Things to do across Australia in March 2023

WORDS Jasmine Pirovic PUBLISHED Thu, 9 Mar 2023 - 2:21 pm

Autumn is begrudgingly here but there's a heatwave to help combat the melancholy. Between stints at the beach, there's plenty on the cards this month. Find a non-exhaustive list of the events, activities, exhibitions and openings taking place in March 2023, below.

NSW

On March 31 if you're located in Moree head over to Keytah Station for The Artist's Landscape, featuring Alexandra Plim, Rebecca Rath, Ann Gordon and Amanda Holman, an exhibition linked to The Painted River Project, an initiative that aims to create a conversation around Australia's most important, and highly contested resource: water.

All About Women festival returns to Sydney Opera House from March 11-13. Who's involved? See talks from Bikini Kill (and a performance if you're lucky enough to snag tickets), Jennette McCurdy, Fatima Bhutto, Sloane Crosley, Nakkiah Lui, Brooke Boney, Bri Lee, Chloe Hayden, Dr Amy Thunig and more.

Mirazur's first-ever residency in Sydney will take place for three weeks from March 10-31 at The Gantry, Pier One. Get your mouth around the former number one restaurant on the World's 50 Best list.

Red Bull Symphonic returns for 2023. The unique concert series will see Genesis Owusu team up with Sydney Symphony Orchestra for an exclusive show at Sydney Opera House on March 23.

Following on from its debut year, jazz festival STRATA returns with three evenings of programming curated in collaboration with Sydney artist Laurence Pike, running from March 29-31.

The inaugural Human Kind summit takes place from March 16-18 at Luna Park Sydney. Speakers include Sarah Ellen, Nathan Dalah, Becky Lucas and more.

Opening March 24 at the Powerhouse Museum, Yuki Kihara: Paradise Camp interrogates and dismantles gender roles, (mis)representation and colonial legacies in the Pacific.

AF French Film Festival arrives in Sydney from March 7 until April 5. Explore the program, here.

Bell Shakespeare’s new production of Macbeth is now showing at Sydney Opera House until April 2.

A cross-pollination of contemporary circus and street dance, Collision arrives at the Lennox Theatre in Riverside Theatre Parramatta, from March 30-31.

VIC

Pitch Music & Arts Festival is taking place from March 10-14 on Djab Wurrung and Eastern Marr Country. Tag along and dance yourself silly to Mirasia x C.FRIM, Ayebatonye, Soju Gang and more.

The Australian Ballet presents Don Quixote at Arts Centre Melbourne from March 15-25. Find tickets here.

Until March 11, Shakespeare Under the Stars returns to Melbourne Botanic Gardens to perform Romeo and Juliet.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival is back for 2023 with a 10-day program across March 24 until April 2, including Danny Bowien with a plant-based take on Mission Chinese at Smith & Daughters and a Julia Busuttil Nishimura collaboration with Florian Eatery. Find tickets here.

If you're yet to experience Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse at NGV Melbourne, then I don't know what to tell you? Get down there quick smart, although you've got some time before it closes on April 16.

Parrtjima will present its annual crowd-favourite, the Grounded installation, at Melbourne’s Fed Square, Main Square on March 10-11.

Wang Chong returns to Malthouse Theatre for Made in China 2.0. In the play, Chong takes audiences on a journey deep inside his personal experiences of creating theatre around the globe, unpacking stereotypes of the global expectations of what China brings to the world. Made in China 2.0 until March 19.

The life, career and political landscape that led Australia’s first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard to make her famous misogyny speech will be examined and brought to life by Justine Clarke in Julia at Sydney Opera House from 30 March.

QLD

Make your way to Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast to explore Pop Masters: Art From the Mugrabi Collection, New York where you'll find works from Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst and many more. To celebrate, Sheraton Grand Mirage Gold Coast has put together a hotel package which includes 2 x tickets to HOTA Gallery’s world exclusive ‘Pop Masters’ exhibition, ‘Legends of Pop’ inspired high tea experience for two, hosted at Sheraton Gold Coast’s Pearls Bar, daily buffet breakfast and 20% discount aboard HOPO Ferry which will take guests direct to HOTA.

Crooked Colours are set to play a one-night-only gig at The Brightside Brisbane on March 9.

WA

Moonlight Cinema is currently showing a host of movies, new and old, at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth. Bring a picnic blanket, the girlies and some snacks.

March is a good time for music in WA. Björk will bring her Cornucopia to Perth on March 3, 6, 9 & 12. Florence + the Machine will perform at RAC Arena on March 4. Lorde plays Belvoir Homestead and Amphitheatre on March 17. Meanwhile, Kurt Vile & the Violators are set to play Fremantle Arts Centre on March 28. To cap it off Stella Donnelly is performing at Astor Theatre on March 31. You're a spoilt bunch, aren't ya?

SA

Adelaide Festival returns. Strap in for BARKAA and Kobie, Allday and JK-47, Camp Cope, Julia Jacklin and more.

Truth Be Told is the theme of Adelaide Writers Week. Randa Abdel-Fattah, J.M. Coetzee, Sloane Crosley, Rick Morton, Diana Reid and Mohammed El-Kurd are some of the authors and figures on the program.

NT

Inspired by The Adventures of Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, fabALICE extends Mardi Gras and WorldPride celebrations to the Red Centre from March 9-12.

Head to Happy Yess this weekend for your fill of comedy and dancing.