THE DIARY:

Events, exhibitions and shows

• JUNE 26 The world-renowned Russian Bolshoi Ballet will return to Queensland to present two new productions, Spartacus and Jewels, at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre. qpac.com.au/bolshoi

• JUNE 28 Puccini’s Madama Butterfly (1) takes to the stage for Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House, as the classic story of love and heartbreak enchants audiences. opera.org.au

• JUNE 28 Michael Armitage: The Promised Land (7), at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, will exhibit work from one of Kenya’s most exciting young artists. mca.com.au

• JULY 6 Exploring the beauty of the natural world and the threats to its survival is The Botanical: Beauty and Peril (6), at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. artgallery.wa.gov.au

• JULY 11 Little lovers of dance and music will be charmed by Queensland Ballet’s The Little Green Road to Fairyland (3), at the Playhouse, QPAC. queenslandballet.com.au

• JULY 15 Melbourne Theatre Company presents Shakespeare in Love, a stage adaptation of the Oscarwinning film of the same name, at the Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse. mtc.com.au

• JULY 16 Travel out to the Simpson Desert for the world’s most remote music festival, the Birdsville Big Red Bash (4), featuring rock legends Midnight Oil and others at the three-day festival. bigredbash.com.au

• JULY 18 Celia Pacquola (5) stars in Sydney Theatre Company’s production of the classic Australian comedy, The Torrents, at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. sydneytheatre.com.au

BOOK NOW! Cirque du Soleil returns in October with its new acclaimed show Kurios – Cabinet of Curiosities (2). You’ll be transported to a fantasy world under the big top in Sydney at the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park.

The show also visits Brisbane in January next year, with Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth to follow. cirquedusoleil.com/kurios