The Canberra region is alive with culture and heritage this weekend, 21-23 April.
The Heritage Festival continues with a host of excellent events to learn more about the history and legacy of our region.
Step into a smorgasbord of culture at the African Festival in the Park at Stage 88 on Saturday, or if you feel like a laugh, head over to the free Canberra Circus Festival fair day in Chifley.
EVENTS
Lennox Garden Walks: Learn about the history of the monuments and strike the Peace Bell as part of the ACT Heritage Festival Rotary guided walks in Lennox Gardens, Saturday 22 April 12pm, 1pm, 2pm. Bookings essential: eventbrite.com.au
Canberra Circus Festival: Returning for a second year is a massive line-up of professional circus, clown, magic and sideshow performers. Chifley Community Oval + Warehouse Circus, 18-23 April; canberracircusfestival.com.au
African Festival in the Park: The free all-day event celebrates the diversity, strong traditions, deep and vibrant cultures, pride, beauty and people of Africa with stalls and live entertainment. Stage 88, Saturday 22 April from 10am; www.africa2australia.com
In Conversation: An artist talk with Linda Dening, Kim Mahood, Sally Sampson and Wendy Teakel to share insight into their exhibition Staying with the trouble. Belconnen Arts Centre, Saturday 22 April 2pm; belcoarts.com.au
Heritage Festival: Explore the history and heritage of the Canberra region through workshops, talks, tours, activities and events, at various locations across the ACT and the surrounding regions, until 30 April. Full program: environment.act.gov.au
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
Macbeth: Setting “the Scottish play” in post-WWI, Bell Shakespeare reimagines the Bard’s classic tale of deception, at Canberra Theatre, 14-22 April; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Shrek Jr the Musical: Pied Piper brings a youth cast to the stage with the beloved family tale of an ogre who wants his swamp and isolation back. Canberra College Performing Arts Centre, 15-21 April; trybooking.com
WILSN: The contemporary soul artist brings her debut album, Those Day Are Over tour to Smith’s Alternative, Friday 21 April 7pm; smithsalternative.com
Troilus and Cressida: Daramalan Theatre Company present one of Shakespeare’s less performed works in this adaption. Daramalan College, 21-29 April;  events.humanitix.com
Steve-O: The world-renowned stunt and funny man shares his most extreme show to date in The Bucket List Tour, not suitable for children. Canberra Theatre, Saturday 22 April 7pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Brian Cadd: The Aussie music staple and powerhouse performer plays an intimate show at Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo NSW, Sunday 23 April 6.30pm; tallagandrahill.com.au
Mudhoney: These pioneers of the early Seattle grunge scene head to Australia, stopping in at Kambri, ANU, 23 April 7.30pm; moshtix.com.au
Reasons to be Pretty: A comedy about four friends and lovers who are bored with life and each other, a narrative on our obsession with physical appearance. Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Fyshwick, 12 April-6 May; milltheatreatdairyroad.com
EXHIBITIONS
Under the Australian Sky: Melbourne artist Ji Chen presents a collection of paintings of the great Australian horizons, landscapes and blooms. Nancy Sever Gallery, 16 April-14 May; nancysevergallery.com.au
Threads of Being: The Emerging Artists Support Scheme exhibition for 2023 shows works from previous students of ANU School of Art & Design. Canberra Potters, Watson, until 23 April; canberrapotters.com.au
Nurturing Nature: An exhibition of small-scale woodcut prints by Canberra artist Heather Groves from observing her surroundings at home and in nature. Rusten House Art Centre, Queanbeyan, until 27 May; qprc.nsw.gov.au
Light, Colour, Humanity: The Legacy of Alastair Swayn presented Alastair Swayn Foundation 2023 Showcase explores how the three concepts were reflected in the architect’s works. Canberra Museum and Gallery, Civic Square, until 28 May; cmag.com.au
Warmer-Warmer Dumpling World: This collaborative exhibition explores the intimacies in shared experiences through different mediums. Gorman Arts Centre, until 28 May; tributaryprojects.xyz
The Mirror – Angles of Resistance: Explores Peter Maloney’s practice with the perspective of his queer sexuality. Canberra Contemporary Art Space Lakeside, until 3 June; ccas.com.au
Disrupt, Persist, Invent: Discover the stories of the many ways Australians have achieved social change in this exhibition at the National Archives of Australia, until 12 June; naa.gov.au
Potrait23 Identity: Portraiture leaves the canvas and becomes 3D in this new experimental exhibition. National Portrait Gallery, until 18 June; portrait.gov.au
Settled/Unsettled: The universal language of art explores the personal and shared issues faced by Australia’s refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 25 June; cmag.com.au
untitled (walam-wunga.galang): Jonathon Jones celebrates the practice of grinding seeds to make flour in this collaborative exhibition. National Gallery of Australia, until 23 July; nga.gov.au
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