Across this year’s festival, artists are grappling with an increasingly connected and information-heavy world, looking at the absurdity of the world around us and questioning how society is shaped, influenced and manipulated by the media. There’s a real sense of artists trying to make sense of the world they’ve inherited - while simultaneously asking whether they want to accept it as it is.
Across this year’s festival, artists are grappling with an increasingly connected and information-heavy world, looking at the absurdity of the world around us and questioning how society is shaped, influenced and manipulated by the media. There’s a real sense of artists trying to make sense of the world they’ve inherited - while simultaneously asking whether they want to accept it as it is.
In conjunction with members from the Deaf and Disabled communities, Vulcana’s latest offering, Body Code, will bring together circus, poetry, research, technology, and live music. Through the delivery of what is promised to be a ‘very different kind of performance’, Body Code is slated to address what has become the very controversial topic of AI within the realm of the creative industry.
“There’s something incredibly empowering in being part of a space where women uplift each other, share their vulnerabilities through art, and grow together. That quiet sisterhood - the shared breath before a performance, and the knowing glance in rehearsal and the mutual respect- has been one of the most beautiful parts of this journey.”
“LOOK UP not only provides that platform but encourages artists to embrace the messiness of creation. Which is something I deeply value in my own process. For emerging artists, it also acts as a vital pipeline for development, allowing new voices to be witnessed, nurtured, and celebrated.”
Chelsea August, Director - Make Me Better Ma.
If you’re already suffering from Brisbane Festival withdrawal symptoms, don’t worry: Brisbane’s Melt Festival is just around the corner (22 October-9 November)—and probably in many corners near you.
Come with me as I explore the accessibility of the venues that I have attended during the Brisbane Festival.
“When you don't allow phones suddenly an audience is more engaged. They're less self-conscious and artists are given sort of a pass to do things that they normally wouldn't feel comfortable doing otherwise if it was recorded…”
BrisFest returns to town this year from 5 to 27 September for Artistic Director Louise Bezzina’s sixth and final festival. With so much arty goodness on offer, it can be hard to know where to start, so the writers of NEHIB have dived into the program and have come up with a list of what you simply must see at BrisFest this year.
Adam James: "John Farnham released a record called ‘The Great Australian Songbook’ in the early 2000’s and I've enhanced the idea and coloured it in. There are so many great First Nations singers and songwriters in Australia, this was my chance to take their voices to the nation."
From courtrooms to saloons, outback towns to the corridors of power, Queensland Theatre’s captivating 2025 program was enthusiastically welcomed with spontaneous, non-stop applause in celebration of reigniting our love for the power of theatre.
From the very outset of Werewolf, I was enthralled. Receiving a series of audience guidelines in the foyer? Thrilling. An unconventional on-stage entry through a quasi-containment-chamber plastic screen? Absolutely on board. Being greeted by armbanded ‘Wardens’ who look like the outdoorsy camp counsellors of my teenage crush dreams? Strapped in. And all of that was before I'd even read my seat allotted instructional card…gasp! (if you know, you know)
Scorched Earth is a phenomenal testament to the respective powers of theatre and dance, and needs to be seen to be believed. Equal parts dreamlike and nightmarish, it’s more of an experience than a conventional narrative act, and I hope to see more works like it on local stages in the next few years.
Clerici draws out the power of the orchestra in a piece that includes a memorable saxophone solo, sparkling harp and piano interplay, and an excellent ‘wind section conversation.’ The first movement is incredible: lyrical, soaring strings combined with the rising tension from the brass and woodwind, left the audience quite breathless. And of course the finale of the third movement is a very satisfying way in which to conclude any concert.
Escape is a captivating, athletic and fast-paced blend of acrobatics, circus skills, and contemporary dance. Expect moments of break dancing, powerful contemporary dance, incredible aerials, circus leaps, and acrobatic tumbles. Be ready to delight in the almost balletic door duet, and be amazed at the often-surreal imagery, jumps and moves.
Judging by the audience’s reactions, The Listies proved without a doubt that they know how to elicit genuine laughs from both kids and ‘kidults’ through delightful scrapes and absolute silliness. ‘This Show Is A Joke!’ is a lighthearted, family-friendly production. If you’re looking for a good time, well, shall I say, go catch some LOLs.
If I were to liken the production to a Singaporean tea time snack, it would be kueh lapis: the steamed, rainbow-layered kind found in wet markets and confectionery shops alike. Sometimes called a nine-layer cake, it’s chewy, and you can really sink your teeth into it. Peeling the layers apart one at a time is a joy that doesn't fade with age, awakening the inner child in adults just as readily as it delights actual ones. This production was just as sticky.
Bleachers reminds me of why dancing in a kitchen at 2am with the people you love can feel like the best thing in the world. It’s a vital and moving piece of work, the creative outcome of an accomplished group of collaborators challenging assumptions about who gets to take up space on our stages. If you like a gut punch that leaves you feeling hopeful, this one's for you.
Ocean with David Attenborough is a powerful documentary film. However, seeing the work on a large screen can have so much more impact--particularly when Steven Price’s incredible score is played live by Camerata. The production offers audiences a memorable experience, and the warm and extended applause is a measure of the skill of the musicians, vocalists and conductor.
I found the show to be very touching, and honest about grief while also being honest and appreciative of the everyday miracles of connection, love, and the bliss of enjoying the moment and each other. We all live a doomed life - but we also get to live, and that is where the magic happens.
But it is those movements of activity and communal dance that are the absolute highpoints of the piece. It is an absolute delight to see those moments when the majority of the cast move together in a powerful, contemporary response to the music of Vivaldi and other classical composers. The extended ‘curtain call’ reprise of the moments of tumbling, fast, and frenzied dance is a very special way to remind us of the skill of the performers, leaving the audience wanting more.
WHAT’S ON IN BRISBANE
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