Canberra Brick Show to reveal LEGO's darker side

There’s a scene near the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story when Rebel troopers find themselves trapped in a dark corridor and are staring into the abyss, blasters at the ready when suddenly it lights up with the unmistakable glow of Darth Vader’s red lightsaber … Visitors to the Canberra Brick Show will be treated to similar theatrics this weekend.

Okay, that was a terrible example because it doesn’t exactly end well for the good guys.

Hosted for the last three years by the Canberra LEGO User Group (or ‘CLUG’, because LEGO fans love their acronyms) at Thoroughbred Park, this year’s expo on 26 and 27 October will include all the usual favourites.

“We’ll have over 300 tables of LEGO displays and custom LEGO models from local and interstate builders,” CLUG president Jake Radloff says.

“We’ll also have a number of collaboration builds, big scenes and dioramas several builders have worked on together, a 50 sqm train layout with a whole bunch of scenery – which is always very popular with the kids – and a variety of LEGO artworks and mosaics.”

And, of course, there’ll be plenty of vendors selling new and vintage LEGO sets to satisfy the sudden urge you – or the kids – will have to buy some of your own. And if not, there are always the play tables where kids can try their hand at free-building their own creations.

But for the first time, there’s an adults-only ‘LEGO After Dark’ component from 6 pm on Saturday.

“We gave it a try informally last year towards the end of the day, and a lot of people said, ‘You should make a thing of this’,” Jake says.

But before you think 18-plus heralds some LEGO/burlesque crossover, it’s only because there’ll be canapes and alcoholic drinks on offer throughout the evening.

“A lot of the displays have lights installed in the buildings and across the scenery, and a number of the trains we have running around will have some sort of lighting in them,” Jake says.

“There’s even one chap who’s built a train out of glow-in-the-dark pieces, and it looks almost like a ghost train, which is really cool.

“We’re well positioned to make it more like a night scene, where you get a completely different view of the LEGO.”

Members from Canberra Star Wars cosplay group 501st Legion are also attending to represent stormtroopers, Jedi knights, and yes, Darth Vader. Another group, the Lightsaber Academy, will perform lightsaber duels throughout the day and evening.

“A few years ago, the lightsabers were just clear tubes with a light at the bottom, but they’re really quite sophisticated now,” Jake explains.

“There’s a lot of detail put into the hilts, and the actual sabre part is a very strong plastic and has not only the light but also sensors in there, so if you wave it around in duel, it makes all the right sounds.”

The LEGO After Dark event starts with live performances from 6 pm, with food and drinks served from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. The ‘Lights Out Experience’ begins at 8:15 and runs until the event closes at 9 pm.

There’ll also be the opportunity to win prizes and participate in a – for now, top secret – LEGO ‘Amazing Race’.

The Canberra Brick Show will be held at Thoroughbred Park, 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham, from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, 26 October, and from 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, 27 October. Book tickets online.