Not-to-miss theatre and cinematic events on Canberra’s winter cultural calendar
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Get ready to hunker down and cosy up in Canberra theatres and cinemas as these amazing productions take centre stage.
From a darkly exhilarating thriller to a musical adaptation of Jane Austen, pop these productions into your calendar for winter. There’s no time to hibernate with this great lineup!
SPEAR + Q&A with Stephen Page AO (Arc Cinema)
Get ready for something completely different – a feature film told entirely through dance and a Q&A with the director himself, celebrated choreographer Stephen Page AO. Beautifully scored by David Page and stunningly shot by Bonnie Elliott, this isn’t your typical cinema experience – it’s art in motion.
This confronting journey follows Djali (played by Hunter Page-Lochard from Cleverman), a young First Nations man shadowed by the mysterious Suicide Man (Aaron Pedersen). Adapted from Bangarra Dance Theatre’s work, the film explores themes of dislocation and identity through movement rather than traditional dialogue.
What makes this screening extra special is the chance to hear Stephen Page discuss the film’s creation and deeper meanings. As Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre for over three decades, he has created landmark works that have become integral to Australian performing arts.
Saturday 12 July, 1:00 PM | Arc Cinema, NFSA Acton, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Book here.
21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the nurses of the Vyner Brooke (Australian War Memorial)
Prepare to discover the most incredible woman you’ve probably never heard of. 21 Hearts tells the extraordinary story of Vivian Bullwinkel – the sole survivor when 22 Australian nurses were machine-gunned on a beach in 1942, and a woman who spent the rest of her life ensuring her fallen colleagues were never forgotten.
This compelling production celebrates women’s strength, love and hope in the face of adversity. Featuring six of WA’s most outstanding actors, it remembers these remarkable women for who they were, not just what happened to them. You’ll discover their resilient Aussie humour in the prison camps and witness an authentic voice given to those who were silenced.
An uplifting and inspiring story that reminds us of both the great futility of war and the incredible power of the human spirit, it’s the centrepiece of the Australian War Memorial’s program marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II – making it particularly poignant timing.
Don’t miss the special Q&A with the cast following the 11am performance on 31 July.
Thursday 24 July until Sunday 3 August | Australian War Memorial Theatre, Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell | Book here.
Promise and Promiscuity (The Street Theatre)
Following 12 years of sold-out successes from Edinburgh to Adelaide to Toronto, in this hilarious, one woman show, Penny Ashton will tackle all of Jane Austen’s iconic characters with song, dance and appalling cross-stitching.
Performed over 600 times, this production has gathered a veritable slew of awards and glowing reviews in its musical bonnet – Austen fans won’t want to miss out!
Wednesday 25 until Sunday 29 June | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | Book here.
The Beauty Queen of Leenane
Experience Martin McDonagh’s darkly comedic masterpiece in this intimate production by Free-Rain Theatre. Set in a rural Irish cottage, this powerful play follows plain, middle-aged Maureen and her manipulative mother Mag as they navigate isolation, hope, and sabotage when romance finally enters Maureen’s life.
Director Cate Clelland brings together a stellar local cast including Alice Ferguson, Janie Lawson, Bruce Hardie, and Robbie Haltiner in this quietly devastating black comedy that explores the malevolence of people living hopeless lives. Don’t miss this brilliant two-week run of work from one of Britain and Ireland’s greatest living playwrights.
Wednesday 25 June to Saturday 5 July | ACT Hub, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | acthub.com.au
Bring Back My Wives (Hellenic Club of Canberra)
A first-of-its-kind crossover show that merges the glitz and glamour of The Real Housewives with the flair and drama of RuPaul’s Drag Race, this one-night-only spectacle promises to be “theatrical gold” and “pure brilliance in motion.”
Headlining are international reality TV icons Teresa Giudice (The Real Housewives of New Jersey) and Whitney Rose (The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City), joined by drag superstars including Laganja Estranja, Ashley Madison, Luxx Noir London and Eureka O’Hara. Expect unfiltered commentary, outrageous lip-syncs, explosive confessions and jaw-dropping performances.
The show opens with a drag group number, followed by solo acts and an unfiltered on-the-couch Q&A session hosted by Justin Hill. There’s also audience competitions, games, and an iconic finale called The Superfan Showdown.
Sunday 13 July, 7:30pm | Hellenic Club Woden, Matilda Street, Phillip | Book here.
Enron (Mill Theatre at Dairy Road)
A darkly exhilarating business thriller, this play by the British playwright Lucy Prebble is based on the Enron scandal – and it will have you on the edge of your seat.
Taking you inside the most infamous corporate scandal in history, with razor-sharp wit and rapid-fire storytelling, the play exposes the catastrophic greed of Enron’s founders, Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, as they push the limits of financial deception. An incisive exposé of power, corruption, and ambition, it sounds like a pulse-pounding ride.
Wednesday 23 July until Saturday 9 August | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Fyshwick | Book here.
Illume (Canberra Theatre Centre)
Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, brings their groundbreaking new production to Canberra this winter. For the first time ever, Bangarra combines dance with visual arts in this extraordinary collaboration between artistic director Frances Rings (Mirning woman) and visual artist Darrell Sibosado (Goolarrgon Bard).
Inspired by the pristine Bard – Bardi Jawi Country on Western Australia’s north-western coast, Illume explores how light has captivated and sustained Indigenous cultural existence for millennia. But this isn’t just a celebration – it’s also a powerful examination of artificial light pollution and its devastating impact on First Nations people’s connections to sky country.
Described as “a glowing bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds”, this production promises to be both visually stunning and deeply meaningful. With Rings and Sibosado’s combined artistic vision, expect something truly innovative that honours First Nations cultural storytelling while addressing urgent environmental themes.
Friday 25 until Saturday 26 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | Book here.
Marrow (Canberra Theatre Centre)
A highly anticipated new production from Australian Dance Theatre, Marrow will be making its Canberra debut in July. Described as “existing part way between rave and ritual”, it will see ancient stories collide as the smoky forms of Australian identity are explored.
What does this mean? You’ll have to book tickets to find out. But we do know that in the production, smoke itself will become a unique and powerful “seventh dancer”. Intrigued? You should be.
Thursday 31 July until Friday 1 August | The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre, City | Book here.
