More shows, more stars, arts editor HELEN MUSA is all over it in this week’s “Arts in the City” column.

THERE’LL be no Agatha Christie this time round for Tempo Theatre but instead a ’50s English comedy, “Book of the Month” by Basil Thomas, in which teenager Betty Halliday has written her first novel, a steamy tale of love and lust which features characters obviously based on her family and neighbours. Will it end well? No answer from director Jon Elphick, who just says: “With all that’s going on in the world, we feel we all need a good laugh.” Belconnen Community Theatre, May 26-June 3. 

THE Royal Military College Band, under the baton of Major Matt O’Keeffe, returns to Llewellyn Hall with masterworks for wind ensemble penned by composers Gustav Holst, Frank Ticheli, Robert Russell Bennett, Kimberley Archer and James Grant. Supporting the band are students from the ANU School of Music. Llewellyn Hall, May 20.

THERE are three local names among the Canberra Glassworks’ 18 recipients of its 2023 residency program – Ros Lemoh, Lisa Sammut and Rose-Mary Faulkner. 

THE Australian String Quartet will perform a concert featuring Thomas Adès’ “Arcadiana”, Mozart’s String Quartet No.15 in D minor and Shostakovich’s String Quartet No.9 in E-flat Major. Gandel Hall, National Gallery, 2pm, May 14. 

NEXT up for The Q’s company of young actors, Echo Youth, is Matt Cox’s comedy “Puffs”, the story of Wayne Hopkins, a regular boy who finds out he’s a wizard and goes to school in England where he makes two best friends and has adventures. Sounds familiar? The Q hastens to assure us that “Puffs” is not authorised, sanctioned, licensed or endorsed by JK Rowling, Warner Bros. or any person or company associated with the Harry Potter books, films or play. At Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, until May 20.