A Christmas Carol sees Ebenezer Scrooge get into the spirit of Christmas – though not without some effort. Photo: David Fell.
Don’t switch to holiday mode just yet – here are some events to keep your hands and mind busy.
The coming week will see the next two rounds of the WNBL competition played in Canberra, a day of Christmas-themed fun in the Little Burley’s BIG Christmas Bash and a martini masterclass perfect for anyone looking to level up their cocktail skills. A showing of Carrie will bring an American prom to Australia, and dancers from QL2 Dance will take to the stage at Gorman Arts Centre in their last show of the year.
Meanwhile, there are also events to get you in the Christmas spirit – or top you up if you’ve been in the mood since 1 December! A Luminous Christmas 2023 will have music perfectly suited to the Christmas period, while Fyshwick Markets will host a Christmas wreath-making workshop for youngsters. And both Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and A Very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas can be found at the Canberra Theatre Centre for some more festive fun.
Multiple days
Rounds 7 and 8 will be played in Canberra over the coming days. Image: UC Capitals.
UC Capitals games
When: 15 December, from 5:30 pm (UC Capitals v Melbourne Boomers, gates opening at 4:30 pm); 21 December, from 7 pm (UC Capitals v Adelaide Lightening, gates opening off at 6 pm)
Where: Southern Cross Stadium, 7 Pitman Street, Tuggeranong (Round 7); and National Convention Centre, 31 Constitution Avenue, Canberra (Round 8)
Cost: From $15; tickets can be purchased via the UC Capitals’ website.
UC Capitals will take to the court against the Melbourne Boomers (on Friday), followed by a clash against the Adelaide Lightening (next Thursday). Long-time fans are sure to be on hand when the players head back to Tuggeranong for the Round 7 game, and then it’s to the National Convention Centre for Round 8 just a few days later.
This three-day event will showcase the best of Christmas music. Photo: Luminescence Chamber Singers/Facebook.
A Luminous Christmas 2023
When: 15 December to 17 December, various times
Where: Wesley Uniting Church, 20-22 National Circuit, Forrest
Cost: Tickets for the different events can be purchased via the event’s website.
Where else can you hear Medieval carols, songs from Spain’s Golden Age and traditional hymns performed as part of the same program? These performances are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit. They’re presented by the Luminescence Chamber Singers in collaboration with the Canberra International Music Festival and Wesley Music Centre.
Dancers will take to the stage in the group’s last show of the year. Photo: QL2 Dance/Facebook.
On Course 2023
When: 16 December, 7 pm to 8:15 pm; 17 December, 3 pm to 4:15 pm
Where: QL2 Dance Theatre, Block A, Gorman Arts Centre, Gorman House, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon
Cost: Tickets cost from $12 (concession) to $17 (general admission) and are available via Humanitix.
Gather around to watch a series of short contemporary dance works from students studying dance at a tertiary level and recent graduates. Choreographers Cassidy Thomson, Christopher Wade, Liam Burg, Magnus Meagher, Mia Canton, Rory Warne and Ruby Ballantyne have been hard at work in recent weeks preparing the program, which will bring QL2 Dance’s 2023 year to a close in the organisation’s final show.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol will be on stage from 19 to 24 December. Photo: Supplied.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
When: 19 December to 24 December
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: Tickets cost between $77 and $97 (plus booking fee) and are available via the Theatre Centre’s website.
Most of us have a passing familiarity with the plot of Charles Dickens’ famous novella, but this is your chance to see it on stage. Ebenezer Scrooge is a grumpy man (to put it lightly) who faces a path of redemption when the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come visit to show him the error of his ways – but that doesn’t mean it will be an easy one.
Friday
A Very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas is a comedy event with a festive twist. Image: Supplied.
A Very Canberra Comedy Festival Christmas
When: 15 December, from 8 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: Tickets cost $54.90 (plus booking fee) and are available via the Theatre Centre’s website.
Get ready for some belly laughs during this 2-hour show. Some of the festival’s best comedians will take to the stage for some Christmas-themed comedy. The performance contains strong language, may feature strobe lighting and haze effects, and is not suitable for children 15 years or under (apart from that, everyone’s welcome!)
Come along and learn some skills you can display when making drinks for friends and family this silly season. Image: Fyshwick Markets.
Martini Whisperer Workshop
When: 16 December to 17 December, 3 pm to 4 pm
Where: Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets, 36 Mildura Street, Fyshwick
Cost: Tickets cost $10 and are available via Eventbrite for the Saturday and Sunday workshops.
Phillip Jones (aka @themartiniwhisperer on Instagram) will run a course to make you the go-to drinks maker at Christmas celebrations or your next dinner party. The one-hour workshop will see Phillip take attendees through making some easy festive cocktails.
Saturday
We hope your formal wasn’t as brutal as Carrie’s prom. Photo: Supplied.
Prom Night at the NFSA
When: 16 December, from 6 pm
Where: Arc Cinema, National Film and South Archive of Australia, National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton
Cost: Tickets cost $45 and are available via the Archive’s website.
Americana will come to Australia for one night – or rather, an American prom will. Patrons are invited to dress up in their best 1970s vintage clothes and enjoy canapés and a drink on arrival from 6 pm. A showing of Carrie will then start at 8 pm, directed by Brian De Palma and starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie and John Travolta. The night will close out the Archive’s 2023 Cult Classics series and be hosted by Venus Mantrap.
Do your Christmas shopping or enjoy browsing the stalls. Photo: The Little Burley Market/Facebook.
The Little Burley’s BIG Christmas Bash
When: 16 December, 8 am to 8 pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Terrance, Commonwealth Place, Parkes
Cost: Free entry.
The people behind the Little Burley Markets have organised a 12-hour-long event to mark Christmas! The schedule is set to feature nearly 100 stalls attendees can browse, as well as a Christmas quintet, live music and dance performances, roving acts, dancers and live music in the morning and circus performances, a festive beverage garden, face painting and free arts and crafts activities. Saint Nick is also rumoured to be stopping by for a visit during the busy Christmas period, leaving his elves in charge of his workshop for a bit.
Sunday
Keep the kids entertained as they learn how to make Christmas wreaths this Sunday. Image: Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets.
Free Kids Workshop: Christmas Wreaths
When: 17 December, 11 am to 2 pm
Where: Niche Markets, Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets, 36 Mildura Street Fyshwick
Cost: Free entry.
Before you buy a wreath this year, send the kids along to this so they can make one! Attendees can come along and enjoy the workshop any time between 11 am and 2 pm, which will be held in the Niche Markets, next to Lifeline Canberra’s physical store. Maybe your kids are fans of something with baubles, or they envision something with plenty of pretty flowers – either way, they can make something that is truly their own.
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