Another big week of upcoming arts as HELEN MUSA’s latest Artweek column will confirm… 

Australian Dance Party is staging Escape from Plastika, a free show aimed at primary aged kids and families, Glebe Park, City Centre, June 7.

The ANU Film Group has Will Howarth and Talia Zucker at its screening of their Australian thriller, In Vitro, Shot locally in Goulburn and Cooma. They’ll be participating in a conversation with film critic Cris Kennedy after the screening, Kambri, June 6.

The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival is due to return for its 17th consecutive year in 2025 and is open for entries to focusonability.com.au by July 1.

Stage

• Shake n Stir Theatre from Brisbane stages its lively take on Orwell’s dystopian masterpiece, 1984, Canberra Theatre, June 5-7.
• Karen Vickery’s production of Noël Coward’s comedy Present Laughter sees Jarrad West as the actor Garry Essendine. ACT Hub, Kingston, until June 14.
• Gladys: A Musical Affair is a new musical comedy about NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Illawarra performer Tia Wilson plays Gladys. The Q, Queanbeyan, June 7.

Galleries

• Safari Art, by Neil Sloan and Intersection: the artist and art therapist, form a double-headed exhibiting running at Queanbeyan’s Rusten House Art Centre. Sloan’s works on paper capture his travels throughout East Africa, while the other half shows work by members of the Australian, NZ and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association. Until July 19.
• Taglietti: Life in Design, Canberra Museum and Gallery, June 7-February 22.

Concerts

• Alice Giles on harp joins Laura Chislett on flute in the next Harmonic Curves series concert, Wesley Music Centre, June 7.
• The Song Company presents Love’s Four Seasons, a program that explores the power of love through vocal music, under the guest direction of Eamonn Dougan. Wesley Music Centre, June 8.
• The Merry Muse features Ian Paulin, The Canberra Irish Club, Weston, June 8.
• Kate Ceberano sings Australian songs that have shaped her 40 years on the road. Canberra Theatre, June 8.