Polite Society’s Social Diary - April

Rarely has an art exhibition seemed more necessary than System Release at the Yarra Valley’s TarraWarra Museum of Modern Art. Featuring work from 10 artists – hailing from Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and Mexico – the show’s theme reaches into ‘the chaos of global precarity’ and presents personal and collective strategies for, well, coping with it all. Several sculptures explore balance, reminiscent of Kandinsky’s Balance paintings a century ago, projecting calm and quietude. And there’s also a great restaurant just across the courtyard, perfect for a contemplative and calming glass of wine. TarraWarra Estate, Healesville, Victoria; until July 5

After rave reviews in Melbourne, acclaimed new ballet Flora transfers to Sydney this month. It’s the first-ever collaboration between the Australian Ballet and the Bangarra Dance Theatre, with an original score by William Barton, renowned internationally for blending indigenous and European classical music. The ballet explores the meaning and resilience of Australian flora, and its costumes, choreography and music are exceptional – this is a must-see in this year’s cultural calendar. Sydney Opera House; April 7-18

If you were a child of the 1980s, you’ll remember Heathers, the cult high-school satire starring a (very young) Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty. The subject matter was pretty dark, dealing as it did with bullying, sexual assault and murder, but that proved no barrier to its adaption for… musical theatre. This month, Heathers: The Musicalreturns to Australia for the first time in 10 years – the songs have been refined and revised since its debut, but the message remains the same: at high school, popularity really is a matter of life and death. Arts Centre, Playhouse; April 8-May 9

Winning this year’s award for longest title, Drive Your Plough Over The Bones of the Dead (cheery, no?) is an adaptation of a Polish whodunnit, starring Pamela Rabe as a sort of Eastern European Miss Marple, who applies her considerable sleuthing skills to solving the murders of several men in her village. The original novel was lauded as an existential masterpiece as well as a smartly noirish thriller – we’re looking forward to seeing how Belvoir St reworks it for the stage. Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney; until May 10

Continuing our bookish theme, may we suggest a visit to the State Library of NSW this month for Paper Universe, an exhibition of nearly 100 works from the library’s collection of artists’ books. They range in size from just five centimetres to 40 metres, and include pieces from renowned artists like Judy Watson, David Hockney and Bill Henson. State Library of NSW; until May 3

Thanks to shrinkflation, Easter eggs are smaller and more expensive this year, which means canny parents may want to take advantage of one of the many egg hunts held over the Easter holidays. In Sydney there’s the Royal Easter Show’s Egg Hunt, plus another at Moore Park and The Grounds over the long weekend; Melburnians can get fancy by signing up for the Godiva chocolate hunt at the Royal Botanic Gardens. And for those who feel Easter is about more than chocolate and fluffy bunnies, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs perform Bach’s St John’s Passion at the Opera House, under renowned choral conductor Brett Weymark.

And finally, if you’re looking for an Easter holiday activity that won’t rot your brain as well as your teeth, try the Rome: Empire, Power, People exhibition opening at Melbourne Museum, featuring over 180 objects from the prestigious Museo Nazionale Romano and the Museo Archeologico di Firenze. The show explores Ancient Rome from the first to third century CE, with scenography and multimedia installations to help bring the period to life (and keep kids amused). Melbourne Museum; from April 3