WHATS ON NOW? Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, Studio Thursday 29th & Friday 30th July 2010 Mem Fox’s delightful story of a young boy, his older neighbours and a search for lost memories is coming to the stage! The show follows the story of a little boy, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, who lives next door to an ‘old people’s home’. Wilfrid is friends with all of the residents, but his favourite is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. One day Wilfrid hears his parents talking about how Miss Nancy has lost her memory. Wilfrid doesn’t know what a memory is so he decides to ask everyone he knows. When he is finished he sets out to find something to fit each of the explanations that he received, and when he gives them to Miss Nancy she gets her memory back! Book Now >> Walking With Spirits, Malkgulumbu (Beswick Falls) 6:00pm Saturday 31st July 2010 The old and wise voices will be joined by the laughter of the young as the ancient tradition of Corroboree is blended with contemporary performance styles incorporating music, dance, puppetry animation, film and fire in Walking With Spirits. The Wugularr Community invite you to Malkgulumbu, a hidden treasure on the south-west corner of Arnhem Land. An ancient playground for Jawoyn people, this sacred site is only open to the public once a year, for this very special evening, where we share the ancient stories, song, dance and music. “…we pass on the stories and sing the songs and thus keep our history and our culture going…”  Tom E. Lewis, Artistic Director Book Now >> Chris 'the bloke' Franklin Live & Green Faces @ the Darwin Comedy Club, Old Town Hall Ruins 8:00pm Thursday 5th, Friday 6th & Saturday 7th August (Green Faces) 2010 He's an aussie and a yobbo and his best mate’s name is Robbo...' Well, you know how the song goes. Chris is the unofficial 'King of the Bogans' and is hilarious at it. His style of stand up is reminiscent of the early days of the master, Paul Hogan. He's an Aussie bloke, a yobbo and a bogan, from his flannelette shirt to his double plugger thongs, and his down to earth, easy to digest show is enjoyed by everyone. On Saturday night Chris will host the NT heat of Green Faces - Australian's premier comedy competition. Come and support your favourite local comedian - the winner will represent the NT in the national finals! Book Now >> Cantonese Opera Delights 2010, Playhouse 7:30pm Saturday 7th August 2010 The Australian Darwin Cantonese Opera Association is back with their 10th Opera concert.  The evening will include four opera extracts in full traditional costumes and staging. The extracts will be subtitled in English and Chinese and MCs will address the audience bilingually. Take this opportunity to experience the sound, costume and energy of Cantonese culture created by these lively performances. From one of the most popular of Chinese operas, White Snake Legend, comes this tale of love and courage in the face of blind intolerance. Book Now >> Tashi, Studio 6:30pm Monday 9th, 9:30am & 11:30am Tuesday 10th August 2010 The TASHI plays are theatrical adaptations of Anna and Barbara Fienberg's well loved children’s books about the magical and mysterious adventures of a young migrant boy, Tashi, and his best friend, Jack. Each story is approximately 25 minutes long and aimed at 4-10 year olds. The stories are performed in pairs to create a 60 minute session with a 10 minute changeover between stories. Each different story is performed on the same set by the same four performers and is underscored by a dynamic sound design. Book Now >> The Cook, The Queen & The Kelly, Frog Hollow Park Wednesday 11th to Sunday 22nd August 2010 Tracks Dance creates a magical outdoor performance space, set under the stars in beautiful Frog Hollow Park. As an intrepid astronomer sets up to watch the transfiguration of Venus in a star studded sky, he is interrupted by a chicken chasing Chinese man and a woman with a plummy voice and a corgi in her handbag.  Who are these people and why are they there? Find out as Tracks Dance divulges three untold Territory ‘truths’ in true Territory style! Folklore becomes fact in this comic celebration of twisted history. Book Now >> Darwin Championship Rodeo 6:00pm Friday 13th & Saturday 14th August 2010 The Rotary Club of Darwin North Championship Rodeo offers two nights of action packed entertainment.  As well as the open bullride section, there is also the roping saddle bronc, calf roping, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel races and the Junior Champion Titles.  Not to mention the ever-reliable and brave rodeo clowns!  And at the conclusion of the Rodeo event each evening there's time to kick up your heels and dance the night away. The Rotary is proud to be affiliated with the Australian Professional Rodeo Association (APRA) and this rodeo is fully endorsed by them. Book Now >> Goose Lagoon, Playhouse Friday 13th to Sunday 15th August 2010 Choreographed by Gary Lang, Goose Lagoon tells a beautiful tale of love, magic and mysticism, set against the spectacular backdrop of Arnhem Land’s northern floodplains during the annual goose hunting season. We follow the fate of a young girl caught between two worlds, thwarted by evil. Incorporating innovative puppetry and the traditional songlines of the Djapu clan of North East Arnhem land, this extraordinary dance production weaves together ancient dance, story and cultural expression with contemporary performance. Book Now >> En Route, Darwin Waterfront Friday 13th to Sunday 29th August 2010 Like a love song to your city, en route offers you fresh eyes and renewed perception as you navigate your own, solitary way through Darwin's CBD and Waterfront. En route is a pedestrian-based event using iPods, mobile phones and the city.  Bring your mobile phone. iPods provided. Book Now >> The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer, Brown's Mart Theatre Friday 13th to Sunday 15th August 2010 The seas have risen, the human race is on the brink of destruction and one man can save the world. This is micro-epic theatre melding technology and comedy in a touching story of enduring love at the end of the world. Alvin Sputnik, deep sea diver is our unlikely hero in a curious and fantastical production that will captivate audiences of all ages. Book Now >> Tim Freedman, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Friday 13th & 8:30pm Saturday 14th August 2010 Best known as lead singer of The Whitlams, Tim Freedman’s songs such as No Aphrodisiac and many other well-crafted examples illuminate his charming wit and appealing talent. For his Darwin debut, Tim will be joined by Perry Keyes. Book Now >> Barry Brown & The GetDown, The Lighthouse 9:15pm Friday 13th & 10:45pm Saturday 14th August 2010 Think classic funk. What do you get? James Brown. Think bootylicious grooves. What do you get? Barry White. Mix in the intense tropical heat of Australia's frontier north, squirt in a dash of white-boy soul-brother style and you have Barry Brown. Together with his afromakin’, bootyshakin’, funkalicious 8-piece band, The Get Down, Barry Brown and The Get Down have a groove to move and point to prove. Book Now >> Corinne Grant, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Saturday 14th August 2010 As a self-confessed 100% bona-fide hoarder, Corinne Grant, comedian and one of the stars of Rove and The Glass House, has decided it’s time she did something about it. She could throw the stuff out, but she’d rather give her stuff to her audience. Have My Stuff is chock full of stand-up, childhood confessions and the story of a run-in with an eighties novelty song-writer. Book Now >> The Cat Empire, Gardens Amphitheatre 7:30pm Saturday 14th August 2010 They're back! They have a hot new album and they're taking over the Amphitheatre stage on the opening weekend of this year's Darwin Festival. The Cat Empire, famous for their zealous musicality, has become one of Australia's - and indeed the world's - favourite live acts. Don't miss it! Book Now >> On The Book - Season Ticket Sunday 15th - Saturday 28th August 2010 This play reading series is the live theatre equivalent of your local book club, they offer an animated, rehearsed version of a theatre script. We put the writer, director and actors into a room for just a short time and invite you to witness the results. Book Now >> Fergus Brown, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Sunday 15th August 2010 With his exceptional vocal range and collection of sometimes quirky, sometimes tender love songs, Fergus Brown has been compared to the likes of Elvis Costello and Radiohead in their early days. For the first time, Fergus Brown will perform in the NT for Darwin Festival. Book Now >> Darwin Rondalla, The Lighthouse 9:00pm Sunday 15th August 2010 In 1993, the world premiere of Gary Lee’s landmark play Keep Him My Heart was performed at Darwin Festival in what is widely acknowledged as a legendary occasion in the rich history of NT theatre. Now, seventeen years later, extracts of the famed Larrakia-Filipino love story will accompany the inimitable Darwin Rondalla, re-found and re-formed for the occasion. Book Now >> Sietta, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Monday 16th August 2010 Returning to the  Darwin Festival after a sensational 2009, Sietta will take you on a ride of soulful grooves and euphoric beats. Having been on stage with the likes of TZU, Urthboy, The Herd, Lowrider and Polo Club, come and find out why this band is always on the move. Book Now >> Ego Lemos, The Lighthouse 9:00pm Monday 16th & 7:00pm Tuesday 17th August 2010 Ego Lemos returns to Darwin to perform the music of his debut solo album O Hele Le, showing the great intimacy and poetry of his original work as well as interpreting some of the most beautiful, heartfelt traditional melodies from his nation’s history. Book Now >> Simon Pampena in Planet of the Primes, Studio 1:00pm & 7:00pm Tuesday 17th August 2010 Are prime numbers hard to understand? No problem……Simon Pampena, Maths Man and Glam Jedi, has worked out a way to explain why.  Planet of the Primes is a comedy show like no other. This is an audio-visual spectacular combining live action with animation to release the bizarre nature of prime numbers. A unique and exhilarating comedy experience for families with kids aged 7 up and adults who like to expand their minds! Book Now >> Delicious Dinner, Darwin Waterfront 6:30pm Tuesday 17th August 2010 Join us for a culinary extravaganza under the stars as delicious magazine presents a wondrous showcase of the talents of the best chefs Darwin has to offer. Celebrating the diversity and quality of fresh produce in the tropical north, the dinner will be prepared by internationally acclaimed chef Jimmy Shu with entertainment by the Wangatunga Strong Women’s Group from Tiwi Islands. Book Now >> Ngarukuruwala: We Sing Songs, The Lighthouse 9:00pm Tuesday 17th & 7:00pm Wednesday 18th August 2010 The Tiwi Strong Women’s Group return to Darwin Festival with a new show bringing together their songs and dances with precious, rediscovered images from their rich heritage. Book Now >> B2M & Countbounce, The Amphitheatre Intimate 7:30pm Wednesday 18th August 2010 Swinging happily on the fence between traditional tempo and urban groove, B2M’s brand of Tiwi rhythm & blues takes up the new challenge of adding digital beats and dynamic, live on-stage re-mixes to their signature harmony. They’re stepping up and delivering a swag of edgy new songs created in collaboration with TZU’s famed beat maker Countbounce, a.k.a. Pip Norman. Book Now >> Christa & Dick Hughes, The Lighthouse 9:00pm Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th August 2010 Join father and daughter duo, the legendary jazz pianist Dick Hughes and his infamous daughter Christa, for a glorious performance of early jazz and blues from the twenties and thirties. Expect the unexpected. After all, it is the Hughes family! Book Now >> The Bougainville Photoplay Project, Brown's Mart Theatre Wednesday 18th - Friday 20th August 2010 Paul Dwyer is a writer, performer and academic with a fascinating connection to Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. His insatiable curiosity and research into reconciliation following brutal civil war lead him to discover his own father’s extraordinary humanitarian work in PNG in the sixties. A generation apart in age and a world apart in political climate, their two journeys meld together in a compelling and intimate work of political theatre. Book Now >> The Tent, Lot 7646 Thursday 19th - Sunday 22nd August 2010 Hand built by the artists out of scrap metal and old, oil-stained truck canvas, The Tent incorporates installation art, puppetry, video and performance. You’re invited to step inside the story of an unlikely male friendship in an exploration of self-sufficiency and prolonged adolescence.  Book Now >> Microwave Jenny, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Thursday 19th August 2010 This young dynamic duo sound as though they were made for Darwin nights under the stars.  Their silky harmonies and spirited, conversational lyrics reflect strong old school musical influences like James Taylor, Bill Withers, Van Morrison and Billie Holiday. Book Now >> Belle du Berry - Quizz, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Friday 20th & Saturday 21st August 2010 French chanteuse Belle du Berry has long been fêted by international audiences as the lead singer of the fabulous funksters Paris Combo. Now she combines her sweet, supple and superb talent with the Combo's multi-instrumentalist David Lewis as they unfold a joyous promenade through Paris and beyond.Performed in French and English. Book Now >> La Boheme, Gardens Amphitheatre 7:30pm Friday 20th August 2010 The Bohemians are an idealistic, penniless bunch intent on enjoying the festive season.  Tribulations, celebrations and a troubled love triangle provide a counterpoint to the genuine and profound love between Rodolfo and Mimi.  Although they transcend love’s enemy, misunderstanding, their destiny is ultimately a tragic one.  Puccini’s poignant music amplifies the drama, and their journey inevitably touches our most fundamental human emotions. In the best traditions of Co-Opera, this production of La Boheme, set in no specific era, seeks that romantic essence which has made it one of the most widely performed and loved of all operas. Book Now >> Break it Down: Battle @ The Lighthouse 9:00pm Friday 20th August 2010 Darwin’s hottest street dance crews are hyped and ready to do battle. Shout out for your local crew when they bring the funk to the floor in a mash-up of popping, locking, breaking and freestyle. Showcase performances by the DC Rockers and beat-boxer K-Fuzz, the night of beats and breaks is hosted by legendary B-Boy, MC, graffiti writer and activist, Nick Power. Book Now >> When His Watch Stopped, Studio Friday 20th to Saturday 21st August 2010 A beautiful and moving story about the conflict of war, When His Watch Stopped is simply and specifically told for children. A newly married couple are forced to part at the outbreak of war, accompanied by the ticking sounds of a watch - their parting gift to each other. Their separate journeys are followed from life, to death, to the final ticking of the watch. Combining symbolic rendering, pantomime style theatre and imaginative use of photographs, this is a beautiful story narrated by three performers. This interactive production expands the realm of children’s theatre providing an opportunity to vocalise their thoughts on the weighty issue of war. Book Now >> After Hours at the Dinosaurs' Museum, Museum & Art Gallery of the NT Friday 20th - Monday 23rd August 2010 Take an exclusive, sneak peak into what really happens after hours at the Museum – when the grown-ups have gone home!  Journey through prehistoric Australian history with a fascinating selection of dinosaurs and creatures. As well as learning about the science, ecology and animal husbandry of these prehistoric beings, children will receive an exclusive kids-only behind the scenes tour, guided by torchlight and accompanied by the dinosaurs and their keepers from Erth Visual and Physical Theatre. Funny, informative, and sometimes a little bit scary, this is an unforgettable experience, opening a whole new world of imagination as you see museum collections in a new light! Book Now >> Mandinka Sound, The Amphitheatre Intimate 7:30pm Saturday 21st August 2010 Tracing West African culture in contemporary Australia back to its roots in the ancient Mandinka Empire features two extraordinarily talented Melbourne West African acts, Muhanamwé and One Africa. Book Now >> Darwin Rondalla, Mandorah Beach Hotel 7:30pm Saturday 21st August 2010 In 1993, the world premiere of Gary Lee’s landmark play Keep Him My Heart was performed at Darwin Festival in what is widely acknowledged as a legendary occasion in the rich history of NT theatre. Now, seventeen years later, extracts of the famed Larrakia-Filipino love story will accompany the inimitable Darwin Rondalla, re-found and re-formed for the occasion. Book Now >> Peter Helliar, The Dreamboat Tour, The Lighthouse 9:30pm Saturday 21st & 7:00pm Sunday 22nd August 2010 The veteran of live comedy has been dragged from the tellie, back onto the stage for his first stand-up shows in two years. After sold-out shows in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne, Peter Helliar comes to Darwin. Find out why audiences adore this master of laidback, outrageously effortless comedy. Book Now >> The Man in Black, Gardens Amphitheatre 7:30pm Sunday 22nd August 2010 Electrifying Australian rocker Tex Perkins celebrates the legend of one of the most successful singers, songwriters and entertainers to ever grace the stage - country music superstar - Johnny Cash. Joined by the Tennessee Four plus Rachel Tidd as June Carter, Tex brings the hard-living, hell-raising country legend to life. Book Now >> Shellie Morris, The Lighthouse 9:00pm Sunday 22nd & 9:15pm Tuesday 24th August 2010 Indigenous chanteuse Shellie Morris performs her achingly beautiful melodies and earthy honest lyrics with passion and emotion that will lift the spirits and lighten the heart. She has performed across the globe from rural outback Australia to London Festival Hall and the Sydney Opera House to great acclaim, and now for her hometown audience, performs a delightful mix of storytelling and song. Book Now >> Head Full of Love, Brown's Mart Theatre Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th August 2010 The renowned Alice Springs Beanie Festival is an annual pilgrimage for women as diverse and distant as the Anangu and Tjanpi weavers and western women from all over the world. Often with no language in common, stories and skills are somehow shared, artistic rivalries played out and the distance between two worlds diminished. Head Full of Love takes us into some of those extraordinary new friendships. Written by Alana Valentine in verbatim style and directed by Wesley Enoch, audiences will experience the themes of triumph over adversity, cultural exchange and reconciliation.  Book Now >> The Java Quartet, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th August 2010 Comprising some of Australia’s jazz pedigree including Karma County’s double bassist Michael Galeazzi, Mike Quigley on drums, Greg Coffin on piano and Matthew Ottignon on sax, The Java Quartet is purely defined by hypnotic grooves, melodic invention and immersive improvisation, all with a generous dash a contemporary flair. Book Now >> David Helfgott, Playhouse 8:00pm Tuesday 24th August 2010 David Helfgott, one of the world’s highly treasured classical pianists and the inspiration for the Oscar and Academy award-winning film Shine, performs live in concert. David will perform works by eminent romantic composers including Rachmaninov, Liszt and Chopin plus his dazzling interpretation of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Flight of the Bumblebee. Book Now >> Nan Jombang, Studio 7:30pm Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th August 2010 Presenting a stunning double bill, Nan Jombang Dance Company from the Sumatran capital of Padang, bravely seeks to express their region’s ancient traditions. Choreographer Ery Mefri’s work with Nan Jombang is internationally distinguished for exceptional elegance and physical prowess. Book Now >> Darwin vs Matilda Live Radio Play, The Lighthouse 9:15pm Wednesday 25th August 2010 At the turn of last century, a cyclone sweeps through Darwin and mysterious strangers arrive, peddling healing elixirs and mystic oddities from foreign lands.  This market troupe of damned souls exists only within the eye of the storm; rife with bizarre obsession and mesmerising allure. Darwin vs Matilda is a live radio play performed by Mr Delvin Pinkus and the New Time Radio Orchestra. Book Now >> Leah Flanagan Album Launch, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Thursday 26th August 2010 Launching her second album Nirvana Nights for her hometown audience, Leah Flanagan performs her unique blend of rootsy folk with underscores of smooth jazz. Book Now >> Five Elements, The Lighthouse 9:15pm Thursday 26th August 2010 A powerfully intoxicating cross cultural blend of music, percussion and dance, a unique fusion of South Indian Carnatic tradition, Western Jazz and Indigenous Australian didjeridu. Rich in power, beauty and originality, the dynamic and breathtaking musical virtuosity displayed is dazzling. Indian classical masters with traditional Indian instruments, Australian Jazz greats and a rising Indigenous music star, combine to present an evening of musical intrigue and delight. Book Now >> Ngurru-milmarramiriw (Wrong Skin), Playhouse Friday 27th - Saturday 28th August 2010 Elcho Island’s You Tube sensation, The Chooky Dancers, have transported their talents from the broken asphalt of the Galiwinku Saturday night disco to major concert hall stages across Australia. Now, after a highly successful season in Adelaide and Melbourne, they perform close to home before they appear at the Sydney Opera House. Created with multi-award-winning theatre director Nigel Jamieson, the Chooky Dancers fuse traditional culture, dance, film and humour with their cacophony of daily influences. Ngurru-milmarramiriw (Wrong Skin) is Romeo and Juliet on Elcho – a modern-day story of forbidden love in a community where the complex laws of ‘skin’ define relationships. In memory of Frank. Book Now >> The League of Sideshow Superstars, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Friday 27th & 9:15pm Saturday 28th August 2010 More of a superhuman event than a show, this collection of elite artists represents all that is great in the spectacle of sideshow. Featuring a pumping soundtrack and pioneering stunts, this will be one radical party. Be brave… Book Now >> Worldfly - A Music NT Showcase, The Lighthouse 9:15pm Friday 27th August 2010 Back home again, Worldfly play the Darwin Festival stage before they head to Europe on tour. The night will also feature a special Triple J Unearthed showcase act. Visit www.musicnt.com.au for details. Book Now >> i-Moves, Studio 6:00pm Saturday 28th August 2010 Highlighting the latest in NT contemporary dance, i-Moves features two new dance works by Darwin’s Sunameke and Alex Jordan with the Darwin Dance Collective.  Plus, Alice Springs favourite The Dusty Feet Collective.  i-Moves (Independent Movers) is an Ausdance NT initiative presenting choreographic works by selected artists and giving audiences an up-to-the-minute picture of the vibrant and rapidly expanding contemporary dance scene in the NT. Book Now >> Jess Ribeiro, The Lighthouse 7:00pm Saturday 28th August 2010 Revealing their bittersweet musical roots, Jess Ribeiro and multi instrumentalist Rob Law from The Bone Collectors, forge the path for the rising tide of national interest in their new debut album. Known for her smooth, simple and honest music; Jess encompasses dark country, olden jazz, twinkling ballads and rowdy roadhouse grooves into one harmonious package. Book Now >> Indigenous Music Awards, Gardens Amphitheatre 7:00pm Saturday 28th August 2010 Widely acclaimed for discovering, promoting and launching many careers, the NT Indigenous Music Awards are a beacon on the national music scene. This year’s concert features Arnhem Land rock-stars Saltwater Band, Tableland Drifters, country music legend Warren H Williams and the crowd favourite Ali Mills as MC. Book Now >> John Butler Trio & Guests, Gardens Amphitheatre 7:30pm Sunday 29th August 2010 Cherished fans need wait no longer as we're pleased to announce that JBT has added an extra date to their global April Uprising tour - they're coming to Darwin! Fresh and furious, Darwin is the first port of call for what promises to be a concert of signature roots and rock influences. Book Now >> Club Sunshine, The Lighthouse 9:15pm Sunday 29th August 2010 In post-war Darwin during the forties and fifties, a rich and culturally diverse music and dance scene emerged out of The Sunshine Club - a monthly dance hall housed in the ex-army 118 Parap Town Camp - now Stuart Park. Join Ali Mills and members of the Top End Folk Club on the closing night of the festival for a glorious celebration, reminiscent of the days of old Darwin.  Book Now >> The Best of Chopper @ The Darwin Comedy Club, Old Town Hall Ruins 8:00pm Thursday 2nd, Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th September 2010 Sit up straight and pay attention….Uncle Chop Chop is coming to Darwin Comedy Club in September with his ‘Best Of’ show. After 2009's record sell-out success, ‘Harden the F**k Up Australia’, Heath Franklin's Chopper (C4's The Ronnie Johns Half Hour) is back, head-butting his way across the country, tackling an issue bigger than world poverty or climate change…..eradicating the terminally stupid. From the creative mind who gave you cutting off peoples toes for money, headbutting mothers and lots of f-words comes a new show about deadsh*ts and the people who hate them. So, donate today, help Chopper help you 'Make Deadsh*ts History'. Book Now >> 2010 NT Natural Titles, Playhouse 1:00pm Saturday 4th September 2010 Get set to see the finest looking, ripped to the bone, muscular NATURAL physique bodies to ever hit the Top End! The Northern Territory Government and Southern Cross Television proudly present the 2010 NT Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness Titles. This sporting event is the only truly natural bodybuilding and fitness competition where every competitor is drug tested. So come and support the NT’s top natural physiques vying for their place to represent their Territory at the National Titles in Sydney in October 2010 and then onto the World Titles in New York. Book Now >> Australia China Friendship Society - Multicultural Dancing Night, Playhouse 7:30pm Sunday 5th September 2010 The Multicultural Dancing night is organised by the Australia China Friendship Society dancing team. The team is coached by the very talented and professional dancing instructor Jiang Ping Li (Lisa). Other ethnic groups in Darwin are also invited to perform their cultural dances on the evening. The night will feature many beautiful cultural dances from a range of ethnic groups accompanied by beautiful music and colourful costumes. Book Now >> Circus Oz, Playhouse 7:30pm Wednesday 15th - Saturday 18th & 1:30pm Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th September 2010 Australia’s masters of contemporary circus return to the stage with a brand new show for 2010 – simply entitled Circus Oz 2010. This show’s ‘steampunk’ aesthetic takes a backward glance at the circus of yore, with a style that evokes the Victorian era and some traditional circus tricks to suit. But it wouldn’t be Circus Oz without some contemporary twists – kangaroos hopping through the audience, wheelchair-bound geriatrics up palm trees, and, of course, a live band pumping out fabulous and zany music.  Book Now >> Twelfth Night, Playhouse 11:00am & 8:00pm Friday 24th September 2010 “If music be the food of love, play on!" So declares the lovelorn Duke Orsino in the famous opening lines of Twelfth Night, as he pines for the lady Olivia. Max Cullen heads a brilliant cast in Bell Shakespeare’s production of one of the bard’s best-loved comedies, full of twists and turns and gender-bending mayhem. A tender sense of hope suffuses the climax of the play as lovers are united and families re-united – but poor Malvolio might have to content himself with cakes and ale. Book Now >> Powderfinger - Sunsets Tour with special guests JET, Gardens Amphitheatre 6:00pm Sunday 26th September 2010 Powderfinger, Australia’s biggest band, has announced details of their most extensive Australian tour to date together with the news that they will be disbanding following the tour. This will be Powderfinger’s first major national tour since the hugely successful Across the Great Divide tour with Silverchair almost 3 years ago. The Sunsets tour will include shows in 21 different cities across every state and territory and be stretched over a seven week period from early September through to late October. Joined by old friends JET, this will be Darwin's last chance to see these giants of Australian music live! Book Now >> Austen Tayshus @ The Darwin Comedy Club, Old Town Hall Ruins 8:00pm Thursday 30th September, Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd October 2010 Since Austen Tayshus first came to our attention in 1981 he has performed all over Australia, the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, New York and Asia. In 1983 he released the highest selling Australian single of all time ‘Australiana’, selling over 200,000 copies and going double platinum. In 1997, Austen wrote and starred in Intolerance, a film based on a true experience that developed into one of his stage routines. Famous for his gritty, hard hitting, hilarious shows, Austen Tayshus is a real legend of Aussie Comedy. Book Now >> Smart Schools Awards 2010, Darwin Convention Centre 6:30pm Saturday 9th October 2010 Get your tickets now to the inaugural Smart Schools Awards! Outstanding achievements are happening in schools across the Territory every day, and the Department of Education and Training want to share them with you. The Smart Schools Awards will showcase excellence in education, recognising quality and performance in our Territory schools. This event includes a gala three course dinner with drinks, presentations and local Territory entertainment. Don’t miss this opportunity to share with the education community the success and achievements of your local school! Book Now >> 2010 Dancing with the Celebrities Ball, Skyline Pavilion, Darwin Turf Club 6:30pm Saturday 9th October 2010 Total Recreation will host its fourth Dancing With The Celebrities Ball in 2010. The Ball features members of Total Recreation paired with local celebrities in a dance competition and is a great chance for members to enhance their skills in a new activity and strengthen communication skills with respected members of the Northern Territory community. It is as much an opportunity for members to showcase their talents as it is about fundraising. And rest assured, our Total Recreation members are a lot lighter on their feet than some of our celebrities!! Come jive with us! Book Now >> Smokie, Live in Concert, Playhouse 8:00pm Friday 12th & Saturday 13th November 2010 The internationally successful British rock ‘n’ roll band Smokie will be touring Australia for the first time ever this November!  Their landmark ballad of unrequited love, Living next door to Alice was released in 1976 and Australia quickly embraced the song, sending it soaring up the charts.  With chart-topping hits like ‘Lay Back in the Arms of Someone’ and ‘If You Think You Know How to Love Me’ and constant tours of the UK and Europe, Smokie is one of the most popular bands in the world today. Book Now >> top^