Arts editor HELEN MUSA shares another “Arts in the City” column. 

A PARISIAN stage production of “The Little Prince” is coming to Sydney’s newest entertainment venue, the Sydney Coliseum in Rooty Hill, before heading to the bright lights of Broadway. Based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novella of the same name, it is a theatrical spectacular filled with dance, aerial acrobatics and video mapping technology. At the Coliseum, 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill, January 1-23. Book at sydneycoliseum.com.au

AT last, there is an update from Canberra’s newest theatre awards, The Ovations, which have just held an AGM at which Michael Sparks was returned as president, along with the entire previous committee. Not much news yet as the project, set up after the previously announced closure of the CAT Awards, was badly affected by covid. Sparks said they hope to hear from companies with expressions of interest in being involved with The Ovations in 2022 and beyond. Call 0407 701011.

WELL-known opera singer Don Christopher, formerly known as Don Bemrose, has joined the artsACT team as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts Engagement officer. Between 2012 and 2017, he was a teacher and performer in the ACT, but is better known as a star with Deborah Cheetham’s company Short Black Opera and with Victorian Opera. 

CANBERRA Screenwriter Lina Foti was named in the Best Children’s Television – Preschool Classification, at the Australian Writers’ Guild’s annual 54th annual Awgie Awards. A Colombian-Italian-Australian citizen, Foti is executive producer/development at Lion Forge Animation and has lived in Canberra since 2007. She says she wants her award to be an inspiration to people like her from the culturally and linguistically diverse community.

BUNGENDORE artist Kerry McInnis has made the final cut of 30 for the Doug Moran Portrait Prize 2021 with her portrait, “Listening to Us (Hugh Mackay AO)”.