The forecast for Canberra this weekend, 13-15 May looks wet and chilly, but there’s plenty of good things happening to make it worthwhile venturing out in the rain. From a two-day Wool Expo at the Old Bus Depot Markets or the Swedish Embassy opening their doors on Saturday for their Beyond Borders: People, Plastic and Pollution exhibition, to a Sunday night Eurovision party at the National Film and Sound Archive, here’s a selection of what’s on in and around Canberra this weekend.
LIVE PERFORMANCES
Brumbies v Crusaders: After beating three New Zealand teams in their last three Super Rugby Pacific matches, the Brumbies take on the Crusaders at GIO Stadium Canberra, Friday 13 May 7.45pm. Tickets: premier.ticketek.com.au
Six the Musical: This 75-minute non-strop “electrifying musical phenomenon” will finish its season at Canberra Theatre Centre this Sunday 15 May; sixthemusical.com.au
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Free-Rain Theatre’s production of the Aussie musical classic continues at The Q, Queanbeyan, until 22 May; theq.net.au
Dogfight: A “hauntingly beautiful” war musical from Dramatic Productions continues at Gungahlin Theatre, until 22 May; stagecenta.com
The Mara! Big Band – Zashto?: Gyspy Brass meets jazz big band at The Street, City West, Friday 13 May 7.30pm; thestreet.org.au
Side by Side: Taikoz’s latest production with five new works at Belconnen Arts Centre, 13-14 May 8pm; belcoarts.com.au
Hotel Sorrento: The Australian modern classic performed by Canberra REP at Canberra REP Theatre, Acton until 14 May; canberrarep.org.au
Australian Chamber Orchestra: Perform Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante at Llewellyn Hall, ANU, Saturday 14 May 8pm; aco.com.au
Celeste Barber: The Australian comedienne extraordinaire offers Canberra fans two performances of her new show Fine, Thanks at Llewellyn Hall, ANU, on Sunday 15 May at 4.30pm and 7.30pm; celestebarber.com
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
NGA Tuscan Lunch: Tuscan-style lunches in conjunction with the final weekend of the extraordinary Jeffrey Smart exhibition at National Gallery of Australia, 14-15 May; nga.gov.au
Spanish Film Festival: See the best cinema from Spain and Latin America at Palace Electric in Canberra, until 15 May; spanishfilmfestival.com/sessions/canberra
Queanbeyan Palerang Heritage Festival: A month-long calendar of opportunities to celebrate the unique history of the region comes to an end on Saturday 14 May; qprc.nsw.gov.au
MoAD at Old Parliament House: An official AEC polling place, MoAD will be a pre-polling place on Saturday 14 May (and from Monday 16 to Friday 20 May; it will be open for polling and democracy sausages on election day, Saturday 21 May).
NFSA: Celebrate the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest at the National Film and Sound Archive’s Arc Cinema on Sunday 15 May from 7pm. Tickets: $25/$20; price includes a glass of bubbles on arrival. Bookings: tickets.nfsa.gov.au
EXHIBITIONS
Beyond Borders: The Embassy of Sweden in Canberra invites the public to experience the People, Plastic and Pollution exhibition on Saturday 14 May and again on Saturday 21 May 11am-2pm; registrations essential, via eventbrite.com.au
Culture Clubs: An exhibition featuring posters from the Megalo archives at Megalo Print Studio, Kingston, starts 14 May and continues until 25 June; megalo.org
Craft ACT: Saturday 14 May is the last day for two exhibitions – Home Grown and Tension(s) 2020 – at their Civic gallery; craftact.org.au
MoAD at Old Parliament House: There’s so much to see and do at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House, including a host of exhibitions, such as: Democracy DNA: the People the Prime Ministers and the World; Statement: Jack Green’s Paintings; and Behind the Lines 2021: The Year in Political Cartoons. Tickets are free but bookings are encouraged. Kids will also love the DressUP: Change the World and PlayUP installations. Book General Museum Pass.
Aarwun Gallery: The Gold Creek gallery hosts Alice, Sophie, and Lucy Pulvers’ exhibition Sisters until 15 May; aarwungallery.com
Belconnen Arts Centre: Cam Michael’s Precious exhibition closes 15 May; belcoarts.com.au
Historic Memorials Collection: Australian Parliament House is celebrating 110 years of the collection by exhibiting rarely seen items in the Public Exhibition Area until 15 May; aph.gov.au
Beaver Galleries: The Deakin gallery hosts Glyphs – the return of the poet, an exhibition by GW Bot, until 21 May; beavergalleries.com.au
Photoaccess: The Griffith gallery hosts three new exhibitions from local artists Between Hope and Despair, Eating Wild Weeds, and Archive Apparitions, until 21 May; photoaccess.org.au
ANCA Gallery: ANCA Dickson studios will be open to the public for one day only on Saturday 14 May 12-4pm. Have a peek inside the studios of some of Canberra’s best artists, makers and designers; anca.net.au
MARKETS
Canberra Wool Expo: If it can be created in wool, you’ll find it at the Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May 9.30am-2.30pm – plus four live shearing demonstrations each hour from 9.30am both days; obdm.com.au
Kippax Marketplace: Indoor market to run 3rd Saturday of every month, 8am-12pm, at Kippax Uniting Church Community Centre; free entry.
If you have a What’s On event to add to this list, email your submission to [email protected]
