Eternity | Circa
I can see why Circa’s Eternity has been the elusive golden ticket of the festival: a sold-out world premiere production by internationally renowned local superstars, promising a site-specific work that brings acrobatic excellence and contemporary spiritual music to Brisbane’s St John's Cathedral.
Underworld: An Operatic Journey to Hell and Back | Queensland Conservatorium
All-in-all while Underworld has much to answer for dramaturgically it is a night bubbling with the promise of a new generation of operatic stars.
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.
West End Stories | West End Community House + Guest Artists
It was on that note of hope and healing where a group of women took their spots on the stage and sang ‘Meanjin Sunrise’ for themselves, their babies, and the betterment of their communities
The Making of Pinocchio | Rosana Cade & Ivor Macaskill
Ultimately, The Making of Pinocchio is not a grand story looking to shake up gender politics, it is an autobiographical show presented by two individuals telling their story.
Kuramanunya | Thomas E.S.Kelly
The invasion comes, the gun fires, Thomas E.S.Kelly, actor and performer and a Yugambeh/Wiradjuri/Ni-Vanuatu man speaks in language and moves from a place of gathering to anguish as the room melts into a wash of red.
Yirinda | Fred Leone & Samuel Pankhurst
Between songs Leone told us the translated stories and I was in awe of the huge amount of knowledge he had and how deeply he held it within himself.
Diverse writers attending diverse offerings at #brisfest23
They are all gathered here for you to check them out, the reviews of Brisbane Festival 2023.
Personal | Jodee Mundy Collaborations
Personal is such a heartfelt story of being a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA) and hands down deserves the awards it’s won as both excellence in theatre, and educational in terms of advocacy for the d/Deaf experience.
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.
Zagazig | Curtain World
Zagazig is a beautiful daydream made manifest, I hope it rises again and again, and for all that it will likely get tighter and have better funding in the future, and possible more rehearsals, actual stage hands, and all that other periphery, this beautiful cacophony of original handmade nonsense will always have a soft spot in my heart.
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.
Five BrisFest Shows for your next mother and child date
Why not make your next mother and child date a show at this year’s Brisbane Festival and consume some live entertainment that you can pour over with a glass of wine post-show.
There’s Something About Music | The Little Red Company
The Little Red Company’s ‘There’s Something About Music’ is the perfect show for anyone, whether you’re a rom-com lover, a Julia Roberts or Hugh Grant fan, in the mood for something nostalgic, or just want a relaxing time step away from reality and get lost in those catchy songs.
Unconditional | Seán Dowling & Cameron Hurry
I understand that we get so little opportunities to tell our stories and on our own terms and so the craving to tell as much of it as we can in the limited time we have, is one I know well. However, quantity does come at the cost of quality here.
Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! | shake & stir theatre co
I cannot contain my excitement as I realise that my ‘wish’ has been granted as I roll myself into the theatre. An abandoned wheelchair similar to my own graces the stage.
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.
don’t ask what the bird look like | Queensland Theatre
Matilda Brown and Michael Tuahine each deliver stellar performances as they navigate the present and try to reconcile their intertwined past. Their initial meeting which starts off cool and distant, is wonderfully played out through their prolonged silences and obvious aversion to conversation.
Hello Brisbane Festival, what have we here?
Brisbane Festival is back again in all it’s glory. Editor Nadia Jade has a good look at the program and gives you a rundown of what’s hot, what’s intriguing, what’s unmissable and what’s worth spending the big bucks.
ITEM | Dance Masala's Nakhre Crew
The all-female Nakhre crew comprising main performers Andrea Lam, Angela Nair, Ashwin Singh, Janaki Gerard, and Mugdha Khatavkar brought so much vivacity into their respective art-making that their personalities really shone through as the piece unfolded itself in a tight, well-paced composition which spanned an hour.