“Bigger and bolder than ever”: Backbone Festival returns to showcase the next generation of creative changemakers
Across this year’s festival, artists are grappling with an increasingly connected and information-heavy world, looking at the absurdity of the world around us and questioning how society is shaped, influenced and manipulated by the media. There’s a real sense of artists trying to make sense of the world they’ve inherited - while simultaneously asking whether they want to accept it as it is.
LOOK UP, it’s the 2025 Backbone Youth Arts Festival
“LOOK UP not only provides that platform but encourages artists to embrace the messiness of creation. Which is something I deeply value in my own process. For emerging artists, it also acts as a vital pipeline for development, allowing new voices to be witnessed, nurtured, and celebrated.”
Chelsea August, Director - Make Me Better Ma.
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.
"The Festival will showcase the best and most innovative comedians and performers." Rosa Sottile on the 2023 Brisbane Improv Festival
This week we have some killer shows in a huge diversity of formats from horror to musical to drama to classic improvised comedy - it’s something for everyone!
“Going camp”: Revelations on craft, cringe, and queerness with writer and theatre maker Esther Dougherty
I don't think there's ever a point in any of my plays where a character actually tells a joke. It’s not them cracking jokes with each other; we’re laughing at them. It’s clown, and everyone is invited to uncouple from the profundity, the seriousness, to cleanse the palette.
"Anywhere Festival is all about discovering shows, places and people you wouldn't expect, where you wouldn't expect." Paul Osuch on this year's Anywhere Festival
Anywhere Festival is about bringing artists and audiences closer together—and it’s about showing there is a way for artists to create and develop shows without having to rely on the bricks and mortar performing arts complex.