Theatre
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Wollongong
Direct from its world premiere at Sydney Festival, Black Cockatoo comes to IPAC - an untold story about Australia's first indigenous sporting hero.
Black Cockatoo will run from February 12 to 15 at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.
Over 150 years ago, 12 brave Aboriginal men in Western Victoria picked up their cricket bats and embarked on a voyage to England and into the unknown - all in the name of sport.
Risking illness and persecution, Australia's first indigenous sporting hero, Johnny Mullagh, amazed the English crowds with talent, personality and grit.
They should have returned to Australia as celebrated heroes.
Instead, they came back to find the world they once knew was no longer there.
Bookings here.
Seniors Festival events
Shellharbour City
Shellharbour City Council is celebrating the NSW Seniors Festival with a jam-packed calendar of events and activities.
The event will be officially launched at the Shellharbour Civic Centre Auditorium at 10am on Wednesday, February 12 during the Health and Wellbeing Expo, and will end on Thursday, March 26.
With the theme Love to Celebrate, the festival will offer a diverse range of experiences. It will provide opportunities for seniors to try new things, share their wisdom, and maintain an active presence in their communities.
This year's schedule will once again offer many free and heavily discounted events, workshops, and performances for seniors across the city. These include arts and craft, swimming, tai chi and dancing, as well as a variety of information sessions focusing on health and wellbeing.
There's also the annual trivia challenge, happiness and health workshop, and a garden themed party at the new Warilla Library.
Programs are available at Shellharbour City Libraries or online at bit.ly/2QTHxHj.
Other Seniors Festival events
Wollongong, Kiama
Community Industry Group is sponsoring a 'Yarn with Aboriginal Elders' as part of the Wollongong Seniors Festival 2020.
The event is a collaboration project with the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation.
"Yarning has nothing to do with knitting in this context," Community Industry Group project officer Joni Braham said.
"Yarning for Aboriginal communities is a way of communicating. It's about speaking and listening, sharing stories and learning."
Participants in this free event will also enjoy free morning tea and a light lunch.
It's on Wednesday, February 12 from 10.30am to 1.30pm at the Dapto Ribbonwood Centre.
Bookings: 4256 4333.
Click here for the Wollongong festival program.
Click here for the Kiama council program of events.
Expo
Kembla Grange
The Illawarra Caravan, Camping, 4WD, Fish and Boat Show is on again at Kembla Grange.
It runs from Friday, February 14 to Sunday, February 16 from 9am to 5pm at Kembla Grange Racecourse.
Find your new dream boat or caravan, and while you're at it check out the freestyle bike show, the fishing show, and the reptile awareness show.
With more than 175 exhibitors you are sure to find what you're after to turn your next trip into an unforgettable adventure.
Closes at 4pm Sunday.
Family fun
Albion Park Rail
Prepare for take-off, set the road, then wind the clock back to those grand old days of historical aircraft and trains.
HARS Aviation Museum and the Illawarra Light Railway Museum will combine to host a joint day of fun and adventure for the family.
Visitors will be able to ride the trains at Illawarra Light Rail Museum and see the planes at HARS Aviation Museum, all in one day, on Sunday, February 16.
Trains and Planes Sunday is a new event, whereby visitors will pay full price for their first museum of choice, then receive a 20 per cent discount to the second museum for this day only, linked by a free-of-charge shuttle bus between the museums at Albion Park Rail.
Details: www.hars.org.au and www.ilrms.com.au.
Fitness challenge
Wollongong
Dubbed the "toughest team competition in the world", the Tribal Clash fitness event is coming back to Wollongong.
Tribal Clash will be taking place in Wollongong on February 15-16, and feature at least 120 teams from throughout Australia.
This is the second time Aussies have had a chance to compete, with 62 teams signing up to the 2019 event.
The Tribal Clash event has been at the forefront of the emerging sport of team fitness racing.
Teams are comprised of three men and three women.
Teams complete various events over the two-day competition weekend, each event lasting anything from two minutes to two hours.
Most events take place on a purpose-built arena on the beach, although some events take the teams into the sea, and others out in the terrain around the venue.
The events are kept secret until the last minute, so the teams have to train for the unknown and prepare for anything.
Tribal Clash Australia is on from 8.30am to 6.30pm on Saturday and Sunday at North Wollongong Beach.
The 2020 World Series will bring together more than 5600 athletes from throughout the world.
Events will be taking place in the UK, South Africa, Portugal, California and Australia. The winning teams will then head to Croatia in October to see who the ultimate winner is.
Author talk
Shellharbour City
You can attend an author talk with Pamela Cook and Cate Beresford at Shellharbour City Library on Friday, February 14 from 11am to 12:30pm.
Fall in love with Australian fiction as they present Cook and Beresford in conversation.
Books available for purchase. Free, bookings essential on 4221 6222.
Fun run
Gerringong
The Crooked Rives Wines Fun Run is on again.
After the (ahem) grape success of 2018 and 2019 at Crooked River Wines, the 'Grapest 5K Run' is coming back in 2020.
On Saturday, February 15, join Australia's only wine filled Fun Run on the South Coast.
Run, walk or skip through the scenery of arguably the best views of any vineyard in NSW.
To register, visit https://endurancecui.active.com.
Comedy
Thirroul
The Usual Dagos features a line-up of A-list comedians sharing the stage.
You will be transported back to your childhood days growing up in a European household, whether you did or not. And how to fight the adversities every Dago and its dog (and non Dagos) face today.
The show features a star-studded line up including Joe Avati, legendary comedian George Kapiniaris, and TV sensation, Tahir.
Joining them on the big stage for the very first time will be James Liotta, Piero Viavattene, and a few 'wogs that weren't' - Ashley Fils-Aime (direct from LA), and Dane Simpson, who is from an Aboriginal background.
It's on Saturday, February 15 at Anita's Theatre, Thirroul
Tickets from Ticketmaster.
Exhibition
Macquarie Pass
The Kramer Photography Rainforest Gallery Open Day is on Saturday, February 15 from 10am to 2pm at 3157 Illawarra Highway, Macquarie Pass.
Dee Kramer of Kramer Photography has been showcasing the beauty of world around him for almost two decades.
Over this time, he has amassed a large collection of local images from close to home and abroad.
At the gallery, you'll find a selection of framed photographs and canvas artworks available for purchase.
Free event.
Sunset Cinema
Wollongong
The Sunset Cinema is on again at the Botanic Gardens until February 22.
For more details, visit the www.sunsetcinema.com.au/wollongong website.
Circus
Shellharbour City
Stardust Circus is Australia's largest animal circus and has performing animals including African lions, mischievous monkeys, dogs, pigs, goats, five liberty horses as well as miniature trick ponies.
You can also witness a large flying trapeze troupe, a 10- person Hungarian trained Teeter Board (springboard) act, dynamic aerialists, acrobatic comedy and crazy clowns.
It runs until Sunday, February 23 at the corner of Lake Entrance Road and Wattle Street, Blackbutt. Times vary.
Book now at www.stardustcircus.com.au.
Live music
Wollongong
Sunday Sounds features free live music in the garden over summer.
Enjoy a relaxed Sunday afternoon at the Wollongong Botanic Garden listening to a free live music performance, featuring talent from the Illawarra region.
The line-up will feature a different performer in a different part of the garden each week.
It takes place every Sunday (weather permitting) between 2pm to 4pm.
Park Run
Various venues
This is a free community run every Saturday at 8am - Killalea in Shell Cove, Sandon Point in Bulli or from Elliots Road in Fairy Meadow.
Weekly 5km timed run/walk event for everyone, irrespective of ability. Grab a post event tea or coffee and chat to other runners about your run that day.
Just register once before your first ever timed run at www.parkrun.com.au.