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Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

‘Wellspring’ of ideas at The Street

A still from Mankiewicz’s “Cleopatra” starring Elizabeth Taylor

THE Street Theatre is embarking on a series of immersive events with a distinctly intellectual edge.

Billed as a collaboration with the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, the project is called Wellspring and aims to lead “Canberra’s curious” to explore new depths of cultural enquiry.

Built around visuals, live performance and conversation, the experience will run from August to November, with a focus on bringing to light the work of scholars here in Canberra, thus also inspiring and connecting artists with researchers in the ACT.

The Wellspring program kicks off on August 3 with The Outer Space Film Quartet, a suite of experimental films that explore ethics and emotion in outer space.

Produced by the Archival Futures Collective, jointly created by filmmaker and visual anthropologist Rowena Potts and author Ceridwen Dovey, this one’s already sold out.

On September 7, Wellspring turns to health for an exploration of challenges for women in “Lost in diagnosis: Navigating the communication challenge of misdiagnosis in women.”

A Walpiri elder being interviewed in“Kaja-warnu-jangka”

On October 19, “Kaja-warnu-jangka” (from the bush) showcases stories from the Warlpiri communities of the Northern Territory, following two Warlpiri elders’ life journeys. This is a collaboration between Warlpiri film-maker Maxwell Walma Tasman Jupurrurla, and Carmel O’Shannessy from the ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics.

The program concludes on November 23 with a very theatrical segment, “Her Infinite Variety: Cleopatra from Antiquity to the Present.”

Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra” and the 60th anniversary of Mankiewicz’s “Cleopatra” starring Elizabeth Taylor, this event will explore themes in the Egyptian queen’s life and legacy through film clips, live performances, and a panel discussion with members of the ANU Centre for Classical Studies.

“Wellspring,” at The Street Theatre, August 3 – November 23, all sessions begin at 5.30pm, details and registrations here.

News all day, every day at CityNewsQBN.com.au.

Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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