LI Cunxin’s celebrated book “Mao’s Last Dancer” tells a real-life story and so does his children’s book “The Peasant Prince”, now an optimistic children’s play being brought to Canberra by Monkey Baa Theatre Company. In it, a 10-year old peasant boy is plucked from his village in rural China and sent to a ballet academy in the big city, later becoming a giant of the international dance scene. At The Playhouse, June 3-4.

MORE than 200 works will be on show at the 32nd annual Radford Art Show, to be opened in the TB Millar Hall, 1 College Street, Bruce, by Belconnen Arts Centre’s Daniel Ballantyne on Friday, May 27 and continuing 10am-4pm, on May 28 and 29. Gold coin entry.

THE annual Canberra Region Feltmakers’ show “Rapt in Felt” opens at The Q, Queanbeyan, 5.30pm, on Tuesday, May 31. Almost 40 feltmakers will have their creations on display, including 10-year-old Tomas Keily’s fedora. There will be felt jackets, dresses, skirts, hats, wraps and scarves, bags and jewellery and homewares on sale. June 1-11, 10am-4pm weekdays and 10am-2pm Saturdays. Fashion parade 11am, Saturday, June 4.

VOCALIST Lisa McClelland and pianist John Black will preview their upcoming CD “But Beautiful” in Cooinda Hall, Kangara Waters Community Centre. The program includes the Jimmy Van Heusen song “But Beautiful” and popular classics such as “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man”. At 2 Joy Cummings Place, Belconnen, 2.15pm, Sunday, May 29. Bookings to trybooking.com/201431 or at the door.

THE Imperial Bells of China return with a new production of dance and folk songs. In 1978, the 2400-year-old bronze and stone chime bells of Duke Zeng’s Tomb, together with other ancient instruments, were unearthed in Hubei, China, and the company is inspired by these discoveries. At The Playhouse, Tuesday, May 31. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6265 2700.