STRINGS OF MYTH Myth and music intertwine in The Unbroken Thread CRACKIN' COMEDY FEAST
TOWN LOUD Darwin Street Art Festival celebrates its 10th edition
CREATIONS OF THE CREEK
YOUTH ART EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION DATES: 12 - 27 JUNE 2026
Celebrate our urban creeks through the eyes of local young people in this vibrant exhibition. A collection inspired by the textures, wildlife and stories of our waterways.
Untitled GalleryDarwin Community Arts OPENING NIGHT: From 5.30pm Friday 12th June 2026. Celebrate the exhibition with refreshments.
ED'S LETTER
IT'S BEEN FUN taking the reins of Acting Editor for the production of the June edition while Tierney has been living it up in Paris, enjoying croissants, fromage and Champagne.
Back here in the Top End, the Dry season has well and truly arrived, and with it comes the kind of month that makes Darwin feel especially alive.
Across this edition, you’ll find everything from the roaring engines of the Betr Darwin Triple Crown to the colourful celebrations of Darwin Street Art Festival’s 10th edition, alongside an orchestra under the stars, comedy roadshows, and performances that invite audiences to slow down, listen and connect.
One of my favourite things about June in Darwin is the contrast. One night might have you dancing along to Bollywood hits or revisiting the music of Michael Jackson, while the next sees you sitting on the creekside for a deep listening experience surrounded by nature. There’s always something unexpected waiting around the corner.
You’ll also find stories celebrating culture, memory and creativity throughout the issue, from the moving multidisciplinary work of The Unbroken Thread to the buzzing atmosphere of the Green Ant Craft Fair, and the NT Art Award. There’s plenty happening in the Red Centre too, where comedian Dave
Hughes brings his new show, Cooked. Melbourne’s biggest comedy festival is on the road and heads to Alice Springs to deliver hot and tasty comic treats.
It’s a reminder that creativity in the Top End doesn’t sit still – it spills into laneways, parks, galleries and theatres shaped by the people who call this place home.
And honestly, that sense of community is what makes putting this magazine together so special. Every event, exhibition and performance carries its own personality, but together they create the rhythms of the Dry season – busy, vibrant and impossible to stay home for.
You’ll probably be able to catch me at the Green Ant Craft Fair buying more handmade earrings than I need.
I’ll be handing things back over to Tierney for the July edition, ahead of another exciting edition to hit the stands.
Until then, I hope this issue inspires you to get out there, try something new, and make the most of everything June has to offer.
See you out and about!
THIS EDISH
FEATURE 4
AROUND TOWN 5
PERFORMING ARTS 7
EXPLORE 14
BOOKS & FILM 15
VISUAL ARTS 16
MUSIC 20
GET IN TOUCH editor@offtheleash.net.au
08 8941 7413
GPO BOX 2325, Darwin NT 0801
THANK YOU TO OFF THE LEASH PARTNERS
TEAM OFF THE LEASH
Tierney White Managing Editor & Development Manager
Brooke Gibbs Assistant Editor
Jonathan Munro Graphic Designer
Contributors
Rosie Wild & Lisa Pellegrino
Jenna Hoare Copywriter
OUR COVER Darwin Street Art Festival
Image: George Goodnow by KAFF-EINE
This edition may contain the names, images, artworks and stories of people who have passed away. Please read with care.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Off The Leash Inc. acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.
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Darwin’s walls have always had stories to tell, but for the past decade, they’ve been speaking louder than ever.
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
IMAGES CHARLIE BLISS
THE TOWN LOUD PAINT
THIS YEAR MARKS the 10th edition of Darwin Street Art Festival (DSAF), a milestone moment for a project that has transformed the city into an open-air gallery. What began as a bold idea from Proper Creative Director David Collins, has grown into one of the Northern Territory’s most recognisable cultural events, drawing artists, locals and visitors into laneways, carparks and unexpected corners of the CBD.
Collins says Darwin is where he learned to love art and learned how to paint. Surrounded by buildings, he always dreamt of painting them.
“Communities have embraced it, and it’s become part of Darwin’s identity,” says Collins.
“It started off as a revitalised city project and now, when you talk about Darwin, it’s part of what you do when you come here. We really needed that colour.”
Over the years, DSAF has delivered more than 1500 large-scale works across the city, turning blank walls into landmarks and helping shape Darwin’s visual identity. From bold portraits to intricate abstract pieces, each mural adds another layer to the city’s evolving story.
For its 10th edition, the festival isn’t just looking forward – it’s taking a moment to reflect, particularly on the influence from Broadcaster and Artist Ivor Cole.
“Cole paved the way for more spaces to be opened up in the city for people to paint graffiti and mural art,” says Collins.
“He was an early supporter of this art form.”
This year’s program leans into that connection, with a mix of returning artists. Expect live painting sessions where you can watch murals come to life in real time, artist talks that unpack the stories behind the works, and interactive workshops designed
to bring the community into the creative process.
To celebrate its 10th edition, the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art hosts a public exhibition, MARKED: Tracing Modern Murals and Graffiti Culture in the Northern Territory, that documents the history of modern murals and graffiti across the NT.
Off Cuts, one of Darwin’s favourite community art exhibitions, also returns as DSAF teams up yet again with Chapman & Bailey and Qubit to host the 20th edition of Off Cuts.
There’s a renewed focus on showcasing Northern Territory talent. For local artist Caleb Dude, that impact is real.
“I started with DSAF when I was in Year 12, and I was able to meet other artists across the globe, which is the most important thing,” he says.
“It’s a really fun time. I love doing paintings, but the culture the DSAF team creates makes me excited to do it again. It’s also about the creative license DSAF gives you where you’re not catering to a brand identity like if you were painting a mural in a cafe.”
That visibility is especially important in a place like the Territory, where distance can often be a barrier to national exposure.
“It shows me that it is possible and I can contribute to my city,
while rubbing shoulders with people who have made it work. It inspires me to keep going,” Dude says.
With 70 percent of local artists involved, Collins says the festival has given Darwin artists more exposure for their work to be seen.
“We’ve had local artists go on to paint at festivals overseas and interstate, which puts us on the map as a destination and a place where artists come from,” he says.
“We wanted it to build capacity and we wanted to share Darwin artists’ skills and stories with the world.”
That’s perhaps the festival’s greatest strength – its ability to balance global influence with local identity. While interstate and international artists bring fresh perspectives, the heart of DSAF remains firmly rooted in Darwin.
As the city shifts and grows, so too do its walls – each mural capturing a moment in time, a voice, a feeling.
10 years in, DSAF isn’t just an event – it’s a living archive of Darwin’s creative spirit. So next time you’re wandering the streets, look up. The gallery’s bigger than you think.
FULL THROTTLE IN THE NT
There’s a moment in Darwin’s Dry season when the city shifts gears. The humidity drops, the skies sharpen into that endless Top End blue and out at Hidden Valley, engines start to rumble.
ENTER THE BETR Darwin Triple Crown, a three-day, full-throttle celebration where high-speed sport collides with culture, community and unmistakable Territory energy.
Since roaring into the Top End back in 1998, the event has carved out a reputation as one of the most iconic stops on the circuit. It’s where die-hard motorsport fans, curious first-timers and interstate visitors gather trackside, soaking up the kind of atmosphere only Darwin can deliver.
ANTSY FOR ART
There’s something uniquely Darwin about wandering through rows of handmade treasures while balancing an iced coffee in one hand and locally made art in the other.
David Reynolds, who is now the oldest driver on the grid after making his Supercars debut in 2007, and winning a Darwin race in 2015 and 2018, says the Triple Crown is one of his favourite events on the Supercars calendar.
“It has a very good layout with a nice flow to it. It’s enjoyable to drive,” he says.
2026 shifts things up a gear. For the first time, fans can catch competitive Supercars action across all three days, with the introduction of a Friday sprint race.
With a revamped format featuring a 100km Friday race followed by longer, strategy-driven contests across Saturday and Sunday, there
are more opportunities than ever for drivers to chase glory.
Travelling from a colder climate, Reynolds says the Darwin heat plays the biggest role in this race.
“The tyres get overheated – they have a working window temperature and it always exceeds that in these races,” he says.
“We’re constantly trying to do things to the car to get the temperature out of the tyres and adapt to drive, so I’ll just try and drive it differently, but the other thing is the heat itself in the car. The Sunday race is generally about two hours long, so it’s very, very hot for us.”
And while the cars might be the headline act, the experience goes far beyond the track, with live entertainment, food vendors, and family-friendly zones that keep the action rolling between headline races.
While Reynolds says he’s here to win races and perform at his best, the community support is what really drives him.
“The on-track activity and the hype around it, generally the energy around the track people, the locals – they seem to really get behind us and that helps us do our job through the day,” he says.
“The more energy we get from the crowd, we seem to perform better. It’s one of the best weekends out of the whole year for us Supercar people.”
The Transporter Convoy explodes into action on Wednesday 17, delivering the longest convoy Darwin has ever seen, with every Supercars and Super2 transporter rolling out to Palmerston before making its way into Darwin City.
25 supercars drive into the city and park up on Thursday 18 where drivers do a signing for fans.
Betr Darwin Triple Crown
WHEN FRI 19 JUN - SUN 21 JUN AT HIDDEN VALLEY RACEWAY COST $55-$350 INFO darwinsupercars.com.au
SOMEWHERE NEARBY, KIDS are covered in face paint, local artists swap stories across stalls, and somebody (me) is absolutely convincing themselves they need another pair of handmade earrings. This is the joyful chaos of the Green Ant Craft Fair – a beloved institution that has evolved into one of Darwin’s biggest celebrations of creativity, community and all things locally made.
What began as a familiar community craft fair has transformed in recent years into a vibrant, professionally curated event with serious festival energy. Now held at the Darwin Ski Club, the Green Ant Craft Fair has grown into a large-scale showcase featuring more than 150 stalls packed with handmade goods, artisan products, creative workshops, food vendors and enough colourful market browsing to fill an entire day.
But despite the glow-up, the heart of the fair remains unmistakably local. The Green Ant Craft Fair is less about polished perfection and more about creative personality – the kind you can only really find in Darwin. One stall might
feature First Nations artwork, the next handmade ceramics, quirky fashion pieces, homemade jams, candles that smell like Wet season storms, or jewellery assembled with the kind of detail that makes you wonder how anyone has the patience. It’s the sort of place where every item comes with a story, and every stall holder seems genuinely excited to tell it.
There’s also something refreshing about an event that actively champions Territory makers at a time when online shopping and mass-produced products dominate almost everything. The Green Ant Craft Fair offers the opposite experiences – slow browsing, face-to-face conversations and the satisfying feeling of buying directly from the person who created the thing you’re taking home.
For emerging artists and small businesses, the fair has become an important launchpad. It’s a rare opportunity for local creatives to connect directly with huge audiences, build visibility and turn passion projects into thriving side hustles or full-time ventures. In many ways, the event reflects the broader creative spirit of Darwin itself – independent, colourful,
slightly chaotic and fuelled by community support.
There’s also a certain unpredictability to the experience that keeps people coming back. You might arrive intending to buy one thoughtful gift and leave with handmade skincare, three art prints, a woven basket, gourmet chilli sauce and an existential need to redecorate your entire house in local artisan chic. Honestly, that’s part of the magic.
The Green Ant Craft Fair isn’t just about shopping. It’s about discovering the creativity thriving quietly across the Territory and celebrating the people brave enough to make things by hand. Messy, vibrant and wonderfully Darwin, it’s proof that creativity here isn’t confined to galleries. Sometimes it lives under market tents with fairy lights and the smell of fresh laksa drifting through the air.
Green Ant Craft Fair
WHEN SUN 21 JUN | 8AM-3PM AT DARWIN SKI CLUB COST FREE - $5 INFO greenantcraftfair.com
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
WHAT'S ON
TOP END
Collage Club
Collage Club is a monthly art class for adults, perfect for unwinding and getting creative. Each session includes a short preso, time to make your own collages, and the chance to share your work. All materials provided.
THU 4 JUN | 6-8.30PM
THE LAST SUPPER
$25 thelastsupper.com.au
MAGNT After Dark
Get curious with the MAGNT Education team for an excursion after dark. Wander through the Monsoon Garden, alive with freshwater critters, and explore the Natural Science Gallery to discover the fossils and bones on display.
FRI 5 JUN | 5-9PM
MAGNT FREE magnt.net.au
Op Shop Social Club Tour
Head along with friends or meet new people while discovering Darwin’s best op shops. Pick-up a pre-loved bargain, get styling tips and take a break for a coffee or a cheeky cocktail along the way.
SAT 6 & 20 JUN | 1.30-4PM 1 SEARCY STREET
$79 opshopsocialclub.setmore.com
Paver with Glass Mosaics
Over three Sundays, learn to design and make a unique 30x30cm mosaic glass paver – a creative gift idea or a new skill for your home.
SUN 7, 14 & 21 JUN | 9AM-1PM
TACTILE ARTS STUDIOS
$220 | $200 MEMB tactilearts.org.au
Ladies Meet Up
Connect with new people in Darwin and build lasting friendships in a warm, inclusive atmosphere at the Ladies Meet-Up. Whether you're new in town or simply want a fun night out, come on down!
THU 11 JUN | 6-7PM
THE LAST SUPPER
$10 THE LAST SUPPER
Babes & Lunch
Step into a retro pin-up dream at Babes & Bottomless Pizza. Enjoy two hours of bottomless pizza, throwback tunes and a bit of cheek. Dress up or go as you are. Hosted by Frankie Flamingo with support from Carolyn at Rumbling Hearts. All genders are welcome.
SAT 13 JUNE | 12-2.30PM
THE LAST SUPPER
$37 THE LAST SUPPER
NT City2Surf
Darwin's iconic community sports event is back with all-new courses for 2026! Choose from the 13km run, Minisurfer 4km run or walk, and Macca's Mile for the young ones. All fun run events start at the Darwin Esplanade.
SUN 14 JUN | 6-9.30AM
DARWIN ESPLANADE
$10-$65 ntcity2surf.com.au
Harmony & Humour Bar Choir
Guaranteed to lift your spirits, this unique experience blends humour and harmony for a night of pure joy. Whether you're a seasoned singer or just love to have fun, this event dishes out laughter and camaraderie in equal measure.
SUN 14 & 28 JUN | 5.30-7.30PM THE LAST SUPPER $17 thelastsupper.com.au
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Support a good cause as CEOs and community leaders from across the NT come together to sleep out to raise awareness for homelessness. Funds go towards housing, emergency relief, outreach, crisis support and aged care programs. Fundraise and sleep out.
THU 18 JUN | 6PM - FRI 19 JUN | 6AM
FANNIE BAY GAOL FREE ceosleepout.org.au
Gaming After Dark
This is a safe, action-packed and inclusive place for young people aged 12-17 to hang out and play casual setups, compete in low stakes e-sports competitions, socialise, and make new friends. No registration required, and there's free snacks!
FRI 26 JUN | 6.30-8.30PM
CASUARINA LIBRARY FREE launchdarwin.com.au
Darwin Seniors Expo
Join a vibrant community event with a festival feel – bringing together older Territorians, families and carers to connect with each other and local services at the NT’s largest event for seniors.
SAT 27 JUN | 10AM-2PM
TERRITORY NETBALL STADIUM FREE cotant.org.au
Geek Up
Meet, connect, and play D&D or join in on art workshops led by local young creatives. Snacks provided. Recommended for ages 15-25.
SUN 28 JUN | 1-4PM
CASUARINA LIBRARY FREE launchdarwin.com.au
Fruit Bat Trivia
Grab your mates for an entertaining trivia sesh that'll have you flexing those brain muscles and battling it out over questions on pop culture, history, music, and more.
EVERY TUE | 7-9PM SILKS FREE
EVERY WED | 6.30-8.30PM
BREEZES BAR & BISTRO FREE
EVERY WED | 7-9PM
BEACHFRONT HOTEL FREE facebook.com/danielleandrewscomedy
Drag Queens Bingo
Round up your pals and head to Zen Rooftop Lounge for an evening of bingo, hosted by the fabulous Sherri Lee Volua. Expect laughs, prizes, music and a whole lot of personality.
EVERY WED | 6.30-9PM
ZEN ROOFTOP LOUNGE
$20 facebook.com/dragqueensnt
Musical Bingo
Join your host, Danielle, for a fun session of musical bingo. Instead of numbers, players listen to snippets of popular songs and mark them off their cards. Bingo!
EVERY THU | 6.30-8.30PM
BREEZES BAR & BISTRO FREE
MIND & BODY
Club Tropical Milonga
Enjoy an evening of social dancing with local Northern Tango community of dancers. Come early to enjoy dinner at the venue before dancing the night away.
SAT 13 JUN | 7-11PM
CLUB TROPICAL RESORT
FREE northerntango.com.au
End of Month Milonga
A milonga is a social dance event, often a dance party, where people gather to enjoy tango and milonga. Join the fun and tango the night away!
FRI 26 JUN | 8-11PM
COCONUT GROVE COMMUNITY HALL $10
northerntango.com.au
Chanting the Yoga Sūtras for Inner Peace
Take part in a gentle four-week Yoga Sūtra chanting workshop, designed to support inner peace and emotional balance. Guided by experienced teacher Ryoko Jones, explore simple Sanskrit chants, reflection, and meditation.
EVERY SAT | 12.15-1.30PM
AGOY YOGA
$140-$160 agoyyoga.com.au
Kirtan Meditation
Kirtan is a form of meditation that taps into music and mantras for a fully immersive experience. Find respite from the day-to-day grind of life! No experience is necessary.
EVERY SUN | 5-7PM
NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY CENTRE BY DONATION asmy.org.au
Mums and Bubs Pilates
EVERY MON | 10-11AM
RICH LIFE HEALTH & FITNESS
$15 | FREE MEMB rlhf.com.au
Sunset Yoga
Unwind with sunset yoga overlooking Cullen Bay beach. Move through a gentle flow class to relax the body and mind. Bring your own mat or hire one. All abilities are welcome.
EVERY TUE & WED | 6-7PM
RICH LIFE HEALTH & FITNESS
$20 | $18 SEN | FREE MEMB rlhf.com.au
Vinyasa Flow at the Waterfront
A dynamic 60-minute practice that links breath with movement. Perfect for building strength, flexibility, and focus as the sun rises. Class is open to all levels. Bring your mat and a water bottle.
EVERY WED | 6.30-7.30AM
DARWIN WATERFRONT
$8 | FREE MEMB waterfront.nt.gov.au
Senior Pilates
Move with confidence, build strength, and reconnect with your body in a way that supports you. This class is for adults 50+ who want to stay mobile, improve balance, support their joints and feel better in everyday life.
EVERY WED | 9-10AM
DARWIN WATERFRONT
$8 | FREE MEMB waterfront.nt.gov.au
InVogue Dancing
Pop on your dancing shoes and enjoy a weekly mix of standard ballroom and Latin American sequence dances. Everyone’s welcome, and it’s senior-friendly, with tea and coffee provided.
EVERY FRI | 10AM-12PM
NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY CENTRE
$8 facebook.com/invoguedancing
Movement Medicine
Welcome your Sunday with a bit of movement medicine. Go on a dance journey with no steps or routine – just immerse yourself in the rhythms and melodies and let the movement unfold.
EVERY SUN | 10-11.30AM
$20
NIGHTCLIFF COMMUNITY CENTRE schoolofmovementmedicine.com
Breathwork and Meditation
EVERY SUN | 11.15AM-12.30PM
RICH LIFE HEALTH & FITNESS
$20 | $18 SEN | FREE MEMB rlhf.com.au
RED CENTRE
Todd Mall Markets
Soak up the atmosphere at the Todd Mall Markets where local makers, artists and food vendors bring the town centre to life. Browse handmade crafts, fresh produce and unique gifts while enjoying live music and a relaxed Sunday morning vibe.
SUN 14 & 21 JUN | 9AM-1PM
ALICE SPRINGS TOWN COUNCIL LAWNS FREE toddmallmarkets.com.au
Bindi Enterprises
Discover a new skill with the chance to create digital artwork and transform it into fabric repeats. Open to all levels, the class fosters creativity, inclusivity and provides disability support.
An introduction to different elements of contemporary dance practice including technique, improvisation, learning choreography, sharing space with other bodies, and getting all your bones and muscles moving!
EVERY TUE | 6-7.15PM GUTS STUDIO
$20 | $160 CLASS PASS gutsdance.org.au
Pub Brew Trivia Night
Round up your mates and put those noggins to good use at this weekly trivia night. With pizza specials and happy hour if you scoot in a bit earlier, it’s a sweet way to spend a Thursday.
EVERY THU | 5PM HAPPY HOUR | 7.30PM TRIVIA
ALICE SPRINGS BREWING CO alicespringsbrewingco.com.au
NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT
Unwrap a story of family, greed and gift-giving. The Present opens to audiences this June at Brown's Mart Theatre.
WORDS LISA PELLEGRINO IMAGE DAN GRANT
THERE ARE TWO types of people in this world – those who love gifts, and those who think they're absolute trash!
Friends (and theatre-makers)
Jeffrey Jay Fowler and Sarah Reuben are these two kinds of people.
You see, Sarah loves gifts. In fact, she loves everything about them.
“I love them so much,” she beams.
“I love giving them. I love receiving them.”
Jeff, on the other hand ... Well, he thinks gifts represent a materialistic, capitalist sinkhole, threatening to swallow you whole, taking your soul and your money down with it!
With two very different opinions, they did what any other odd couple would do. They wrote a play about it.
The Present debuts at Brown's Mart this June, directed by Jeffrey Jay Fowler and stars Sarah Reuben
and Will Bartolo.
“It is about a brother and sister trying to get a Christmas and Birthday present for their mother for the first time ever because their elder sister has said she's not doing it anymore,” Director Jeffrey Jay Fowler explains.
“She's not taking on the labour of being the gift buyer because their mother is consistently ungrateful for the gifts she gets but demands that they be given every year.”
This sets the backdrop to a much deeper (and very funny) tale.
The Present explores themes of greed, ritual and family with heart and humour.
Fowler says that we often try to impress people with physical objects, but this can distract us from what's really going on between people.
The story follows Petra (played by Sarah Reuben) and Troy (played by Will Bartolo) – half-twins with different fathers. It also follows a
It can be things that are really meaningful and actually reflect the relationship that you have with the person,” she says.
Fowler, on the other hand, believes that presents are much more loaded than that.
“I think when you give someone a gift, you tell them who you think they are,” he says.
“And I grew up getting a lot of gifts that were for someone else. I was given footballs and surfboards and cricket sets, things I had really never asked for.”
Jeff says he prefers connection over credit.
“It would mean so much more to me to spend time with someone and actually talk about how we feel about each other, than to give one another trinkets,” he exclaims.
I asked Jeff and Sarah what were the worst gifts they had ever received.
“My sister gave me a voucher for a half-hour massage ... from her ... which had an expiry date!” Rueben laughs. “She was doing a massage course at the time but still ... half an hour with an expiry date?! Get a grip!” Burn.
Sarah never actually received that massage. Double burn.
Jeff laughs to himself as he remembers his worst gift – ugly, dorky clothing. It hurt him deeply. Mainly because he was shocked that someone thought he would wear such a thing.
And the best present? Surprisingly, they had the same answer for once ... a Thermomix!
and son with unresolvable trust issues, a man with a rare gene that makes him extra tasty to sharks and his long-lost daughter who loves the beach.
The characters navigate some very important conversations. Like our desire to accumulate more and more, even when everything else is telling us not to.
For a gift-lover like Sarah Reuben, this can be hard to reconcile.
“The environment, the world ... it's dying,” Reuben says.
“And the world is full of so much junk. It's suffocating, yet we just keep buying more and more. Why do we just sit there blankly and watch the world fill up with junk and why do we want things?”
Instead of ridding the world of gifts, Reuben offers an alternative solution.
“I think gifts should be really intentional and to buy things that people really want and will use … and it doesn't have to be junk.
“Thermomix changes your life,” laughs Fowler.
“It has made my life better in immeasurable ways,” Reuben agrees.
Now, unfortunately you won't receive a Thermomix when you go and see The Present, but you will take away something even better!
“Come because we're really good theatre-makers and we make really fun shows that always have a lot of heart and are very entertaining,” promises Fowler. “We want theatres to be fun and to be a great night out.”
So, treat yourself by unwrapping The Present at Brown's Mart. Co-produced by Brown’s Mart and The Last Great Hunt.
It's the best gift you could give yourself this year ... other than a Thermomix!
The Present by Jeffrey Jay Fowler & Sarah Reuben
mother
COMEDY SEASONED RIGHT
"No one knows why we're here. No one actually knows where we are. The whole thing's bizarre and magical, so just relax, smile and enjoy the silly ride that is life."
Dave Hughes (Hughesy) is a well-seasoned veteran of stand-up comedy, a mainstay of Aussie TV and radio, and a comedian who knows how to serve up live laughs like he’s shouting drinks for mates at a bar. Hughesy talks with Rosie Wild about touring to the Red Centre with his new live show, Cooked.
What classic ingredients make up life's most ‘cooked’ moments?
I would say ... surprise, emotion, pain and laughter.
On a scale of underdone to totally roasted, how ‘cooked’ is this show?
Look, I think this show’s as close to fully roasted as I've ever done. I'm completely happy with the recipe, completely happy with the bake time, and, you know, I think it tastes really good.
How did you learn to turn self-deprecating honesty into comedy?
I learned very early. My first-ever stand-up gig went terribly. I was almost never going to do it again. But I went back to the same venue seven days later and talked about how bad I was a week ago, and I got laughs.
So, from very early on, I realised my failure was the actual success that I needed. Now every time something goes wrong in my life, it turns into material. I mean, I'm not wishing wrong things to come, but when they do, they're actually gold.
Family life makes up some of the material in your show. What are their thoughts on becoming comedy content?
Luckily, my wife accepts it. I was a well-established comedian when we met, so she knew what I did and how I operated when she signed up to it.
You talk about a pretty bad injury in this show. When did you realise nearly dying would make great content?
I realised probably at the time it was happening. It was a live broadcast of a charity AFL match. I basically nearly died playing in a match that was raising money for men's health, so right away, the irony wasn’t lost on me.
What’s helped you master the game of comedy the most?
I would say remembering to forget my ego. My ego’s the thing that's caused all my suffering. I mean, I sound like I'm the Dalai Lama now, but it's true. My ego has caused all my suffering, and it's been ridiculous.
The older I get, the less I worry, which is great. We're all dead before we know it. No one knows why we're here. No one actually knows where we are. The whole thing's bizarre and magical, so just relax, smile and enjoy the silly ride that is life.
What keeps you coming back to doing live shows?
Live shows aren't work. They’re actually joyful. Given the choice, if I had to do one thing, comedy-wise, for the rest of my life, and that was all I could do, I would choose stand-up comedy 10 times out of 10.
Dave Hughes | Cooked
WHEN FRI 26 JUNE | 7PM
AT ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
COST $45-54 INFO araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
The kids had less choice in the matter. But you know what? The good thing about what I do is that they see me not taking life seriously and being able to laugh at myself. I think they're less stressed than they could be, because they see life is funny. Failing is funny.
So just have a go.
What do you hope people take with them from seeing Cooked?
I just hope people take away the fact that life is ridiculous. You actually make a choice between laughing and crying, and laughing is a much happier choice to make. So, come and see someone who decides to laugh at the silliness in his life. I’m loving doing this show, so I'm telling you, come along. You will not regret it.
A LITTLE RAY OF LAUGHTER
NZ stand-up comedian Ray O'Leary describes himself as low-energy and deadpan. And audiences cannot get enough!
The award-winning writer and comedian brings his new show to Darwin – 'I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone'. And yes ... he knows that's a really bad pun.
Lisa Pellegrino caught up with Ray for a yarn.
You are from NZ originally but Australian audiences know you well from your comedy tours and TV work. Is Australia a second home to you now?
Yes. Australia has really welcomed New Zealand comedians, including myself.
How would you describe NZ comedy? Is it its own brand? If I had to describe it in a single word, I'd probably say 'understated'. It's often very dry, very deadpan … and sarcastic ... laconic.
You said NZ comedy is dry and deadpan … That's how people describe you ... Yes, yes, I am the quintessential New Zealand comedian. So, you don't really need to go see any of the other ones. That's my marketing strategy.
And audiences love it! Yes, I think so. They keep coming back and people keep buying tickets. So, I’m forced to keep doing the show.
How would you describe your comedy to somebody who hasn’t seen you before?
Not for you. This is a mistake you're here. Get out of the venue while you still can!
I speak monotonously. I don't really laugh on stage ... or even seem to be enjoying myself. It’s like I'm trying to give a very serious TED talk but the audience keeps laughing at everything I'm saying.
You’re bringing your new show 'I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone' to Darwin. What's it about? It's sort of a summation of all the funniest thoughts and
observations I've had in the past year or so. Audiences that have come to my shows before or have seen them online, they'll know there's not necessarily a throughline or a narrative arc.
'I Can See O'Leary Now The Ray Has Gone'. You obviously love a pun. The more tortured, the better.
Yeah, the title takes a little labour to get out.
Yes. Thank you. Thank you. The labor is what I'm going for. The hope is it's just a little bit too clunky.
You’re in Darwin June 27. You’re from a small regional city called Whanganui. Darwin is a small regional city. Maybe there’s a few similarities?
It's not a competition, but I reckon the town I'm from is smaller.
Prove it. What's your town like?
Well let's see. I think there were about 40,000 people living there when I was growing up.
I’m looking at the population of Darwin. It's about 150,000160,000.
160? You see in New Zealand that would be a major, massive metropolis and it would be the economic and political hub of the country. Basically, all of society would revolve around Darwin.
If we travelled to your city, what should we do?
Well, I think I'd be remiss not to mention a tour up and down the Whanganui River.
Let’s not sell that river short, the longest navigable river. Didn't it earn the title of the Rhine of NZ at one point?
DARWIN GOES BOLLYWOOD
There’s something electric about a live performance that brings people together across generations, language and cultures. Darwin audiences are set to experience exactly that when acclaimed Indian playback singer Rimi Tomy arrives at The Playhouse for an evening bursting with music, movement and celebration.
PRESENTED BY THE Darwin Malayalee Association, the concert promises a high-energy showcase of Bollywood favourites, South Indian chart-toppers and soulful ballads, all delivered with the charisma and powerhouse vocals that have made Rimi Tomy one of India’s most beloved entertainers.
Known for her larger-than-life stage presence and infectious enthusiasm, Tomy doesn’t just perform songs – she creates a party. And honestly, Darwin feels like the perfect place for it.
Are ... are you googling this as we speak?
I actually went down a river rabbit-hole last night.
... Is this part of your research on me? Because this is an interview with me, not the Whanganui River. I can keep talking about the river, if you insist. You know it's a fascinating river actually, because it was granted a special legal status. I don't know if it's quite personhood but it was definitely given special legal recognition. I tell you what, there's not a river that's a more beautiful ocean, brown colour. Really, really brown like the ocean.
I don't know if people describe the ocean as brown but it sounds beautiful nonetheless. Well, it’s been a pleasure finding out about your river ... oh, and you of course. Actually, there is a saying in Whanganui. I won't be able to do the Maori version justice but it translates to 'I am the river and the river is me'.
So really, if you had just interviewed the river, you could have gotten just as much information about me. So good job!
Next time I'll be chatting straight to the river!
Yes, right from the rivers' mouth. Hey, that was a pun! Yes ... and not as tortured as I would like but I'll work on it.
I Can See O’Leary Now The Ray Has Gone WHEN SAT JUN 27 | 7.30 PM AT AANT CENTRE
COST $39.90
INFO yourcentre.com.au
Backed by a live band and fullstage production, the performance moves between heart-thumping dance numbers and emotional melodies, showcasing the versatility that has made Tomy a household name across India and beyond. Expect dazzling vocals, crowd interaction and the kind of atmosphere where sitting still becomes almost impossible.
For local Malayalee families, the event is also a celebration of connection and identity – a chance to see a major international artist
perform right here in Darwin. But even beyond the cultural significance, there’s a universal appeal to the night’s promise – good music, big emotions and the collective thrill of live entertainment done properly.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Rimi Tomy or simply looking for a night out that offers something vibrant and different, this is one event worth circling on the calendar. Because for one night in Darwin, the soundtrack of the city goes full Bollywood.
Rimi Tomy | Indian Musical Concert WHEN THU 30 JUN | 6.30PM AT AANT CENTRE
COST $70-$149 INFO yourcentre.com.au
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
CRACKIN’ COMEDY FEAST
Australia’s biggest comedy festival is on the road! With a curated line-up of comedy legends and fresh faces from Australia and beyond, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow heads to Darwin and Mparntwe/Alice Springs to deliver hot and tasty comic treats.
WORDS ROSIE WILD
FOR ALMOST THREE decades, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) has been touring far and wide, bringing giggles, guffaws and good times to regions right across the continent. With a terrific line-up of talent, it’s got all your comedy bases covered in a side-splitting evening event.
“Having an amazing and mixed line-up delivered to your town is a great opportunity to catch the latest performers. It’s a sense of occasion. It’s also such a fun night out,” says MICF Artistic Director, Susan Provan.
“It brings together established artists who audiences may have seen on TV … and emerging artists that people may not have ever seen before. They all bring audiences some of the best things about comedy, which is surprise material around every corner.”
This year, David Quirk hosts the MICF roadshow. Having performed stand-up since 2002, Quirk has featured regularly on national and international line-ups, appeared in a number of television comedy series, and won or been nominated for numerous awards. He’s also known for having great wit and being unconventional, so he probably feels right at home amongst Territorians.
Included in the line-up is phenomenal breakthrough comic Kate Dolan. Her rapid-fire, highenergy, off-kilter comedy is quickly gaining her a reputation not only for being loud, weird and absurd in all the best possible ways, but also for having an irrepressible star quality. Absolutely not to be missed.
The comedy festival feast also brings you Sashi Perera. She’s known for her sharp wit, unique international tales and bizarre insights. This Sri Lankan-Australian comedian, writer and recovering lawyer is now one of Australia’s fastest-rising comedians. Perera has been nominated for best newcomer, opened for Hannah Gadsby, featured on television, and sold out shows in six countries. What a legend.
In its twists and turns of comedic tastes and treasures, the MICF Roadshow also brings you the lanky comedian with the ‘80s mo, Zack Dyer. He’s punchy, quick, fast on his feet and also wonderfully silly.
And completing the line-up is award-winning Japanese comedian, Takashi Wakasugi, also known as ‘Waka’. Dedicated to finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness, Waka makes comedy that makes people happy, cooking up his own special flavour of genuine joy.
“I'm Japanese but doing comedy in Australia. So it's like cooking Japanese food but using Aussie materials. I am like Aussie beef tempura, sausage roll sushi, Vegemite miso soup, tofu lamington and Matcha Tim Tam,” says Waka.
The whole evening is set to be a fabulous comedy feast, running for just over two hours, with a 20-minute interval to refresh your bevvies and talk about all the best bits.
“I often hang around in the bar
WHAT'S ON
TOP END
Pevan & Sarah in Concert
Get ready to rock as one of Australia’s favourite edutainment duos hits the stage for their biggest tour yet, bringing a high-energy musical extravaganza. Grab your tiger ears and warm up those singing voices.
FRI 5 JUN | 10.30-10.50AM
AANT CENTRE $24 yourcentre.com.au
at interval eavesdropping and I love hearing punters say, ‘Hey, I loved X. Never seen them before and they were great!’ They will no doubt be on TV in a year or so and everyone who saw them will be able to say, ‘I saw them when they were starting out!’,” says Provan.
The evening is a great night out for anyone, including families with teen kids, who’s alright with some cheeky, comedic material recommended for people aged 15 years or older, and potential for the laughs to be served with a side of stage effects of smoke machines or hazers.
The MICF Roadshow only comes around once a year, and the feast it brings won’t be served up again. So, it’s well worth grabbing your tickets, bringing your friends and having a great night out.
Waka definitely wants you there.
“A good chef can't cook a good dish without customers. A good doctor can't operate surgery without patients. A good teacher can't teach without students. And a good comedian can’t tell jokes without an audience. Come and let’s have a great time!”
Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow
2026
WHEN WED 17 JUN | 7.30PM
AT ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
COST $45-$57
INFO araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
WHEN THU 18 JUN | 7.30PM
AT AANT CENTRE
COST $45-$50
INFO yourcentre.com.au
Craic Hole – Comedy with a Twist Craic Hole at Top Floor Comedy is one of Darwin’s most chaotic comedy nights – with a twist. One topic. New jokes. 10 comedians. One winner. Hosted by RJ Carey and Jack Russell, comedians battle it out while the audience decides the best craic. Ain’t no craic a’ lackin’ here.
SAT 6 & THU 18 JUN | 7.15-9.30PM
TOP FLOOR COMEDY
$30 topfloorcomedy.com.au
Anh Do | The Happiest Refugee Live
Anh Do's bestselling book, The Happiest Refugee, has made readers laugh and cry, and his stage show takes it a step further. Combining stand-up comedy with real-life stories, photos and filmed pieces to retell his amazing story, this show leaves the audience uplifted and quite simply experiencing ... happiness.
WED 10 JUN | 7.30-9PM
AANT CENTRE
$69.90-$74.90 yourcentre.com.au
Tracks Masterclass Series Play with tools to create movement by embodying ideas linked to mapping, including themes of recollection, place and human connection. Led by Jenelle Saunders, a dynamic dance artist, teacher, and community arts
worker, this is part of a series of five masterclasses with the Tracks Artistic Leadership Team.
SAT 13 JUN | 11.30AM-1PM
TRACKS DANCE STUDIO $55 tracksdance.com.au
Annie Louey: Live
Comedian and presenter Annie Louey (ABC TV, SBS) makes her Darwin debut with an hour of high-energy stand-up. Fresh from performing across Asia, her show blends hilarious stories, sharp crowd work, and relatable topics, showcasing why she’s one of Australia’s most exciting comedic voices.
SAT 20 JUN | 6PM
TOP FLOOR COMEDY $35 topfloorcomedydarwin.com.au
Musical Theatre Workshops
Young people aged eight to 18 years learn the fundamentals of musical theatre through workshops in a safe team-building environment. Each term offers the chance to sing, act and dance your way to a culminating performance.
EVERY TUE & THU | 4-5.30PM COCONUT GROVE COMMUNITY HALL $220 | 10-WEEK TERM stagesongdarwin.com.au
RED CENTRE
The Dirty Word is Alice Springs’ long-running open mic poetry night, the home of original poetry where spoken word, confession, satire, and truth collide. Step up or sit back – no polish required. Just bring your words.
THU 4 JUN | 6-9PM THE ROASTERY $5 DONATION reddirtpoetry.com.au
The Dirty Word
Takashi Wakasugi
Kate Dolan
Dave Quirk
DISCOVER
CENTRAL AUSTRALIA
June in the Red Centre brings crisp mornings, sun-filled days and a calendar packed with unforgettable experiences. Kicking things off is the legendary Finke Desert Race, roaring through the desert over the King’s Birthday long weekend – it’s a bucket-list experience. Later in the month, the much-loved Alice Springs Beanie Festival returns for its final year in its current format. Rock up to Araluen to admire and perhaps take home one of the colourful and quirky creations, participate in workshops and be a part of a celebration of community spirit.
Culture and entertainment continue with the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow 2026 bringing big laughs to the outback, while further north, the iconic Brunette Downs Races in Tennant Creek delivers a true-blue bush racing experience.
Beyond the events, there’s plenty to discover in town. For curious young minds, there’s no shortage of interactive museums and learning experiences. At the Central Australian Aviation Museum, visitors can explore vintage aircrafts and the story of aviation in the outback. Next, at the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Alice Springs Tourist Facility offers an opportunity to discover how planes still deliver lifesaving care to remote communities. Round out your visit at the School of the Air, where kids of all ages can learn how lessons are delivered to students living in remote areas.
History comes alive across the region, too. Take a journey back in time at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, and The Women's Museum of Australia that shares inspiring stories of trailblazing women of the past. Unwind among native flora at the Olive Pink Botanic Garden and learn the story behind its inception. For bigger adventures, go on a road trip along the Stuart Highway to learn how the early settlers’ infrastructure helped them manage life in the dry conditions.
Whether you’re visiting for an event or simply chasing adventure, June is the perfect time to experience the Red Centre at its vibrant best.
WHAT'S ON DECKCHAIR CINEMA
JERVOIS ROAD, DARWIN WATERFRONT
$20 | $16 CONC
$11 MEMB/CHILD | $47 FAM deckchaircinema.com.au
Stelios with Special Guest Christos Mastoras
Oh My Greek in partnership with the Glenti Festival present the extraordinary story of Stelios Kazantzidis. Born into a refugee family from Pontus, Stelios rose from adversity and hardship to global acclaim, becoming an iconic voice that united, comforted, and ‘spoke’ to the heart of Greek communities worldwide. Christos Mastoras is a leading Greek singer-songwriter and frontman of poprock band Melisses. Born in 1986 to a Greek minority in Albania, he has shaped modern Greek pop with charttopping hits, 23 MAD Awards, 200M+ streams, diamond singles, major venue performances, and a 2025 biopic role as Stelios Kazantzidis.
MON 1 JUN | 7PM
Emily: I Am Kam, Dadirri
This is a special double session celebrating Reconciliation Week.
Director Danielle Maclean is the special guest to present Emily: I Am Kam, which is followed by
MAYPILAMA: KEEL LINE OF CREATION
On a remote Yolŋu island, Elder Läwurrpa Maypilama leads a bold mission to return birthing to Country through the djäkamirr project. Joined by midwife Sarah and filmmaker Pat, she confronts colonial barriers and law, forging a powerful story of sovereignty, women’s strength, and cultural renewal shaping the future.
THU 25 JUNE | 6.45PM
Q&A PANEL AFTER THE FILM deckchaircinema.com.au
a screening of Dadirri. Emily: I Am Kam is a moving portrait of a visionary First Nations artist whose work carries Country, culture and legacy onto the world stage. Dadirri captures the seasonal changes and landscape of Nauiyu and the Daly River area, with interviews from Miriam-Rose and Elders describing what Dadirri means to them and how they connect with Country.
TUE 2 JUN | 7PM
The Devil Wears Prada 2
A glamorous return to the world of Runway magazine, reuniting Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. With fresh rivalries, fashion-world spectacle and sharp workplace comedy, this sequel brings style, nostalgia and star power back to the big screen.
SUN 7 JUN | 7PM
Ocean Film Festival World Tour
Designed to mesmerise and enthral, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour is a three-hour celebration of our oceans composed of sublime footage taken above and below the water’s surface. This unique collection of short films from around the globe documents the beauty and power of the ocean, and celebrates the divers, surfers, swimmers and oceanographers who live for the sea’s salt spray, who chase the crests of waves, and who marvel at the mysteries of the big blue.
TUE 16 - WED 17 JUN | 7PM
A dazzling Australian classic about ballroom rebellion, romance and the courage to dance your own steps. Baz Luhrmann’s exuberant comedy bursts with colour, music and underdog charm, making it a joyful celebration of individuality, love and theatrical big-screen style.
SUN 28 JUN | 7PM
ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
61 LARAPINTA DRIVE, ARALUEN
$17 | $14 MEMB/CONC araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au
Pike River
Two ordinary women who, together, stand up and take on the government, justice system and a company that will stop at nothing to protect itself, after the 2010 Pike River Mine explosion claimed the lives of 29 men underground.
MON 1 JUN | 7PM
Birthright
A married couple, Cory and Jasmine, are pregnant with their first child when Cory loses his job and the couple is evicted, forcing them to move in with Cory's parents.
MON 15 JUN | 7PM
Strictly Ballroom
A TERRITORY OF TALENT
Step into a vibrant showcase of stories, cultures and creative perspectives.
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS IMAGES DAVID HANCOCK
Northern Territory Art Award
UNTIL SAT 11 JUL
AT MIDPUL ART GALLERY
COST FREE INFO darwinvisualarts.com.au
THE NORTHERN TERRITORY Art Award, led by Darwin Visual Arts (DVA), showcases the depth, diversity and brilliance of Northern Territory artists. Held every two years, the Award is open to artists and creatives across the Territory.
From traditional forms to contemporary experimentation, the exhibition captures the richness and variety of Territory creativity. Across painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media and installation, audiences can expect a collection of works that challenge, celebrate and spark conversation.
This year sees the Award expand in partnership with Charles Darwin University, with the finalists’ exhibition held at the striking new Midpul Gallery in the heart of Darwin. This fresh collaboration signals an exciting future for the Award while creating even more opportunities to showcase local artistic talent.
A total prize pool of $10,000 is awarded across four winning categories, including a People’s Choice award, inviting visitors to have their say on the standout works of the exhibition.
“One of the strongest parts of the selection process was seeing the breadth of perspectives and practices coming from across the Territory”, says Thymiandisus.
“It was exciting to see a mix of emerging voices alongside the iconic works from established local Territorian artists. There’s a real sense of confidence in this year’s submissions.”
Visitors can also join a one-hour guided tour on Sat 27 from 11am, offering a closer look at selected works. Led by Curator Ioanna Thymianidus, the tour encourages audiences to consider the materials, process and decision-making behind the artworks, encouraging viewers to look beyond first impressions and engage more deeply with the stories being told.
TACTILE ARTS
19 Conacher St, The Gardens tactilearts.org.au
THIS GRANULAR WORLD
Reality glimmers just beneath the surface — a restless dance of atoms, energy, and unseen forces. From ancient philosophy to modern science, everything — air, oceans, roots, and stars — arises through constant motion and connection. Nothing stands still – matter transforms, collides, and recombines, shaping the dynamic, ever-shifting world we inhabit. This solo exhibition by Winsome Jobling, invites viewers to explore these hidden rhythms.
PIECES OF ME: FRAGMENTS OF BELONGING
exhibition explores migration, identity, and resilience through painting and ceramics. Drawing on lived experience and cultural memory, this deeply personal body of work invites audiences to reflect on their own journeys of belonging and self-discovery.
UNTIL SAT 13 JUN
Nisita Velagapudi’s debut solo
Winsome Jobling,'Energy', 2024, handmade paper and drypoint, 85x66cm
Nisita Velagapudi, 'Brightness', 2025, textured acrylics on canvas
Ioanna Thymianidus, 'Round the Decay', 2026, raintree wood carving
ABORIGINAL BUSH TRADERS
Shop 4-5, Smith St Mall, Darwin aboriginalbushtraders.com
BEYOND EVERLASTINGS (UGUDUNGU)
Three generations of women come together to paint their collective family stories. Everlastings (Ugudungu) are daisy-like wildflowers found in Western Australia. Thriving in harsh, arid environments, they can form huge carpets of colour and appear in mass blooms after good rains.
UNTIL SAT 4 JUL
UNTITLED GALLERY + STUDIO
Unit 3/1 Clocktower Caryota Crt, Coconut Grove darwincommunityarts.org.au
CREATIONS OF THE CREEK
This exhibition celebrates urban creeks through the eyes of young people, featuring gel prints, natural sculptures, and mixed-media works. The collection showcases art inspired by the patterns, textures, wildlife, and stories of waterways that weave through our city, inspiring audiences to connect to our creeks.
QUBIT
6 Harriet Pl, Darwin City qubitgallery.com.au
OFF CUTS
One of Darwin's favourite community art exhibitions returns, as the Darwin Street Art Festival teams up yet again with Chapman & Bailey (formerly Don Whyte Framing) and Qubit to co-host the 20th edition of Off Cuts.
This small canvas, open community art exhibition invites creators to respond to the theme ‘Movement’, with profits from sales going to a local charity organisation where artists can elect to donate all or half of their sale price.
A favourite on the Top End arts calendar, it feels like the whole town shows up for the opening of this one!
UNTIL SAT 6 JUN
NCCA
Northern Centre for Contemporary Art Vimy Lane, Parap | nccart.com.au
MARKED
TRACING MODERN MURALS AND GRAFFITI CULTURE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY
This exhibition offers a snapshot of the marks people leave on surfaces across the Northern Territory. At their core, murals, graffiti, scrawls, and even signs, all share the same purpose – they are forms of communication.
Ollie Fuller and Kip Koft, 'Impressions', 2026, monoprint on paper, A4
Austin Lane (2020). Photo: Migs Ellaga
Faye Parriman, Natasha Lloyd, Celina Lloyd, Leticia Lloyd and Jessica Lloyd, 'Everlasting Wildflowers (Urdugungu), 2026, acrylic on canvas, 152x147cm
ARALUEN ARTS CENTRE
61 Larapinta Dr, Alice Springs araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au | $8, $6 Conc, $20 Fam | Free NT residents
MIDPUL ART GALLERY
54 Cavenagh St, Darwin City NT 0800 cdu.edu.au
GYRACC
Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre Lot 3238 Stuart Hwy, Katherine | gyracc.org.au
The Alice Prize is an acquisitive national contemporary art award that celebrates artists working in any medium or theme from across the nation. During its more than 50-year history, The Alice Prize has become one of the most significant national regional art prizes.
Since her solo exhibition in 1998 at the Araluen Arts Centre, Sally Mumford has spent years immersing herself in Arrernte Country. Her ongoing art practice and teaching have allowed her to connect to place, community and the sharing of stories. UNTIL MON 8 JUN UNTIL SUN 14 JUN
THIRTY-SIX VIEWS OF MPARNTWE
GILLIAN ELLET BANKS OAM: A
LIFE IN LANDSCAPE
Reflecting on the remarkable career of Gillian Banks, this major retrospective honours a pioneering contemporary Northern Territory artist whose work and contribution have shaped the cultural landscape of Katherine and the Northern Territory.
UNTIL SAT 20 JUN
Celebrate the NT Art Awards, now in its second year, showcasing NT work across diverse artistic mediums. From traditional forms to contemporary experimentation, the Awards spotlight both emerging and established Territory artists. Experience vibrant stories, cultures and perspectives in this inspiring NT creative showcase.
For the first time ever, four First Nations artworks from the National Collection are on display alongside local creations as part of the Sharing the National Collection program.
UNTIL OCT 2027
Nicholas Gouldhurst, 'Ludmilla Arson' (detail), 2026, digital photograph
Helen Tyalmuty McCarthy, 'Bush honey', 2025, synthetic polymer paint on linen Winner of The Alice Prize 2026
Sally Mumford, 'Ankerre Ankerre', graphite on paper, 112x152cm
7 Anchorage Court, Darwin outstationgallery.com.au
KUWARIPANGKA MUNGAWALURU (BEFORE SUNSET)
Outstation Gallery presents a solo exhibition by Tiwi artist Barbara Puruntatameri, in association with Jilamara Arts. Based on Melville Island, Puruntatameri is celebrated for her distinctive use of the kayimwagakimi — a carved ironwood tool traditionally used for body painting, through which she continues and reinterprets an intimate Tiwi cultural practice.
From the rocky desert country of Indulkana on the APY Lands, Iwantja Arts has long nurtured some of Australia's most compelling women painters. This exhibition features individual works and a stunning collaborative painting by Daisy Barney, Emily Cullinan and Maringka Burton, three voices deeply rooted in culture and country.
KAYIMWAGAKIMI PUPUNI
From the Tiwi Islands, just 80 kilometres north of Darwin, Ngaruwanajirri Art Centre has long been a keeper of Tiwi culture and craft. This exhibition brings together bark paintings and ironwood carvings by David Tipuamantumirri and Graham Tipungwuti.
Barbara Puruntatameri, 'Kayimwagakimi jilamara', 2026, locally sourced Earth pigments on stringyback, 154x71cm
Graham Tipunwuti, Untitled, 2026, ochre on stringybark, 105x34cm
Daisy Barney, Emily Cullinan and Maringka Burton, 'Women's Collaborative', 2025, acrylic on linen, 198x198cm
MOVIE HITS UNDER THE STARS
Lights, camera … music!
The Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is back with their Territory-famous concert under the stars, performing all your favourite movie hits.
WORDS LISA PELLEGRINO
IMAGES PAZ TASSONE
WANT TO SHAKE a tail feather and have the time of your life?
The DSO returns to the Darwin Amphitheatre with a free outdoor concert.
This year, they play songs and scores from your favourite movies.
Finally, the likes of Moana, Danny Zuko and K Pop Demon Hunters come together at last!
The all-ages concert takes place under the stars on a perfect Dry season night.
Nestled within the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, the Darwin Amphitheatre is the ultimate venue for the DSO – and for audiences too!
“We look forward to this event every year,” says an audience member from last year’s show. “It’s so incredible and just so much fun!”
Jon Tooby is the former Artistic Director of the DSO. This year, he returns as Guest Conductor.
“Every great movie has great music and you know the songs,” says Tooby.
Tooby cannot wait to catch up with all his orchestra buddies.
“The orchestra has gone from strength to strength over the years,” he beams. “It'll be lovely to see them all again and to see where they've got to and how they're going. I think they're really prospering with their Artistic Director, Richard Mills. I'm very excited to be back and a part of this.”
The 70-piece orchestra will also be accompanied by a live band, including NT singers Max Fredericks and Natalie Pellegrino.
Tooby believes that a focus on local talent is what helps make this event so special.
“It's a real celebration of Darwin, the Territory and also the artists that live and dwell in Darwin,” he says.
Each year, the event attracts around 5,000 people. Luckily, the rolling grounds of the Amphitheatre allow for plenty of room to either throw down a rug or cut a rug on the dance floor.
To add to the fun, audiences are encouraged to dress up as their favourite movie or movie character. After all, the band and orchestra will be dressing up too!
“They totally get into the occasion,” says Tooby. “You can imagine what people are going to be wearing from movie themes. It'll be amazing.”
So, what will Tooby be dressing up as?
“I'm so conflicted. We’re doing a bunch of songs from The Blues Brothers. I've got a Matrix outfit. Or a pirate? I don't know ...” he laughs.
The DSO Movie Hits Amphitheatre Concert is a free event (entry is by gold coin donation). But you are still encouraged to get tickets online to ensure you get a spot!
Don’t forget – you can bring a picnic from home or feast from the many food trucks on site.
This Dry season, roll out the red carpet for the DSO’s Movie Hits.
Movie Hits | Lights, Camera, Action, Orchestra
WHEN SAT 27 JUN | 6.30 PM AT DARWIN AMPHITHEATRE COST BY DONATION $75-$85 VIP INFO www.dso.org.au
CREEK SPEAK
THE ANSWER IS already unfolding, as part of Landcare’s Creek Connections Program. Here, sound doesn’t come from speakers or stages, but from the world itself, with the soft rush of water weaving through the creek, the layered chorus of birds overhead, and the crunch of footsteps along the bush track. It's the kind of music we’re constantly surrounded by, yet rarely take the time to truly hear.
Weaving together sound, field recordings and story to explore the rhythms and atmospheres of our waterways, Deep Listening by the Creek invites you to slow down and tune into these
often-overlooked soundscapes. The gathering offers a chance to reconnect with the natural rhythms of the waterways and the environment around us. It’s less about performance and more about presence, noticing, listening and letting the landscape guide the experience.
Curated and performed by Kuya James (James Mangohig), an ARIA-nominated artist, this gathering offers a gentle space to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the natural world. As the light softens into the evening, you’re invited to sit, lie down, draw, write, meditate, or simply be guided by a carefully curated soundscape.
STRINGS OF MYTH
Myth, memory and music intertwine in The Unbroken Thread, a new multidisciplinary work from Arafura Music Collective that invites audiences into a musical labyrinth of myth, identity and culture.
Mangohig felt inspired after some trips down to the creek to record some atmosphere.
“There was just something really powerful about just sitting next to the creek as a backdrop to other things. And I was like, I wonder what it’d be like to do a deep listening,” Mangohig says.
“The creek and nature plays another dimension to what I’m playing as far as my curation of soundscape goes.”
The birds and water foreground this deep listening experience and one thing Mangohig has noticed is that even when you hear
What if music wasn’t something you pressed play on, but something you stepped into?
The Unbroken Thread
WHEN SAT 13 JUN | 3.30-5PM AT GRAY COMMUNITY HALL
COST FREE - $25
WHEN SUN 14 JUNE | 4.15-6.15PM AT DARWIN SUPREME COURT COST FREE - $40 INFO arafuramusiccollective.org.au
planes or construction work, it’s backgrounding.
“The Wet season has only just finished, so the water is still flowing and you get this beautiful, natural water rhythm,” says Mangohig.
“It’s obviously a sound that humans do relax with because some people put on these kinds of six-to-eight-hour YouTube videos of just water flowing. So, I think people will enjoy how it’s almost like I’m DJing with the creek.”
Surrounded by other artists who draw inspiration from the Territory’s nature, Mangohig says he wants the music he plays in these environments not to be harsh.
“It’s almost like I try to be inspired by the environment and think
about what music I would make,” he says.
“I was down there yesterday afternoon and I was really thinking about how peaceful it is, so I think I want to kind of enhance that rather than try and fight against it.”
Whether you’re someone deeply connected to music or simply looking for a different way to spend an evening outdoors, this is an invitation to engage your senses in a new way.
You might just discover that music has been around you this whole time.
Deep Listening by the Creek
WHEN SUN 14 JUN | 5.30-7.30PM
AT LUDMILLA CREEK
COST $5
INFO creekconnections.org
PRESENTED DURING GLENTI month, the performance draws on Greek mythology, philosophy and oral histories to create an experience that feels both ancient and strikingly contemporary. Through live music, storytelling and movement, audiences are guided through a series of sonic chambers, each exploring ideas of heritage, resilience and belonging.
Curated by Composer Dr Peggy Polias in collaboration with Creative Director Claire Kilgariff, the program has been shaped through conversations around Kalymnian heritage and the enduring role of myth in shaping collective identity. Rather than treating mythology as something distant or static, The Unbroken Thread reimagines these stories as living, breathing forces that continue to shape contemporary culture.
The work journeys across centuries and styles. Claude Debussy’s Syrinx opens one of the
production’s earliest pathways, while the music of Georg Philipp Telemann draws audiences deeper into the ritual and sonic archaeology of the Mediterranean world. Contemporary works then illuminate the labyrinth from within, connecting ancient ideas to modern voices and experiences.
As a curator, Polias brings a concept-driven, philosophically-attuned approach, shaping programs that invite audiences into deeper thematic journeys.
“We thought about different things like religion and spirituality,” says Polias.
“We wrote the work in there that kind of explores that and just listening widely and keeping our ear to the ground and knowing that sort of surround locally.”
A centrepiece of the performance is Polias’ Melissa, a work exploring ritual, inner worlds and feminine agency. The production also features Thy Mystical Names by young Australian composer Klearhos Murphy, whose work reaches toward the mystical traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Elsewhere, guitar works by Greek composers Minas Borboudakis and Manos Hadjidakis bring warmth, lyricism and modern Hellenic identity into the mix, grounding the production in both tradition and evolution.
Before the central performance begins, members of Darwin’s Greek community perform Mihanikos, the Kalymnian sponge-diver’s dance, honouring the island’s deep-sea diving history and acts as a powerful embodiment of cultural memory.
At the heart of the program sits the world premiere of The Water Bearer, a new NT work by Polias honouring Eleni, a Kalymnian water bearer, as well as grandmothers and women across Darwin’s Greek community. It’s a tribute to strength, migration, memory and the threads that continue to connect generations across oceans and time.
“This work came out of conversations about the Claypot Water Bearer statue located in the Smith Street Mall,” says Polias.
“I think of it as an artistic image, but also as someone’s close, personal connection. I think that’s really special.”
In The Unbroken Thread, music becomes more than performance – it becomes inheritance, ritual and remembrance.
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
IMAGE PAZ TASSONE
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS IMAGE BRITT GUY
MOONWALKING THROUGH HISTORY
There are tribute shows, and then there are productions that tap into something bigger – the electricity, spectacle and cultural force of a once-in-a-generation icon.
WORDS BROOKE GIBBS
AUDIENCES AT THE Playhouse have the chance to experience exactly that when The Michael Jackson HIStory Show lands in Darwin for one unforgettable night.
Presented by AANT Centre and Showtime Australia, the touring production celebrates 30 years since Michael Jackson’s monumental HIStory world tour, recreating the sound, style and sheer theatricality that made the King of Pop a global phenomenon.
For anyone who grew up trying to perfect the moonwalk in the living room, memorising the choreography from ‘Thriller’, or blasting ‘Beat It’, through tinny car speakers, this is a full-scale nostalgia trip wrapped in arena-level production values. But even younger audiences discovering Jackson’s catalogue for the first time are likely to find themselves swept up in the spectacle.
Fronted by acclaimed performer Garth Field, the show traces Jackson’s musical evolution from the infectious groove of the Jackson 5 through to the polished pop dominance that defined the 80s and beyond. Expect all the classics: ‘Billie Jean’,
‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Bad’, ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’, ‘Human Nature’, ‘Thriller’ and plenty more, performed live with a full band, dancers and dazzling visual effects.
“I think the two songs I recall that get the most hype is ‘Billie Jean’ and ‘Thriller’,” says Field.
“It’s two iconic songs that are so innovative, creative and have never been done by any artist before. It changed the game in music history – Thriller being the number one selling album of all time and ‘Billie Jean’ being the first music video from a black artist to be aired on MTV ever.
March 10, 1983 will always be an important day in music history.”
Field says the biggest challenge of stepping into the role of Jackson is the preparation before every performance.
“This includes the physical and mental preparation as well as the vocal warmups that are of course necessary to ensure my entire performance is at its peak to deliver the attributes of Michael Jackson,” he says.
“It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Stepping into a role like this takes years and years of working constantly on your craft. I always motivate myself of this by repeating Usain Bolt’s words, ‘Competition is easy, but the hard work is behind the scenes.’ Emulating any person, especially someone as unique and easily recognised as MJ, takes dedication and perseverance which are the exact traits I apply to my craft.”
What sets The Michael Jackson HIStory Show apart from your average tribute act is the commitment to recreating the scale and drama of a genuine Michael Jackson concert experience. This is not karaoke with sequins. It’s a carefully crafted stage production packed with precision choreography, cinematic lighting, authentic costumes and the kind of crowd-pleasing energy designed to get audiences out of their seats.
“You can see by the scale of this production, a lot of work went into preparation, but finding the right cast, technical crew and management is the key here,” Field says.
“We have musicians and performers of similar styles and genres who too studied the greats
and always worked in many big shows before. Everyone plays a huge role in this, especially during preparation which can take up to three hours to set. We must appreciate and say a huge thank you to the crew behind the scenes. They work tirelessly to get this show looking and feeling like the best concert you have ever attended.”
Jackson’s influence on modern music and performance is impossible to overstate. Long before viral dance trends and stadium pop spectacles became standard, he was redefining what a live show could look and feel like. His blend of music, dance, fashion and visual storytelling changed pop culture forever, influencing generations of artists across every genre imaginable.
Field says Jackson’s music and stage presence continues to connect so strongly with today’s audiences because of the fusion of unparalleled music innovation, world-class stage presence and relatability on a deeper emotional connection.
“His ability to connect and blend genres like pop, rock and soul, and high-energy dance routines and iconic moves, leaves audiences mesmorised,” he says.
That enduring legacy is part of why tribute productions like this continue to resonate so strongly. They offer fans a rare chance to reconnect with the music in a live setting – loud, communal and joyfully over-the-top. In an era where so much entertainment is consumed through phones and algorithms, there’s something undeniably special about hearing a theatre full of people collectively lose their minds the second that iconic bassline from ‘Billie Jean’ kicks in.
Running for two and a half hours including an interval, the performance promises a high-energy evening packed with hit after hit. Whether you’re a lifelong Michael Jackson devotee or simply chasing a big night out in Darwin, this production shapes up to be pure pop escapism.
Just don’t be surprised if you leave attempting the moonwalk on the footpath outside the theatre.
The Michael Jackson HIStory Show WHEN WED 17 JUN AT AANT CENTRE COST $59-$69 INFO yourcentre.com.au
Image: Mark Kelly
TOP END
This relaxing monthly arvo of music is a must-see, must-do, must-hear. Strum a song and belt out a ballad or kick back with a drink in the shade while other talented musos do!
SUN 7 JUN | 3-7PM TRACY VILLAGE FREE facebook.com/firstsundayblues
Tunes Session
Enjoy the return of regular Top End Folk Club music sessions at The Last Supper. Ease in with slower tunes in the first hour from Begged, Borrowed and Stolen, then pick up the pace. Sláinte!
SUN 7 JUN | 4.30-7PM THE LAST SUPPER FREE thelastsupper.com.au
Home on Stilts: Warehouse Party
Home on Stilts return for their only headline show in Darwin for 2026. Punk legends Tang set the night off, and DJs Naiad, Mami Ganoush and FCKLAY send you off into the wee hours. This event is BYO.
SAT 13 JUN | 8.30PM-2AM 103 ARTS
$25-$35 homeonstilts.band@gmail.com
LIM LIM returns with its pool party on the rooftop of MoM Darwin, in the heart of Darwin. Expect fresh, forward-thinking electronic sounds rarely heard in Darwin,
with resident DJ JNas delivering his signature micro-minimal grooves, alongside local heroes dropping the house beats.
SUN 14 JUN | 3-11PM MOM DARWIN FREE momdarwin.net.au
The Sweet Caroline Tour
The Sweet Caroline Tour returns to take audiences on an unforgettable musical journey, celebrating the best of Neil Diamond. Audiences are treated to live performances of hits including ‘Sweet Caroline’, ‘Cherry Cherry’, ‘I’m a Believer’, ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Crunchy Granola Suite’, ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’, and more!
TUE 16 JUN | 7.30-10PM AANT CENTRE $69 yourcentre.com.au
Honky Tonk Disco + Sally Balfour & Crystal Robins
Honky Tonk Disco deliver highenergy Outback Americana blending SpaghettiWestern swagger, honkytonk stomp and tight harmonies. With screaming guitars, lush pedal steel and psychedelic washboard, they keep crowds moving. Supported by Sally Balfour and Crystal Robins, it’s the perfect night to grab your boots, your hat and hit the dance floor.
FRI 19 JUN | 6.30-9.30PM DBCYA FREE dbcya.com.au
K Pop Icons
Get ready to sing, dance, and party
like never before with the K-Pop Icons. It's the ultimate live concert starring the UK’s first virtual K-Pop band and a sensational live dance crew delivering a world-exclusive experience and celebrating Korea’s global music phenomenon.
FRI 26 JUN | 3PM & 7PM
AANT CENTRE
$33.30–$69 yourcentre.com.au
Darwin City Brass Band Rehearsals
This fun community brass band rehearses once a week and performs in the community throughout the year. New members and visitors are always welcome, and there's also a learner program weekly during school terms. Try – or retry! – brass.
EVERY TUE | 7-9PM
2 ABALA ROAD, MARRARA
$20 ANNUAL MEMB darwincitybrassband@gmail.com
Hot n Cold Big Band
Experience this 18-piece sensation, live on stage. Entertaining Darwin audiences every week since 2009, these cats are cool. Entry includes a dance lesson with Swing Dance NT – a sure way to impress your friends.
EVERY WED | 7.30-9.30PM
DARWIN RAILWAY CLUB $10 hotandcoldbigband.weebly.com
Live on Fridays
Your 2026 soundtrack to Garramilla/Darwin curated by David Spry. Go for the music, stay for the atmosphere, and discover the sound of the Top End like
you’ve never heard it before. Head to the website to find out which artist is playing each week.
EVERY FRI | 5-7PM BROWN’S MART FREE brownsmart.com.au
Sunday Live at Splash
Get out your togs, bathers or swimmers for a chilled afternoon of music, food, and drinks, set against the beautiful backdrop of the new poolside space. Bliss.
EVERY SUN | 2-4.30PM SPLASH CAFÉ, NOVOTEL DARWIN AIRPORT FREE darwinairporthotels.com.au
Vinyl Candy Trio EVERY TUE | 9PM-MIDNIGHT SWEETHEARTS FREE
Nat, Max & Rick Trio EVERY FRI | 12-2.30AM SWEETHEARTS FREE
Nat & Max Duo EVERY SUN | 4-8PM CAVENAGH HOTEL FREE
Crystal Robins EVERY SUN | 6-9PM FORESHORE RESTAURANT & CAFE FREE
RED CENTRE
Live Lunches at the Roastery Every Friday from noon, The Roastery fills with music from local and travelling musicians. Enjoy lunch in an intimate setting with live music setting a cozy scene. For updates on who's playing next, keep an eye on their socials!
Formerly known as TerrorFest, TerrorLoud returns to Darwin with its first ever international headliner, Tariot. Presented by Obsolete Music, this year's line-up includes Tariot (Singapore), Reliqa (Sydney) Bitterkind (Melbourne), Koh (Darwin) and NK (Darwin).
SAT 6 JUN | 2-11PM THE LANDMARK $56.10–$107.10 facebook.com/terrorloud
EVERY FRI | 12-2PM THE ROASTERY FREE duyucoffee.net
Friday Vinyl Revival
Start your weekend right with The Roastery's selection of shareable or scoffable dishes! This relaxed and intimate event in the courtyard offers a kid's space, stocked bar, and delish menu. Music is dished out by the legends at 8CCC Community Radio. It's the perfect way to kick off your weekend.
EVERY FRI | 5-8PM THE ROASTERY FREE duyucoffee.net
Sunday Sessions
Dive into some sweet tunes every Sunday at Alice Springs Brewing Co, and enjoy a few cold ones and a feed in the sunshine with friends and fam. Keen to strum a ditty or two? Throw your name in the hat!
EVERY SUN | 4-8.30PM ALICE SPRINGS BREWING CO FREE facebook.com/aspbco
