Arts
Desire comes to town
The opportunity to see outstanding theatre close to home has never been more welcome. From Thursday 29 October, Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire comes to Byron Theatre in Bangalow Theatre Company’s most ambitious production to date, writes Michael Sharmon.
AI film passes heart test
Digby Hildreth speaks to multimedia designer Nick George about his new AI-powered short film, premiering at the 2026 Byron Bay Film Festival.
History, she wrote
Ahead of her appearance at the Bangalow A&I Hall this October, Sally Schofield speaks with acclaimed Australian author Kate Grenville about her latest work The Country Schoolmaster. Built around a collection of 150-year-old letters, Kate’s new historical fiction explores the story of Joseph Connor, a schoolmaster in the tiny NSW town of Currabubula, and a community divided over whether he…
Dingo singers embrace an ancient language
For the past several weeks a diverse group of people has been gathering to rehearse songs in Widjabul/Wia-bal language, one of the many dialects spoken within the Bundjalung nation of Northern New South Wales, writes Digby Hildreth.
DINGO comes to town
This October, a new music and arts festival will take over halls, streets and unexpected spaces across Bangalow and Byron Bay. But for Si Jay Gould, DINGO Festival Director, the ambition goes well beyond putting on another festival, writes Sally Schofield.
Why we read
Byron Writers Festival returned this year with a new home, a new format and plenty of conversation about the value of books. Four Herald writers reflect on what they heard, what they read and the ideas they brought home.
The hills have films
In our region, we are lucky to have several film societies regularly showing fantastic films to enthusiastic film fans. The three featured here all operate in old community halls, traditionally places for locals to gather and enjoy themselves. Each venue has been renovated and improved with fundraising efforts and sometimes grants, and are lovingly tended by teams of dedicated local…
Award-winning artist gives books a second life
Northern Rivers artist, Bangalow resident Karena Wynn-Moylan, recently won Best Special Interest Programming at the National Australian Audio Awards, a project built around an idea she believes could change the way people discover books.
Behind the scenes at Byron Writers Festival 2026
Christobel Munson asks Byron Writers Festival Artistic Director and CEO, Jessica Alice, about the challenges faced in relocating the festival from Bangalow Showgrounds to Byron Bay.
Book review: Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan
Who doesn’t love a good whodunnit? I think that Irish-Australian author, Dervla McTiernan, is competing for the crown of queen of murder mystery. She is churning out one, sometimes two, a year. Honestly, her books just keep me enthralled – and there is no feeling that she is following a formula to the point that it becomes tedious. A natural…
She sells sanctuary
Escaping into books has long been a tonic for world-weariness, a remedy for sluggish creativity or a pick-me-up when life lacks zest. Above all, reading is an act of solitude that quietens distractions, fills our consciousness with imaginative possibilities – and simultaneously generates introspection and outward magical thinking. This year’s Byron Writers Festival theme, ‘Sanctuary’, encompasses the role of books…
Raised by Wolves
As the Byron Writers Festival approaches, local author Tristan Bancks shares with Herald readers an extract of his latest book for readers aged 10 years+, Raised by Wolves, a story inspired by adventure, resilience and the complexities of growing up. Tristan is host of the free Kids Program on Sunday 16 August at the Bay Street Stage, 9-11.30am
