THAT unsinkable playwright, performer, director and producer, Kirsty Budding, is staging a Christmas extravaganza she’s written involving more than 50 children and young people. “The play is like ‘A Christmas Carol’, except that Scrooge has become four children who are glued to their iPhones,” she says. “The Night Before Christmas”, at the Courtyard Studio, December 13-16. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

PETER Hislop, easily Canberra’s most dedicated photographer of fine music in action, snaps more than 200 concerts a year. Now the public can see just what that means in a retrospective show, “People, Performances and Places”, at the High Court, December 11-January 25. Entry is free.

CANBERRA Dance Development Centre director Jackie Hallahan has a notable track record when it comes to her elite performers, but she’s outdone herself this year with students Bethany Gillard, Jessica Robertson, Riley Jane Dickie and Isabella Wolter being accepted into the WA Academy of Performing Arts, Queensland University of Technology and the NZ School of Dance Classical Ballet. All four will be in CDDC’s show “Authorize” at the ANU Arts Centre, December 8-9.

LUMINESCENCE Children’s Choir is busy with a performance at the High Court, 1.30pm, December 11, and their Christmas concert, “Dormi, Jesu”, with guest conductor Olle Palmqvist in All Saint’s Anglican Church, Ainslie, 7pm, on December 17. Bookings to both concerts to eventbrite.com.au

FILMMAKERS Pat Fiske, Kim Beamish and Anna Reeves, who directed the 2004 romantic feature “Oyster Farmer”, will join in a screening and Q&A as part of an ‘”oyster event” (oysters will be served) at the National Film and Sound Archive on December 16 to raise funds for the feature doco “Oyster”. Bookings to nfsa.gov.au

“THE Marvin Gaye Experience”, a tribute to the famous soul singer, features Mike Scott and a 15-piece American-Australian line up performing hits such as “What’s Going On” and “Sexual Healing”. At The Playhouse, on Friday, December 16. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

HARPSICHORDIST Erin Helyard will direct the Australian Haydn Ensemble in a program inspired by the Sturm und Drang (storm and stress) Movement of the 18th century that shows the dramatic side of CPE Bach and Haydn. At the Great Hall, University House, 7pm, Thursday, December 15. Bookings to australianhaydn.com.au. 1800 334388 or at the door.

THE Llewellyn Choir’s coming Christmas celebrations, the “RSPCA 12 Barks of Christmas”, features German composer Joseph Rheinberger’s “The Star of Bethlehem”, Andrew Ford’s “Wassails and Lullabies” and Bruckner motets. Supper is included. At Llewellyn Hall, 6pm, Saturday, December 16. Bookings to trybooking.com