Get ready for a packed week of entertainment, arts, and community events across Canberra!
Art and photography lovers can explore 20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year at the National Archives of Australia or get into the Christmas spirit early by visiting the Geek Markets: Xmas Edition.
Eurydice: Dying too young on her wedding day, Eurydice must journey to the underworld where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. This play is a fresh look at a timeless love story – the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, 27 November to 14 December 7:30pm Wednesdays to Fridays, 2:30 and 7:30pm on Saturdays; sites.google.com/lexisekuless.com/mill-theatre-at-dairy-road
20 Years of Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year: Images range from the eye of a firestorm captured by last year’s winner Samuel Markham to 2016 winner Matthew McIntosh’s macro shot of mosquitoes feasting on the forehead of a tree frog, to the 2010 winner Glenn Ehmke’s face-off between a Gentoo penguin and an elephant seal, National Archives of Australia, Parkes, runs 28 November 2024 to 27 April 2025; naa.gov.au/visit-us/events-and-exhibitions/20-years-australian-geographic-nature-photographer-year
Poetry reading: Read by Kathy Kituai and Kerrie Nelson. Manning Clark House, Forrest, 28 November, 7-9pm; trybooking.com/CWWOW
Behind the Lines: Featuring established and emerging cartoonists from across Australia, this exhibition highlights the significant contribution they make to cultural and political debates through witty, insightful and often poignant satirical drawings, paintings, GIFs and sculptures. The 2024 theme is no guts, no glory, reflecting a year where the Olympic and Paralympic Games were held, and in Australia’s daily news sporting analogies were drawn between politics and the issues affecting our everyday lives. Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, opens 29 November; moadoph.gov.au
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Q, Aunty Louise Brown Park, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 29 November to 15 December; theq.net.au/whats-on/a-midsummer-nights-dream
Anne of Green Gables: A favourite for more than 100 years, Anne of Green Gables follows the precocious and imaginative Anne Shirley as she captures the hearts and minds of her newfound family and neighbours in the small farming community of Avonlea – simply by virtue of her own pluck and personality. The Lieder Theatre, Goulburn, NSW, 29 November to 14 December; theliedertheatre.com
Hall Village Christmas Street Fair 2024: The annual Hall Street Partyand The Hall Village Christmas Fairhave combined this year. The event features local shops and eateries staying open late, a dedicated artisan Christmas market with more than 60 stalls, food trucks, community group displays, live music and entertainment, Santa and the Hall Fire Brigade Christmas elves and more. Victoria Street, between Gladstone and Hoskins streets, Hall Village, ACT, 29 November, 4:30-8:30pm; facebook.com/hallvillagechristmasfair
Canberra International Film Festival: A special screening of the 1996 film The Coolbaroo Club with special guests, the film’s producer Penny Robins co-producer, co-writer and researcher Steve Kinnane. The Coolbaroo Club was the only Aboriginal-run dance club in a city that practised unofficial apartheid, submitting its Aboriginal population to unremitting police harassment, identity cards, fraternisation bans, curfews, and bureaucratic obstruction. Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, 30 November, 2:30-5pm; ciff.com.au/event/special-event
Spirit of the Earth Concert 2024: The music will be performed by The Australian Rugby Choir. The annual concert series has run since 2005, featuring a mix of traditional and contemporary repertoire, sung in a four-part harmony, Hughes Baptist Church, 30 November, 2pm; stagecenta.com/showid/8825/theatreid/2901/showdetailsc.aspx
2024 ANU School of Art and Design graduating exhibition: All are welcome to attend, food and drinks are available to purchase, and live music. ANU, building 105, Childers Street, Acton, opening 29 November, 6-8.30pm, exhibition runs daily seven days a week 10am-4pm, 30 November to 8 December.
Carol Jerrems: Portraits: In a career that spanned only 12 years before her tragic death at the age of 30, Jerrems captured the world around her with curiosity and courage. National Portrait Gallery, 30 November 2024 to 2 March 2025, portrait.gov.au/exhibitions/carol-jerrems-2024
HMAS Canberra: Canberra will welcome members of HMAS Canberra (III) for the Freedom of Entry Parade. They will parade through the city streets in a grand procession of more than 200 people. This year’s event celebrates the 10th anniversary since the commissioning of HMAS Canberra (III) in 2014, parade from Veteran’s Park, down Northbourne Avenue, along London Circuit, Akuna Street and Bunda Street, concluding at Glebe Park, 30 November, 11-11:45am; act.gov.au/our-canberra/latest-news/2024/november/where-to-watch-this-weekends-freedom-of-entry-parade
30th anniversary: Erindale McDonald’s is celebrating its 30 years anniversary with cake, colouring in, face painting and an appearance from Ronald McDonald, Corner Ricardo Street and McBryde Crescent, Wanniassa, 30 November, 11am-2pm.
Canberra Choral Society: Mendelssohn’s Elijah: Don’t miss Mendelssohn’s Elijah this Saturday, directed by leading choral conductor Brett Weymark OAM. Starring acclaimed operatic Bass Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Elijah and National Opera in Canberra soloists Soprano Sonia Anfiloff, mezzo-soprano Christina Wilson and tenor Damian Arnold, with a mass choir of 170 singers from the CCS and Canberra community, and a 42-piece orchestra. Book via Ticketek, ANU’s Llewellyn Hall, 30 November 7.30pm; canberrachoralsociety.org
Geek Markets: Xmas Edition: Geek the halls with Geek Markets: Xmas Edition! Head along for a festive pop culture extravaganza featuring handmade items, comics, action figures, movie merchandise, and more. Find the perfect geeky gift or treat yourself, while enjoying everything you love about Geek Markets. Bring the whole family for a fun, festive day! Exhibition Park, Canberra, Saturday 30 November 9am–5pm; geekmarkets.com.au
2024 Canberra Plant Lover’s Fair: Whether you’re looking at getting into plants or the proud owner of your own indoor jungle, the Plant Lover’s Fair is for you. Bring a plant to the plant swap, meet local plant-related businesses and shop their wares, connect with other plant lovers, and have plant-related fun! Free community plant swap, free raffle, plant care demonstrations, local makers and plant retailers, indoor and plenty of free parking. The 2024 Canberra Plant Lover’s Fair is a Canberra Indoor Plants Facebook group event run by volunteers. It is open to the 3700+ members and any Canberra plant lover. Free Entry, Holt Neighbourhood Hall, 1 December 11am-3pm; facebook.com/events/holt-neighbourhood-hall/2024-canberra-plant-lovers-fair/1248677586178018
Vinyl Records Sale: The sale includes retro music from the 1930s through to the 80s. The records are in new mint condition. There will be a big focus on Afro-American Music, Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah 1 December, 9am-1pm.
Symphonie Fantastique: This will be the National Capital Orchestra’s final concert in the 2024 Visions season for the year, Snow Concert Hall, Red Hill, 1 December, 3pm; eventbrite.com.au/e/symphonie-fantastique-national-capital-orchestra-tickets-1070276298219?aff=oddtdtcreator
Magnify: The Canberra Community Chorale under the musical direction of Olivia Swift will be presenting, a concert featuring works by Antonio Vivaldi, contemporary American composers Eric Whitacre and Julia Wolfe, and Australian composer Paul Stanhope, Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 1 December, 5-6pm; trybooking.com/CWMXK
Meet the producers: Rotary Club of Boorowa, Mainline Dyno and This Is My Brave Australia’s storytelling event aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health and illness through personal stories, creative expression, and community connection. Meet the producer’s event to discuss the initiative, and plan a production to be held in Boorowa in June 2025, Boorowa Central School library, 1 December, 2pm-3pm; facebook.com/p/Boorowa-Rotary-Club-100064752460800
Commemoration and picnic: Run by the Australian Friends of the International Brigades, this annual event is an opportunity to remember the volunteers who went to Spain to defend democracy and fight fascism. Memorial to Australians in the Spanish Civil War, Lennox Gardens, Yarralumla, 1 December, from 11am.
Left Write Hook Screening: Written and directed by Shannon Owen, Left Write Hook follows the journey of eight female and gender-diverse survivors of childhood sexual abuse, who participate in an innovative recovery program combining the physicality of boxing with the emotional power of creative writing. Palace Electric Cinema, 3 December, 6.30pm; fan-force.com/screenings/left-write-hook-palace-electric
PRISM exhibition: By Canberra Institute of Technology’s graphic design diploma and advanced diploma students. Explore a wide spectrum of creativity, each project offering a unique perspective on design, Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston, opening night 4 December; 5:30-8:30pm; eventbrite.com/e/prism-exhibition-cit-graphic-design-tickets-1063958060199
All Your Christmases: Live music by Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission, including new music by the band as well as Christmas ‘crowd faves’. Smith’s Alternative, 5 December, 7-8:30pm; smithsalternative.com/events/mick-thomas-roving-commission-87583
The Llewellyn Choir: Krismas!: Peace to the World!: Join the Llewellyn Choir and guest ensembles from Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Africa, for an evening of beautiful Christmas music from Schutz, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Gounod, and more. Holy Cross Anglican Church, 7 December 6pm; llewellynchoir.org.au
