DO YOU ever get a sense of restlessness? A yearning to get out of the house and go for an adventure but just going for a drive isn’t satisfying enough.
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I wanted to tell you about two theatrical productions that will give you a destination and purpose as you bustle into the car. Balloonatic is especially for kids and will be performed at five local villages, the other is Basin which is a new Australian play, written by seven Riverina writers with acclaimed playwright Vanessa Bates.
Last weekend my husband Alf and I headed across to Cootamundra for the opening night of Basin. This was a slightly unnecessary trip as Basin will be performed on the Civic Theatre’s stage in July and I could have just waited. However, I’m glad I didn’t wait as it was very powerful to see this new Australian play in a town that could be its namesake.
The sleepy town of Basin holds secrets that have not made their way to the surface, until now. Stories of love, loss and water are told by seven inter-generational voices: a piss-pot, an immigrant, a dreamer, a gossip, a diviner, a survivor and a cook. They are all in search of redemption and a way to cleanse themselves of the past so they can embrace the future.
You might like to incorporate plans to visit a regional town with your experience of Basin or you could see one of the Wagga performances. I might see you at closing night, as I’m keen to get a second look at this beautiful production.
What others thought:
"Where do the writers come from, they must live in country towns."
"I've been thinking about all the people in our town who must be walking around with stories like that - that they can't share"
"The characters are so relatable and real - the way everybody knows everybody else's business"
"You took me to Basin, I could see it, I know that place"
Basin tour dates
- Cootamundra, Arts Centre - June 17 and 18
- Young, Southern Cross Theatre: June 23
- Tumbarumba, Memorial Hall: Saturday, June 25 at 7.30pm
- Temora, Town Hall Theatre: Thursday, June 30 at 7.30pm
- West Wyalong, Memorial Hall: Friday, July 8 and Saturday, July 9 at 7.30pm
- Ganmain, Town Hall: Friday, July 15 at 7.30pm
- Adelong, Adelonia Theatre: Saturday, July 16 at 7.30pm
- Wagga Civic Theatre: Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 at 7.30pm
Tickets to the two performances at the Civic Theatre can be booked online at www.civictheatre.com.au, all other performances can be booked online at basin.eventbrite.com.
Hall-A-Day Adventures
BALLOONATIC is the perfect solution for school holiday restlessness and it will be landing in five local villages soon.
Balloonatic is a glorious word and really needs to be said out loud, and it’s the name of this year’s offering under the Hall-A-Day Adventures banner. Once again we’re coming to Uranquinty, Oura, Collingullie and Ladysmith, and for the first time Galore, during the second week of the July school holidays.
This is the fourth year of the Hall-A-Day Adventures program, which is a collaboration across several areas of council.
This program has been developed with several aims: to give village residents an affordable activity close to home, to encourage visitors to become more familiar with the villages in our local area, for kids to have fun, and this year to learn more about balloons.
Questacon’s Excited Particles will take you on a high-flying journey through the history and science of the humble balloon.
Stick around after the show, The Museum of the Riverina will have a balloon themed activity.
The tickets are affordable at $5 each and $4 for groups of four or more, with two sessions each day (at 10am and 1pm), all sessions can be booked online at www.civictheatre.com.au or from the Civic Theatre on 6926 9688.
The last couple of years these shows have been incredibly popular and have sold out so please organise your tickets now.
The Hall-A-Day Adventures – Balloonatic tour dates
- Monday, July 11: Galore Community Hall
- Tuesday, July 12: Uranquinty Community Hall
- Wednesday, July 13: Oura Community Hall
- Thursday, July 14: Collingullie Soldiers Memorial Hall
- Friday, July 15: Ladysmith Memorial Hall