CW brings you the latest in arts and entertainment news from around the Canberra region. Highlights this week: A Ukrainian theatre group present their first play, and local artist holds art workshops for National Threatened Species Day (7 September).

Theatre group brings Ukrainian voices to the stage

Motanka Theatre (Театр Мотанка), a Ukrainian-Australian theatre group, present their first production this Sunday 20 August at Canberra College, Phillip.

Spread Your Wings (Na pershi huli in Ukrainian) translates as going out with a suitor for the first time. It is based on the play of the same name written by one of Ukraine’s most famous playwrights, Stepan Vasylchenko. Set at the end of the 18th century, it follows the story of an ordinary family and is full of culture, traditions, and a dash of humour.

Presented in Ukrainian, the play invites you to experience the country’s rich culture. Most of the proceeds from the night will go towards charities that provide emergency relief and humanitarian aid towards victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Immerse yourself in Ukrainian culture on Sunday 20 August 5pm at Canberra College; eventbrite.com

Cabaret with a twist hits the Capital

Canberra-born performing artist Elaine Morel brings her show, Disenchanted: A Cabaret of Twisted Fairy Tales, to The Street Theatre next month, Sunday 18 September.

Set in 1699, Disenchanted hosts disgruntled fairy tale characters who are sick of their narrative and want their side of events heard. The idea was born when Morel’s niece invited guests to her dinner party to dress up as a fairy tale character and sing a song or tell their story. Morel attended as Olga, one of Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters.

The award-winning show debuted at the Sydney Fringe Festival in 2018 before heading off on a tour of the NSW Far South Coast. Halted by the Covid-19 pandemic, a team of artists helped create a digital rendition for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Now, the crew of characters is ready to follow the yellow brick road again.    

Learn why the wolf was in grandma’s bed in Disenchanted at The Street Theatre, Sunday 18 September 4pm; thestreet.org.au

Art for threatened animals

In recognition of National Threatened Species Day, 7 September, local artist Michele England will host art collage workshops each Saturday next month. 

Australia has the highest number of mammalian extinctions in the world, with 29 species now gone forever, while many more are under threat from things like climate change, natural disasters, and habitat destruction. Here in the ACT, 10 flora and 20 fauna species are on the threatened list, including our beloved koala and Regent Honeyeater.

Attendees at the workshops, which are spread out at locations across the capital, will be able to learn about local threatened species before making a collage in response. Painting, printing and composition tips and supplies will be provided.

For locations, times and tickets, head to eventbrite.com.au

Canberra artist heads to Illaroo

Canberra artist Julia Faragher is one of five artists who live with disability or are d/Deaf to be accepted into the Bundanon Trust Artist-In-Residence program.

After two postponements, the five artists from ACT and NSW are finally heading to Illaroo, NSW to undertake the program for a week in September. Working in partnership with NSW’s peak disability and arts organisation, Accessible Arts, the charity funded program supports arts practice and engagement.

An artist, writer, photographer and filmmaker, who was recently awarded the Edgeworth Emerging Writers Fellowship from ACT Writers, Faragher lives with supraventricular tachycardia. While at the program, she will continue to work on her Young Adult manuscript, Song of Summer.

Find more information about the program at aarts.net.au

Canberra Youth Theatre’s new partnership

Canberra Youth Theatre have announced a new partnership with national law firm Holding Redlich. The company has signed on to be the principal sponsor of the Emerging Playwright Commission for the next three years.

The commission offers young playwrights the opportunity to be at the centre of the creative process as they create a full-length work which tells the stories of youth, with a $16,500 grant to develop a script to be performed by up actors ranging from seven to 25 years of age.

This newest partnership expands on the firm’s history of being a supporter to the arts. They have supported initiatives in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and regional Queensland. Managing partner at Holding Redlich, Ian Roberston AO, says the firm is excited to help young artists develop their own artistic practice.

For more information or to apply for the commission, head to canberrayouththeatre.com.au

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