The Chronicles | Stephanie Lake Company
I could just sum up the experience of watching the latest Stephanie Lake Company work, The Chronicles, in one word: wow. But I feel that readers might just demand a few reasons as to why wow. In a mere 75 minutes, The Chronicles reminds us of the cycle of our lives: of the frenzied ‘running to stand still’ work, but also of the moments of beauty, tenderness, and connection… and the inevitability of our final breath.
Congratulations, Get Rich! | La Boite Theatre
‘Congratulations, Get Rich” reminded me of the value in hearing stories that come from a place of deep cultural specificity — stories that, regardless of your background, tap into shared experiences of love, loss, and connection. It’s rare to see something so intimate and culturally specific on stage, yet still feel so universal — and for me, that’s what made it clear how important it is to keep sharing diverse stories in theatre.
Milestone | William Yang
Yang was poised in his delivery and sparkling with wit. If he comes this way again, I will tell anyone who loves art, history, the celebration and exploration of queerness and Australiana to go see Milestone or its other iterations. This show is both art and heritage preservation, and a joy to watch.
BATSHIT | Leah Shelton
BATSHIT is, well, batshit. It’s a theatrical fever dream, giving a little burlesque, a little verbatim, a little mixed media, and a lot of comedy.
Gatsby at The Green Light | Caper & Crow
Gatsby at The Green Light invites audiences into a decadent world of 1920s glamour and 2020s spectacle. Brimming with classic Gatsby indulgence and theatrical excess, the show delivers a night of cabaret in a club named after the symbol of Gatsby’s elusive desire: The Green Light.
Back to Bilo | Belloo Creative
Back to Bilo’s painstaking efforts in amplifying the refugee story with so much attention to detail are praiseworthy. It is a necessary Australian story. One that needs to traverse terrains and timelines across the continent to the enduring hum of humanity.
Pasifika Made 2025 | Brisbane Festival & Brisbane City Council
Pasifika Made had such a wealth of immersive cultural activities, performances and music to offer that an event of this calibre and creative appeal should have been given more showtime. One day was certainly not enough to indulge my senses and appease my creative appetite in what turned out to be a dynamic and authentic cultural event.
Bad Nature | Australasian Dance Collective, The Club Guy & Roni, Studio Boris Acket and HIIIT
Immersed in Bad Nature, and in the worlds created by the talented team of creatives and performers, I reflected on the news footage of current wars around the world and the reporting of the climate challenges we all face. Coming out of Bad Nature, I described it to my waiting friends as an otherworldly, thought-provoking, dystopian meeting of The Matrix with elements of The Terminator and other sci-fi favourites.
La bohème | Opera Queensland & West Australian Opera
Opera Queensland and West Australian Opera have combined forces to deliver a beautifully crafted reimagining of Puccini’s La bohème, infusing it with new life while honouring the magic of the world renowned original.
“Hands down the craziest things I’ve ever done for Strut & Fret.” Spencer Novich on Late Night Vice
“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…”
Gems | L.A. Dance Project
Gems is a true Brisbane Festival gem, and it was a privilege to experience this artistic event. It is wonderful to see talented dancers, where the creative collaboration that brings world-class choreographers, visual designers, musicians, dancers, and composers creates a special opportunity for our local community.
Preparing Ground | BlakDance & Brisbane Festival
Through the medium of contemporary dance—strongly supported by cultural dance forms—these three multi-talented Blak females unpacked themes that authentically conveyed their deep connection to Country. Their multidisciplinary approach also unpacked the dehumanising colonisation of First Nations people, the generational trauma of their forced removal, the unjust banishment of speaking their language, the sorrowful devastation of Country brought about through greed, and finally the desecration of Country in order to appease rapidly growing infrastructure—and simple, tangible elements were cleverly used to convey this profound message.
Our hot pics for BrisFest 2025
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.
The Cat Empire with Queensland Symphony Orchestra | Queensland Symphony Orchestra & Brisbane Festival
For all the fun and frivolity of the night there too was a sincerity to the evening. It was born of a shared love for the work of this iconic Australian band, but also for the power of live music to escape us from our troubles and honour our survival.
Common People Dance Eisteddfod 2024 | Common People Dance Project
The message of the evening was loud and clear – dance was and is for everybody and EVERY BODY. Every single team served and slayed in its interpretation of its respective chosen theme. Every fibre of their being seemed to scream cries of unadulterated joy.
Assembly Vol. 1 | Australasian Dance Collective
Assembly Vol. 1 truly lived up to its name, and that is what made it feel so special. In the end, it turned out to be an assembly not only of talented artists, but also of everyday people united by their love for the arts
Pasifika Made | Brisbane Festival Street Serenades
Pasifika Made was a beautiful way to spend a Saturday evening and I left with my heart and stomach full. Brisbane's Pacific community has so much talent to offer and I know I’m not the only person desperate to see more of this kind of programming from Brisbane Festival in the future.
Cirque Bon Bon - Le Retour | JACs Entertainment
There were so many excellent moments in Le Retour, but one special highlight for me was contortionist and foot archery artist, Shannen Michaela, who performed her spectacular and technical archery act. The crowd was blown away by the acts, how she was able to set the scene, with accompanying epic music, as well as her charisma and perfect execution.
Big Name, No Blankets | Andrea James with Anyupa Butcher & Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher
Each of the actors presented a compelling portrayal of the members of the band. Baykali Ganambarr’s Sammy was humble, modest, honest and a great narrator of the story. Definte highlights included the fantastic vocals and performances by Cassandra Williams (Suzina, Mum & Ensemble), and the superb stage presence and singing by Taj Pigram, as the Warumpi Band frontman.
Private View | Restless Dance Theatre
Private View is a work that encourages us to dream wildly and let others dream wildly of the love, desire, kindness, lust, and affection we all deserve. It shows us its dreams and gently invites us to remove the barricades and barriers we have within our own. And, with every dream it liberates, I know it changes our world for the better. It’s just bloody lovely, is what it is.