Capital Life August 22, 2020: From Decadence and Debauchery to burlesque and art

Decadence and Debauchery (The Distanced Edition) is a socially distanced Canberra burlesque variety night on Saturday, August 22 at The Abbey Function Centre in Nicholls. Local and interstate performers include artists in burlesque, cabaret, sideshow and comedy. Among them are Demon Derriere - a POC HoH/Deaf performer, pole dance fusion artist Luci James Peach, comedian Frankie McNair, singing burlesque performer Michael Wheatley, reigning Miss Burlesque ACT Rainbow, Rebelle Velveteen - a pregnant Canberra burlesque performer - and The Fabulous Fan Society, whose members have been learning fan dancing together online during social isolation. Live stream bookings: risecanberra.com/whats-on/decadence-and-debauchery-the-distanced-edition.

I am singing in a room is a project by singer-songwriter Nick Craft inspired by the technique used by Alvin Lucier's landmark 1969 avant-garde piece of the same title. Craft is recording new songs inspired by space, memory and transience, in locations around Canberra, from a mountaintop site to a transient suburban underpass, which will then be turned into unique abstract soundscapes. The next stream will take place on on Saturday, August 22 at 4pm. risecanberra.com/whats-on/i-am-singing-in-a-room.

On Sunday, August 23 at 11am singer-songwriter Lisa Richards performs songs of longing, loss, love and hope, borrowing from the traditions of folk, blues and jazz. risecanberra.com/whats-on/live-streaming-weekly-concert-and-chat-with-lisa-richards.

Oliver Shepherd from Braddon has had his self-portrait Iconic chosen as one of the 40 finalists for Western Australia's Lester Prize, now in its 14th year. Winners will be announced on October 30, 2020.

The ANU Drill Hall Gallery has 30-minute guided tours of James Rogers' sculpture exhibition, Tunnelvision, for groups of up to 10 people. Upcoming dates include Wednesday, August 26 at 1pm and Saturday, August 29 at 2pm. Visit dhg.anu.edu.au to book into a scheduled tour or call 6125 5832 to book a tour for your own group.

In partnership with Epic Games, Screen Canberra is among the organisations providing funding towards the production of short films that utilise Unreal Engine software. Up to three projects will be selected from ACT creators. Each project will receive $20,000 to create a short film up to five minutes long. To be eligible you must live and work in the ACT, not be employed by a state or government screen agency, not be employed by a broadcaster, not be a full-time student, and must own the rights to the story you are telling. Applications close on August 31, 2020, at 11pm. Contact project manager Alex Ringland on alex@screencanberra.com.au.