1 June 2023

Things to do in Canberra this week (2 to 8 June)

| Travis Radford
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Russell Crowe on stage singing

Russell Crowe will appear on stage for one-night only at the Canberra Theatre Centre. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.

Russell Crowe’s Indoor Garden Party concert steals the top spot this week, with the actor performing live with his band, The Gentleman Barbers, and other local and international talent.

In a blockbuster week at Canberra Theatre Centre, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow and a Tony and Olivier award-winning musical are also showing.

Plus, art enthusiasts can discover a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery or delve into the world of Tarot card art at Smith’s Alternative Gallery and much more…

Friday

Jazida Productions Pop Up Parties banner

You’re invited to pop-up parties full of circus, drag, cabaret and fan dancing. Photo: Jazida Productions.

Jazida Productions Pop-Up Parties

When: Fridays: 2 June, 23 June, 14 July, 5 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Various locations; view details here
Cost: Free; no booking required.

Cabaret performer and producer Rachel Reid has returned to Canberra from her award-winning season at the Adelaide Fringe Festival to bring circus, drag, cabaret and fan dancing to the capital. Expect live performances, including a 1.5-hour cabaret show and fire eating and dancing, interactive arts and crafts, a flash mob, a DJ dance party (one hour before and after each show) and more.

Friday and Saturday

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

Melbourne International Comedy Festival is coming to Canberra! Image: Supplied.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow

When: Friday 2 and Saturday 3 June, from 8:30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: $49.90 plus transaction fee; book here.

Australia’s biggest comedy festival is hitting the road for a huge 25th year! The best and brightest of the 2023 Melbourne International Comedy Festival are coming to the capital, with Roadshow favourites and the most talked-about breakthrough stars in one big show. Laugh out loud at Daniel Connell (MC), Brennan Reece, Lewis Garnham, Nikki Britton and Scout Boxall.

Saturday

man looking confused

Jimeoin will perform at Canberra Southern Cross Club for one night only. Photo: Supplied.

Jimeoin – The Craic

When: Saturday 3 June, dinner from 6 pm and show from 8 pm
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip
Cost: $57.90 to $103.75 plus booking fee; book here.

Watch comedy legend Jimeoin recall the familiar at a fantastically silly level. The internationally acclaimed Irish stand-up comic has performed at The Royal Variety Performance, Live at the Apollo, Sunday Night at the Palladium and Conan O’Brien, and will now add Canberra Southern Cross Club to that list. Plus, make a night of it and enjoy a two-course meal in a private dining area before the show.

ice hockey player

Catch all the action this weekend as Caribou CBR Brave face Brisbane Lighting on 3 and 4 June. Photo: Scott Stevenson.

Caribou CBR Brave v Brisbane Lighting

When: Saturday 3 June from 5 pm and Sunday 4 June from 4:30 pm
Where: Phillip Ice Skating Centre, 1 Irving Street, Phillip
Cost: From $15; book here.

Fresh off the back of Caribou CBR Brave’s 2 – 3 loss to the Sydney Bears, the defending Goodall Cup champions will face off against Brisbane’s Lightning in the Brave Cave for the 2023 Goodall Cup. Also this month, CBR Brave will take on the Melbourne Mustangs (11 June), Newcastle Northstars (17 June) and Melbourne Ice (18 June), with a packed schedule continuing through to August.

READ MORE With a new sponsor and another title under their belts, CBR Brave set for strong 2023 season

Saturday onwards

Self portrait, 2022 RJ Parker.

This self-portrait by RJ Parker is among the collection of digital artworks by young artists from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Photo: National Portrait Gallery.

Gulgawarnigu – Thinking of something, someone

When: Saturday 3 June to Monday 2 October, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Cost: Free; no booking required.

Young artists created this collection on Ngarluma country leramagadu (Roebourne) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, who attended after-school creative sessions at the Digital Lab, a tech art space on the main street of town. The digital artworks express stories, identities and culture, which show us who they are, where they are and what the future of portraiture can look like.

Sunday

Wedding

Planning a wedding? Hyatt Hotel Canberra has just the day for you. Photo: Hyatt Hotel Canberra.

Wedding Showcase

When: Sunday 4 June, 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Hyatt Hotel Canberra, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra
Cost: Free; book here.

Find some inspiration for your dream wedding day at Hyatt’s curated immersive wedding experience. Guests will have the opportunity to tour the luxury precinct and select the perfect ceremony location. Afterwards, discuss reception concepts with more than 15 of Canberra’s most recognised wedding suppliers and industry professionals, who will be on-hand to take your questions.

Tuesday

Jack Charles portrait

Rod McNicol’s 2011 portrait of Elder, activist, actor, musician and artist Jack Charles will be among the works highlighted during this online tour. Photo: National Portrait Gallery.

Virtual Highlight Tour – Reconciliation Week Stories

When: Tuesday 6 June, 12:30 pm to 1 pm
Where: Delivered via Zoom
Cost: Free; book here.

The National Portrait Gallery is continuing its celebration of National Reconciliation Week into June, with an online highlight tour focussing on the stories and portraits of the First Nations faces of Robert Fielding, Jessica Mauboy, Heath Bergerson and Jack Charles (pictured). Rod McNicol created the portrait of Elder, activist, actor, musician and artist Jack Charles, titled ‘Life and Times’.

Russell Crowe's Indoor Garden Party

Russell Crowe will appear live for one-night only at Canberra Theatre Centre. Photo: Canberra Theatre Centre.

Russell Crowe’s Indoor Garden Party

When: Tuesday 6 June, from 6:30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: $69 plus transaction fee; book here.

Russell Crowe brings his Indoor Garden Party to Canberra. In Russell’s own words, it’s “an event, a band, a happening. It’s fluid. The personnel changes, but it’s always big. It’s like a festival where I gather people I admire, musicians and storytellers, and we put on a show”. Expect to see Russell’s band, The Gentleman Barbers, along with Janet Devlin, Lorraine O’Reilly and band, Myth of Her.

Professor Hyatt's Tarot

Rediscover the art of Tarot at this new exhibition featuring works from UK-based professor of contemporary art and artist John Hyatt. Photo: Smith’s Alternative Gallery.

Professor Hyatt’s Tarot Exhibition Opening Night

When: Tuesday 6 June, from 5:30 pm
Where: Smith’s Alternative Gallery, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra
Cost: Free; no booking required.

This new exhibition in Smith’s Alternative Gallery features new works by UK-based professor of contemporary art and artist John Hyatt. The works explore the interactive art form of Tarot and highlight the often-overlooked status of Tarot cards as art pieces in their own right. Two local Tarot readers will also be dropping in throughout the exhibition to do Tarot readings.

Come from Away

When: Thursday 8 June to Sunday 9 July, various times
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: $105 to $195 plus transaction fee; book here.

Tony and Olivier award-winning musical Come From Away will play at Canberra Theatre Centre for a strictly limited season. The smash-hit musical follows the real-life journeys of 7000 air passengers who became grounded in Canada in the wake of the 11 September tragedy and the small community of Gander, Newfoundland, that welcomed the ‘come from aways’ into their lives.

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