Here’s arts editor HELEN MUSA’s latest Arts in the City column.

Film producer, distributor and historian Andrew Pike will become the first Canberra speaker to deliver the annual Rod Wallace Memorial Lecture. In a talk titled Creating Communities: Archiving and Curating for Social Purpose, he will reflect on the role of archives and curation in building social connections and preserving cultural memory. National Film and Sound Archive, October 6.

The Independents: Festival of New Works returns to Canberra Theatre Centre, showcasing four original productions from Canberra and Sydney artists. Spanning theatre, dance, physical performance and storytelling, the festival celebrates some of Australia’s most adventurous independent creators. Courtyard Studio, October 9-16.

Daramalan Theatre Company reimagines Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods Jr for a digital age, where familiar fairytale characters navigate a landscape shaped by social media, online dangers and contemporary pressures. This chamber musical, directed by Joe Woodward, offers a fresh take on classic stories while retaining the subtlety of the original. DTC Theatre, October 10-17.

ANU Za Kabuki, the southern hemisphere’s oldest Kabuki troupe, returns with Yukio Mishima’s The Sardine Seller’s Net of Love. The long-running ANU Kabuki Club will present its accessible and highly stylised interpretation of the classic work. Canberra Rep Theatre, October 8-11.

Canberra Rep is holding a “fun-raising” Trivia Showdown. Canberra’s longest-running theatre company, Rep provides opportunities for performers, technical crew and front-of-house staff to gain valuable experience, but relies on fundraising to help cover operational costs. Canberra Irish Club, Weston, October 4. 

Hugo Race, former member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and The Wreckery, joins musician Michelangelo Russo to launch their new Fatalists album, I Made It All Up for You. Blending cinematic songwriting, roots music, electronica, Italian influences and desert rock, the performance promises a richly atmospheric afternoon of music. Smith’s Alternative, October 10.

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