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Canberra Today 16°/19° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Arts in the city: Gardner revives ‘Bunch of Fives’

JORIAN Gardner has revived his “Bunch of Fives” for the newly-renovated Smith’s Alternative in the Melbourne Building. The format, which was dropped by incoming Street Theatre director Caroline Stacey years ago (much to Gardner’s chagrin), is five five-minute pieces in between musical acts. Gardner says that in its first flush, the program played host to “hundreds of actors, writers, musicians and directors”. David Finnigan, Joe Woodward, Ben Drysdale, barb barnett and Gary O’Connor will be the Big Five for the first show, 5.30pm-7pm on Friday, June 7. Free entry.

undachin tarhu
undachin tarhu
ENSEMBLE Offspring is performing “Between the Keys”, a concert of four works composed for new instruments, the gidgee clarinis, the undachin tarhu, meru bars and the centaur vibraphone at The Street Theatre, on June 8. The group recently performed at the TEDx conference at the Sydney Opera House. Bookings to 6247 1223.

THE sixth Human Rights Arts and Film Festival opens next week with “In the Shadow of the Sun”, by British filmmaker Harry Freeland, which looks at ritual Albino killings in Tanzania. Some of the films will be quite disturbing, so it’s good to report that the closing night film, “Alias Ruby Blad”, is the more optimistic story of the youthful activist Kirsty Sword and Xanana Gusmão. At the National Film and Sound Archive, June 3-5, bookings to www.hraff.org.au

“MR Chifley’s Baby” is the title of the new book just launched by the Canberra City Band. No, it’s not a tell-all, it’s a history of the band, written by the late W.L. Hoffmann and John Sharpe.

SET to song by Gerald Finzi and sung by baritone Rohan Thatcher with Stephanie Giesajtis at piano, the poetry of Thomas Hardy forms the basis of Art Song Canberra’s “A Philosophical Folk” – Finzi’s cycle “Earth and Air and Rain” and songs by George Butterworth and Ralph Vaughan Williams. At Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, Sunday, June 2. Tickets only at the door.

EVERYONE’S welcome to Duntroon at 10.15am on June 8 to see the Corps of Staff Cadets and the Band of the Royal Military College celebrate the official birthday of the Queen with the traditional “Trooping the Queen’s Colour”. Admission is free and seating will be provided. Signage and ushers will direct visitors to complimentary parking.

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Helen Musa

Helen Musa

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