This weekend, travel back to 1959 for Grease the musical, or head into the city to see Chihuly in the Botanic Garden.

Words Charlie Gilchrist

A force of nature

Bask in the brilliance of South Australia’s natural beauty as the Nature Festival returns for its fifth year this October with the theme of “awe”.  This open-access festival features more than 400 events across the state ranging from art to music, nature talks, food and wine experiences, creative workshops and events focusing on Aboriginal culture. A highlight of this year’s Nature Festival is the 7×7 Awe Talks, where seven experts will respond to seven nature-related works from the Art Gallery of South Australia’s collection. SALIFE is a festival partner for this year’s Nature Festival, which takes place from September 38 to October 13.

Chihuly in the Botanic Garden

The Adelaide Botanic Garden will be transformed this weekend with sculptures from world-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly. From September 27, 2024, to April 29, 2025, 15 giant architectural glass installations will turn the Botanic Garden into a colourful kaleidoscope in the free Garden Experience exhibition, while Chihuly’s “hybrid plant” sculptures will decorate the Bicentennial Conservatory in the In Full Colour: Dale Chihuly ticketed exhibition. Meanwhile, the 15 glass sculptures will dazzle in the night sky for Chihuly Nights, running from September 27 to November 3.

Saturday night at the movies

This Mental Health Month, head to Wallis Cinemas Mitcham for special screenings of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story. The documentary tells the inspiring story of Superman actor Chris Reeves, who became a passionate disability rights advocate after a near-fatal horse-riding accident left him paralysed from the neck down. The film features footage from home movies, personal archive material and extended interviews with Reeve’s family and other Hollywood actors. Taking place every October, Mental Health Month “aims to improve community awareness and interest in mental health and wellbeing”.

Colin Pennock and Jeff Mincham at BMG Art

Head to BMG Art on Halifax Street this October 4 to 26 for a joint exhibition by abstract landscape artist Colin Pennock and ceramicist Jeff Mincham. The art show will feature paintings and works on paper by Colin and ceramics by Jeff. Colin says his installation, titled Passing Through, explores the process of aging.  “These works contain thoughts of process and ageing and a sense that I am travelling again this time through stages of life,” he says. Jeff’s installation is titled Transient Nature and depicts changing seasons and weather events. “Immersed as I am in a powerful and compelling landscape, being enthralled with the myriad events that comprise its ever-changing nature can be hardly surprising,” says Jeff.

Grease lighting, go grease lightning

Travel back to 1959 for Grease, as the students of Rydell High School in northwest Chicago navigate their final year of high school in the age of gelled hair, leather jackets and rock ‘n’ roll. The musical follows a budding romance between troublemaker “greaser” Danny Zuko and the strait-laced Sandy Dumbrowski, the new kid on the block. Taking to the Her Majesty’s Theatre stage from September 28 to October 26, this show will feature all the favourite songs, including Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted to You, You’re the One That I Want and Greased Lightnin’.