Our Top 10 Picks for Melt Festival 2025
Image: Markus Ravik
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.
We asked the Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane crew to suggest some of the book-now-or-you-may-miss-out shows. Here are our top ten delectable suggestions for your entertainment and edification:
Backbone Festival 2025. 9-25 Oct. Seven Hills Hub, Seven Hills.
2025’s theme is “Look Up” and promises ‘performance, sound, visual art, and experiences that challenge expectations and create space for mess, resistance, joy, and imagination.’ Our top suggestion is to go on the opening night (free, registration required) and buy tickets for the FUSE evening show, but there are also several other great events to enjoy, including:
FUSE (9-11 Oct): An art installation and show that combine to explore ‘a world of psychological connection and light portrayed through physical movement and touch.’ Directed by the talented Anabella Gregory and supported by Flipside Circus, need we say more?
Family Fun Day (11 Oct): Free fun stuff plus face painting and frosty ice cream available. Checkout the website for timings.
Katie is a Marker Sniffing Lesbian (16-25 Oct): ‘a fiercely queer, darkly funny coming-of-age play about pressure, rebellion, and what happens when you explode the box you were told to fit into.’
Terms and Conditions Apply (17-18 Oct): Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane’s Virag Dombay is one of the three writer/performers in this show. Guaranteed quality writing and a thought-provoking piece of theatre.
Survival on a Strange Planet (23-25 Oct): Ads J and Darcie both recommend this exciting, delightful, funny, and highly original mix of circus, puppetry, and comedic physical theatre—the full-length version of a work developed in Dead Puppet Society’s DPS Academy last year.
Malacañang Made Us. 18 Oct-1 Nov. Queensland Theatre, South Brisbane.
This award-winning play by Jordan Shea was described by the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award judges as ‘an unforgettable journey through a tantalising collision of languages, times and place’ and is promoted as ‘a bold, haunting epic about identity, legacy, and the quiet courage that shapes history.’
Bubble Show for Adults Only. 22 Oct-9 Nov. West End Electric, West End.
Darcie strongly recommends this one, which makes it a must-see show in our opinion. Featuring different styles of stunning high-level bubbles that are artistic, mind-bending, sex-themed, hilarious and for adults only, Darcie says that ‘this one must be seen to be believed. I saw it a few years ago as a last-minute late-night fringe show impulse buy and it ended up being one of my favourites that year—totally weird, super fun, and nobody can help but smile at the magic of well-executed bubble tricks.’
Heart Full of Omens. 23 Oct-9 Nov. PIP Theatre, Milton.
Tickets may still be available for the 23 October Exhibition & Festival Launch, but even if you miss the Opening, make sure you get down to PIP Theatre during Melt to see one of their many excellent shows and catch the exhibition of paintings, photography, and motion art by Brisbane-born artist Luke Brohman. The exhibition is open one hour before and after scheduled PIP shows.
Whitefella Yella Tree. 23 Oct-8 Nov. La Boite Theatre, Kelvin Grove.
‘Two teenagers meet under a lemon tree and fall madly in love. If history would just unfurl a little differently, they might have a beautiful future ahead of them. But without knowing it, Ty and Neddy are poised on the brink of a world that is about to change forever.’ Definitely a reason to go to La Boite this Spring.
Miss First Nation. 23-24 Oct (Heats), 25 Oct (Final). Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm.
First Nations drag superstars slay the stage with power, pride and glamour. The two heats are “pay what you can” events, and will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work of all these talented artists—and then why not buy a ticket for the Final too, to see if your favourites succeed in the competition.
The Lucky Country. 22-26 Oct. Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm.
This funny and heartfelt celebration is a 65-minute mixtape that digs into themes of identity and belonging. Fresh from seasons on Gadigal and Naarm, it sounds like this one will be special, sensational, and sublime.
Out in the Wild. 25 Oct. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Fig Tree Pocket (or add in the cruise from Southbank).
Experience Lone Pine after dark in this classic wildlife tour with a twist: drag queens, wildlife, food, comedy, games and 18+ banter. It sounds like this is a one-of-a-kind event that you will be talking about for years afterwards.
Tell Me Something. 29 Oct-1 Nov. Metro Arts, West End.
Catherine was very impressed by Sophia Davidson Gluyas’ The Bed Party, and is therefore looking forward to seeing their latest work, which is premiering at Melt 2025. Tell Me Something is described by the writer as ‘a charming little show about chosen family and the nature of friendship.’ Get tickets while you can.
River Pride Picnic and Parade. 8 Nov. New Farm Park and on the Brisbane river.
A free, family-friendly, multicoloured MELT celebration. Take a picnic blanket, and don’t forget to bring your favourite people. MELT organisers promise a flash mob, food trucks, live entertainment, and fun for all ages—with on-water entertainment including water skiers, a special appearance by the tugboats, and closing rainbow pyrotechnics to light up the sky. Everyone is welcome.
Once you’ve booked your tickets to these hot shows, take a more detailed look at the MELT Festival website as there is so much more to enjoy: Femme Follies Burlesque (sapphic tease and showgirl sleaze at its finest), Blanc De Blanc Encore (yes, Blanc De Blanc Encore is back for an encore), Architects of Sound (Favourites of both Nadia and Ads J—they could watch them read the phone book), Glitter Trails (a tour of local queer landmarks), Briefs: Jealousss (Briefs Factory’s latest camp circus cabaret spectacular), Hard Cherry (described as a dance party for queer women, non-binary babes, and sapphic souls), Fashioning Queer Identities (an exhibition showcasing how fashion and visual arts enhance and sometimes hide the LGBTQI+ community), and don’t forget Thank God You're Queer, which puts a fabulous twist on the famous show of (almost) the same name.
We look forward to seeing you out and about in Brisbane during MELT Festival 2025. And, if you’d like to read more of the recommendations by our Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane writers, why not subscribe to our monthly newsletter—the best solution to FOMO.