TWO FIRES FESTIVAL BRAIDWOOD, Arts and Activism Festival. See Shortis & Simpson (first half) and Microwave Jenny (second half) in an evening of wicked fun and pop/folk/love, Sat Apr 13, 7pm, $30/$25 concession. For tickets go to www.twofiresfestival.org.au or at door.

HERITAGE FESTIVAL, BUNGENDORE, join Eric Martin, President of the National Trust ACT on a guided walking tour of Bungendore village, then visit hidtoric Beehive residence for a house concert with Shortis and Simpson. Sun Apr 14, 1.30pm, $35. Bookings 6230 0533 or www.national trust.org.au/act/Bungendore Walk

COMING UP IN MAY….

PRIME TIME

Music and lyrics by John Shortis

Script and dramaturgy by John Romeril

Directed by Catherine Langman

Starring Nick Byrne, Kate Hosking, John Shortis, Moya Simpson, and Worldly Goods Choir

Australia’s PMs are a fascinating mix of Mandarin and Latin speakers, spiritualists,atheists, republicans, monarchists, graziers and bodgies, and between them they’ve had the unenviable task of leading our nation through eleven turbulent decades.

It is the drama and humour of those Prime Ministers and their times that is the basis of Prime Time, an original musical/theatrical production to be presented as part of the Centenary of Canberra.

Cabaret, comedy, drama, archival sound and images collide in this epic tale of public and private lives, of a populous responding to dramatic and fast-changing events, and of an evolving capital city – Canberra.

Funny, moving, informative, entertaining- Prime Ministers at their best and worst. Don’t miss Prime Time at The Q, Queanbeyan, May 23-June 1. $39/$34 concession and groups, all matinees $29. Bookings 6285 6290 or www.theq.net.au 

52 SONGS ABOUT ALL OUR PMs                                                                         John Shortis has written 52 songs about all 27 of our PMs (well, 27 at the moment!!). They are being played in weekly segments on national community radio, throughout this year of Canberra’s Centenary. In Canberra you can catch them on ArtSound FM, Mondays just after the 6pm news, and Wednesdays after the 8am news. 

Bob Hawke meets Cyndi Lauper

Our annual performance at the National Archives, to accompany the release of 1984-5 Cabinet papers.  Historian Dr Jim Stokes presents a wry look at the records themselves, while we set the social, political and musical scene. And what years they were- elections in Australia and US, Howard replaces Peacock as Opposition Leader, Keating flexes his muscle. It’s the era of Live Aid, We Are the World, Girls Just Want To Have Fun, Halleluiah, Like a Virgin, and much more. National Archives of Australia, Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, Sat/Sun Feb 2/3, 11am/2pm, free. Bookings naa.gov.au/visit-us/events. More information 6212 3956

ALSO……… 

PRIME TIME- the songs

John Shortis has written 52 songs about all 27 of our PMs (it is election year, so that number is up for review). We are currently recording them all, and creating weekly segments to be played on national community radio throughout 2013. In Canberra you can catch them on Artsound FM 92.7, each Monday, just after the 6 o’clock news

PRIME TIME- the show

27 PMs at their best and worst

With John Shortis as researcher/songwriter and John Romeril as writer/ dramaturg, Catherine Langman as director, Prime Time is an original musical/ theatrical production, part of the Centenary of Canberra, performed by a cast of thousands, including Shortis and Simpson, two other actor/singers, and Worldly Goods Choir. Cabaret, comedy, drama, community involvement, archival sound and images collide in this epic tale of public and private lives, of a populous responding to dramatic and fast-changing events, and of an evolving capital city. Funny, moving, informative, entertaining. Bookings open now. The Q Theatre, Queanbeyan, May 23-June 1. $39/$34 concession and groups, $29 matinees. www.theq.net.au, 6285 6290