Here’s arts editor HELEN MUSA’s latest arts news – today’s “Artsday” column.

FREE Rain Theatre’s much-awaited production of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” at The Q, Queanbeyan, has been postponed until 2022. Company founder/director Anne Somes says, “The escalating impact of covid in NSW made it impossible to proceed. We could not afford to play to 50 per cent audience and… It was not in anyone’s interest to proceed with a likelihood of being closed down in a possible one, two, five or 10 days. The fact is there is no certainty”.

CANBERRA Symphony Orchestra was to present “Australian Series: Within and Without” live, but it was cancelled because of the current NSW outbreak. This would have been the final episode of Australian Miniseries, co-curated by Matthew Hindson AM and Jessica Cottis. But “Permit Me”, Deborah Cheetham’s musical response to Melbourne’s extended 2020 lockdown, will premiere online tonight, July 22, and will remain accessible here.

THE National Film and Sound Archive has a double appearance of Arnold Schwarzenegger action films in “Arnie Fest” at the Arc Cinema. “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” at 6pm  Friday, July 23, and “Total Recall”, 9pm, Friday, July 23. Book here.

SESAME Street Circus Spectacular has announced a season extension to August 15. COVID-19 protocols remain in place. Daring circus performers join Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie and Super Grover under the Big Top at Majura Park (opposite Costco). Book here or 0413 880 044.

“RE-STORYING: The Resilience Project”, supported by ACT Health, is a six-module program being delivered online and live at The Street Theatre until October. It’s for artists in the ACT and region, offering support to those whose livelihood and mental health have been affected by the pandemic, led by theatre-maker and bodywork therapist Zsuzsi Soboslay. More information here. 

NEW exhibitions opening at M16 Artspace, Griffith, on Friday, July 23 are: “Step into the Limelight”, featuring the works of ACT public school students; and in Chutespace, “Turquoise Through An Undertow” by Ross Andrews, from the mini-installation series “Three Caprices – Little Reinventions of the Landscapes of South-East Australia”. Wednesday to Sunday, 12-5pm. until August 8.

POETRY at Manning Clark House will this week feature Shane Strange, Martin Dolan and  Penelope Layland. 11 Tasmania Circle, Forrest, 7-9pm, Thursday, July 22.  Bookings essential.