ANU Musical Theatre Company is about to stage “Dogfight”, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (the duo known for “La La Land” and “The Greatest Showman”). The show follows a bunch of marines through a last night of debauchery on the eve of their deployment to a conflict in South-East Asia. At Belconnen Community Theatre, until August 25. Bookings to dogfight.getqpay.com

CANBERRA Writers Festival (August 23-26) continues this year under its chosen theme “Power, Politics and Passion”, and is billed as the place to be for “top-class journalists, big names from across the globe, thriller and crime authors, military and defence writers, political commentators, children’s and young-adult writers”. More at canberrawritersfestival.com.au

UK production “The Simon & Garfunkel Story”, with Philip Murray Warson as Paul Simon and Charles Blythe as Art Garfunkel, will take audiences through the musical story of the famous duo, performed with a full band. At Llewellyn Hall, Sunday, August 19. Bookings to ticketmaster.com.au

THE musical “Barnum” tells the story of PT Barnum, the “Greatest Showman on Earth”, who combined razzle-dazzle with charm and brass to sell “humbug” to cheering crowds. Canberra Philharmonic will stage the show at Erindale Theatre from August 23 (preview) to September 8. Bookings to philo.org.au

BRINDABELLA Orchestra will perform pieces by Coates, Tchaikovsky, Mascagni and Rossini, while solo guitarist David Wardle will perform the 1st movement of Haydn’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, arranged for guitar and strings by Jovan Pesec. At North Belconnen Uniting Church, Conley Drive, Melba, 2pm, Sunday, August 19. Entry by donation.

QL2 Dance has struck it lucky with Rafael Bonachela, artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company, and dance pioneer Prof Shirley McKechnie agreeing to replace Sir William and Lady Deane as patrons after the pair recently relinquished their position, held for 14 years.

GUITAR duo Slava and Leonard Grigoryan will reprise a happy experience from 2016, when they were invited to perform a series of concerts with the Beijing Guitar Duo, Meng Su and Yameng Wang, in the Shandong province of China. The four guitarists will perform at The Playhouse, August 20. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

THE popular Woodwind Ensemble of the Royal Military College Band will perform Mozart, Brahms, Vaughan-Williams and more in the Wednesday Lunchtime Concert at Wesley Music Centre, 12.40pm-1.20pm, on Wednesday, August 22. Entry by paper note or donation. No bookings required.