Here’s arts editor HELEN MUSA’s latest Arts in the City column… 

Brisbane physical theatre company Circa returns to town with Humans 2.0, after performing in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Towers grow and decay, bodies leap and are caught. 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.

The last edition of Shortis and Simpson’s series, Under The Influence, will feature CityNews Artist of the Year Fred Smith as guest artist. With songs from Cohen and Dylan, The Beatles, Redgum, Neil Young and Kev Carmody and backed by instrumentalists Dave O’Neill, Matt Nightingale and Mitch Preston, there’ll also be songs and stories from the hosting satirical duo. Belconnen Arts Centre, May 4.

Next up at Canberra Rep, is The Actress, by Peter Quilter, directed by Aarne Neeme. Liz St Clair Long plays the Grande Dame Lydia, about to retire, but not before her family, friends, rivals, and colleagues descend upon her dressing room to deliver goodbyes and settle past scores. Canberra Rep Theatre, May 2-18. 

Six indigenous cultural workers have been named in the National Museum’s 12-week Encounters Fellowship Program for 2024. The recipients – Natalie Davey, David Doyle, Jamie Hampton, Samara King, Nerelle Nicol and Sammi Snedden – will begin in April with an orientation period in Canberra, then travel to the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of NZ in Wellington and later visit leading cultural and collecting institutions in the UK.

In A Sweet Sunday Session, Canberra Celtic band Humbug – Simone Dawson, vocals, flute and whistles; Rachel Antone, vocals and percussion and Mal Bennett on vocals and guitar – will perform Irish and Scottish ballads and rousing, toe-tapping songs, supported by folk legends Dave O’Neill and Jo Creswell. The Yellow House, The Queanbeyan Hive, May 5.