CANBERRA’S Everyman Theatre makes a welcome return to the stage with “The Normal Heart”, by Larry Kramer, directed by Karen Vickery with an all-star local cast – Riley Bell, Christopher Carroll, Robert deFries, Will Huang, Teig Sadhana, Michael Sparks, Jarrad West, Chris Zuber and Jordan Best. It’s set in 1981, New York, when freedom and equality seem to be just around the corner. At the Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre, October 21-29. Bookings to canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 6275 2700.

THE Groove Warehouse will celebrate Canberra Drummers Day with themed talks, demonstrations and performances. A giant outdoor stage will host live performances of local Canberra artists at 1 Sawmill Circuit, Hume, 10am-6pm, on October 22. Details at groovewarehouse.com.au

“CITYNEWS” theatre reviewer Joe Woodward is raising eyes at Daramalan College with his production of Bertolt Brecht’s play “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui”, coming to the College’s McCowage Hall on October 12-15. Arturo runs a greengrocery protection racket where the main players strangely resemble architects of the Third Reich. Bookings to trybooking.com

THE centrepiece of the Australian String Quartet’s next program in Canberra will be Ligeti’s String Quartet no 1, “Métamorphoses Nocturnes”, in which the composer merges 17 contrasting miniatures, stretching the capabilities and sound world of the modern string quartet. “Metamorphoses”, Gandel Hall, NGA, 2pm, Sunday, October 16. Bookings to nga.gov.au

TOP Canberra artists are joining with the National Zoo and Aquarium conservation team for the Wildlife Art Exhibition and Sale at the zoo and at the Studio Gallery in Duffy, October 14-23. The launch will be at the Aquarium Gallery on Friday, October 14, from 5.30pm. Bookings to nazoo.bookingboss.com

News all day, every day at CityNews.com.au.