whatsup, music-theatre-arts, capital life, magic beach, canberra cabaret, canberra arts, national gallery of australia, nga, abby dobson, alison lester
Congratulations to Canberrans Emma Rani Hodges and Akil Ahamat, both among the 65 shortlisted finalists for the 67th Blake Prize. The biannual event has a prize pool of $42,000. Hodges’ work Close to the Sound of Your Heart, Beating Waves in the Ocean, 2021, is about spirituality and a return to lost culture, reimagining and nurturing his story as a person of mixed heritage. Ahamat’s Unchained Melody, 2020 is an experiential installation comprising a suite of sound works and a speculative therapeutic technique, the Sonic Shower, imitating the private and therapeutic space of the domestic shower. Selected finalists will display their work at the 67th Blake Prize Exhibition at Casula Powerhouse, 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula, NSW from 12 March to 22 May. See: casulapowerhouse.com.au. The Shane & The Cathryn Brennan Award for Playwriting was created to discover and celebrate the best new screenplays among Australian playwrights. With a cash prize of $60,000, the prize invites playwrights to submit unproduced plays in two categories: stage and theater for young audiences. It will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 (AEDT). awg.com.au. Jonathon Zalakos is a jewelry and contemporary designer based in Canberra, Ngunnawal and Ngambri lands. Jonathon seeks to integrate traditional silversmithing materials and techniques with contemporary practices and philosophical thought. Jonathon is particularly interested in how meaning is co-produced through the processes of expression and perception. Her exhibition Human, Jewellery, Human is on view at ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson until January 30. anca.net.au. Upcoming screenings for those who enjoy their films under the stars include 1950s musical Grease (Sing-a-Long, PG, Jan. 22), dark drama The Card Counter (MA15+, Jan. 27) and new Steven Spielberg’s version of the musical West Side Story (M, Jan. 28). Australian National Botanic Gardens, Eucalyptus Lawn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film starts at 8:20 p.m. sunsetcinema.com.au. Finegan Kruckemeyer’s adaptation of Alison Lester’s book tells the story of a family who travel each year to Magic Beach where everything you can imagine becomes real. But this year is different. As the eldest begins to grow, should she leave the magic behind? It’s aimed at kids ages 3-12 and comes from the team behind the stage versions of The Gruffalo and the Treehouse series. Canberra Theater Center, January 22 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. and January 23 at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. canberratheatrecentre.com.au. Fake French Abby Dobson and Lara Goodridge and their band will launch their third album, aptly titled Album Trois, at the Street Theater on Saturday, February 5 at noon. See: thestreet.org.au. The National Gallery of Australia has a lot to offer, including the exhibition Jeffrey Smart, Know My Name: Australian Women Artists from 1900 to Now, Project 1: Sarah Lucas and Ever Present: First Peoples Are of Australia. See: nga.gov,au. Enjoy contemporary Canberra cabaret from Jazida Productions with a story showcasing the region’s burlesque, circus, comedy, belly dancing and drag. This 18+ show is presented at the Belconnen Arts Center on Saturday January 29 at 8 p.m. See: belcoarts.com.au. Dramatic Productions has announced that due to COVID cases in its cast and production team, their production of the musical Dogfight has been postponed until May. See: stagecenta.com.
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Congratulations to Canberrans Emma Rani Hodges and Akil Ahamat, both among the 65 shortlisted finalists in the 67and Blake Prize. The biannual event has a prize pool of $42,000. Hodges’ work Close to the sound of your heart, beating waves in the ocean, 2021, is about spirituality and a return to lost culture, reimagining and nurturing her story as a person of mixed heritage. from Ahamat Unleashed Melody, 2020 is an experiential installation comprising a suite of sound works and a speculative therapeutic technique, the Sonic Shower, mimicking the private and therapeutic space of the domestic shower. Selected finalists will display their work at the 67th Blake Prize Exhibition at Casula Powerhouse, 1 Powerhouse Road, Casula, NSW from 12 March to 22 May. See: casulapowerhouse.com.au.
The Shane & Cathryn Brennan Prize for Playwriting was created to discover and celebrate the best new screenplays among Australian playwrights. With a cash prize of $60,000, the prize invites playwrights to submit unproduced plays in two categories: stage and theater for young audiences. It will close at 5 p.m. on Monday, January 31, 2022 (AEDT). awg.com.au.
Jonathon Zalakos is a jewelry and contemporary designer based in Canberra, Ngunnawal and Ngambri lands. Jonathon seeks to integrate traditional silversmithing materials and techniques with contemporary practices and philosophical thought. Jonathon is particularly interested in how meaning is co-produced through the processes of expression and perception. Her exhibition Human, Jewellery, Human is on view at ANCA Gallery, 1 Rosevear Place, Dickson until January 30. anca.net.au.

A scene from West Side Story. Picture: Disney
Upcoming screenings for those who love their films under the stars include the 1950s musical Fat (Sing-a-Long, PG, Jan 22), the dark drama The card counter (MA15+, January 27) and the new version of Steven Spielberg’s musical West Side Story (M, January 28). Australian National Botanic Gardens, Eucalyptus Lawn. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., film starts at 8:20 p.m. sunsetcinema.com.au.
Finegan Kruckemeyer’s adaptation of Alison Lester’s book tells the story of a family who travel each year to Magic Beach where everything you can imagine becomes real. But this year is different. As the eldest begins to grow, should she leave the magic behind? It is aimed at children aged 3 to 12 and is the work of the team behind the stage versions of The Gruffalo and the Tree house series. Canberra Theater Center, January 22 at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. and January 23 at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
Fake French Abby Dobson and Lara Goodridge and their band will release their third album, aptly titled Album Three, at the Théâtre de rue on Saturday 5 February at noon. See: thestreet.org.au.
The National Gallery of Australia has a lot to offer, including the Jeffrey Smart exhibition, Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900-Present, Project 1: Sarah Lucas and Always present: the first peoples are from Australia. See: nga.gov,au.
Enjoy contemporary Canberra cabaret from Jazida Productions with a story showcasing the region’s burlesque, circus, comedy, belly dancing and drag. This 18+ show is presented at the Belconnen Arts Center on Saturday January 29 at 8 p.m. See: belcoarts.com.au.
Dramatic Productions has announced that due to COVID cases in its cast and production team, their production of the musical aerial combat has been postponed to May. See: stagecenta.com.