Arts editor HELEN MUSA rounds up the latest arts news tidbits for her latest Arts in the City column.
Hot upon the heels of Canberra Rep’s Blithe Spirit comes Karen Vickery’s production of Noël Coward’s semi-autobiographical comedy Present Laughter. Jarrad West plays the self-obsessed actor Garry Essendine as he navigates a whirlwind of admirers, secret trysts, and absurdity. He’ll be supported by a Canberra all-star cast of Michael Cooper, Joe Dinn, Callum Doherty, Karina Hudson, Leonidas Katsanis, Amy Kowalczuk, Crystal Mahon, Tracy Noble and Jenna Roberts. ACT Hub, Kingston, until June 14.
Q Gallery is a new art space at the Ainslie shops that will feature regular exhibitions from local artists including Adam Blackshaw, John Pratt, Colleen Linfoot and Kathryn Scott. The brainchild of director Madeleine Quigley, who has run Q Hair at the shops for 25 years, it runs the risk of being confused with The Q’s gallery in Queanbeyan.
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow is doing the rounds for the 27th year with the brightest stars from this year’s festival and will roll into Queanbeyan, with Jake Howie as host and Ben Kochan, Janty Blair, Ting Lim and Zack Dyer performing. The Q, June 14.
Golden Guitar-nominated performers William Alexander and The Northern Shiners will be coming to town. Alexander is a fresh talent who, having spent a lot of his adult years living and working on farms and stations around NSW, is a lover of old songs and classic country. Smith’s Alternative, Civic, June 14.
French Connection will see Phoenix Collective pairing Ravel’s String Quartet with the work of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a darling of the 18th century French court whose life became the subject of the movie, Chevalier. Wesley Uniting Church, June 13.
Swedish-Norwegian violin virtuoso Johan Dalene, newly-named artist-in-residence with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will join Tasmanian-born pianist Jennifer Marten-Smith, to perform classic works by Ravel, Grieg, and Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, alongside a world premiere from young Aussie composer, Jack Frerer. Musica Viva Australia’s Northern Lights, Llewellyn Hall, June 12.
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