Big band gets into the Rat Pack swing
"It was song after song in a generous program of 28 classics, interrupted only by an interval or an interesting tidbit about a song or Rat Pack member." BILL STEPHENS reviews the Blamey Street Big Band.
Arts & Entertainment
Canberra’s best coverage of local arts news plus reviews, including dining, film, theatre, music, visual arts and dance
"There was much colour and sunshine in this spring concert. If Wattle keep playing at this standard, they will go far." That's the prediction of music reviewer ROB KENNEDY.
"The cast are working hard but you sense they’re enjoying it all as much as the audience. They even have an elephant!' LEN POWER reviews an adaptation of Around the World in Eighty Days.
"Tabitha is an entertaining script, and the audience followed the twists and turns with evident enjoyment," writes reviewer HELEN MUSA.
Streaming
Hands shaken, price rises are only matter of time
Paramount has now completed its $A160 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. While it could be some time coming, it’s clear a major shake up to the streaming landscape is in the pipeline," writes streaming columnist NICK OVERALL.
Art
Arresting worlds of webs, digital and analog
"The major work of the exhibition is a massive six-metre wide and 1.5-metre deep screen print in 36 joined frames. Titled Spider Warrior, Girl Protector, Infinite Internet, it takes your breath away." writes reviewer DAVID WHITBREAD.
Reviews
Lean team captures the Hanging Rock mystery
"If you come expecting the lushness and atmospherics of the 1975 film you will find instead a steady clear rendition of the bones of the novel." ALANNA MACLEAN reviews Chaika Theatre's haunting production of Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Canberra’s Mockingbird Theatrics is spreading its wings with an ambitious 11-play season for 2027, as Chris Baldock’s independent theatre company enters its third year as company-in-residence at Belconnen Arts Centre.
It was all glitz and glamour at the National Portrait Gallery on Friday morning when drag performer Courtney Act made a show-biz style entrance for the unveiling of her newly-commissioned portrait, created from thousands of found objects.
The Spilt Milk music festival will remain in Canberra until at least 2030 under a new five-year agreement signed between the ACT government and event organiser Kicks Entertainment.
Ausdance ACT’s Youth Dance Festival continues to be one of Canberra’s most enduring youth arts programs, with its emphasis firmly on student creativity rather than competition, writes arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Anengkerr-penh/From the Dreaming, a free exhibition at the National Museum of Australia, explores the work and legacy of Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, known to his Anmatyerr people as Peltharr, writes arts editor HELEN MUSA.
The Rosalie Gascoigne retrospective opens to the public at the National Gallery of Australia on Saturday, with more than 80 significant works spanning the late artist’s career.
From Cathy Franzi's award-winning orchids to Robyn Campbell's delicate coastal forms, the Canberra Potters Society showcases its members' talents, reviews MEREDITH HINCHLIFFE.
Arts editor HELEN MUSA visits Mudgee's flourishing Sculptures in the Garden festival and asks whether Queanbeyan or Bungendore could learn from its remarkable success.
With more than 350 artists and arts organisations from across the country taking part, Creative Australia’s AusArt Day 2026 takes centre stage tomorrow in a nationwide fundraising initiative designed to help artists raise money.
A pair of enterprising musicians is taking up the baton for Parkinson’s research in a show they say will “shake it up”. And From a Diamond to a King is coming to Canberra, reports artys editor HELEN MUSA.
In a coup for the ANU Film Group, Monument, directed by Bohemian Rhapsody and X-Men director Bryan Singer, will receive its Australian premiere on October 30, reports arts editor HELEN MUSA.
Courtney Act takes centre stage at the National Portrait Gallery, while Canberra lights up for Japan and film festivals fill the screens, in the latest "Artsweek" column by arts editor HELEN MUSA
