Meanjin is Burning: Ella Ganza and the local Ballroom community on the upcoming Alexander Ball. "I want Meanjin to be the capital of Ballroom in Australia."
Ballroom and the Ball is everything that is fashion, that is high-energy. It is going to be that
event you never knew you needed until you go. You don’t have to be a Queer person, a Person of
Colour, or a Queer Person of Colour to appreciate Ballroom. Because what it also stands for individuality. We don’t want another so-and-so. We want you to be authentically you. That’s why for me Ballroom is that one place where you are guaranteed to be jaw-dropped. You’ll leave saying you never knew how much you needed it in your life.
"If you want to get acquainted with the independent art scene in Brisbane, this is a great place to do it" - Angela Peita and Lauren Hale on RuckusFest.
We've always really strongly believed that anybody can make art and in whatever realm, that everyone has an interesting story to tell. This festival is about giving people an opportunity to play with that, but also to meet other people that want to play with. You don't have to be good at it, you can just enjoy it and get involved with it. And the kind of natural outcome of that is you're hanging out with other people who are interested in those things, so you’re making communities.”
"I would have loved to have read these stories when I was young" - Virag Dombay
In each section there are at least two stories from the child’s perspective that links in with that particular emotion. And that was so important to me, because there are not really many books for young people available to consume about grief or despair that aren’t Disneyfied. And that’s important for adults to consume as well, that this child’s story is in the grief section, and that this kid experiences so much.
"How often do women get to play these roles? And more, how often do audiences get to see this?" Liliana Macarone on playing THE romantic hero in Qld Shakespeare Ensemble's 'Romeo & Juliet'.
I think people would be more accepting of a female Richard III doing villainous things, than a female Romeo wooing a young girl. And this is surely the reason why I never expected the opportunity to play Romeo. Also, our culture tends to pigeon-hole full-bodied women (I am not physically boyish), and limit what women can play once they hit their 40s, which in my opinion really makes this representation significant. It’s exhilarating to get to play the romantic hero – with all his freedom and agency – winning the girl and defying the stars! How often do women get to play these roles? And more, how often do audiences get to see this?
"Some people have likened impro to a drug because it is so addictive." Wade Robinson riffs on magic of impro and the upcoming Theatresport Grand Championships.
Sylvia spoke with show director Wade Robinson to find out more about impro and Theatresports. He also dishes on the upcoming Theatresports Grand Championships where the best improvisors from Brisbane and beyond will battle it out in the upcoming in a side-splitting showdown of quick wits, fast thinking and comedy clout.
"I make work that is reflective of my own experiences or a journey I am trying to take." Chelsea McGuffin on the creation of her new work, Hysteria.
I make work which is reflective of my own experiences or a journey I am trying to take. In Hysteria I feel like I am playing one of the physical storytellers. It feels very empowering to reflect my own experiences through someone else's story.
"People like the darkside, but they are afraid to show it." - Madeline Glasseater on making a feast out of occult and sideshow
A cult-theme sideshow but with burlesque, striptease, and danger. There’ll be lots of fire, sharp things, even a little bit of acrobatics which is a bit cute. Putting that all together will be like in a haunted mansion with paranormal activity. We wanted to do a really big theatre show for once and put it up on a big stage and use that to our advantage.
Grab a drink, bring a friend, and let everyone’s favourite Shaz get you back on your feet!
The Shazza Show: So… You’ve Hit Rock Bottom is an 18+ event. There is a content warning for adult themes, course language and sexual references. Shazza is a character that pushes boundaries and works as a piece of satire to make comments on societal issues. There is no intention to offend anyone directly, so if you are easily offended, this is not the show for you.
Be transported to an 'in-between' space in a cavernous and desolate warehouse for DISTURBO, a physical theatre piece exploring intimacy, alienation and connection.
DISTURBO takes place in a transitory space, somewhere ‘in-between’. Two characters inhabit the space, moving and merging, resisting and yielding. Their roles are blurred and the dynamics constantly shifting. Lights buzz, voices emerge: the space is taken up with more than just these two... It is full of potential. Pulsing between intimacy and alienation, what will they risk for connection? We use our relationship to our inner world and the space we are in to explore matters of connection and isolation through circus, dance, and lip-sync.
Who doesn't want to see a play about wizards and music in a village somewhere?
It's our take on the medieval fantasy genre – rather than focus on the princes and kings who go through a tremendous action-packed journey and touching character arc and all of their loves and losses, what about the people in the background, the people who just live non-adventurous lives in the village? The town baker has probably got some stories to tell. The two protagonists aren't even old proper wizards yet, they're teenagers who are wizard apprentices. It's the story that the non-playable characters never get to tell.
Watch a gig inspired by prehistoric birds, surrounded by giant fossils
If you’ve ever wondered what music about giant extinct birds might sound like, or whether violins and electronics can be friends, or how it feels to see a gig surrounded by fossils, then wonder no more! Archaeopteryx is an immersive musical performance by Nonsemble, an eclectic Brisbanebased indie-chamber ensemble. The music is inspired by prehistoric birds, with each movement named after a species.
A lovepoem made with circus, theatre and dark clowning
If you love dark clowning, random acts of senseless kindness, or mysterious and strange works of art that enliven the imagination and bravely go wherever they need to go, you will love this.
Create sacred temple spaces and wild ecstatic states of self-transcendence
Syren’s new live show 'Sacred Body' brings to life the mystical experience of her music with raw and powerful vocals as she performs original beats alongside majestic Harpist Cecilia Caleandro (Brisbane), and violin and flute player Caroline Trengove (Noosa). Together, they will create sacred temple spaces and wild ecstatic states of self-transcendence
Explore the search for connection, the beauty of vulnerability, and the awkwardness of first dates while laughing yourself silly
[Plucked] began with a casual conversation about how there were limited opportunities to play LGBTIQ+ roles. We started joking about writing our own. A few weeks later she’d written an awesome script, was accepted into the Anywhere Festival and before I knew it, I was knee deep in a gay rom-com.
Corpus Null explores the positioning of the body within capitalism as both its function and its evasion.
Corpus Null is a performance work that inhabits the intensity between the desiring and desired. Inspired by Deleuze and Guattari’s concept Body Without Organs, this work of butoh dance theatre reflects on the positioning of the body within capitalism as both its function and its evasion. This tension is mirrored in cycles of symbiotic genesis and extinction and attempts to exist between becoming and undoing, in the void of unattainable desire.
Come and be a part of the steering group of the real rulers of the world
This group of wannabee Bond Villains make Dr Evil look like Albert Einstein. Come and be part of their steering group to see what dastardly plans they have in store for you and all the world. “...witty, irreverent and very silly” on the sofa audience member. FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY
"I wish I had seen a play like this when I was 17, I think I would have reached a point of genuine empowerment within my femininity a lot quicker if I had ..."
We want everyone to see this play, naturally, as it discusses an important and current matter. The people who would love this event most, however, would be those young women who are in their final years of school or just graduating. I wish I had seen a play like this when I was 17, I think I would have reached a point of genuine empowerment within my femininity a lot quicker if I had, though I am grateful for the journey I have been on so far.
Immerse yourself into the inner world of fellow commuters with Transported by improv masters ImproMafia
The show seeks to explore the private world of people on public transport. In this space, the audience is invited to physically become part of the journey as fellow passengers, effectively blurring the line between audience and performance. The venue also works to evoke a sense of familiarity in the audience- we’ve all had to catch public transport before- but allows them the unfamiliar experience of getting a glimpse into the inner-world of their fellow commuters. Ryan hopes some audience members will leave the show with a sense of curiosity regarding their fellow man that carries over to their own interactions with public transport in the real world.
A story about broken women finding the resilience to tell their own stories and claim back their power.
Begotten is a drama that foregrounds the experiences of women over the past 100 years. It’s sometimes funny, often dark, and explores some confronting territory – mental illness, domestic violence, war, trauma, revenge. It’s not material for the faint-hearted. That being said, there are sparks of light to balance the darkness, and there is a real thread of optimism that emerges by the end of the play.
A night of gorgeous song by candlelight that pays respect to Irish songwriters old and new
Fly Little Sparrow presents, by candlelight in the cosy Farrier Bar, songs inspired by contemporary Irish singer-songwriters such as The Cranberries, Glenn Hansard, U2, Sinead O'Connor, Luka Bloom, Foy Vance, Mic Christopher and Damien Rice. The evening starts with traditional Irish tunes at the bar. Lisa Brennan and Lizzie Flynn come together as Fly Little Sparrow to sing harmonies that emulate riding on the wings of a strong-willed bird. Heading on a flight path of beautiful harmonic arrangements, their eclectic repertoire and commentary will take you on a journey from fragility to hope.