Concrete Playground

Sounding like a crook’s name from Cluedo, or an 18th century lady killer, events space The Red Rattler certainly evokes an old-school charm. And so it should. Its ethos is outdated by some standards. Not for profit? Community based? Green? All of these things, in Sydney? Yes, they say – and what’s more, it’s here for good, which is something that a lot of other independent venues can’t promise. They’ve got a full calendar to prove it, with an end to fungiphobia, a tree-planting revolution, a provocative zoo and a sustainable craft market, all housed in a quaint, age-worn factory in Marrickville. And to clear up the name mystery, it’s actually a reference to the clinkety-clanking old dames of the railway, with some revolutionary red thrown on top. That’s probably more on the right track ...