Five BrisFest Shows for your next mother and child date
It can be hard to think of new date ideas to take your mum to. Or your adult child too. There are only so many brunch places that you can exhaust, op shops and quirky galleries. Why not make your next mother and child date a show at this year’s Brisbane Festival and consume some live entertainment that you can pour over with a glass of wine post-show. Here are my recommendations:
Personal. 6-9 September, Metro Arts, West End.
Created and performed by Jodee Mundy, Personal explores her experience as the only hearing person in a Deaf family, through a captivating blend of performance, storytelling, multimedia and animation. Delving into the contradictions of inhabiting two worlds, I imagine that this work would be deeply personal, moving and a significant vehicle for education on relationships and perspectives with dis/ability, especially in family context. This is definitely a work that is perfect for the post-show drinks and chats and was designed to spark conversations.
The Party. 1-23 September. South Bank Piazza, South Bank.
If you or your Mum likes to party, this is the show for you! Presented by Strut and Fret, this cabaret work includes internationally renowned circus artists, raving music, colourful costumes and high energy performances – all culminating in what’s being advertised as the party of our lives. It sounds like too much fun!
Bananaland. 16 September - 1 October, The Playhouse, QPAC, South Bank.
Ever since Muriel’s Wedding the musical was birthed into existence by composers Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall - which had so much fun, camp and quirk - I’ve been dying to see what their next work was going to be. The Brisfest programming team for 2023 have answered that question for me…Bananaland. Directed by Simon Phillips, Bananaland explores the story of Ruby Semblance, a 21-year-old idealist who is the lead singer/songwriter of Kitty Litter the ‘Onstage Conceptual Art / Music Oriented Happening.’ Suddenly, and by complete accident, their furious protest song Bananaland accidentally becomes a hit, something the band wasn’t prepared for… It sounds like a glorious concept, the absurdity of it all making it even more appealing for me. You know the music will be sensational, and Phillips always delivers as a director. Perfect night out.
Siva Mai Club. 13-16 September, South Bank Piazza, South Bank.
Presented by District41 & Oceanik Village the Siva Mai Club brings a tsunami of Pasifika excellence to light up the stage and make you get up and dance in your seats. What’s described as a ‘splashy’ fusion of traditional, cultural, pop-contemporary live music and dance, this show is guaranteed to feel you up with good vibes, music and stories to power you through the rest of 2023, and to power you through your mother and child date.
Party Ghost. 20-23 September. Metro Arts, West End.
Up for something ghoulish? Presented by Double Take and Cluster Arts, cirque, theatre, death and drag come together to explore a wild mix of dismembered limbs, ghosts and all sorts of outrageous and disturbing shenanigans. I am a sucker for dark comedies, a trait I definitely inherited from my Mum. I’m so intrigued by how all this different art forms will compliment and coincide with each other to take this on a journey. I know they’ll do it well because it’s Cluster Arts AND an award-winning work, but it just sounds like such a hoot. Or should I have written such a scare…
So there they were. My top five. I didn’t want to bore you with my top ten… Maybe next time 😊
