What's on in Canberra this weekend - The Canberra Times

Meeting Lelia premieres at the Iranian Film Festival on Saturday at 5.15pm.

Saturday

ANNIE’S FAREWELL

Phoenix Players’ production of the musical Annie – with songs including Tomorrow – has its final two performances at the ANU Arts Centre today 2pm and 8pm. Tickets $25-$37. Tickets at the venue one hour before the performance.

GOLDEN OLDIES

In The Director’s Cut at Canberra Dance Studio at 7.30pm there will be three works presented by Canberra Dance Theatre’s company of mature aged dancers – GOLD (Growing Old Disgracefully). These works have been created by the present artistic director of CDT, Liz Lea, and past artistic directors Meg Millband and Stephanie Burridge Canberra Dance Theatre’s Studio is on the corner of Barry Drive and Kingsley Street, City West (car parking directly opposite). Entry is $10.

Parviz screens at 2pm at Arc Cinema on Sunday.

RECORDER RECITAL

Robyn Mellor and Walking the Dog present a concert of (non-squawky) all-Australian music for one to eight recorders as their Musical Offering for the Centenary of Canberra. The concert is at 1.30 pm at the National Portrait Gallery. Admission free.

TOP DOGS

Leader of the Pack: Top Dogs. Queen Bees. The Bosses. Tall Poppies is a full-length contemporary dance work created by three professional choreographers with 40 dancers aged from eight to 17. It’s on at Theatre 3 at 3 and 6pm. Tickets $12-$20 at the venue one hour before the performance.

SMOKING

In the romantic comedy Meeting Leila (2012, 18+), a Canberra premiere screening in the Iranian Film Festival at 5.15pm Nader and Leila fall in love at first sight. But he’s a an advertising industry creative with an chain-smoking habit and she’s a perfume tester with a delicate sense of smell. Tickets $14/$12. Bookings: 6248 2000.

DYNAMIC DOUBLE

Stop-motion animation genius Ray Harryhausen died earlier this year. Arc Cinema is screening a double feature of two of his films at 7.30pm. Jason and the Argonauts (1963) tells the Greek myth with impressive special effects including the skeleton fight which took four months to create. In The Valley of Gwangi cowboys come across a live T-Rex. Tickets $10/$8.

NATIVE PLANTS

Australian Native Plants Society is having its spring native plant sale from 8.30am to 2pm. All plants have been locally grown with many species indigenous to the Canberra region. The sale will be held at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. For more details, visit nativeplants-canberra.asn.au

ON TRACKS

The Bungendore Rotary Club will be holding its annual Model Railway Exhibition at the Bungendore School, Majura Street, Bungendore. Children can drive Thomas the Tank Engine around the tracks. You can even catch the Historical Steam Train out from Canberra on the Sunday. Entry Adults $6, Seniors $5, Children 5-15 $3, Under 5 free. More information: Derek Payne on 0449 903 812.

HEAD SPIN

Canberra’s Weekends on Wheels is a month-long celebration of Canberra’s love for all things that spin. At Hub Capital at the Canberra Railway Museum, Geijera Place, Kingston, there will be plenty to see, and ride. Entry $20.60 (under twos free) includes admission to Canberra Railway Museum/Thomas the Tank Engine, heritage train ride, unlimited jumping castle, face painting, glitter tattoos, and miniature train rides. More information: canberra100.com.au

Sunday

SPANISH BLUES

This month, the Canberra Blues Society Monthly Blues Jam is on from 2 to 5.30pm at the Spanish-Australian Club, 5 Narupai Place, Narrabundah. Contact Kerry Sattler on 0419 607 710.

STEP UP

StepUp for Down Syndrome is a family event to celebrate the achievements of people with Down Syndrome, and will be held from 10am to 3pm at Rond Terraces, Commonwealth Park, Reid. There will be a short walk around part of the lake followed by a barbecue, music, jumping castle, face painting, music and special guests. For more information go to stepupfordownsyndrome.org.au

PARVIZ

Parviz (2012, Unclassified 18+) screens at 2pm at Arc Cinema, National Film and Sound Archive, as part of the Iranian Film Festival. This Canberra premiere directed by Majid Barzegar is about 50 year-old Parviz who still lives at home with his father, although the two do not get on. When he loses his job and his father decides to remarry, his whole life seems to have unravelled – until he decides to take revenge in completely unexpected ways. Tickets $14/$12, bookings 6248200.