Revolution Remixed | Camerata
One of the many reasons to see live music, of any kind, if the to marvel at the artistry and skill of the performers. A definite highlight of the Camerata Revolution Remixed performance was to watch the interactions between the artists, and to see how the musicians bring the composers’ works to life.
Busking in Glory | Merilee Ettia
The 45 minute bold show relied on raw vocal power and sharp narrative wit to hold the spotlight under the Brisbane night sky. Ettia sang her lungs out over background song tracks, but there was serious technique behind the volume- her singing voice was incredibly powerful, beautiful and clearly well trained.
Eat Slay Zombie | La Boite Theatre
Don’t let the title or the zombie masks fool you – this is far from a typical horror-comedy. McGrady brilliantly channels the chaotic framework of a zombie outbreak as a sharp, clever metaphor to deliver a powerful message about colonisation and First Nations survival in contemporary Australia.
The Female of the Species | Cut & Run Productions
The Female of the Species is wry comedy excellence, and everyone onstage is at the top of their game for the full runtime. Smart, funny, political, and with a running gag about the soothing power of soup, I really urge everyone to check out The Female of the Species while they can. It's the type of show that I think Magandjin could use more of, and I hope that Cut & Run continues on the winning path they have set for themselves.
Thank God You’re Queer | Second Beat Productions & Big Fork Theatre
Thank God You’re Queer is a delightfully gay spin on the classic Channel 10 improv show. Thank God You’re Here. Four heterosexual comedians, supported by an entirely queer cast of improvisers, find themselves in scenes inspired by real audience questions and experiences (sourced via QR code in the line to the show), all competing for the title of Brisbane’s Best Ally.
BrisAsia Comedy Gala
The BrisAsia Comedy Gala, for the most part, served hot curry with white ignorance like rice and tiger balm, peppered with sprinkle of relatives arguing in the kitchen. Overall, I laughed lots, thanks to the routines being funny and relatable for everyone.
Deal With It! | Hanson Creative
Halfway between Rosemary’s Baby and a screwball comedy, Deal With It! is an odd play. Following couple Alix and Max as they investigate roommate Bridget’s comings and goings, the play strikes a horror-comedy tone that, while a welcome change of pace from Magandjin’s usual dramatic fare, left me wanting more.
Now You See Me LIVE | QPAC in association with Tim Lawson & Simon Painter
The pacing is razor sharp—card tricks flow into daring escapes, sleight of hand gives way to full-scale spectacle, and the audience is even let in on a few lessons about misdirection (just enough to make you think you’re clever… right before you’re fooled again).
Sweet Charity | Prospero Arts
Sweet Charity is presented more as a concert, with limited lighting, set, and costumes. Although this gives the audience the opportunity to admire the musicianship and vocal talents of the cast, it requires a show that doesn’t depend too heavily on spectacle, big dance numbers and the general ‘oomph’ that major musicals reply on to attract large audiences and command high ticket prices.
We Were Promised Honey | AllEntertainment
Raising the spectre of debates around determinism vs free will, Tenielle reminds us that the We Were Promised Honey dialogue is already written. But there is still a sense of immediacy and even improvisation in the performance, thanks to interactions with the audience that includes several willing patrons repeating and even reading, lines from the script.
A Few Good Men | Queensland Theatre Company
A Few Good Men is the must see show of the year—or possibly the Queensland Theatre Company (QTC) production of the decade. It is a show for our time, and a play that goes to the heart of what it means to be honourable and courageous. Director Daniel Evans has created a show that is both epic and intimate, and which emphasises the light and shade of the story. It gets a 6-star, 10 out of 10 rating from me. Go if you can find a ticket for this show!
Bahala/o | Buddy Malbasias
Bahala/o is a new, genre-defying experience. You can’t order this one online, or have it delivered to your door. This is a rice dish that is worth leaving home for.
HEAT | Zen Zen Zo
Heat takes place in the sweetly nostalgic backyard of Morningside Scout Hall, a classic school-yard style building with layered timber and a tall roof. The addition of a clothesline, a ring of eucalypts, a sunset and a passing trainline results in a richly sensory experience that charms the early show audience.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! | Ghostlight Theatre Co.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! THE MUSICAL! is a raucous, cleverly unhinged tribute that proves even horror’s darkest origins can find new life in song. Go for the zombies, stay for the satire—and maybe rewatch the original 1968 masterpiece before or after.
Body Code: Can AI transform disabled experiences in the Arts? | Vulcana Circus
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.
Life With Herpes: First Symptoms | Rebel Star
Rebel Star’s new work, Life With Herpes: First Symptoms, is deeply personal, delightfully silly, and surprisingly educational.
Horse Play | Nathaniel Crossinggum & Lunch Friend
Following punter Georgie as she is dragged into activist Pony’s impending bomb plot targeting the Melbourne Cup, Horse Play is an exploration of the intersection between protest, obligation, and fear, unpacking this venn diagram so thoroughly that by the end, you’ll be wondering why you’re not doing more.
Tell Me Something | Davidson Gluyas Productions
Tell Me Something is a great piece of theatre, and I hope that its inclusion in the 2025 Melt Festival attracts queer and wider audiences. Yes, the protagonists are queer, and yes there are some strong sexual references and deep themes. But each of these themes have a universality that is not limited to sexual orientation or identity. Tell Me Something is a reminder to all of us to be truthful with ourselves, and with our closest friends.
Make Me Better Ma | Jazz Zhao
Throughout her reading, Zhao’s vulnerability was palpable, permeating the theatre space with its rawness and authenticity and yet still encouraging laughter from the audience.
Whitefella Yella Tree | La Boite Theatre
Whitefella Yella Tree is the Romeo & Juliet of our times. The La Boite debut of award-winning Palawa playwright Dylan Van Den Berg deserves a sold-out close to its short run. It is a clever, and sometimes funny, piece of writing that addresses big issues through a sensitively told story.