Concrete Playground

There is absolutely no time to sleep this October long weekend. Begin early, Thursday morning, and jump onto a train to Newcastle. Sit back quietly with some knitting as the train winds through Hawkesbury River, take a quick nap, then erupt out of Newcastle station and into the whirlwind affectionately known as TiNA.

Despite an intense lead-up, including an unexpected funding crisis, the show must go on. And what a show it is! Five days of performances, workshops, parties, panels and much much more. Our picks include the Word-Hurl Anti-Slam, an epic battle of Novocastrian poets, the Human Drum Machine, including a take-home starter pack, and Cy*Bent*Ity, which promises to be the latest Facebook-spread party gone wrong (or right).

Haven't really prepared? Never fret, we've got you covered. Accommodation is a breeze in Aunty Jenny's Tent City, and thanks to Newcastle's geography, it's easy to ride your way around town on a bicycle hired from the Community Bike Library (for a refundable deposit). Almost all events are free, so a limited budget is no problem.

In short, there's absolutely no excuse not to join in and have a grand old time.

Image: courtesy of Crack Theatre Festival, photo by Holly Orkin