The arts are in full flight this week as HELEN MUSA’s Artsweek column attests…

Roland Peelman’s last Canberra International Music Festival opens on Wednesday with  Lior’s poignant work, Compassion, orchestrated by Nigel Westlake, never before heard in Canberra.  The festival runs from May 1-5.

The Australia Cuba Friendship Society ACT is holding a Cuban Latin evening with Latin music, musicians, Cuban drinks, wines, Mexican beer, Spanish sangria, finger food, tea and coffee. Woden Valley Uniting Church, Curtin, May 4. Children welcome.

The NFSA has the Oscar-nominated documentary For Sama: a portrait of life and motherhood in a war zone, capturing life in Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War, Arc Cinema, May 2.

The National Portrait Gallery’s annual 18+ late-night party returns with Brolga: A Queer Koori Wonderland, a collective takeover of the gallery, May 3.

ArtsNational, formerly ADFAS, is back with a talk by Roger Mendham about Remembrance and the evolution of memorials at the National Library, May 6.

A fundraising lunch for a Canberra refugee family from Gaza will be held at Terroux, 88 Rochford Road Hall (off Wallaroo Road) on May 5. The afternoon will feature performances by dancer Peng Hsiao-yin of Dancecology from Taiwan and by local musicians.

Galleries

• Manning Clark House is staging a heritage-themed exhibition of the works of 28 artists from around the region. For Heritage Uncovred, curator Catherine Moore asked artists to respond to the idea of built, indigenous, environmental, or political heritage.   11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest, until May 12.

• In Navigating Histories, Ren Gregorčič, Phuong Le, Chris Siu and Estelle Yoon explore themes of displacement, resilience, and identity through video, installation and documentary photography. PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith, May 2-June 1.
• Canberra Spinners and Weavers’ cleverly-named annual exhibition Warped and Twisted will run at the Fay Skyring Canberra Textile Works Gallery, Chifley, May 3- 11.
• Inhabited – a new exhibition featuring works by eight contemporary artists living and working in the Gungahlin region, will open at Studio Studio, Mitchell, on May 3.
• Ken Knight, En plein air – A Modern Impressionist, opens at Aarwun Gallery, Nicholls, May 4.
• The Water Through Reeds Gallery in Bungendore is exhibiting Penelope McManus’ works in Memories of Bungendore, opening May 4.
• All My Memories Are Mistranslations, an exhibition of woodcuts, cyanotypes, poetry and glass by Omar Musa, is  at Humble House Gallery, Fyshwick, May 4-June 2.

Concerts

• Next up in Salut! Baroque’s 2024 series is The Influencers, with bass baritone  Andrew O’Connor  singing arias by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel and Purcell. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, May 3.
• Former member of the group, Idea of North, Trish Delaney-Brown, who is now head of vocals at Wollongong Conservatorium, will perform original material and jazz standards where the voice functions both as storyteller and an additional instrument, Tuggeranong Arts Centre. May 4.
• In A Sweet Sunday Session, Canberra Celtic band Humbug will perform at Queanbeyan Hive,  May 5.
• Canberra women’s vocal ensemble Lady’s Mantle, directed by Maia Harrison, will perform a concert that includes Holst’s setting of songs from Tennyson’s poem The Princess and madrigals, with percussionist Christina Hopgood and violinist Anna Harrison. Entry by donation. Holy Rosary Church, Watson, May 5.

Stage

• Brisbane physical theatre company Circa returns to town with Humans 2.0. Created by Circa director Yaron Lifschitz, the show also features music by composer Ori Lichtik and dramatic lighting by Paul Jackson. Canberra Theatre, May 2-4.
• Next up at Canberra Rep, is The Actress, by Peter Quilter. Liz St Clair Long plays the Grande Dame Lydia, about to retire. Canberra Rep Theatre, May 2–18.
• In Noel Coward: Remembering the Master, pianist, singer and entertainer John Martin relives the glittering and glamorous world of one of the 20th Century’s greatest theatrical talents. Smith’s Alternative, May 3.
• The last edition of Shortis and Simpsons series, Under The Influence, will feature Fred Smith, as guest artist. Belconnen Arts Centre, May 4.
• The World of Musicals in Concert returns to Canberra with classic hits, with ballads, anthems and show tunes from Broadway and the West End. Canberra Theatre, May 5.
• Everyman Theatre is staging Alan Ball’s play Five Women Wearing The Same Dress, in which five reluctant, identically-clad bridesmaids hide out in an upstairs bedroom. ACT Hub, Kingston May 8-18.
• Acting For The Fun Of It presents Acting Shakespeare for actors , teachers, students and all lovers of Shakespeare with a yen to play the Bard. Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, May 20-June 24. Inquiries to peterbwilkins@aol.com