With no Monday blues heading our way, this long weekend, 9-12 June, is sure to be a good one.
The Canberra region offers culture, live performance and fun galore for those who plan on being in town.
Hit musical Come From Away finally touches down in Canberra to tell the story of the passengers who were taken in by a small Canadian town following the 9/11 attacks in the US.
Canberra Museum and Gallery opens a new family-friendly interactive exhibition, How Cities Work, while the National Library of Australia launches its ode to Australian sportsmanship in Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation.
EVENTS
Book Launch: Local children’s author Gaz Anson approaches the dangers of AI in a fun and interactive way in his new book Stop! Robot!, launching at The Book Cow in Kingston, Sunday 11 June 2pm; eventbrite.com.au
Dancing Queen Dining Experience: Enjoy a three-course meal while being serenaded with a theatre performance dedicated to the songs of ABBA. Templo Theatre, City West, until 30 November; explorehidden.com
Old Bus Depot Markets: The much-loved markets continue at the Old Bus Depot in Kingston, Sundays 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.com.au
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Come From Away: Finally, Come From Away has landed in Canberra! The Tony and Olivier Award winning hit musical shares the incredible real-life story of the 7,000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Canada during the wake of 9/11, and the small Newfoundland community that invited these ‘come from aways’ into their lives. Canberra Theatre Centre, 8 June-9 July; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Waltz: A production of Goulburn-based playwright David Cole’s celebration of life, inspired by the stories of The Push, a Sydney-based group of nonconformists. The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 9-10 June; theq.net.au
The Jane Barnes Band: Jane Barnes, her band and special guests Jimmy Barnes and Mahalia Barnes come to Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo, 10-11 June; tallagandrahill.com.au
This Is Us: A musical reflection of Australia from acclaimed guitarists Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, inspired by objects in the museum’s collection. National Museum of Australia, Saturday 10 June 6.30pm; eventbrite.com.au
One Night in Canberra: Sydney and Canberra meet on the dancefloor with afrobeat, dancehall and UK grime. 21 Binara St, 10 June 10pm; eventbrite.com.au
EXHIBITIONS
Variations: Ceramic artist Susie McMeekin explores the variations of form with traditional wood firing techniques. Canberra Potters Gallery, Watson, 8 June-9 July; canberrapotters.com.au
Intersections: Local artists Isobel Rayson and Nick Stranks explore memory, belonging and sense of place in this collaborative exhibition. Canberra Contemporary Art Space, Manuka, 9-18 June; ccas.com.au
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Welcomes two new exhibitions: Natalie Bateman’s Djiraali Muriyira, and Jennifer Procter’s Intertidal. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 9 June-12 August; tuggeranongarts.com
Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation: From the great sporting moments that helped put Australia on the world map comes this new exhibition of print, books, drawings and photographs. National Library of Australia, 9 June-5 November; nla.gov.au
Aarwun Gallery: Presents three new exhibitions: Jane Millington’s Sea Poems, Carlos Barrios’ Del Amor Y Los Animales, and Lisa Taylor King’s Our Coloured Earth. Aarwun Gallery, Nicholls, from 10 June; aarwungallery.com.au
Photo Access: Last chance to catch three exhibitions exploring the ecological challenges our world is facing: Chris Round’s The Grand Scheme, Noah Thompson’s Huon, and Toni Hassan’s Between Presumption and Melancholy. Photo Access, until 10 June; photoaccess.org.au
How Cities Work: The exciting interactive exhibition explores the mystery, mayhem and magic of cities, with hands-on construction sites, a futuristic design station and more. Canberra Museum and Gallery, 10 June-8 October; cmag.com.au
Professor Hyatt’s Tarot: The exhibition features original Tarot artwork by John Hyatt, with unique large-scale prints of the cards. With tarot readers attending throughout June, why not get a reading and learn your destiny. Smith’s Alternative, until 4 July; hyattstarot.weebly.com
Kathleen Rhee: Presents a solo exhibition with works to inspire a deep connection with others, our environment and ourselves in Art Everyday. Suki & Hugh Gallery, Bungendore NSW, until 11 June; sukihugh.com.au
Apeiron Baroque: The new Canberra musician presents their second concert for the season, Too Many Strings. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 11 June 5pm; apeiron-baroque.com
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
Brushes with the Bush: A collection of works in charcoal and oil paints spanning the 28 years of Canberra artist Jenny Gibson’s practice. Australian National Capital Artists Gallery, Dickson, until 18 June; anca.net.au
Get the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
