Stephanie Grace 30/9/26 Stephanie Grace 30/9/26

Scorched Earth | Attic Projects

Scorched Earth is a phenomenal testament to the respective powers of theatre and dance, and needs to be seen to be believed. Equal parts dreamlike and nightmarish, it’s more of an experience than a conventional narrative act, and I hope to see more works like it on local stages in the next few years.

Kian Dillon 19/9/26 Kian Dillon 19/9/26

Bleachers | Sprung Dance Theatre

Bleachers reminds me of why dancing in a kitchen at 2am with the people you love can feel like the best thing in the world. It’s a vital and moving piece of work, the creative outcome of an accomplished group of collaborators challenging assumptions about who gets to take up space on our stages. If you like a gut punch that leaves you feeling hopeful, this one's for you.

Darcie Rae 13/9/26 Darcie Rae 13/9/26

No One Gets Out Of Here Alive | The Farm

I found the show to be very touching, and honest about grief while also being honest and appreciative of the everyday miracles of connection, love, and the bliss of enjoying the moment and each other. We all live a doomed life - but we also get to live, and that is where the magic happens.

Catherine Lawrence 12/9/26 Catherine Lawrence 12/9/26

Shel We | Tupua Tigafua & Brisbane Festival

But it is those movements of activity and communal dance that are the absolute highpoints of the piece. It is an absolute delight to see those moments when the majority of the cast move together in a powerful, contemporary response to the music of Vivaldi and other classical composers. The extended ‘curtain call’ reprise of the moments of tumbling, fast, and frenzied dance is a very special way to remind us of the skill of the performers, leaving the audience wanting more.

Darcie Rae 8/7/26 Darcie Rae 8/7/26

god eater | Jag Popham

Jag has been successful in making something destabilising and original. The show delivers on intensity, discomfort and strong choices. This is not an entry-level contemporary dance work, but if you like pieces that make you work a little and feel a lot, god eater is an interesting contribution to the contemporary dance genre.

Catherine Lawrence 5/12/25 Catherine Lawrence 5/12/25

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.

Catherine Lawrence 15/9/25 Catherine Lawrence 15/9/25

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.

Catherine Lawrence 10/9/25 Catherine Lawrence 10/9/25

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.

Writeousness 8/9/25 Writeousness 8/9/25

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.

Ranjini Ganapathy 10/12/24 Ranjini Ganapathy 10/12/24

The Next 14 Seconds | Phluxus2 Dance Collective

The Next 14 Seconds was, in essence, a call to recognise and embrace the humanity in friends and strangers alike in a matter of seconds. Its attempt to answer it in its uniquely unpredictable way was laudable.

Nadia Jade 9/11/24 Nadia Jade 9/11/24

Lamina | VOiiiD Collective

They entered in brightly coloured heat mapped leotards and perfectly groomed and shiny Gattaca-esque heads. They moved beautifully, fluidly in one scene, in tandem for a note, again an element of robotic science fiction. The wearing of wigs as a taking on and putting off of the Role Of Woman.

Kathryn Collins 24/9/24 Kathryn Collins 24/9/24

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

Catherine Lawrence 16/9/24 Catherine Lawrence 16/9/24

Lighting the Dark | DanceNorth

As the performers are presented, they are each warmly hugged and welcomed by Chris Dyke—communicating a sense of the artists as people who need to work closely with and trust their fellow dancers. It’s wonderful to then watch those individuals transform from initial ‘chatter,’ and playfulness, to performing impressive dance—here a literal lighting of the dark stage, when the artists ‘switch on’ their performance skills.

Nadia Jade 6/7/24 Nadia Jade 6/7/24

WILDFLOWER | ADC Mature Ensemble

Defiance defines this performance. Defiance against those they have closed off the stage, the dancing, the community of kindred spirits. We will take what is ours to have.

Catherine Lawrence 22/9/23 Catherine Lawrence 22/9/23

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.

Nadia Jade 18/9/23 Nadia Jade 18/9/23

Crazy Fucking Bitches | A Little Life Theatre

We start by going back to the story of Eve and I liked seeing her in the garden, five Eve’s consuming perfect red apples in the lustful manner they deserve.

Glorianna Grace 15/9/23 Glorianna Grace 15/9/23

Siva Mai Club | District41 & Oceanik Village

Siva Mai Club does not just speak to Pasifika and Indigenous people, no matter your cultural backgrounds, it is special to be a part of that communion in that 75 mins with a dash of island style humour.

Katie Rasch 7/9/23 Katie Rasch 7/9/23

Stunt Double | The Farm

The scene exploded into a perfect, frantic homage to b-movies that had me grinning ear to ear. That feeling of anticipation, of knowing you were about to see something that was purely and intensely fun, was my favorite part of this production.

Nadia Jade 6/9/23 Nadia Jade 6/9/23

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.

Kaylee Vera 4/9/23 Kaylee Vera 4/9/23

Salamander | Maxine Doyle & Es Devlin

Utilising highly skilled dancers, co-visionaries Maxine Doyle and Es Devlin have delivered a unique and enthralling large-scale production for this year’s Brisbane Festival.