Arts editor HELEN MUSA rolls out a week’s worth of arts events, shows and cinema in her latest Arts in the City Column. 

Portraits of Australian athletes will go on show at the National Portrait Gallery to mark the 2024 Paris Olympics, including Peter Brew-Bevan’s portrait of swimmer Ellie Cole, Ern McQuillan’s  famous 1955 photograph of sprinter Betty Cuthbert and Sahlan Hayes’ portrait of  sprinter Joshua Ross.

Also with the Olympics in mind, the NFSA is screening independent Aussie drama, Kairos, in which Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast and actor Chris Bunton stars as Danny, a gymnast-turned-boxer. Bunton will be here for a post-screening Q&A. Arc Cinema, July 27.

Artist applications for the 2025 National Folk Festival close at folkfestival.org.au on July 28.

In this year’s Andrew Sayers Memorial Lecture, writer, broadcaster and cultural commentator Benjamin Law will explore contemporary portraiture and the press. National Portrait Gallery, July 31.

Stage

• Queen Elizabeth and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, never met in real life but they take the stage together in Mary Stuart, ACT Hub, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston, July 24-August 3.
• International comedy star and former Canberran Hannah Gadsby’s new stand-up show Woof! is at Canberra Theatre, July 25.
• A group of 11 young British school kids are stranded on an island in Lord of the Flies, Canberra Rep Theatre July 25-August 10.
• Justine Clarke stars again in the return season of Joanna Murray-Smith’s hit Julia, revealing the human story behind former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s powerful speech on Misogyny. July 31-August 11.

Concerts

• Two brilliant young virtuosi, Indonesian/Australian pianist Calvin Abdiel and Southern Highlands violinist Cedar Newman, just home from Berlin and New York, come together to perform works by Schubert, Richard Strauss, Haydn and Eugene Ysaÿe. Belgian Embassy, July 25.
• ANU Community Music Centre percussion ensemble will hold the Strike a Chord fundraiser. Larry Sitsky Recital Room, ANU School of Music, July 26.
• Oriana Chorale appears with Sally Whitwell on piano in its winter concert, Flight. Wesley Uniting Church, July 27.
• Seven Drunken Nights, The Story of The Dubliners, is billed as the ultimate feel-good Irish show, narrated by writer and director Ged Graham. Canberra Theatre, July 27.
• Art Song Canberra presents Christina Wilson (mezzosoprano), Alan Hicks (piano) and Chris Latham (violin) in Lost Love Songs, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton, July 28.
• FT Paverty Bush Band appears in Folk in the Oaks. Oaks Estate Community Hall, July 28.
• The National Capital Orchestra is holding its second annual Community Play Day for the music community, where local musicians experience playing with a full symphony orchestra. Albert Hall, July 28.
• Dreams & Delusions, German, French and Italian art songs will be performed by soprano Miriam Rose and pianist Hilda Visser-Scott, Wesley Music Centre, Wednesday Lunchtime Series, July 31.