CANBERRA audiences didn’t really think Dame Edna Everage was going to retire after she last appeared at the Canberra Theatre, did they? After all, she invited us all to come to her “next retirement” show. Now, forced back on to the boards by her adoring “possums”, she’ll be here in September with “Dame Edna, My Gorgeous Life”. The tour begins in Canberra with performances from September 17-19. Early bookings to tegdainty.com

MEG, the daughter of Thomas Keneally, will be coming to town to talk about her first solo book, “Fled”, which has already been optioned for a film. It’s based on the life of Mary Bryant, the only female convict to escape the colonies, and tells of her search for freedom. At the National Library, 6-7pm, Tuesday, May 21. Register at nla.gov.au

“IN Conversation with the cast of ‘The Sopranos’”, actors Steven Schirripa (Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (“Big Pussy” Bonpensiero) will take audiences behind the scenes of the TV series. At the Southern Cross Club, Woden, 6pm, Thursday, May 23. Book at cscc.com.au or 6283 7200.

THIS year’s bands and orchestras section of the Australian National Eisteddfod, May 30-June 4, will include 87 groups, high school, primary and community concert bands, jazz and brass bands, orchestras and instrumental ensembles coming from Canberra, the Hunter Valley, Orange, the Snowy Mountains, Goulburn and Young. Book at nationaleisteddfod.org.au

THE German Film Festival will open with Michael Herbig’s “Balloon”, the true story of two ordinary families who escape from East to West Germany in a homemade, hot-air balloon. A highlight for art lovers will be “Bauhaus Spirit: 100 Years of Bauhaus”. At Palace Electric Cinemas, May 22-June 9. Book at palacecinemas.com.au

ART Song Canberra’s next concert, “Russian Lullaby”, songs and duets by Tchaikovsky, Glinka, Mussorgsky, Kabalevsky and Shostakovich, will be given by Songmakers Australia, Merlyn Quaife, Christina Wilson, Andrew Goodwin and Andrea Katz. At Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, May 19. Book at trybooking.com or at the door.

THE Celtic Tenors – Daryl Simpson, James Nelson and Matthew Gilsenan –  will perform classics such as “Finnegan’s Wake”, “Song For Ireland”, “Danny Boy”, “Caledonia” and “You Raise Me Up” at Llewellyn Hall, May 21. Book at ticketek.com.au

ORIANA Chorale, conducted by Dan Walker, has built a concert around the seasons and includes works by Samuel Barber, Gustav Holst, Stanford, Gjeilo and other composers, including Walker himself. At Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston, 4pm, Saturday, May 25. Book at trybooking.com