production as we are all in a lived experience right now every day . It is an absolute honour to work with such talented cast members who have dedicated themselves to sharing the raw, honest truth and have Ebony’s insightful choreography as a key part of this timely piece” shares Lisa.
At the heart of “How on Earth” is The Joyality Project’s youth leader training to support participants to develop personal strategies for well-being, action and adaptation to climate change impacts.
Twenty youth leaders will go on to provide support for peers in their community and co-facilitate “How on Earth” school and community workshops at the end of 2020 and into 2021.
“We’re thrilled to be working alongside BYT to support and inspire young people in our region,” says Dr Eshana Bragg, ecopsychologist and Director of The Joyality Project. “Our Joyality trainings and workshops are based on the symbiosis of personal and planetary well-being, and the joys of community, nature connection and taking positive action, even in the darkest of times.”
The Byron Youth Theatre have previously received funding from Byron Council, Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW and Northern Rivers Community Foundation to develop and perform this original production in August, and a second major production at the end of 2020.
The “How on Earth” project will also be collaborating with local emergency services, sustainability organisations and community leaders to support practical disaster preparedness of the community.
For more information about The Joyality Project visit www.joyality.org
Click this link for the full show
How on Earth Part 2
How on earth do we navigate our rapidly changing world? What are the solutions to the multitude of issues we are now facing? Will enough of us rise up to the challenges and provide the leadership we seek for the future?
Byron Youth Theatre’s latest original production How on Earth ( Part 2) funded by Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW, Northern Rivers Community Foundation and NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and supported by Arts Northern Rivers,the Joyality Project and the Brunswick Picture House, takes the audience on an intriguing journey exploring those hard to face questions! Set in a possible, not too distant future, an inspired young person and her friends seek to learn new ways of being from a parallel world to help save themselves and their home planet, but will it work? Featuring original music score, projection compilation and lighting by local professional youth and older artists as well as some kindly donated music from musicians overseas!!
We wish to recognise the generations of the local Aboriginal people of the Bundjalung Nation who have lived in and derived their physical and spiritual needs from the forests, rivers, lakes and streams of this beautiful valley over many thousands of years as the traditional owners and custodians of these lands
DEEP GRATITUDE TO
NRCF, CASP, Arts Northern Rivers. NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for funding this project
Joyality Project, Brett & Chris :Brunswick Picture House, Byron Bay Community Association and Byron Youth Service for all your support!!!
Dee Spice :Di Vinci bridge construction
Nigel Haslam :projection compilation
Charlie Gill: Lighting Design
Flynn Martin: Venue technician
Shane Noble : Technician supervisor
Rhys Edwards : Technician mentor
Renee Galera-Holliss : Music editor
George Deuter : Temple of Silence track
Bhikkhu and Waduda Paradiso, New Earth Records : for giving us permission to use Deuter’s most beautiful music
John Boswell aka Melody Sheep for giving us permission to use his amazing music
Realms: Strangr Than Paradise trackfor giving us permission to use her amazing music
Renaye Elder: incredible volunteer, photographer, social media promoter
Shu Ge & Art Ge : incredible volunteers and supporters
Global Ripple Op shop: for costumes!!
Andrew Woody Woodburn: Bullseye Solutions security uniforms
Brett, Tilka Fosmale, Sam Morrell, Nigel Haslam, Elli Coleman, Paulina Heart : Security guards!
BYT wins Mental Health Award
Byron Youth Theatre (BYT) were thrilled to be up in lights for their contribution to youth mental health when they won the Way Ahead, Mental Health Association of NSW, Media and The Arts award for several of their productions including Mind Made Me.
‘Being recognised by the Mental Health Association of NSW is a big deal for a small regional theatre company,’ said BYT director Lisa Apostolides.
‘All of our productions have a mental health aspect and we’ve known for a long time the positive effects it has had on youth and community audiences from our feedback forms but this is fantastic.’
WayAhead is a not-for-profit organisation that has been dedicated to promoting mental health and wellbeing for over 80 years. Out of the eight categories the Media and The Arts recognises individuals or organisations who have created thoughtful, informative and responsibly reported media and/or artistic projects relating to mental health illness.
Sahaj Blatt is one of the original cast members of Mind Made Me and is now back working with the group on their latest’s production.
‘BYT was a large part of adolescent life, It was not only fun but I learnt a lot about the different issues we covered,’ Sahaj told The Echo.
‘We performed [Mind Made Me] to well over 1,000 young people, at special events, and at an international conference. It means a lot to us to have a high profile organisation recognising what we do and I hope it gets our work to more audiences.’
This excitement was reflected by former theatre member Serren Glen who told The Echo that ‘This award is amazing and will hopefully open up new funding for the Company. BYT is like the best well intentioned family, Lisa cares very deeply for us all. Being in BYT helped me with my own mental health issues when I was younger and I love that it empowers so many young people through our performances and workshops.’
Established in 2010 and working with young people aged between 16 and 25, BYT have produced thirteen educationally based, youth governed productions (performances and workshops) on issues relating to binge drinking, drink driving, compassionate connections between generations, mental health (anxiety, depression, body image, non suicidal self harm), adolescent sexual health, illicit drug use, LGBTIAQ+youth, domestic and family violence, bullying connected to youth suicide, racism and prejudice and upstander/anti-bullying and issues of abuse.
Lisa told The Echo that receiving the award ‘will certainly help us with future funding opportunities as well as connecting us with more state, national and international organisations to further the impact of our work.’
You can listen to a interview about the award on 22nd October 2020
https://www.facebook.com/events/933609707168317/
Under Your Thumb
“Wouldn’t life be easy if it was all just black and white, but it’s not , there’s so much grey, isn’t there? Where we can get lost, confused, stumble down the wrong alley, take a wrong turn and end up abusing each other. Why can’t we control ourselves? Are we capable of change?”
This opening speech of Under Your Thumb sets the stage for a swath of though provoking vignettes depicting issues of abuse experienced by young people. Whether it be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or spiritual, the impact it has on an individual’s life is long lasting which in turn affects our society. Funded by Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW , Northern Rivers Community Foundation and supported by Brunswick Picture House, Under Your Thumb was yet another youth audience directed choice for BYT . During the research and development phase representatives from the headspace Tweed Heads and Women’s Resource Service, Mullumbimby, assisted with consultations and an informative training session. BYT combined this with a survey, interviews, online information from websites such as Youth Action and Reach Out.com and personal experiences to create this original production.
After a successful tour of local High schools with many audience members rating it as the “Best ever!” production, BYT delivered a public performance at the Brunswick Picture House. Check out the promo video below!
The Company wish to acknowledge the sourced work by Mila Cuda and Jessica Romoff for their slam poem “Exes”, Emmeline May for Consent and Tea and Jamie Varon for “This is how we date now” used in Under Your Thumb. They wish to thank Charlie Gill, Lighting Design and light and sound operator, Myla Yeomans, Graphic designer, and previous BYT member Charlotte Dodds for choreography. Mike and Marion Russo for props and costume items and the many friends, supports and BYT family members who helped make it happen!
