Polite Society's Social Diary - July

With an expanded program of art, large-scale installations, dance and fashion, the National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) promises to be a spectacular event this year – helped by its location in The Cutaway, the sinuous new space under Barangaroo Reserve. More than 30 Indigenous Art Centres, featuring many artists from remote areas, will display work ranging in price from $100 to $30,000. NIAF charges no commission or stall fees, with 100% of profits going directly to the art centres, making any investment feel even better. The Cutaway at Barangaroo, Sydney; July 3-5

Unkind souls might feel Suzy Eddie Izzard, at 64, is a little old to be experiencing Hamlet’s Oedipal angst, and her solo adaptation of the play certainly proved controversial overseas. Without doubt, it’s a feat of memory in which Izzard plays 23 roles over nearly two and a half hours on a bare stage; whether that’s enough to make this production a success is a moot point. But as one critic noted, Izzard’s The Tragedy of Hamlet is just as much street performance and agitprop as it is a play, which to our mind makes it all the more worth seeing. Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne; until July 12

It's winter. The world feels dangerously unhinged. The only sensible thing to do is to plunge headfirst into the glittering delights of Velvet Inferno, an homage to Studio 54 and the golden era of disco. Featuring Marcia Hines as The Diva, there’s cabaret high-jinks, a host of disco classics and a token story (jaded club owner discovers bright-eyed ingenue!) to thread it all together. Sydney Opera House Studio; July 24-September 13

Paris in the 1920s, known as les années folles, was home to some of the most influential artists of the 20^th century, including Dali, Picasso, Matisse, Henry Miller – and photographer Brassaï, who documented them all. This month at Heide you can see more than 150 of Brassaï’s original vintage prints, including his iconic black-and-white images of Paris and its people by night, and his ground-breaking shots of graffiti, the street art that he believed would prove a compelling new form of expression. Although feted during his lifetime, this is the first exhibition of Brassaï’s work here for 50 years. Heide Museum of Modern Art; July 25-November 15

Also set in 1920s Paris: a captivating production of The Merry Widow, Franz Lehár’s much-loved operetta, said to have been performed half a million times in its first 60 years. With renowned sopranos Emma Pearson and Julie Lea Goodwin sharing the main role of the titular widow, Hanna, this performance promises a visual treat, with gorgeous Art Deco-era costumes and glamorous sets. Sydney Opera House Joan Sutherland Theatre, July 8-August 18

Twice a year, the White Rabbit gallery exhibits a curated selection of philanthropist Judith Neilson’s extraordinary collection of contemporary Chinese art. The current exhibition, Black Myth, takes its cue from a viral video game of the same name, itself a retelling of the classic quest novel Journey to the West. All of which is to say that if you fancy seeing some intriguing modern photographs, tapestries and installations, taking their cue from the strange and wonderful myths of this powerhouse country, this is the place to go. The White Rabbit Gallery; until November 15

Finally, this month sees the world premiere of Vista, a new work by stellar choreographer Stephanie Lake. Opening at the Malthouse before a national tour, it explores the slipperiness of perception: the first half unfolds in monochrome, the second is an explosion of colour. Six dancers twist their bodies into fantastical shapes, in costumes designed by the quintessential Melbourne brand, Alpha 60. The Malthouse, Melbourne; July 22-August 1