Bringing the best of Blak Australian music to new audiences and new heights
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."
2025 Season Launch | Queensland Theatre
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.
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.
Dear Brother | Queensland Theatre & BlakDance
Boundary-defying and incredibly heartfelt, Dear Brother is a show unlike any I have seen at Queensland Theatre before; it is truly a feast for the eyes, the ears, and the heart.
GURR ERA OP | Ghenoa Gela in association with Force Majeure & ILBIJERRI Theatre Company
GURR ERA OP is a cautionary tale - yet another timely warning of the very real danger that creator Ghenoa Gela’s Torres Strait Islander communities are having to face with their ancestral homes slowly being devoured by the increasingly rising oceans. There was an undeniable underlying darkness as we were swept up in this engrossing production and the reality of the devastating effects of climate change.
The Dream Weaver: Guardians of Grace | Grace Lillian Lee
Each set of armour and shield represents one of Grace’s relatives, creating a physical family tree of woven sculptures. The individualised detail and numerous differences (both subtle and obvious) in each relative’s manifested representations indicates a considered and thoughtful approach to the work. The artworks seem to breathe the life story and memories of their namesakes, and while inspecting the work I could almost see the emotion poured into each stitch and weave.
Meet Your Maker | Alethea Beetson & Blak Social
Captivating and clever in its rendition, Ken Weston’s video design skills are certainly praiseworthy. Beetson’s one-woman performance doesn’t miss a beat as she sings, dances, plays instruments and interacts with these high calibre videos that unfold sequentially across the dominant screen. Her interaction with each is truly commendable and authentic in its fast-paced delivery and simultaneously, convincing enough to blur the boundary of video versus Beetson’s on-stage presence.
Straight from the Strait | Opera Queensland, Yumpla Nerkep Foundation and QPAC
Straight from the Strait is a joyful unfolding of a History lesson taking off on the pulsating wings of soulful songs and reverberating through stamping feet carrying ancestral rhythms and wisdoms. It held me captive from the get-go and set my spirit free by the end of the night.
Horizon | Bangarra Dance Theatre
If you are new to Bangarra’s work, then Horizon is for you. If you are looking for a memorable creative and cultural experience, then Horizon is for you. If you want to admire exceptional cutting-edge contemporary dance, with great music, lighting and costumes … Horizon is also for you. angarra’s Horizon is an unmissable experience.
37: The play that exposes the dark underbelly of Footy
This is an excellent show par none that can be enjoyed by both arts and footy lovers. By including the vessels of sportsmanship, authenticity, integrity and an outstanding dialogue, this quality production aptly conveys the community spirit, thrilling energy and intense physicality of this much loved and popular sport. The talented ensemble tackles the deep themes that writer Nathan Maynard covers in this play with humour, energy and a whole lot of heart particularly when the top dogs are pitted against the underdogs.
IMPACT | Vulcana
The showcasing of such a diversity of voices all affected by the climate crisis is what made IMPACT special. The entire event felt like a community getting together to share stories and find comfort in shared experience.
Hide The Dog | Nathan Maynard & Jamie McCaskill
As a first generation immigrant mother endeavouring to teach her daughter to have pride in her ancestry and speak her language confidently, I cannot stress the primacy of plays such as ‘Hide the Dog’ being supported and presented on multiple platforms.
“Gives us space to laugh while we consider the enormity of this crisis.” Celia White on latest Vulcana production ‘IMPACT’
Our favourite medium is circus so it was important to tackle this subject and how we tell these kind of stories through this modality. It will be really interesting to see how the audience responds a series of images, a series of tipping points.
Tracker | Australian Dance Theatre
Wiradjuri choreographer and Australian Dance Theatre Artistic Director, Daniel Riley, has brought together a talented team of creatives and artists to create a show that focuses on Daniel Riley’s exploration of the life of his Great-Great Uncle, Alec "Tracker" Riley.
West End Stories | West End Community House + Guest Artists
It was on that note of hope and healing where a group of women took their spots on the stage and sang ‘Meanjin Sunrise’ for themselves, their babies, and the betterment of their communities
Kuramanunya | Thomas E.S.Kelly
The invasion comes, the gun fires, Thomas E.S.Kelly, actor and performer and a Yugambeh/Wiradjuri/Ni-Vanuatu man speaks in language and moves from a place of gathering to anguish as the room melts into a wash of red.
Yirinda | Fred Leone & Samuel Pankhurst
Between songs Leone told us the translated stories and I was in awe of the huge amount of knowledge he had and how deeply he held it within himself.
Yuldea | Bangarra Dance Theatre
Ultimately I felt it was a kind of accounting. There is no want, no ask from the audience of many peoples, each with their own reason for coming to witness. There is just the accounting. The storytelling. The truth telling.
don’t ask what the bird look like | Queensland Theatre
Matilda Brown and Michael Tuahine each deliver stellar performances as they navigate the present and try to reconcile their intertwined past. Their initial meeting which starts off cool and distant, is wonderfully played out through their prolonged silences and obvious aversion to conversation.
Hello Brisbane Festival, what have we here?
Brisbane Festival is back again in all it’s glory. Editor Nadia Jade has a good look at the program and gives you a rundown of what’s hot, what’s intriguing, what’s unmissable and what’s worth spending the big bucks.