HELEN MUSA has a mixed bag of arts news in this week’s Arts in the City column.

Rebus Theatre takes us into the tumultuous world of activist theatre with The Art Of Disruption, where the struggles of everyday life collide with the magic of storytelling. It’s the third play in Rebus’ Flair program, where the cast devises and performs a professional show. At ACT Hub, Kingston, May 30-June 1. 

Daniel Clarke, livewire head of programming at Canberra Theatre Centre since 2022, is joining Tātaki Auckland Unlimited in the new executive role as director of performing arts from July 22. In addition to presenting content in the Auckland Live venues, Clarke says he’s thinking about the whole city as a canvas for performing arts.

Winners of the annual Queanbeyan-Palerang Heritage awards were: Lauren Gundry for Willeroo Homestead in the Restoration of a Heritage Building category; Dominica and Tim McOwan for 1 Rutledge Street in the New Building Design category and Timothy Adams for his paper Carved in Stone: An Examination of Identity in an Early Regional Cemetery in the Contribution and Promotion of Heritage category. 

Artistic director and CEO of Megalo Print Studio Stephen Payne is the new manager of the Beechworth Museum and Historic Precinct in Victoria. During his time with the studio, he initiated several programs, including Megalo Editions in 2021.

DocPlay, which streams top documentary films, is launching a new partnership with the National Film and Sound Archive, with 13 titles premiering from May 27. 

The seventh annual Reconciliation Day event will be held in Commonwealth Park on May 27. The free family-friendly event will feature Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, entertainment and workshops. 

In Heartbeats, Maruki Community Orchestra presents an ambitious concert of music by Rossini, Sibelius and Johannes Brahms, Albert Hall, May 26. 

The Australian National Eisteddfod’s 2024 season will start with its bands and orchestras event, May 30-June 2. Performances in Llewellyn Hall and Lyneham High School Performing Arts Centre will see more than 2600 people in 80 groups compete, and the high point will be the open sections for concert and brass bands on May 31.