21 June 2019

Nine things to do around Canberra this weekend (21–23 June)

| Zoe Pleasants
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Enjoy a cool beer this Sunday at the German Markets. Provost!

It’s mid-winter this Friday, mark the occasion with a refreshing nude dip in Lake Burley Griffin at sunrise, contemporary Indonesian performance art at the National Gallery at sunset and a mulled-wine at the German winter market on Sunday morning. There are also some great theatre shows on this weekend. A Doll’s House Part 2 continues at The Street Theatre, BRUCE a low-fi puppet show is also showing at The Street this weekend, The Dinner Party, a contemporary dance theatre work is showing at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre and Howie the Rookie, an action-packed one-man roller-coaster ride through the streets of Dublin is showing at Smith’s Alternative on Friday night.

All weekend

The Dinner Party

Where: Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre
When: Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 2 pm & 7:30 pm
Queensland’s Expression Dance Company are performing their contemporary dance theatre work The Dinner Party this weekend at the Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. An influential young man hosts a dinner party which is thrown into turmoil when power meets greed, ambition and jealousy. Who really holds the power at this sophisticated table? Choreographed by Natalie Weir, this work investigates society’s insatiable desire for control and status. Tickets are $52 for adults, $47 for concession and $25 for under 25s, book here.

BRUCE

Where: The Street Theatre
When: Friday & Saturday 8 pm
BRUCE is a low-fi puppetry spectacular created by Perth theatre company The Last Great Hunt. BRUCE is a yellow block of foam with a pair of disembodied hands who is out to prove he’s got a heart of gold. BRUCE is a two-man, one-puppet show that combines mime and puppetry in a show full of action and adventure. Tickets are $35 for adults, $33 for concession, $30 for under 30s and $29 for students. Book here.

A Doll’s House Part 2

Where: The Street Theatre
When: Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 4 pm
The Street Theatre’s production of A Doll’s House Part 2 continues this weekend. Written by American playwright Lucas Hnath, the play picks up where Henrik Ibsen’s groundbreaking 1879 classic, A Doll’s House left off. Fifteen years after walking out, slamming the door on her marriage and leaving her three children behind, Nora Helman is back, knocking on that same door. But Nora is a changed woman. She has discovered her own voice and has become a writer. She is back to ask her husband Torvald to sign divorce papers. A Doll’s House Part 2 is a comedy about family, marriage, responsibility, and freedom of choice. Directed by The Street Theatre’s Artistic Director Caroline Stacey, this production features Rachel Berger as Nora and PJ Williams as Torvald. And no, you don’t need to have seen A Doll’s House to enjoy it. Tickets are $55 for adults, $50 for concession, $39 for students and $30 if you are under 30, book here.

Friday

Winter Solstice Charity Swim

Where: Yarralumla Beach, Corner Alexandrina Dr and Hopetoun Circuit
When: From 6:20 am
The third Winter Solstice Nude Charity Swim organised by the Williams Crossing Bicycle Club is on this Friday morning. As the sun rises (7:11 am) swimmers will drop their towels and swim nude in the refreshing waters of Lake Burley Griffin! Swim 1 metre or 50 metres but swimmers are required to fully immerse themselves in the water, which will be around 10 degrees. After the swim (which can be very quick) there will be fire pits, a free sausage sizzle, coffee to purchase and a feeling of self-satisfaction. The swim is a fundraiser for the charities Love Your Sister and Lifeline, choose which charity to donate to when registering. Registration is $30 and needs to be completed online before Friday morning. More details including tips on keeping warm (bring a blanket and ugg boots—feet get cold!) and where the post-swim party will be held (Old Canberra Inn at 5 pm) here. This is a non-spectator event, so you cannot attend unless you register and decide to take the plunge!

Art After Hours

Where: National Gallery of Australia
When: 5–9 pm
The National Gallery is launching its new exhibition of contemporary Indonesian art this Friday with music and live performances. Contemporary Worlds: Indonesia will showcase 20 emerging and established artists from Bali and Java and features recent works and large-scale commissions from Indonesian’s turbulent post-Reformasi era—from the fall of the Suharto regime through to the present day. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, installations, photography and textile pieces, and performance art and a film series curated by renowned Indonesian film director Garin Nugroho. This Friday enjoy the exhibition after hours including the following live performances:

  • Melati Surodarmo: Transaction of hollows—over four hours the artist will repeatedly fire bamboo arrows within a white room, to question contemporary society’s drive to achieve and acquire more.
  • Duto Hardono: In harmonia progressio—a live improvised vocal performance of action and reaction by a local choir. This performance will transform language and evoke universal forms of human communication.
  • Octora: Global apartheid voyeurism: The pose—in this performance, surrounded by colonial photographs she has reframed, the artist considers the representation of women.
  • Tisna Sanjaya: Seni penjernih dialog (Art as purifying dialogue)—participate in a lively debate with the artist about the environment. Staged in a swing boat, or kora-kora.

Howie the Rookie

Where: Smith’s Alternative
When: Friday 7 pm
Howie the Rookie is a one-man play written by Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe which features blistering words and beats. The show takes the audience on a white-knuckle ride through the streets of Dublin to experience vivid characters and Dublin’s pitch-black humour. It begins with Howie Lee, a ready foot-soldier of random vendettas roped into a manhunt over a scabies-infested mattress and is taken up by Howie Lee’s prey and namesake, The Rookie Lee. This local production is performed by Christopher Samuel Carroll and features Steve Fitzgerald from the Brass Knuckle Brass Band on drums. Tickets are $20, book here.

Saturday

At home with Manning Clark

Where: Manning Clark House, Forrest
When: 2:30–4 pm
The National Portrait Gallery is collaborating with Manning Clark House to present an afternoon at the home of Manning and Dymphna Clark. See where the portrait Manning Clark at Wapengo NSW, 1972 by Arthur Boyd, was originally displayed and listen to Bas Clark’s talk about the portrait. Guides will also be available at various points around the house to discuss aspects of the Robin Boyd building and Devonshire tea will be served on Manning and Dymphna’s blue and white crockery. Tickets are $15, book here.

Super Rugby Quarter-Final – Brumbies vs Sharks

Where: GIO Stadium
When: 8:05 pm
The Brumbies are back in the finals and standing in their way to glory is the Sharks, who secured a last gasp 12-9 victory to reach the finals last weekend. Meanwhile, the Brumbies have all the momentum, having won their last seven home matches, making GIO Stadium a fortress for a battle of the best. Don’t miss this clash as the Brumbies make a run into the finals. Buy your tickets here.

Sunday

German Markets

Where: Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah
When: 9 am–1 pm
No one does a winter market better than the Germans—enjoy one this Sunday morning at the Harmonie German Club. There will be stalls selling German bread and cakes, deli items, wines, beers and schnapps.

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