There’s arts and there’s “Arts in the City”, HELEN MUSA’s weekly wrap of all-things-arts around the ACT.

“CRUEL Intentions: The ’90s Musical” sees the cult classic 1999 film turned into a jukebox musical jam-packed with music from artists such as the band NSYNC, Christina Aguilera, The Verve Doubt and more. Canberra Theatre, October 5-8.

CELEBRATE Gungahlin Festival will be presented over four events across Gungahlin Town Centre, opening on Gungahlin Enclosed Oval, 11am-3pm, October 8, and continuing until October 22. More at celebrategungahlin.com.au

THE National Gallery celebrates 40 years since the opening of its building with a program of art and events throughout October, from a futurist opera by Australian artist Justene Williams on October 14-15 to a new figurative bronze sculpture by British artist Tracey Emin in the Sculpture Garden. 

“WELL Built: Simmie & Co” is an exhibition marking the work of pioneering building company Simmie & Co which built, among other structures, the Institute of Anatomy (National Film and Sound Archive), and the Australian War Memorial. National Capital Exhibition, Regatta Point, October 5-December 15.

“SOUL Trading” is Kate Walder’s eye-opening sci-fi play about our rapidly evolving relationship with technology. Directed by Jena Prince for Canberra Youth Theatre, it’s at the Courtyard Studio, October 5-8.

MUSICA Viva has Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital and Italian cellist Giovanni Sollima presenting four centuries of culture from opposite sides of the sea, featuring traditional Salento, Bulgarian, Turkish, Sephardic and Macedonian music. Llewellyn Hall, 7pm, Wednesday, October 5.

“WHO Are You: Australian Portraiture”, the first exhibition to bring together the collections of the National Gallery of Victoria and the National Portrait Gallery, features 130 works by Australian artists. Sitters including Albert Namatjira, Queen Elizabeth II and David Gulpilil. National Portrait Gallery, October 1-January 29.