SPIRIT CREATURES

First it was pirates. Then zombies had their day in the sun. And we all know what happened with vampires. Sometimes it seems the whole world’s been glamoured. But what about the mischievous mimi spirits that lurk in pairs in rock crevices, or the mysterious aquatic yawk yawk? Never heard of them? Now’s your chance, as the Australian Museum launches Spirit Creatures this weekend. The exclusive show brings to life the fantastic and enigmatic creatures of Australia’s Indigenous folklore, celebrating both our native legends and the forgotten creatures of our past, such as the Thylacoleo, an Australian marsupial lion that lived two million years ago. While many of the creatures may be unfamiliar to audiences, there’ll be a few familiar characters as well, says the show’s creator Scott Wright, such as the infamous tree-dwelling Drop Bear, which has been the source of much speculation and threatening of tourists for generations. Spirit Creatures is being shown as part of NAIDOC Week, and in conjunction with a selection of the Museum’s some 40,000 ethnographic objects representing the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Although the show is not recommended for Under 5s, the 30-minute performance promises to be a lively and entertaining look into some of our native beasts and legends for kids of all other ages.

Jul 2-17, Australian Museum, 6 College St, Sydney, $7 + entry, 9320 6000, australianmuseum.net.au