Lally Katz finds love and laughs in the dojo
ELISSA BLAKE For the young Dan Katz, directionless and troubled, karate helped him to reconnect mind, body and sense of purpose. Nearly half a century later, it was karate that helped Dan's playwright daughter Lally heal a wounded heart.
What's on in Sydney: your guide to top events across the board
![Expect laughs, circus, striptease and song when Hot Brown Honey appear at the Sydney Opera House.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/15/7489111/Thumbnail1010324213gpissjimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gpir5h.png1466235440150.jpg-90x60.jpg)
NICOLE ELPHICK Your eight-day guide to Sydney attractions this week.
Top gigs in Sydney: Big Country, Urthboy, Smudge, Brandy, the Paper Kites
![Urthboy plays a sold out gig at the Oxford Art Factory on June 17.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/15/7488859/Thumbnail1010323540gpiqy3image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gpiqms.png1466067899664.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Bronwyn Thompson From tours by old favourites Smudge, Brandy and Big Country, to Urthboy's victory lap, we have your week in live music covered.
Sydney's what's on guide: eight days of things to do
![Get an early peek of Steven Spielberg's movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's <i>The BFG</i>: Monday at Event Cinemas, George Street.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/07/7471124/Thumbnail1010050692gpcvraimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gpcw3o.png1465632093795.jpg-90x60.jpg)
NICOLE ELPHICK A week of top attractions, from a renowned jazz improviser to octopus tacos and a big friendly giant.
Cosplay queen goes from geek to glam
![Rebecca Borkman in full regalia as sorceress Jaina Proudmoore from the Heroes of the Storm video game.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/09/7476496/Thumbnail1010159877gpf88eimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gpf8cl.png1465441829349.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Amy Cooper Lifelong comic book fan Rebecca Borkman, aka Ardella, has her dream job of channelling pop culture's most kick-butt women in the fast-growing world of cosplay.
Sydney's top gigs: DMA's, Last Dinosaurs, Living End, Savages, Eleanor Friedberger
![London's Savages stop by the Metro on Thursday, June 16, after their Dark Mofo appearance.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/08/7473572/Thumbnail1010107859gpe4d6image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gpe47n.png1465348339661.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Bromwyn Thompson From home-grown favourites DMA's and Last Dinosaurs, to old-school rockers the Living End and British upstarts Savages, we have your week in live music covered.
Young refugees share their traumatic stories in Tree of Life
![Drawing the stories out is a delicate and sometimes difficult process, says Maguire-Donvito.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/09/7477325/Thumbnail1010034061gpfi6simage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gpcj9p.png1465454587175.jpg-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE All refugees inevitably arrive in their new country of settlement with stories. Many, if not most of them, go untold. Some are buried.
Sydney what's on guide: the best events in the week ahead
![See where the space saga all began with a free screening of the 1977 blockbuster Star Wars (rated PG) at The Argyle's outdoor cinema.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/01/7457968/Thumbnail1009829775gp85fvimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gp85n3.png1464745406721.jpg-90x60.jpg)
NICOLE ELPHICK A week's worth of things to do in Sydney.
Vivid Live review: New Order bring sunshine melancholy and the dance
![The young Bernard Sumner of New Order](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/06/02/7460591/Thumbnail1009902006goqo90image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gp9pdi.png1464867603792.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BERNARD ZUEL There's business and there's pleasure but New Order show how to mix the two with trippy graphics and euphoric dance.
Sydney going out guide: the hottest attractions of the week
![Cate Blanchett portrays different personas in Julian Rosefeldt's Manifesto.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/28/7450282/Thumbnail1009538224gp2yeoimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gp1wog.png1464413594796.jpg-90x60.jpg)
NICOLE ELPHICK Picks from the Autumn Harvest Festival to Manifesto with Cate Blanchett are in your Sydney going out guide.
Models and the Reels revisit the sounds that kicked against Oz rock for Vivid
![Dave Mason, from The Reels in 1979, says the band were at odds with the dominant sound of '80s Australian music.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/24/7439092/Thumbnail1009523938gp1lwqimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gp1lnm.png1464828726600.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BARRY DIVOLA Models, Machinations and the Reels created electronic sounds in a world in which guitar was king. On the eve of their concert together for Vivid, members of the groups reflect on their music and their lives in the passing decades.
The truth about karaoke night with Philadelphia Grand Jury
![Singalong Philly Jays – Berkfinger, MC Bad Genius and Dan Sweat, of Philadelphia Grand Jury.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/24/7440098/Thumbnail1009519800gp1l9kimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gp1igo.png1464230033586.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BERNARD ZUEL From Bowie and Frank Sinatra to Beck and Shania Twain, everything's on the table when this three-piece flick the switch to karaoke.
Top gigs coming up in Sydney
![Bon Iver will open Vivid LIVE.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/26/7445993/Thumbnail1009597187gp4t5iimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gp366b.png1464249486714.jpg-90x60.jpg)
From groundbreaking electronica-pop act New Order to Bon Iver, we have live music covered.
Sydney what's on guide: a week of the best attractions ahead
![Youngsters can meet their favourite character at Glowtopia.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/18/7425900/Thumbnail1009287431goxep7image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gowj5z.png1463815280700.jpg-90x60.jpg)
NICOLE ELPHICK Your day-by-day guide to what's on in Sydney this week.
The family fun guide to Vivid Sydney
![Vivid expands this year to 23 nights instead of 18.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/17/7423585/Thumbnail1009288770gowk6mimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gowk76.png1464320753121.jpg-90x60.jpg)
ELISSA BLAKE All that families need to know to get the most of this year's Vivid Sydney festival.
White Rabbit's Heavy Artillery: epic works where the devil is in the detail
![Cang Xin's Spiritual Crystals at Vermilion Art.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/17/7424171/Thumbnail1009299670gowwz4image.related.thumbnail.320x214.gowsly.png1463732152578.jpg-90x60.jpg)
John McDonald The monumental works on display at White Rabbit Gallery's Heavy Artillery exhibition use tools and books to make their political points.
Top gigs coming up in Sydney
![Brisbane alt-rockers Violent Soho play the Enmore Theatre on May 26.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/19/7430293/Thumbnail1009340757goz9ruimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.goxob9.png1463646361461.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Must-see acts include rising stars Camp Cope, Brisbane alt-rockers Violent Soho and a raucous outfit from Massachusetts.
Status Quo hoping this boat won't go down, down
![Down down – Status Quo will float 50 years of rock songs on a cruise in the south Pacific.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/19/7429934/Thumbnail1009402299gnv65fimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.goyzsr.png1463656075561.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BERNARD ZUEL Whatever floats your boat. A week in an RSL club of your dreams, or nightmares, on the water and listening to classic rock. What possibly could be wrong with that?
Coldplay announce tour of Australia and New Zealand in December
![Coming back for summer - Coldplay announce a December tour of Australia and New Zealand.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/19/7428149/Thumbnail1009373899goye04image.related.thumbnail.320x214.goydvv.png1463610638048.jpg-90x60.jpg)
BERNARD ZUEL We're all going on a summer Coldplay tour, fun and laughter and stadiums for a week or two, on both sides of the Tasman.
What's on guide: the pick of Sydney's events
![Pooches on their best behaviour in the Million Paws Walk.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/11/7409170/Thumbnail1008994935gorsjgimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.goq9h3.png1463213521965.jpg-90x60.jpg)
NICOLE ELPHICK Sydney's standout events this week, from the Million Paws Walk to Ramen Wars.
Mum's the muse for Xanadu the Musical's Kat Hoyos
![Kat Hoyos and her mum, Natalie.](http://web.archive.org./web/20160619211823im_/http://images.smh.com.au/2016/05/12/7412902/Thumbnail1009144065gotg5qimage.related.thumbnail.320x214.gotgjl.png1463025085739.jpg-90x60.jpg)
Amy Cooper Xanadu the Musical star says her mother's gutsy example spurred her on.
Highlights
20 things to hear, see and do in Sydney this weekend
From Daffodils to The Drones and healthy hemp to a half marathon, we have your weekend covered.
Events
Sydney Writers' Festival 2016
The latest stories, interviews and reviews from this year's literary festival, from May 16-22.