The Diary
This month’s top events, plus a sneak peek at what’s on in November.
This month’s top events
VIC The Second Hurricane
6-15 October Horti Hall, Melbourne victorianopera.com.au Aaron Copland’s timeless youth opera – which premiered in New York in 1937 – follows a group of high-school students in the midst of a natural disaster. The cast of singers are aged 15 to 25.
Fast5 Netball World Series
28-29 October Hisense Arena, Melbourne fast5worldseries.com.au Six teams (Australia, England, New Zealand, Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa), each with five players, go head-to-head in this fast-paced tournament.
The House of Dior: 70 Years of Haute Couture
Until 7 November National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
ngv.vic.gov.au Exclusive to Melbourne, this exhibition features more than 140 garments designed by the French fashion house from 1947 to 2017.
Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix
20-22 October Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit motogp.com.au Some of the world’s greatest riders descend on Phillip Island for a weekend of adrenalinepumping action.
Melbourne Festival
4-22 October Various venues festival.melbourne
The highlight of this year’s 19-day festival program of more than 65 events is Taylor Mac’s A 24-Decade
History of Popular Music, which is staged over four six-hour-long instalments of musical theatre (on 11, 13, 18 and 20 October).
Stevie Nicks
16 November Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne stevienicksofficial.com The Fleetwood Mac star performs in Melbourne, supported by Chrissie Hynde and The Pretenders. The tour also travels to Perth (2 November), Adelaide (4 November), Sydney (7 and 8 November) and wineries in NSW’s Pokolbin (11 November), Queensland’s Mount Cotton (12 November) and Victoria’s Yarra Valley (18 November).
NSW
Madama Butterfly 24 October-4 November Capitol Theatre, Sydney opera.org.au With Japanese-inspired art direction, this production of Puccini’s tragic love story returns to Sydney for a limited season.
Bowral Classic
22 October Rides start in Bowral bowralclassic.com.au Take in the splendour of the Southern Highlands from the seat of a bicycle, whether you rise to the challenge of the legburning 160- or 120-kilometre courses or pace yourself on the 45-kilometre Social Classic with winery stops.
Kidtopia Festival
6-8 October Parramatta Park, Sydney kidtopiafestival.com.au With live music, a circus school, magic masterclasses, funfair rides, an open-air cinema and a variety of foods, this child-centric festival is the perfect school-holiday entertainment for the entire family. Other highlights include hands-on activities such as craft projects, kids’ cooking lessons and crocodile encounters.
Orange Wine Festival
13-22 October Orange region brandorange.com.au Sip your way through the wineries that produce some of Australia’s best cool-climate drops.
Sculpture by the Sea
19 October-5 November Bondi to Tamarama, Sydney sculpturebythesea.com Wander past the temporary installations dotted along the coastal path from Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach at the largest free sculpture exhibition in the world, now in its 21st year.
Wine Island
10-12 November Clark Island, Sydney wineisland.com.au Enjoy three days of boutique drops, treasure hunts and delicious food on Clark Island in Sydney Harbour.
ACT Midnight Oil
24 October AIS Arena, Canberra midnightoil.com The Australian rock band performs in Canberra on the homecoming leg of their first tour in 15 years, with additional shows throughout the country.
Hyper Real
20 October-18 February 2018 National Gallery of Australia, Canberra nga.gov.au Unsettlingly realistic figures made with silicon skin, glass eyes and human hair populate this exhibition that explores what makes us human.
Mamma Mia!
24 November-17 December Canberra Theatre Centre mammamiathemusical.com.au The smash-hit musical based on the songs of ABBA launches its Australian return season in the capital.
SA Ferment The Festival
19-22 October Rundle Park, Adelaide fermentthefestival.com.au Stalls of chocolates, cheeses, charcuterie and more feature at this four-day event showcasing fermented foods and beverages.
Tarnanthi
13 October-28 January 2018 Various venues, Adelaide tarnanthi.com.au Encompassing a festival, art fair and gallery exhibition, Tarnanthi celebrates the works of more than 1000 contemporary artists from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Professor Brian Cox Live 2017
14 November Adelaide Convention Centre lateralevents.com The particle physicist brings his Australian tour to Adelaide, with incredible images from a range of spacecraft, including the Hubble Space Telescope.
WA Heath Ledger: A Life in Pictures
14 October-29 January 2018 Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth artgallery.wa.gov.au The late Australian actor’s family and close friends have contributed to this exhibition that includes his role-research journals and the Joker suit from his Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight. Tina Arena 6 October Crown Theatre Perth tinaarena.com Celebrating 40 years in the music business, the singer-songwriter makes Perth the final stop on her Innocence to Understanding Greatest Hits Tour of Australia.
Margaret River Gourmet Escape
16-19 November Various venues gourmetescape.com.au Featuring the region’s fine wines, craft beers and excellent produce, this food-lovers’ festival is attended by international names such as chef Alex Atala from the awarded D.O.M. restaurant in Brazil. Expect new events and old favourites, such as the Beach Barbecue and the Gourmet Village at Leeuwin Estate.
QLD
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – in Concert
7 October Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre qso.com.au Harry Potter’s world of wizardry comes to life at this concert that combines the screening of the film with a Queensland Symphony Orchestra performance of John Williams’ bewitching score.
Good Food & Wine Show
27-29 October Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
goodfoodshow.com.au Strike up a conversation with the artisan producers at the Good Food Village and see celebrity chefs, such as George Calombaris and Adam Liaw, cook on stage.
ReefBlitz
1-28 October Brisbane to Cairns reefblitz.com Help to keep the Great Barrier Reef great during this monthlong citizen-science initiative by participating in community events and data collection along Queensland’s coast.
The Wizard of Oz
4 November-3 December Lyric Theatre, Brisbane qpac.com.au The beloved classic arrives in Australia, complete with new songs by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, along with Australian opera and musicaltheatre performer Anthony Warlow in the role of the Wizard.
NT Uluru Astronomy Weekend
20-22 October Voyages Ayers Rock Resort ayersrockresort.com.au Take in the majesty of the outback and be guided through the universe by astronomer Lisa Harvey-Smith on a unique getaway that includes a starlit dinner in the desert.
Arj Barker
21 October Darwin Entertainment Centre arjbarker.com The popular American comedian makes a stop in Darwin with his hilarious stand-up set, Organic.
Rugby League World Cup
17 November Darwin Stadium rlwc2017.com The world’s best players assemble in Darwin for the first quarterfinal.
TAS
Megan Washington and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
The ARIA Award winner performs new songs and a selection from her albums with an orchestral backing.
Royal Hobart Show
25-28 October Hobart Showground hobartshowground.com.au This annual event celebrates the best of the Apple Isle, from the state’s agriculture and heritage to the new names in food and drink shaping Tasmanian cuisine.
Australian Masters Games
21-28 October Various venues, North West Tasmania
australianmastersgames.com About 6000 athletes – including boxers, archers, golfers, swimmers and gymnasts – will converge on Tasmania’s beautiful north-west coast for a week of competition when the Games return to the state for the first time in 30 years.
Peaks Challenge Cradle Mountain
5 November Ride starts/finishes in Devonport bicyclenetwork.com.au Take on one of the toughest challenges on wheels when you cycle into magical Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park for 235 kilometres, with more than 4000 metres of climbing.