Things to do in Canberra this week (9 May to 15 May)

The election’s done and dusted, and now our attention turns to the next big event on the calendar – Mother’s Day!

We’ve put together a list of the best things happening in the capital in the next week, no matter what you’re after, including fantastic films at the NFSA, symphony performances, a top-of-the-table clash at GIO, talks that delve into Canberran history, as well as the best Mother’s Day events.

Multiple Days

Our Story: Aboriginal-Chinese People in Australia – Exhibition at the NMA

When: 9 May to 15 May, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula
Cost: Free.

Our Story showcases and explores the little-known history of Aboriginal-Chinese relations in Colonial Australia. This exhibition focuses on the identity, survival and cultural connection between these two groups, from the gold rush to today. Australia’s uniquely multicultural past, as well as colonial past and present, create interesting stories, bringing together cultures that otherwise would never have met. Hoping to bring these uniquely Australian stories to the public conscience, various artists use their own skills and experiences to demonstrate the meeting of two ancient cultures.

Sweet Charity (Previews and opening night)

When: to 18 May
Where: The Q, 253 Crawford St, Queanbeyan
Cost: Premium $70, A Reserve $65, B Reserve $60, Tizzy Tuesdays $55 (29 April); book via The Q.

Sweet Charity follows the adventures of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopeful dance hall hostess looking for love and a better life. Despite disappointments in her romantic endeavours, Charity remains resilient and continues to search for her happily ever after. Sweet Charity touches on themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the pursuit of dreams.

And then there’s the show itself – it was an instant classic.

With a score by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, book by Neil Simon, and original choreography by Bob Fosse, Charity’s adventurous journey towards love is marked by some of the best-loved songs (If My Friends Could See Me Now, There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This) and most iconic dance numbers (Big Spender, Rich Man’s Frug, Rhythm of Life) ever produced on Broadway. This is an incredible production you’ll never forget.

This week at the NFSA

When: 10 May to 15 May
Where: Arc Cinema, 1 McCoy Circuit, Acton
Cost: From $8 to $16. Book tickets online.

The NFSA lives by the old saying that variety is the spice of life. This week they’re bringing a fully stacked program of films from Aussie classics, recent cult hits and blockbuster films.

On Saturday, the NFSA hosts a double feature with the Australian cinematic classic Walkabout, following a young Aboriginal boy as he helps two abandoned white children survive. Later in the day, catch Schwarzenegger’s action-comedy True Lies, in which the Austrian superstar plays a part-time IT man and part-time spy, all under the unsuspecting eyes of his wife.

Then on Sunday, take the kids to one of the most beloved Disney classics, an exploration of the beauty of animation and music with 1940s Fantasia.

On Wednesday, the 2018 cult comedy Sorry to Bother You follows a black call-centre worker who discovers the secret to success – speaking with a white voice. Then, if you’re still obsessed with Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, catch the film that catapulted him to the mainstream, the mind-bending sci-fi film Inception.

Finally, on Thursday, catch Australian experimental film The Plains, set almost entirely in a car on a commute through Melbourne, the inner details and intricate dynamics of family life manifest in subtle ways.

Beethoven’s Violin by the CSO

When: Wednesday 14 May and Thursday 15 May, 7:30 pm
Where: Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music
Cost: $16-124. Tickets are available via CSO.

Myths are among our oldest stories, telling and retelling where we have come from, our deepest desires, and who we believe ourselves to be. Mythology runs deeper than instruction, expressing something ancient and elemental about our shared experience.

This program opens with something old and something new: a world premiere from Australian composer Peggy Polias – the CSO’s Composer in Connection for 2025 – inspired by the mythology of Ancient Greece.

In Ravel’s Ma mère l’Oye, we immerse ourselves in the colourful world of children’s folklore: another form of mythology, with no less depth. Literally ‘My Mother the Goose’, this exquisite suite – originally composed as a piano duet – features such timeless characters as Sleeping Beauty and Tom Thumb.

Ringers Western Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship

When: 14 to 17 May
Where: Willinga Park, 132 Forster Dr, Bawley Point
Cost:

• Wednesday 14 May & Thursday 15 May: Free entry for all spectators, including adults and children.
• Friday 16 May: General Admission: $20 for adults (16+ years), free for children under 16. Includes access to all campdrafting events and entertainment.
• Saturday 17 May – Super Saturday: General Admission: $25 for adults (16+ years), $15 for children (5 -15 years). Includes access to all entertainment. Grandstand seating options available for premium viewing.
• Registrations essential.

Over four days, the Ringers Western Gold Buckle Campdraft Championship event will showcase exciting drafts, including the highly anticipated Gold Buckle Championship, the fiercely contested State of Origin, the Cut-Out competition, and the Ladies Dash for Cash, to name a few!

With $400,000 in cash and prizes on offer, including a $100,000 cash prize for the winner of the prestigious Gold Buckle Championship, no campdraft event rivals the @ringerswestern Gold Buckle Campdraft in terms of prize money.

Friday

ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability – Inclusion and Cocktails

When: Friday 9 May, 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Where: Gungahlin Eastlakes, 51 Hinder St, Gungahlin
Cost: $65 pp. Tickets available via ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability.

Celebrate with ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability as they unveil the ‘Inclusion Cocktail’ and bring together the Canberra business community, advocates, and supporters to champion true inclusion for people with intellectual disability in the ACT.

Enjoy an open bar, delectable snacks, and the thrill of surprise celebrity guests in a toast to inclusion.

This event is proudly supported by Underground Spirits and Eastlakes Football Club.

If you are a member of ACTDSID with an intellectual disability, contact the office for discounted tickets.

Saturday

The Jazz Haus Canberra: Joe Chindamo

When: 10 May, 7 pm, bar open from 6 pm.
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North
Cost: $38 / $45; book at Ticket Tailor.

With a career spanning global tours, 23 chart-topping albums, and collaborations across jazz, opera, film, theatre and pop, not to mention a complete career about- face in which he quickly established himself as a coveted new voice in contemporary classical composition – Joe Chindamo’s musical journey is nothing short of extraordinary. In this rare concert, Joe will blend his improvisatory brilliance with contemporary classical mastery, personalising everything that comes into his orbit, from the arias of Puccini to the quirky songs of Kate Bush, the standards of Gershwin to the protest songs of Paul Simon.

Canberra Theatre Centre OPEN DAY – Celebrating 60 Years

When: 10 May, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Cct, Canberra
Cost: Free; register at Canberra Theatre Centre.

The Canberra Theatre Centre is opening its doors, inviting you to explore the ACT’s premier performing arts venue from a whole new perspective. Join in the fun of this rare and exclusive backstage access as the centre celebrates 60 sensational years in 2025.

Raiders v Bulldogs

When: 10 May, 3 pm to 4:30 pm
Where: GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce
Cost: General admission tickets from $35. Book online.

At the start of the season, many so-called experts had the Raiders as favourites to take out the wooden spoon. This Saturday, they take on the Bulldogs in a top-of-the-table clash that will shake Bruce to its foundations.

So what are you waiting for? Get out and catch Ricky’s Raiders!

Sunday

Mother’s Day in the Capital

When: 11 May, events throughout the day
Where: Various locations
Cost: Various price points.

Mother’s Day is almost here, and there is no shortage of places to go and things to do with your mum to show her your appreciation. Whether you’re after a stunning meal at the Hyatt, a special champagne breakfast at the National Zoo, a luxurious high tea at the National Gallery or even a take-home hamper letting you keep the celebrations low-key, there’s something on in Canberra to show your gratitude.

Check out Region Canberra’s feature, The best spots to go for Mother’s Day lunch, dinner, drinks and more, for full details on the best events.

The TEN Tenors: 30th Anniversary World Tour

When: 11 May, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Cct, Canberra
Cost: Tickets from $89 to $140, plus transaction fee. Tickets available from Canberra Theatre Centre.

Marking 30 years since their very first performance in Brisbane in 1995, Australia’s favourite tenor ensemble, The TEN Tenors, will embark on the Australian leg of their massive world tour. They will visit every state in Australia for 38 shows over two months from April 2025.

What started as a one-off performance for a corporate event by a slightly ragtag group of young blokes from Brisbane’s Conservatorium of Music in 1995 has gone on to become a touring juggernaut. The TEN Tenors have circled the world multiple times and performed in some of the most iconic venues, including Royal Albert Hall, London, The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles and the Sydney Opera House. The TEN Tenors now have a touring history in 37 countries around the world and have performed more than 3500 shows.

Rapture by the Australian String Quartet

When: 11 May, 2 pm
Where: Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
Cost: Adult tickets $95; Concession $75; 40 and under $40; Student $15. Book online or over the phone at 1800 040 444.

Bringing together the musical talents of Beethoven, Perica, Golijov and Janáček, Rapture expresses desire and fear through a complex exploration of music both old and new. Starting with Beethoven, the performance begins with intensity and energy, bringing the audience right into the action. Then, Australian jazz composer Vanessa Perica premieres No Feeling is Final, a four-movement quartet drawing from personal experience to create a piece detailing the twists and unexpected directions of life.

Wednesday

Captain Faunce – Policing Canberra’s Colonial Frontier – Talk at the Heritage Festival 2025

When: 14 May, 12:30 pm
Where: Canberra Museum and Gallery, Cnr London Circuit and City Square, Canberra City
Cost: General admission tickets, pay what you like. Book online.

As part of this year’s Heritage Festival, the Canberra Museum and Gallery will be hosting this talk about Canberra’s first police magistrate, Captain Alured Tasker Faunce, appointed in 1837. Turning back the pages of history, this fascinating talk provides insight into our colonial beginnings and the governance of this land before federation. Hoping to shed light on a fascinating page in Canberra’s often neglected history, this talk will educate Canberrans and visitors alike about our cosmopolitan capital as it once was – a frontier territory, wild and unpredictable.

Upcoming events:

• The Dictionary of Lost Words– 15 May to 24 May
• Psychology of Serial Killers– 25 May

Submit your event here to be considered for our weekly events guide.