DAVID Walliams’ children’s book “Mr Stink” comes to life on stage for children 6-12, showing what happens when Chloe, just about the loneliest girl in the world, makes friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp. At Canberra Theatre, 6pm, Thursday, July 20, and 11am, Saturday, July 22. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

THE only two Australians to graduate with doctorates from the Juilliard School in the last 10 years both came from Canberra. Now clarinettist Eloise Fisher and pianist Teddy Neeman will appear together at Wesley Music Centre, 7.30pm, on Saturday, July 22, performing music by Jewish composers and a world premiere of “What Ensor Saw”, a work composed for Fisher and Neeman by Juilliard colleague Bretton Brown. Tickets at the door.

TOBY Cole plans to stage “Esther”, Handel’s first English oratorio, in The Playhouse on October 28. He’s cooking up a trivia night/fundraiser for which one of the silent-auction items is a “Singing in the Kitchen” package – he’ll go to the house of the winning bidder, cook dinner for them and their friends, and get everyone singing. “Baroque Challenge” at St John’s Reid, 7.30pm, on Friday, July 21. Bookings to trybooking.com

WE couldn’t be in Berlin to accept the invitation of the Benhadj & Djilali Galerie to the recent opening of “Made In Australia: emerging design from Canberra & Adelaide”, but we’re pleased to see the names of Canberra artists Rose-Mary Faulkner, Emeirely Nucifora-Ryan, Jennifer Kemarre Martiniello and Nicholas Doran Adams in the exhibition, backed by Berlin Glas e.V., Canberra Glassworks and Adelaide’s JamFactory.

FOLK Dance Canberra and Canberra International Folk Dancing Association have veteran Dutch dance teacher André van de Plas coming from The Netherlands to conduct a full workshop here from July 23-24. We are pleased to hear that van de Plas believes the process of learning to dance should be fun at all levels. Details and bookings to folkdancecanberra.org.au

GEOFF Page is continuing his very popular venture “Poetry at the House”. The next reading will feature US poet Paul Kane, Canberra poet Melinda Smith and Queanbeyan poet Michael Thorley. At  Fellows Bar, University House, 7.30pm,  on Wednesday, July 19. All welcome.

THE Canberra Men’s Choir tells us it is returning to its “spiritual home”, the Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah, 7.30pm, on Monday, July 24, when it will host an open night where any man, irrespective of experience, can sing. Inquiries to 0407 909602 or just turn up.