Director’s choice: Six must-see Brisbane Festival events

Louise Bezzina always has the arts on her mind.

As the Brisbane Festival artistic director, she feels as though she has a duty to Brisbane to reflect the best shows, talent and landscapes the city has to offer.

“Brisbane is playful, it’s got a sense of adventure to it and an extraordinary amount of opportunity,” she says.

Brisbane Festival – Artistic Director Louise Bezzina.Credit: Nigel Hallett

“We people can connect to Brisbane and the arts and feel proud to live in this city.”

Curating the festival is no easy task. Bezzina is always thinking of bringing various themes and works.

Singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke has created music to be released with the festival and getting Es Devlin, who created the production design for Beyonce’s Formation World Tour, on board for the creation of Salamander was a process that took years.

Bezzina is attentive to trends, bringing Lightscape to the City Botanic Gardens for those who love strolling through light works.

“I’m always trying to find new ways for the festival to have a broad appeal and accessibility, making sure the program has different kind of works,” she says.

“I really encourage the people of Brisbane to find something that speaks to them and take a risk.”

Salamander

A warehouse at Northshore will be transformed into an immersive world of dance-theatre, light, sound and design.

Salamander will transform a warehouse at Northshore into a dream-like world through light, sound, design and movement.Credit: Damien Bredbrug

Devlin’s sculptures are in a flooded landscape inhabited by characters desperate to make a change before it’s too late.

Choreographer Maxine Doyle and composer Rachael Dease bring this world to life with haunting melodies and dancers, including Brisbane’s Australasian Dance Collective.

“It’s an epic undertaking,” Bezzina says. “It’s an immersive contemporary performance that’s more than just dance. It’s music, all encompassing.”

Duration: 95 minutes
When: September 1-24, except Mondays and Saturday, August 16.
Where: Northshore, L Shed Dock B. 221 MacArthur Ave, Hamilton.
Price: $74-89

Bananaland

Bananaland is a musical comedy written by Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall about 21-year-old idealist Ruby Semblance.

Bananaland.

She is the lead singer of a band, playing 500 shows over four years but only has one fan. Until one day, the band step up to a sold-out audience. Of children.

“It’s completely infectious with joy, love and energy. It’s funny and it’s quirky,” Bezzina says.

“It’s one of those storylines where you feel something but you’re constantly entertained.

“Miller-Heidke also created extraordinary new music for this. Her song True North is actually going to be featured at the Brisbane Riverfire.”

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes including an interval
When: September 16-October 1 from 1.30pm
Where: QPAC’s Playhouse
Price: $69-99

The Making of Pinocchio

Artists and lovers Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill have been creating the show since 2018, sharing their own journey through Ivor’s gender transition, blended with the story of the lying puppet wanting to be a real boy.

The Making of Pinocchio, created by artists and lovers Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill, will be shown as part of Brisbane Festival.

Bezzina says this international production is expressed in the most gentle and poetic way.

“The way the artists used their own real experience and conveyed it through the narrative of Pinocchio is clever,” she says.

“They’ve done it with love, humour and care. It’s a real treat for theatre lovers.

“Brisbane Festival is a broad program and we’ve created a space to have different and important conversations in a safe place and the arts is an excellent vehicle for this.”

Duration: 90 minutes
When: September 13-16 at 2pm and 7pm
Where: QPAC’s Playhouse
Price: $49-55

Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale

Four hundred drones will take to the sky over the Brisbane River, displaying a show about culture and place through the animation of the Dreaming story Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale.

The creation story of the Moreton Bay islands is directed by traditional owner and storyteller Shannon Ruska and Tribal Experiences and the show will highlight Neville Bonner Bridge and Queen’s Wharf.

“The whole family can look up and be dazzled. I’ve seen some of the animations, the narration, story and soundtrack and it’s absolutely gorgeous,” Bezzina says.

Drone show Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale is part of the Brisbane Festival.

“It’s new and an exciting part of the festival. It’s a nod to new technology and honouring our First Nation people and their stories and country while activating the Brisbane River precinct.”

Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes including an interval
When: September 2 at 7.45pm and 9.15pm and September 3 at 7.15pm, 8.15pm and 9.15pm
Where: Australian Retirement Trust Festival Garden. 186 Little Stanley Street, South Brisbane
Price: Free

Stunt Double

This dance theatre work by collective The Farm is an action-packed 1970s blockbuster in a hilarious ride-or-die story where stunt doubles do the hard yards with little recognition.

“The reason I’m particularly excited about this is that it’s a really fresh, energising, theatrical comedy that takes you to the 1970s film industry through the lens of a stunt double,” she says.

Stunt Double.

“The stunt doubles put their bodies on the lines and the stars swoop in and get all the glory.

“The production itself will make you feel like you’re on the set of Mad Max or BMX Bandits. It’s a real comedy but with moments that prompt thinking about gender equity and physical production.

“It’s high-paced and energetic and those wanting to pay extra can be a part of the show.”

Duration: 80 minutes
When: September 6-9 at 2pm and 7.30pm
Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Price: $39-45

All Together Now

The finale for the festival will be a mass participation event in Victoria Park for all to join in singing, dancing and playing kazoo.

The free event will celebrate music, rhythm, dance and sound across various cultures in Brisbane such as Pasifika culture in Siva Mai Club and a flamenco family fiesta with Flamenco House and Dancenorth will perform alongside 100 local drummers.

“This starts off with 10,000 kazoos, calling people to come together and play the fabulous instrument that is the kazoo and make noise while being in the moment before concerts filled with music and dance begin,” Bezzina says.

Duration: 3 hours
When: September 23 from 3.30pm
Where: Victoria Park
Price: Free