Mortal Condition – Space Theatre

Adelaide choreographer Larissa McGowan’s latest dance work is inspired by her fascination with the world of gaming – from old-style pixel games to modern 3D games. Performed by three dancers, Mortal Condition consists of two parts, the first accompanied by a score from singer Mike Patton’s experimental album Adult Themes for Voice and the second featuring an original soundtrack by Adelaide’s DJ Tr!P. It’s at the Space Theatre until May 14. Read InDaily’s interview with McGowan here.

2016 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art

A series of special events are planned at the Art Gallery of SA this weekend for the closing days of Magic Object, the 2016 Adelaide Biennial. The gallery will be open until 9pm on Saturday, with talks, tours and illuminated rickshaws transporting people to Government House for a special light painting demonstration by Denis Smith. On Sunday, glass artist Tom Moore will give a performance at 3pm, while Smith will run light painting workshops throughout the day (bookings essential). The biennial also encompasses exhibitions at the Samstag Museum of Art, Jam Factory, Santos Museum of Economic Botany and Carrick Hill.

Cloudstreet – Her Majesty’s Theatre

The Lamb family in Cloudstreet. Photo: Oliver Toth

State Opera of South Australia’s Cloudstreet, based on Tim Winton’s popular book about two working-class families sharing a ramshackle house in the mid-20^th century, opened this week at Her Majesty’s Theatre, with performances continuing until May 21. Directed by Gale Edwards, with music by composer and librettist George Palmer, the musical features a cast of around 18 and is sung in the Australian vernacular. Click here to read InDaily’s interview with baritone Don Bemrose.

SA Screen Awards – Mercury Cinema

The achievements of South Australian filmmakers will be recognised at a gala awards night at the Mercury Cinema tonight (Friday), with nominated and winning films to be screened across the weekend. They include documentary shorts, drama and animation shorts, non-narrative works and feature films. See the full line-up here.

Things I Know to Be True – Dunstan Playhouse

This new play by SA writer Andrew Bovell tells the story of an Australian family that seems to be living the Australian dream – but as the seasons change, their story becomes darker. A collaboration between the State Theatre Company of SA and UK theatre company Frantic Assembly, Things I Know to Be True stars Paul Blackwell, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Nathan O’Keefe, Eugenia Fragos and Tim Walker, with music by composer Nils Frahm. It’s at the Dunstan Playhouse until June 4.

Saltwater Country – Tandanya

Fiona Foley’s ‘The Oyster Fisherman’, 2011. Courtesy Museums and Galleries Queensland

Sixteen Indigenous artists from Queensland are showing work that draws on their connection to the coastline, sea and waterways in Saltwater Country at Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute until June 6. Two other new exhibitions at the institute are Pampa Mara Tjanpi (early woven Tjanpi works from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, until July 9) and Nature Calls (paintings on canvas by Trevor “Turbo” Brown, until July 9).

Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend

More than 5000 visitors are expected at this weekend’s annual Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend, which offers a variety of events highlighting the region’s food, wine and hospitality. As well as cluster events such as the Gourmet Hub and Clare Valley Cuisine’s Gourmet Market Day, there are ticketed culinary events at wineries and restaurants, day-trip options, weekend packages and more. Visit the Clare Valley Wine Facebook page for details.

The Screaming Jets – The Gov

Aussie rockers The Screaming Jets are back on the road to support their first studio album in eight years, Chrome. Playing at The Governor Hindmarsh tonight (Friday), they will be showcasing their new material – described as a combination of “great big fat rock songs, as well as some quiet moments” – plus familiar hits. Next Friday, The Gov will host The Melbourne Ska Orchestra, touring on the back of their second album.

zephyrROM album launch – Wheatsheaf Hotel

Innovative Adelaide string group the Zephyr Quartet and instrumental hip-hop duo voiceROM – working together as zephyrROM – will launch their new album, VoiceQuartet, on Monday (May 16) at the Wheatsheaf Hotel. “VoiceQuartet combines an unlikely mix of samples, mostly sourced from forgotten second-hand shops (think ‘Mormon Tabernacle Choir’ meets ’50s Hollywood Strings’ meets ‘Instruments of the Far East’), a full gamut of string textures and sounds, plus live beats,” they say. Details here.

Shields: Power and Protection in Aboriginal Australia – SA Museum

This exhibition at the South Australian Museum explores the role of shields in Aboriginal culture and history. Curator Dr Philip Jones will give a free talk at 6pm next Wednesday, May 18,  looking at the significance of shields as a weapon and as an emblem of identity. The talk will explore the effects of the colonisation of Australia on the production and use of Aboriginal shields, as well as more recent examples of their use in in re-enactments, exhibitions and other areas.  Shields continues until May 22.

Feast Festival Quiz Night – Freemasons Hall

Feast Quiz Night host Rhonda Butchmore

Melbourne drag queen Miss Rhonda Butchmore (aka comedian Thomas Jaspers) will host the Feast Festival Quiz Night – a fundraiser for Adelaide’s annual celebration of queer arts and culture – next Friday, May 20, at the Freemasons Hall. Each round will be presented by a special guest, with the line-up including Olympic diver Matthew Mitcham and cabaret performer Michael Griffiths, plus there will be an auction, bar and food available for purchase. Details here

Spanish Film Festival – Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas

This festival continues at Palace until May 22, with a packed line-up of films from across Spain and Latin America including comedies, dramas, romances and thrillers. The full program can be found on the official website.

SA History Festival

There are more than 600 events across the state as part of this year’s History Festival, which continues until May 31. They range from open days and tours of buildings and sites of historic interest, to talks, exhibitions, performances and workshops. View the full program here.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona – Little Theatre

University of Adelaide Theatre Guild is presenting Shakespeare’s tale of the battle between loyalty and love at the Little Theatre, The Cloisters, Adelaide Uni, until May 21. Details here.

On screen

See InDaily’s reviews of the latest films screening in Adelaide:

Bastille Day
Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising
A Month of Sundays
Captain America: Civil War
The Boss
Labyrinth of Lies
The Huntsman: Winter’s War
Rams