Festivals celebrating pop culture, improvised theatre and winter are on this weekend. Gamma.con is on at the AIS Arena, Canberra Unscripted at The Street Theatre, and the Portrait Gallery is celebrating winter with ice carvings, traditional weaving, music and a touch of magic. If you enjoy contemporary dance, don’t miss Bangarra’s Bennelong which is on at the Canberra Theatre for three days only or if AFL is more your thing, it is your last chance to catch a game at the Manuka Oval for this season. While you will have more time to see the exhibition of LEGO towers at the National Museum, maybe check them out soon so you’ll know what everyone else is talking about.
All weekend
Gamma.con
Where: AIS Arena
When: Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Gamma.con is an annual two-day festival celebrating all forms of anime, manga, sci-fi and fantasy. This year’s festival will feature special guests including Bajo, Goose and Rad from ABC TV’s Spawn Point; competitions and tournaments; an AnimeLab screening room; Cosplay workshops, including how to sew and leather crafting; panel discussions, attractions for video and board gamers; and an exhibit hall full of artists and traders. For the first time this year, Gamma.con will continue into the night with an over-18s event from 6 pm – 12 am on Saturday featuring comedy and other entertainment, drinking and mature video games. Tickets from $20 for a day pass, $30 for the whole weekend and $18 for Gamm@Night. Kids under 8 are free. Details about where to buy tickets here.
Bangarra’s Bennelong
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
When: Thursday & Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 1:30 pm & 7:30 pm
The Bangarra dance company is in town this weekend presenting its major work for 2017 — Bennelong. Choreographed by the company’s Artistic Director, Stephen Page in collaboration with the dancers, this is a show that has been described as an extraordinary and bold dance work. Based on the life of Woollarawarre Bennelong — who was born around 1764, and led his community through the arrival of the First Fleet – this show is a testament to his ongoing legacy. Tickets from $49 for adult, $39 for concession and $30 for under 27s. Buy tickets here.
Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks
Where: National Museum of Australia
When: 9:15 am – 4:15 pm
A new exhibition featuring 20 skyscraper models constructed out of LEGO opened at the National Museum last weekend. The work of the only certified LEGO professional in the Southern Hemisphere, Ryan McNaught, these towers should ignite the career aspirations of LEGO loving kids and adults alike! The exhibition is ticketed, to see it you will need to book into one of the 45-minute sessions. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for concession and $5 for kids 3–16. While you obviously can’t touch the towers you can build your own LEGO creation that will be added to a LEGO city. Who knows, maybe there will talent scouts around watching! More details and book tickets here.
Canberra Unscripted
Where: The Street Theatre
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
With improvised theatre growing in popularity, The Street Theatre is giving you the chance to experience some this weekend at Canberra Unscripted, a mini festival of five unscripted theatre shows. Expect plenty of comedy, drama, music, Shakespeare, blood and zombies (possibly all at the same time) with shows inspired by parodies of breakfast TV and talent shows, childhood dares, real truths and brain hungry zombies. The festival is being put on by Alchemists Improvisation, BnC Theatre, Chrysalis Theatre and Lightbulb Improv. The five shows are:
- Truth or Dare
- X-box Idol;
- Shakespeare with Zombies;
- The Sunrise Today Show; and
- Underbelly Unscripted
Packages are available to enable you to enjoy as many as the shows as you would like, and of course, you can also buy tickets to single shows as well. Buy tickets here.
Friday
Beccy Cole & Adam Harvey
Where: Southern Cross Club, Woden
When: 8 pm
Get a bit country this Friday with Beccy Cole and Adam Harvey bringing you their favourite classic country duets on the Great Country Songbook Volume II tour. Catch the show from 8 pm, or turn up early and enjoy a two-course meal in a private dining area beforehand. Tickets for the show are $46.65 for adults and $27.65 for juniors, tickets for dinner and show are $78.65 for adults and $59.65 for juniors. Buy tickets here.
Saturday
Giants vs Melbourne
Where: Manuka Oval
When: 1:45 pm
This Saturday is your last chance to see AFL at the Manuka Oval for 2017 when the Giants take on Melbourne Demons in this Round 20 clash. Tickets range from $5 on the hill to $40 in the Upper wings and are available here.
Sunday
Winter Festival
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: 10 am – 4 pm
The celebration of winter continues this weekend at the Portrait Gallery. Watch Glenn Smith from Down Under Ice Designs create a kangaroo, koala and eagle out of ice; learn how to weave a basket or mat from the Northen Territory’s Tjanpi Weavers; create origami animals, watch a magic show, or listen to the local indie pop band, Betty Alto. Something for everybody and all materials for activities will be provided.
If you’re looking for live music around Canberra check out The RiotACT Gig Guide (19 – 25 July).
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