Band competition heats up

Every year brings a new genre of music, weirder and wackier costumes, and more unconventional instruments at the National Campus Band Competition.

Heat 1 of the National Campus Band Competition at UOW

Aspiring musicians from the University of Wollongong competed in the first heat of the competition on Tuesday night.

Local rock n’ roll band Basil’s Kite brought their A-game, winning against four other bands of different genres and securing themselves a position in the finals held in August.

Entertainment Coordinator at UOW Centre for Student Engagement Kayla Berry said she was amazed at the talent and originality brought by the bands in this year’s first round.

“Our first band was Heavyset Dub and they had a didgeridoo player in there which was pretty exciting. That doesn’t happen very often,” she said.

“Basil’s Kite was just a hilarious, thrilling little rock band with an awesome saxophone piece.”

Heat 1 winners Basil’s Kite

But it wasn’t only the music that wowed the audience this year.

“The sax guy who is the main guy was wearing like gold tights and a gold, tight crop top-looking thing,” said Berry, of the winning band.

“And then he brings out a gold hula hoop and started spinning it. It was just hectic but somehow it seemed to work.”

Berry said this kind of madness is what makes the competition worthwhile as it brings out the creativity and originality of the amateur bands.

“It’s always great to see the grassroots level and this is what the band comp is really all about. It’s some of their [band’s] first gigs as well so it’s a really great stepping- stone. For Basil’s Kite it’s one of their first bigger gigs and competition that they’ve entered so I think they’ve got a pretty good chance.”

The competition is not only fun and games, with promising outcomes for bands that make it further than their own University’s stage.

“I have the chance to hire them again after the band comp finishes and let them develop professionally,” Berry said. “I can book them as support acts for student parties or the UNIbar manager can hire them as support acts for other gig nights.”

Although the competition is seemingly thriving, entrants have more than halved over the years.

“We used to, once upon a time, get 40 to 50 bands entering the comp back in the early 90s when live music was roaring in Wollongong,” Berry said. “Now we maintain around that 15 to 20 mark which is pretty reasonable and capable of having a really great band competition.”

She believes it is becoming more difficult for bands to stay together.

“In my mind, it’s more about the cultural change,” she said. “There’s so much opportunity out there for younger people these days and they’re not always tending to live in the same town and same house their whole lives.”

The band competition heats will continue at the University of Wollongong each Tuesday from 7.30pm. For more information visit http://unicentre.uow.edu.au

 

Mental health takes the stage

Local advocacy group Mind Blank will use theatre to help young Illawarra migrants tell their stories and get the help they need.

The 10-week program, to be launched on Wednesday, uses Forum theatre to teach students from culturally diverse backgrounds about mental health issues and offer them support.

It’s a joint initiative between Mind Blank and local multicultural services SCARF Inc and the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI).

“Theatre is a medium chosen to work with young people as it engages with them no matter their background,” Mind Blank Executive Director Ally Kelly said.

“Forum theatre…uses images to portray stories. This allows us to discuss important issues whilst finding a common theme that we will work with despite language barriers or cultural differences.”

Mind Blank volunteer Toby Davis and young migrants using Forum theatre

The program will finish with a public theatre performance directed and organised by the young migrants.

SCARF Youth Program Facilitator Monique Bolus told ABC Illawarra that it’s important to try something new and engaging that will help young migrants access the support they need.

“I feel young people from refugee backgrounds do need this mental health support early on…because their adolescent experience is compounded with their background which often involves torture and trauma,” she said.

“There are complications involved in the resettlement process as well. Often it’s a very disrupted family situation…and they’re dealing with a new culture, new language. Often they’ve had no formal education but they’ve been thrown into the mainstream school systems. As much mental health support we can provide them, I think is always going to be a good thing.”

The number of young migrants suffering from mental health issues is often unknown, as they do not access local support services due to the negative stigma associated with the illness, or due to fear that they will not be understood.

Kelly hopes the program will be as successful as Mind Blank’s most recent interactive theatre piece on Suicide Prevention that has been touring schools.

“Mind Blank’s feedback suggests that young people are very engaged with the content of the Mind Blank shows, and they listen and take in the information more readily in this format than in other formats they have experienced,” Kelly said.

“There is also evidence that young people and school communities continue to discuss the shows and their content well after the show ends, including with their friends, families and school communities.”

Young African, Burmese, Iraqi, Afghani, and Iranian refugees will participate in the mental health theatre initiative.

Young refugees at the information session for the new program

Kelly admits the program will be a challenge but believes it will improve the self-confidence and language skills of the refugees.

“It’s not impossible. I think that if we built a good repour with the kids they will start to open up,” she said.

“The magic of theatre allows us to discuss a story but not go too in depth with the details from the past. One key to the Mind Blank approach is using humour in the scenes to break down any initial barriers…”

 

Film to commemorate 70 years since war

Ahead of next week’s ANZAC day celebrations, surviving WWII veterans are asked to come forward and share their war stories.

Chosen stories will be made into a series of films to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the war.

Shellharbour City Council is funding the project, which will include five digital stories and short films.

Local film producer Sandra Pires is interviewing Shellharbour ex-servicemen and women to find compelling war stories to include in the 4-minute documentaries.

A war image sent to Sandra Pires

“These stories are important as they are yet another piece of the puzzle that tells us who we are and how we got to be this way as Australians,” she said.

“Most people would have no idea what it means to live through war…This validates these people’s experiences. It empowers them, and for many, it’s the first time they have told their story.”

With the help of Albion Park and Warilla RSL sub branches, more than 15 veterans have been found. Pires says she has already chosen certain stories to be included.

“We chose the Stuttgart story for its circular nature, playing on the ‘what goes around comes around’ philosophy,” Pires said.

“This man bombed a city, ‘obliterated it’, he said in his own words… He remembers killing civilians. His grandson is now marrying a woman from Stuttgart.”

“It was the emotion in his face which told me the hurt and hardness of his story. He is now having to meet the woman’s grandparents and parents who were there when he bombed it.”

The digital stories will include personal photographs, videos, letters, and drama re-enactments. The short films will adopt a documentary-style format.

It is hoped that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ex-service men and women will also step forward to share their stories.

In a media release sent by Shellharbour City Council, Mayor Marianne Saliba said it is important to recognise the sacrifices of all Shellharbour residents who served.

“We want to be sure that everyone has the opportunity to tell their story and express their memories for public record,” she said.

The personal artefacts used will be included in the Shellharbour ANZAC exhibition in 2015.

Ex-service men and woman

“It’s important we don’t hide away from the bad and sad. Hopefully the experiences of the stories will be varying enough to show people how far reaching the effects were,” said Pires.

The filming will be coordinated by staff at the Tongarra Museum and will be directed and produced by Why Documentaries.

 

 

Peter, King of the movie Castle

If there was a word to describe Peter Castle, it would be ‘determined’. He certainly doesn’t give up in his quest to bring back some campus spirit to the University of Wollongong. A self-professed mad movie fan, Castle has been organising Unimovies since 1969 when he was a student himself.

His pushy but loveable character meant Castle and his Unimovies group have progressed from screening films on a 16mm reel in a small room, to filling the University’s main hall with shiny new digital technology and 3D to boot. But Castle’s main goal the whole time has been to make the University a home for the students, not just a place to study.

“Community life on campus was very different compared to what it is now,” he said, of his former student life at the University of Wollongong. “There were lots of night activities. All of that’s gone.”

“They became a place where you go to get a qualification, not a way of life.”

So Castle pushed until him and his team got exactly what they needed. And even though other aspects of student life have changed, there’s something that hasn’t – Peter’s drive to bring good quality film to students and the public. And you can see that passion still burning after 40 years.

Castle (left) has been at UOW as a student, maths lecturer, and organiser of Unimovies

Castle admits he wasn’t big on films before he began but now he’s an avid movie collector.

“If you can take it off the shelf and enjoy watching the entire film more than once, that’s an indication that it’s a good film.”

Judging by his robust stature, you would never guess what his opinion of a ‘good film’ is – The Princess Bride. The 1980s classic fairy tale must be more than swords and a damsel in distress because it’s responsible for this Castle’s fascination with film.

Castle loves digging around for new movies that he thinks will attract a bigger audience at Unimovies. And although he is disgusted with the latest 3D blockbusters he is excited about the prospect of new releases coming next month. And he wasn’t unhappy with all of what 2013 produced.

“The crowd was just infectious when we showed the Hunger Games and Frozen,” said Castle.

“It’s a completely different feeling when you’re watching a movie in a crowd,” he says of the difference between Unimovies and the cinema. “If people [at Unimovies] enjoy a film they applaud. They cheer at the beginning and laugh at all the spots.”

Audience enjoyment is what really makes Castle’s job worth doing. When he sees a bigger crowd, or a busload of people from the local retirement village coming along, he really gets a high.

“The thing l used to enjoy was reading things on the internet from ex-students, especially overseas students that used to come here,” he says. “They would comment about how they used to come to Unimovies to learn English. I was chuffed by that.”

“Since the club started in 71’ I was on the staff committee right up until I retired a couple of years ago, but I just enjoyed it so much, presenting a service to the University.”

From backyard to ballroom: local songwriter takes centre stage

Alex Tobin, Wollongong singer/songwriter

When Wollongong musician Alex Tobin nominated his song ‘Last Call’ for a prestigious award, he didn’t think his name would be getting called up on stage 

It all started in a sandwich shop just north of Toronto, Canada.

A young Alex Tobin was settling into his new life abroad having just graduated from the University of Wollongong.

Waiting for his food, he noticed a man cradling a shiny Fender Telecaster, Tobin’s favourite type of electric guitar.

“Is that a real Tele?” he wastes no time to ask.

“Yes”, and they begin chatting about music.

The man was in fact Canadian collaborator and songwriter Neil Devereaux, who invited Tobin back to his basement studio for a jam.

“I started hammering out something on the mic and Neil just put the headphones down,” says Tobin.

“Neil was like, ‘Dude, you can sing’.”

From then on the duo began writing music, kick-starting Tobin’s career.

“I had a 50 dollar second-hand guitar and I’d just start ripping out something on it and then I’d talk to Neil about his impression of it,” Tobin says.

“We just made the songs from scratch on the spot.”

The ‘just do it’ approach seems to be working perfectly for the singer/songwriter, rewarding him with the most prestigious title of his career: Best International Song.

Tobin became the first Australian to win the award last December with his hit Last Call.

“There were these awards from the Australian Songwriter’s Association and basically I saw it and thought I’d just enter the song and see what happens,” he recalls.

Tobin with Neil Devereaux at the Australian Songwriter’s Association Awards

“I thought [he laughs], ‘Why not? Just chuck it in there with the rest of the world’.”

His historical win meant he had to perform live for the first time in his career in front of musicians he had idolised for years.

“Daryl Braithwaite from Sherbet and Lee Kernaghan were in the room,” Tobin says.

First live performance of Last Call 

“It was kind of weird going from someone’s backyard campfire to [being] in front of 500 people at an awards night with all the glitz and glamour.”

Although he is making his mark in the tough industry, he is aware he may not make it the whole way. It’s an odd dichotomy, and yet it’s how Tobin approaches it: no matter how much love you give it, making music full-time is not a guarantee.

“I don’t know which way I want it to go, I just want to keep doing it,” he says. “I’d love to do it full-time…but you don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket.”

It’s no fantasy. Although modest, Tobin is doing better than most beginner songwriters.

“We did a music video to Last Call and it just got released…it’s gotten over 40 000 views which is pretty good for an unsigned artist,” he says, still astonished.

Of course, it doesn’t come easy.

“It’s not a walk in the park. You’ve got to work for it like in anything,” he says.

“I’ve enjoyed it all. Music is awesome.”

“I’ve only been doing it for 2 years…I wish I’d started earlier but I’m glad I started.”

 

An itch for amateur theatre

Journalist and musical theatre enthusiast Justin Huntsdale

Nine years ago, journalist Justin Huntsdale played Judah in Dubbo Theatre Company’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It was a big deal for him. He hadn’t been in front of a crowd this big since high school.

Having his parents drive four hours from Wagga Wagga to join the full house didn’t make Justin second-guess himself.

And when the music started playing, something changed.

“I guess that was the defining moment,” he recalls. As he began tapping his feet, his eyes widened, and he saw the magic of theatre. “I realised that musical theatre was an important part of my life that I’d discovered, like part of a jigsaw puzzle.”

Justin, 29, last month landed his most prestigious character role yet, Emmett in Moon Glow Production’s Legally Blonde the Musical, hitting Wollongong this July.

Before auditioning for the role of Emmett, Justin hadn’t seen the blockbuster movie Legally Blonde for so many years that he had even forgotten the plot. It is a huge task – playing an understated, likeable, and kind-hearted character – and Justin executed it perfectly, securing the sought-after lead role.

Ironically, the role isn’t a stretch.

“For a fairly sensible, easy going guy in his late 20s, Emmett is not that far removed from my personality. That makes him, I think, one of the easier characters to play. The challenge is in being understated. The inclination on stage is to be massively extroverted, and with Emmett I have to keep a lid on that.”

Justin doesn’t strive to be a Broadway star. In fact, he likes things the way they are.

“In amateur theatre, you get to perform in professional venues in front of large crowds accompanied by top-shelf musicians,” he says.

“That’s a real privilege because you get all the excitement of professional performing but don’t have to rely on it for your income.”

Justin hasn’t stopped singing in musicals since he discovered his love for it back in Dubbo.

“I love the camaraderie within a cast – it’s like one big team sport where everyone contributes to make something an overall success,” says Justin.

Legally Blonde the Musical cast

“You get to spend hours and hours with like-minded people where everyone blends their talents into one big melting pot of creativity.”

“It’s never long before you’re sitting in the rehearsal room around the piano, contributing to a roof-raising four part harmony that gives you chills.”

He is conscious of not having much experience behind him.

“Music has always been a part of my life but I’ve never had singing lessons.”

At the same time he is protected by a shield of natural talent. “I’m classified as a tenor. I learnt the drums when I was in primary school then took up guitar in high school and started by singing along to that.”

Attending rehearsals for his upcoming role in Legally Blonde has been the best fun he’s had yet, surrounding himself with incredibly loud, pink OMG t-shirts. Justin says he’s excited about the performance and won’t be giving up on musicals anytime soon.

“Having now met the cast and seen them in action, I’ve got very high expectations for this production,” he says. “We have talent to burn.”

“Theatre is an addictive industry – there’s an element of self-satisfaction but I think ultimately it’s the shared experience with people you respect and love.”

Ten weeks till’ Trial

When Joseph K woke up on his 30^th birthday he was left without words. That’s an understatement – he was being dragged away by unidentified agents from an unnamed agency. That day, no further information was given to him and K was arrested for an unknown crime.

 

Joseph K in The Trial. Photo Credit: Google Images

The Trial, a story originally written by Franz Kafka left its mark on English actor and theatre director Steven Berkoff, driving him to turn it into a play in 1970.

Despite a self-professed pragmatic reason for choosing The Trial, the play has had the same effect on director Chris Ryan from the University of Wollongong. He found himself adding the play into the curriculum of the Bachelor of Production degree. “I said, ‘It’s time to do a Berkoff’”, he admits. “I think it’s really strong material and a lot of people have read The Trial.”

Now, ten students have ten weeks to bring The Trial to the UOW stage.

In the show, student Simon Arthur plays three characters – a guard involved in the arrest of Joseph K, a student, and Leni, a secretary who is attracted to male felons.

Arthur believes The Trial is not one to be missed. It’s not a conventional plot, and the theatre techniques used to portray the story are quite unusual.

“I think a lot of it is derived from the first show by Berkoff in 1970,” Arthur says.

“We’re using the frames and we’re wearing black and white. The other day we made corridors [out of frames]…and it looked like a labyrinth.”

 

Use of frames in The Trial. Photo Credit: Google Images

“We’re all on stage the whole time so we have to be in unison and we’re wearing the same colour scheme,” Arthur says of the black and white vests, pants, and shirts. “Plus it’s a very authoritarian [plot]. Joseph K is accused then he’s immediately a criminal. So, I think it’s got a very black and white feel to it.”

The play uncovers feelings that Kafka and Berkoff, both Jewish, were battling with at the time The Trial was written and adapted for theatre.

“For most of his young adult life Berkoff probably felt persecuted and oppressed even though he wasn’t living in any directly affected countries during the war [WWII],” Arthur says.

“I think it’s very reflective of how we can’t really be in control of certain things because of authority and governments,” he says. “Everything has become systematic and disconnected. We go places and we don’t really think about why we’re going to that place…it’s tattooed in our brains to act this way because it’s how we’re supposed to.”

Arthur admits it’s going to be tough to play a sexually appealing female character (Leni), but he thinks it’s all worth it.

“I think it’s a very significant play and a very significant book. The way it’s developing I see extreme similarities to the previous show [by Berkoff] but hopefully Chris Ryan does a few things on his own accord.”

The Trial will be shown in week 13 of the University of Wollongong autumn semester, beginning on June 2 at the UOW Performance Space, 25.168. For more information, contact the Booking Office on 4221 4889 or at lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au

Legally Blonde the Musical dressed for success

Legally Blonde poster on Corrimal Street Wollongong

Legally Blonde The Musical will paint the town pink as Elle Woods and her loveable pooch Bruiser hit the Illawarra stage in July.

After competing against hundreds of theatre companies in the country, Illawarra-based Moonglow Productions secured the rights to bring the amateur premier of the Broadway musical to our region.

Producer Emma Spillet said there’s nothing too serious about Legally Blonde.

“It’s a great storyline with very funny dialogue, the music is just beautiful with lots of ballads and more upbeat numbers, and the show is so visual and dynamic.”

Spillet said the light-hearted nature of the musical will attract an Illawarra audience and 300 tickets have already been sold since last week.

“We really wanted to bring Legally Blonde to Wollongong as it’s such a funny show and it had been such a hit professionally so we knew that Wollongong audiences would love it,” she said.

“Tanya Boyle, who plays Elle, has played lead roles in several musicals and all the cast have extensive acting, dance, and singing experience.”

The musical is about sorority girl Elle Woods attending the prestigious Harvard Law School in order to win back her former boyfriend. But instead she gains a win in the courtroom, new lifelong friends, and a new lover named Emmett.

“There’s always so much happening onstage,” Spillett said.

“It’s fun to watch.”

Justin Hunstdale, who will play Emmett, says he feels privileged to be part of the show.

“It’s a gift to get cast as one of the most likable characters,” he said.

“Emmett performs one of my favourite songs of the show – Legally Blonde – with Elle. It’s a tear-jerker and I get goose bumps every time I hear it.”

Bianca Dye who plays Paulette with one of the dogs featured in the musical

Huntsdale is confident the musical is making good progress and says it will be one for the whole family.

“Having now met the cast and seen them in action, I’ve got very high expectations for this production. We have talent to burn,” he said.

“Just look at The Lion King or Wicked. Those shows are juggernauts that will run for decades. Legally Blonde does that too.”

Legally Blonde opens at WIN Entertainment Centre with performances on Friday July 4th and Saturday July 5th.

“Legally Blonde rehearsals are a lot of fun,” said Huntsdale