Ranjini Ganapathy 22/9/25 Ranjini Ganapathy 22/9/25

A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen (or How to Make the Perfect One-Pot Chicken Curry) | Joshua Hinton

A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen made for heartwarming theatre. Its soulful unfolding is a testimony to the transformative power of stories, especially the ones we relish and rely on for the sustenance of our selfhood.

Ophelia Novak 20/9/25 Ophelia Novak 20/9/25

The WOW Show: In Search of the Hope Brigade | WOW (Women of the World) Australia

Overall, WOW: Searching for the Hope Brigade was a well-structured, organised, and slickly-run show with a very famous host. It has such potential to be a true actionable starting point for many women who have felt the difficulties of systemic sexism and gender violence, and who need an accessible entry point to do more.

Glorianna Grace 18/9/25 Glorianna Grace 18/9/25

Afterglow 2025 | Brisbane Festival & Sony Music Australia

There was something moving about seeing these ideas expressed through so many different voices — all flickering together in the dark. I was drawn in by the warmth and meaning behind each lantern. Their gentle glow and emotive imagery created an atmosphere that felt cosy, reflective, and deeply human.

Harmonie Downes 18/9/25 Harmonie Downes 18/9/25

Phantastic Ferniture, supported by Juice Webster | Tivoli in the Round

More than just a concert series, the ‘in the round’ program continues a tradition of reimagining how live music is staged in Brisbane. It transforms a historic theatre into a circle of connection.

Kathryn Collins 17/9/25 Kathryn Collins 17/9/25

The Lovers | Shake & Stir Theatre Co

As a lover of both Shakespeare and musicals, I was thrilled to hear that Shake & Stir were bringing The Lovers—a contemporary musical reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream—to Brisbane. Remixing Shakespeare’s classic text with a high-energy pop score and a bold modern attitude, this new musical by Laura Murphy promises humour, romance, and magical spectacle in equal measure.

Stephanie Grace 15/9/25 Stephanie Grace 15/9/25

The Platypus | Soft Tread Enterprises

A black comedy tackling the complexities of family, relationships, housing, and child rearing, The Platypus utilises its genre-bending format to unpack our cultural biases and ask uncomfortable questions.

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.

Glorianna Grace 14/9/25 Glorianna Grace 14/9/25

Congratulations, Get Rich! | La Boite Theatre

‘Congratulations, Get Rich” reminded me of the value in hearing stories that come from a place of deep cultural specificity — stories that, regardless of your background, tap into shared experiences of love, loss, and connection. It’s rare to see something so intimate and culturally specific on stage, yet still feel so universal — and for me, that’s what made it clear how important it is to keep sharing diverse stories in theatre.

Ophelia Novak 13/9/25 Ophelia Novak 13/9/25

Milestone | William Yang

Yang was poised in his delivery and sparkling with wit. If he comes this way again, I will tell anyone who loves art, history, the celebration and exploration of queerness and Australiana to go see Milestone or its other iterations. This show is both art and heritage preservation, and a joy to watch.

Stephanie Grace 13/9/25 Stephanie Grace 13/9/25

BATSHIT | Leah Shelton

BATSHIT is, well, batshit. It’s a theatrical fever dream, giving a little burlesque, a little verbatim, a little mixed media, and a lot of comedy.

Catherine Lawrence 12/9/25 Catherine Lawrence 12/9/25

Tick, Tick … Boom! | Good Time Theatrics

You don’t have to be a musical theatre aficionado to enjoy this one. Set in the musical theatre world, Tick, Tick … Boom! reminds us all about the highs and lows of working out what we really want from life. Thanks to the hard work of Good Time Theatrics’ cast and creatives, Tick, Tick … Boom! is a funny and enjoyable evening at the theatre.

Kathryn Collins 11/9/25 Kathryn Collins 11/9/25

Gatsby at The Green Light | Caper & Crow

Gatsby at The Green Light invites audiences into a decadent world of 1920s glamour and 2020s spectacle. Brimming with classic Gatsby indulgence and theatrical excess, the show delivers a night of cabaret in a club named after the symbol of Gatsby’s elusive desire: The Green Light.

Ranjini Ganapathy 11/9/25 Ranjini Ganapathy 11/9/25

Back to Bilo | Belloo Creative

Back to Bilo’s painstaking efforts in amplifying the refugee story with so much attention to detail are praiseworthy. It is a necessary Australian story. One that needs to traverse terrains and timelines across the continent to the enduring hum of humanity.

Writeousness 11/9/25 Writeousness 11/9/25

Pasifika Made 2025 | Brisbane Festival & Brisbane City Council

Pasifika Made had such a wealth of immersive cultural activities, performances and music to offer that an event of this calibre and creative appeal should have been given more showtime. One day was certainly not enough to indulge my senses and appease my creative appetite in what turned out to be a dynamic and authentic cultural event.

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.

Kathryn Collins 9/9/25 Kathryn Collins 9/9/25

La bohème | Opera Queensland & West Australian Opera

Opera Queensland and West Australian Opera have combined forces to deliver a beautifully crafted reimagining of Puccini’s La bohème, infusing it with new life while honouring the magic of the world renowned original.

Darcie Rae 9/9/25 Darcie Rae 9/9/25

“Hands down the craziest things I’ve ever done for Strut & Fret.” Spencer Novich on Late Night Vice

“When you don't allow phones suddenly an audience is more engaged. They're less self-conscious and artists are given sort of a pass to do things that they normally wouldn't feel comfortable doing otherwise if it was recorded…”

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

Gems | L.A. Dance Project

Gems is a true Brisbane Festival gem, and it was a privilege to experience this artistic event. It is wonderful to see talented dancers, where the creative collaboration that brings world-class choreographers, visual designers, musicians, dancers, and composers creates a special opportunity for our local community.

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.

Ophelia Novak 6/9/25 Ophelia Novak 6/9/25

Altimate Showdown - Heat 5 | Alt Entertainment

What do Jessica Rabbit, a praying mantis with udders, and a lap dancing Gandalf the Grey have in common? All three were featured in heat 5 of Altimate Showdown at The Brightside, and after attending this show, it’s easy to see why this yearly competition is becoming one of the most anticipated alternative events in the Brisbane arts scene.