There’s free pre-show entertainment NORPA for the rest of the year.

To kick off the theatre season this week, The Essential Collective will be playing jazz music this Thursday and Friday, February 27 and 28, while The Secret Chef diner serves up the food in the NORPA Courtyard Bar at Lismore City Hall from 6pm. The Gospel According to Paul is on stage at 7.30pm.

NORPA Artistic Director Julian Louis said NORPA is making your night out at the theatre just that little bit more special.

"We're making a night out at NORPA the complete experience for all our shows for the rest of the year,” he said. 

“You come together with friends in our Courtyard Bar, have something delicious to eat, hear some great music and then go and see a fantastic show," Julian said.

"Everyone is welcome - even if you want to just come and hang out, have a drink after work and listen to some great live tunes."

Brisbane jazz outfit The Essential Collective plays this week, before Jonathan Biggins' performances of 'The Gospel According to Paul'.

The Essential Collective is a group of jazz musicians led by guitarist Luke Stapleton. Luke is based in Brisbane where he is completing his Masters in Jazz Performance at the Queensland Conservatorium. 

Joining Luke at NORPA's courtyard bar will be Benjamin Ryan on keys. Together they will explore some of their favourite standards, groovy fusion tunes and a selection of Luke's originals.

The music plays this Thursday 27 and Friday 28 February 6-7.15pm at 1 Bounty Street, Lismore.

Performances of The Gospel According to Paul featuring Jonathan Biggins will commence at 7:30pm.

One of Australia’s favourite performers, Jonathan Biggins, is Paul Keating – visionary, reformer and rabble-rouser – in the return of the smash hit comedy, The Gospel According to Paul. 

Full of intelligence and wit, The Gospel According to Paul is a funny, insightful and occasionally poignant portrait of Paul Keating.

The man that – as he tells it – single-handedly shaped contemporary Australia.

“I’ve been playing Paul Keating for many years now – when he saw me appearing as him in the Wharf Revue, his first comment was: “I’d have been wearing a better suit.” Sadly, we didn’t have the budget for a Zegna then and to be perfectly honest we still don’t, but this is the first time I’ve attempted to explore one of Australia’s most enduring political figures in something more complex than the sketch or short monologue format,” Jonathan Biggins said.

“Keating is such a great character to write for and perform – he was funny, sharp, emotional and flamboyant; the bovver-boy from Bankstown who was as comfortable writing an essay on neo-classicism and the architecture of Berlin as he was staring down the Head of Treasury to float the dollar.

"No government has tackled as much difficult reform as the Hawke-Keating ministries and while some of the long-term results have unsettled many, they certainly changed Australia’s perception of itself and where it might find a place and a role in the world.”

“I hope we shed the occasional light on the contradictions and complexities of a great leader whose vision, courage and determination are sadly missing in what passes for our contemporary political class. Do better, ya mugs!"

For more information, or to book, visit http://www.norpa.org.au