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The Competition (PG): Country girl Steffie (Leah Baulch) must make some tough decisions about her future when a music competition comes to town. Directed by Canberra Times film critic Simon Weaving.
Folies Bergere (M): Long-married cattle breeder Brigitte (Isabelle Huppert), visiting Paris, is flattered by the attentions of a charming Danish gentleman (Michael Nyqvist). Subtitled.
Horrible Bosses 2 (MA): Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) form their own business and when exploited by a slick investor decide to hold his son for ransom.
Paddington (G): Adapted from Michael Bond's books, this is the story of an optimistic young bear from Peru (voiced by Ben Whishaw) who travels to London in search of a home and a family.
Saturday
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY
9am : Petrie Plaza has entered the festive spirit with a record- breaking display of Christmas lights, camel rides and Flip Out in the City. For more information visit inthecitycanberra.com.au.
CHRISTMAS @ THE ZOO
10am: Enjoy a day celebrating the festive season with the animals at the National Zoo and Aquarium with live music, special animal encounters, shopping opportunities, animal present giving, Santa photos with a critter, kids activities, animal art for sale, special Keeper talks, and presents from Santa (already wrapped for purchase prior). Normal zoo admission ($21.50-$38) applies. Some activities will have extra charges. Until 4pm. Also Sunday. More information: nationalzoo.com.au.
OUTDOOR CINEMA
6.30pm: Gone Girl is a thriller in which a woman disappears and the media and public focus is turned on her husband. IMB Sunset Cinema, Northern Eucalypt Lawn, Australian National Botanic Gardens. Tickets from $17/$14 concession. Website: http://www.sunsetcinema.com.au.
A FEAST OF SAINT NICHOLAS
7.30pm: Celebrate Christmas at Llewellyn Hall, Canberra School of Music, with music written 230 years apart by two master composers, Antonio Vivaldi and Benjamin Britten, performed by the Canberra Choral Society Massed Choir. Vivaldi's Gloria, widely used in popular culture, is filled with rich contrasts – from exuberant to reflective, joyful to sombre, playful to grandiose, lyrical to virtuoso. Then there's Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, one of the most beautiful pieces for children's voices, sung by the youthful Turner Trebles and Vocal Fry. The centrepiece is Britten's Saint Nicolas, an enchanting and moving biography of the patron saint of children (and inspiration for Santa Claus). An action-packed account of the life of Nicolas, complete with bathtubs, shipwrecks, pickled boys, and ladies doomed to shameful sin, it's also full of musical surprises - everything from baroque counterpoint to delicious dissonance to music hall doggerel. Tickets $22.43-$56.07 from premier.ticketek.com.au.
Sunday
JUSTINE CLARKE
11am: Inspired by the song I Am A… lifted from the ever-popular hit album I Like To Sing, Justine Clarke – I am a ... Band! will encourage young audiences to engage their imagination through words, song and movement. The show will feature the familiar songs that kids know and love from all three of Justine's albums; with an emphasis on a variety of instruments and sounds. The Canberra Theatre. Tickets $33.90. Bookings: canberratheatrecentre.com.au.
CAROLS AND MORE
2.30pm: Bass-baritones Garry Pollack and Tim Collins and soprano Rebecca Collins will perform Christmas carols and musical favourites including songs from My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The Phantom of the Opera at The Crisp Galleries. Tickets $10-$30. Bookings on 02 6227 6073 or peter@petercrisp.com.
T
VELOCITY JAZZ
3pm: This free performance at the ANU Drill Hall Gallery arises from trumpeter Miroslav Bukovsky and saxophonist Richard Johnson's recent encounters. They share an interest in developing free improvisational forms of spontaneous composition as a trumpet -saxophone duo. This will be their first performance as a duo.