Bondi Festival

The Bondi Festival was wiped out for two years by Covid-19, then the first weekend this year was drenched in torrential rain. So, feeling sorry for Waverley Council (which produces the festival) and the artists, I spent a sunny weekend at three interactive arts events, which were heaps of fun.

With the Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach still closed for renovations, the Festival Director Rachel Chant is utilizing nooks and crannies of the suburb, which even I, as a local resident of 25 years, did not know about.

Lyre: A Theatrical Séance

July 1 & 2, 8 & 9, 15 & 16.

Lyre: A Theatrical Séance is a festival highlight. Patrons get on a bus at Bondi Beach and are taken to a secluded community hall next to a park with tall trees.

Inside we met the dashing Harry Milas - bare foot and covered in chalk. The entertaining storyteller and magician kept us engaged with his droll observations about a local murder mystery.

He made us laugh, but for those who were faint of heart it was a nervous giggle.

Spoiler alert – several actual ghosts turn up – or at least it felt like that, thanks to the interaction of sound, light, and spooky sound effects.

Members of the audience are asked to take part. A reluctant volunteer was my wife, whose hands were sprinkled in ash, and they became an intense source of fascination for the magician.

Letters appeared to be scrawled in the ash, and she felt a touch on her hands from no obvious source. Thankfully my wife did not disappear in a puff of smoke, nor did she succumb to Harry’s charms, and we got back onto the bus tickled, but in one piece.

Photographer: Hamish Ta-mé

The Village by the kids

July 8 & 9, 15 & 16.

Written by Year 5 student Nitin Vengurlekar. Performed by students at Galilee Catholic Primary School.  Creative Producer: Claudia Chidiac. Sound and Audio Design: Nick Wishart.

A charming journey around North Bondi has been created through the medium of a walking tour in a partnership between professional artists and students. Participants download an app on their phone, don earphones and follow the adventure narrated by the ten-year-olds.

We look into a picture frame shop and the imagination of Nitin Vengurlekar runs wild with the mischief of what could be inside.

There is a villain in the village who is a very old and unattractive ghost who loves fish. There is also room for lots of gorillas behind the pink doors of the op show. Other stops include a village garden, the local butcher, and a park with secret hiding spots. It was fun for the whole family.

Photographer: Sam Kennedy-Hine

I Liked It, But

Performed and written by Joel Bray. July 7 – 10.

Heavens, I have driven past the Bondi Bowling Club for years but did not realize it has a little bar, bistro and a stage. This was the pub trivia space with a difference for the super talented Joel Bray.

He got us warmed up with a brilliant three-minute exposition on the history of dance, all completed within the space of one song. Then we were asked questions for the trivia competition – with a bottle of wine and vegetarian ‘meat’ tray on the line.

The title of the show challenges us to appreciate or come to terms with contemporary dance. He brilliantly explained and danced some of the basic tools used to create and mix the genres.

Members of the audience were asked to jump on stage and learn a routine. I put my hand up and donned bands on my head and wrists. 

The routine included hitting a glass wall; throwing a tantrum; a soap opera moment; looking through mist and simulated sweet love making.

At the end of the routine the audience applauded for the best amateur. Imagine my surprise to receive the loudest cheers and earn a bonus five points for my team.

Catch this witty performance when Joel Bray is at your local festival. My efforts were captured by a member of the audience and immortalized on Instagram.

Alas, another team pipped us by two points for the hamper.

David Spicer