From retail therapy to live entertainment in all its forms, there’s plenty to tempt you out of the house this week in the Illawarra. Photo: Image-Source.
Live music, live dance performances, live comedy, live theatre/cooking demonstrations (yes, it’s a thing) – the Illawarra is going face-to-face this week with a busy social calendar offering something for everyone.
Retail therapy combines with Vitamin Sea at a special market in Kiama and Gumaraa offers yet another unique and profound way to connect to Dharawal Country.
In between, there’s a chance for learner drivers to clock up log book hours in a safe and highly practical set-up and a chance for lovers of antiques and quality storytelling to get up close and personal with the woman behind Dirty Janes.
Here are our top nine picks for the week.
Friday
The Every Woman explores the rich, full-bodied, complicated, messy, visceral lives women lead, based on interviews with Illawarra women. Photo: Mara Glass.
The Every Woman
When: Friday 2 August, 7 pm and Saturday 3 August 4 pm and 7 pm
Where: The Phoenix Theatre, Bridge Street, Wollongong
Cost: Students and seniors $20, general admission $25, book here.
This new collaborative contemporary dance work from choreographer Mara Glass focuses on the stories of local women from various walks of life. It looks at what connects them, makes them unique, and what separates them as a community of women. Based on interviews with four Illawarra women, the show explores memories from childhood, marriage, divorce and a life-changing medical diagnosis, offering perspectives on how women can better support each other. It presents advice on healing and closure, touches on what women truly value in their lives and most of all, explores the rich, full-bodied, complicated, messy, visceral lives women lead.
Tom Gleeson – Gear
When: Saturday 3 August, 8:30 pm
Where: Anita’s Theatre, 264-270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul
Cost: $64.90, book here.
“Hard Quiz Overlord and Master of Tasks” Tom Gleeson has performed at every major comedy festival in the world, has been nominated for a Helpmann Award three times, won the Gold Logie for the Most Popular Personality on Australian television and is the host of two smash hit TV shows, Hard Quiz on ABC TV and Taskmaster on Network Ten. Now he’s giving the country an opportunity to see a master stand-up at work with his brand-new live show, Gear.
“Stand-up is my specialty. Television is a beautiful distraction but I’m looking forward to getting back to doing what I do best. Poking and provoking a live crowd,” Tom says. The 6:30 pm show sold out and tickets are selling quickly to the newly added 8:30 pm show at Anita’s, so get in fast.
Support local makers and producers at this special market by the sea. Photo: Kiama and District Business Chamber.
Kiama Seaside Markets – Special August Market
When: Sunday 4 August, 9 am to 3 pm
Where: Black Beach, Kiama
Cost: Free entry.
Up for some relaxed retail therapy against a beautiful backdrop? This month’s Kiama Seaside Markets will be extra special. The stunning coastal views blend seamlessly with a vibrant community atmosphere, where visitors can explore a diverse range of stalls featuring handmade crafts, local produce, delicious food, and unique treasures. Aside from the chance to buy special gifts, fresh ingredients and more, there will be lively entertainment and the opportunity to support local artisans and businesses.
Monday
Learn how to create Indigenous dot paintings and learn about Aboriginal symbolism. Photo: Shellharbour City Library.
Connecting the Dots – Aboriginal dot painting workshop
When: Monday 5 August, 3 pm
Where: Shellharbour City Library, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: $5, book here.
In this hour of fun dot painting and learning, you’ll discover how to do Indigenous dot painting and learn all the symbols and signs that are used in Aboriginal culture. A very easy workshop for beginners, no skills are needed. All materials will be supplied – a painting hand at the ready, and a thirst for knowledge about the world’s oldest continuous culture, is all you’ll need. At the end you’ll take home your artwork.
Tuesday
This workshop is suitable for people of all ages, and people with access needs are welcome. Photo: Charlie Blacker.
Gumaraa Traditional Bush Tucker / Medicine Walk
When: Tuesday 6 August, 4 to 5 pm
Where: The Farm Kiosk, at Killalea Regional Park, Shell Cove
Cost: $40, book here.
Learn about traditional healing practices and gain a deeper appreciation for the rich heritage and wisdom of Aboriginal culture. This immersive experience will introduce participants to a variety of native plants and provide insights into their rich cultural significance and traditional uses for food and medicine. Engage in activities that will deepen your connection to the land, such as gathering and preparing traditional foods or crafting medicinal remedies.
A fantastic display from the museum collection will be on show during this event, and copies of Beeswax and Tall Tales: Memories of an Aussie Antique Dealer available to purchase and have signed. Image: Shellharbour City Libraries.
Author Talk – Jane Crowley
When: Tuesday 6 August, 6 pm
Where: Shellharbour City Library, 76 Cygnet Avenue, Shellharbour City Centre
Cost: Free, book here.
Get up close and personal with Jane Crowley, the antiques collector behind Dirty Janes, as she discusses her book Beeswax and Tall Tales: Memories of an Aussie Antique Dealer. The book includes snippets from the hilarious and poignant life of Athol Salter, an antiques dealer who has peddled in other people’s stories for over 60 years, as well as stories of the enchanting people he meets along the way – from farmhands, colourful eccentrics and Italian migrants to long-lost relatives, British squires and a charming cockatoo.
Clock up log book hours and gain invaluable experiences to prepare you for driving in the real world. Image: Kiama Municipal Council.
Learner Log Book Run
When: Tuesday 6 August, 6 to 8:30 pm
Where: Lake Illawarra PCYC, 156 Reddall Parade, Lake Illawarra
Cost: Free, book here.
The saying “begin as you intend to finish” is never truer than when a person is learning to drive. Start on the right foot with this log book run, which provides young drivers and their supervisors the opportunity to participate in a planned drive following a route that includes a range of driving experiences including a random breath test (RBT) in a non-threatening environment, a speed check and a driver reviver site, set up to address how to deal with driver fatigue. Learner drivers need at least 40 log book hours to join, and it counts for 2.5 hours in your log book.
Thursday
Get a whiff of A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen at IPAC. Photo: Merrigong.
A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen
When: Thursday 8, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August, 7:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: Bruce Gordon Theatre, IPAC, 32 Burelli Street, Wollongong
Cost: Pay what you feel, book here.
Theatre-maker and singer-songwriter Josh Hinton weaves together childhood memories and family folklore passed down the generations, exploring how they’ve shaped his adult view of himself, and how we are all made of memories and stories. A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen fills the theatre with exotic smells as Josh attempts to make his grandmother’s chicken curry live on stage, while telling stories of his grandparents’ formative experiences, transporting the audience from the backstreets of Sri Lanka to a bustling city in India, from a schoolyard in Iran to a South African farm and finally to Wollongong.
Joe Camilleri is billed as the “consummate entertainer constantly honing his craft, an ARIA Hall of Famer and a rock’n’roll lifer”. Image: The Pavilion Kiama.
Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows at The Pavilion Kiama
When: Thursday 8 August, 7 to 11 pm
Where: The Pavilion Kiama, 2 Bong Bong Street, Kiama
Cost: $45, book here.
Joe Camilleri has been at the forefront of the Australian music scene for decades as the leader of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, and as writer of radio anthems Hit & Run, Shape I’m In, Chained To The Wheel, Harley & Rose and Never Let Me Go. His band, The Black Sorrows, are one of Australia’s most prolific and enduringly popular bands, renowned for their high-energy live shows, musicianship and infectious, roots-soaked blues rock. Don’t miss them in this one show-only gig at Kiama.
Loading ...
