Spring’s sprung and the town is buzzing with arts and exhibitions. HELEN MUSA lists what’s happening where in her latest Artsweek column.

Sydney performance artist Emma Maye Gibson re-emerges in her outrageous persona Betty Grumble, bringing her latest offering, Enemies of Grooviness Eat Sh!t, to The Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, September 4-7.

The Betty Churcher Memorial Oration will be given by Dame Quentin Bryce, National Gallery, September 5.

The Canberra Multicultural Mawlid Concert will have performances in Indonesian, Pakistani, Arabic, English, and by the Muslim Kids Club, Albert Hall, September 7.

Canberra Men’s Choir will hold a free open night as they prepare their Christmas repertoire. Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, September 9.

Simon Holmes à Court will give the Manning Clark Lecture on The Politics of Energy Transition, Coombs Lecture Theatre, ANU, September 10.

Stage

• In English, by Sanaz Toossi, a small classroom in Iran is the setting of a big-hearted comedy about learning a new language. The Playhouse, September 5-7.
• New York life is the basis for Adan Gwon’s musical, Ordinary Days. The Q, Queanbeyan, September 5-7.
• August: Osage County, a black comedy by Tracy Letts set around a dysfunctional family in Oklahoma is at ACTHub, Kingston. September 5-15.
• Michael Gow’s famous Australian play Away begins with the end-of-school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream but soon switches to the north coast of NSW. Canberra Rep Theatre, September 6-21.
• Murder, greed, corruption, exploitation, adultery, treachery become entertainment in the international multi-award-winning musical, Chicago. Canberra Theatre, September 7-29.
• Bang. Kiss, is a new play from Dan Giovannoni that tracks three young people whose stories transform them into global symbols of revolution. The Q, Queanbeyan, September 11.

Concerts

• Tuggeranong Arts Centre, presents CSO Down South: Brilliant Brass, September 5.
• Pianist Liam Cooper’s King of the Keys tour comes to The B, Queanbeyan, September 6.
• Flautist Sally Walker and Friends will perform Music Fit for a King, based on the album release of Walker’s Boccherini: Chamber Works for Flute. Wesley Uniting Church, September 7.
• The National Capital’s Orchestra’s Heroes and Villains, Music from the big screen, is at Snow Concert Hall, September 8.
• Austrian Harmonie Choir’s Spring Concert One Moment in Time, Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, September 8.
• The Merry Muse’s feature act at the Irish Club, Weston, will be Peter Campbell, September 8.
• Independent Canberra singer/songwriter Leila will introduce five new tracks on her debut EP in the Uncover launch show, Gang Gang Cafe & Bar, Downer, September 8.
• Students from Canberra Grammar School will perform in the Wednesday Lunchtime Concert, Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, September 11.

Galleries

• Thornton Walker’s Pictures from an imaginary world, oil paintings and watercolours appear alongside Compression, assemblages by Alex Asch & Mariana del Castillo. Beaver Galleries, Deakin, September 5-21.
• Exhibitions at Rusten House Art Centre, Queanbeyan, are Reflections in Blue by Melanie Lenaghan (until September 21), and Postcards from Queanbeyan by Queanbeyan Quilters (until October 20).
• Craft + Design Canberra Members’ Exhibition open at the Craft + Design, North Building, Civic, September 5.
• Act III of the Collaborators Exhibition is at Bungendore Woodworks Gallery, opening, September 7.
• An exhibition featuring more than 50 artworks looking at life around Lake Burley Griffin and Lake George by artists Sylvie Carter and Claire B Cusack is at Yarralumla Gallery and Oaks Brasserie, September 8-October 20.