Our guide to choosing the Brisbane Festival show for you
Because not everything appeals to everyone, here are some Brisbane Festival highlights in a guide that will match you to an event that might suit you. Different strokes for different folks, right?
Brisbane Festival
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TO SAY that a show or festival has something for everyone is one of the great cliches. Having something for everyone often means nobody is entirely satisfied but one would venture to suggest that the Brisbane Festival, which starts next week (Sept 6 - 28) is a positive manifestation of this well-worn phrase.
Artistic director David Berthold’s fifth and final festival (former Bleach artistic director Louise Bezzina takes over when he departs following this year’s event) is a sprawling, diverse and engaging beast.
The old Roman saying about “bread and circuses” also comes to mind.
That gem is attributed to Juvenal, a Roman poet active in the late first and early second century AD and it is used commonly in cultural, particularly political, contexts. In a political context, the phrase means to generate public approval by offering (rather than excellence in public service or public policy) the masses (the Roman proletariat in his case) food and entertainment.
Leaving Ancient Rome behind we come Berthold’s final fling which has a theme. Well, three themes actually - Revels, Revelations and Romances and these will be explored in a plethora of events from the highbrow to the more populist. Lowbrow would be the wrong word but you know what I mean.
Because with all due respect there’s not much intellectual depth to Sunsuper Riverfire but an awful lot of people get a kick out of this rather fiery orgasmic finale to the festival each year.
Across 23 days Queensland’s marquee arts and cultural event (Brisbane Festival is now Australia’s largest international arts festival) and there will be 500 performances of 84 shows involving more than 1000 artists from around the world.
And, pardon the cliche, there really is something for everyone. Variety is the spice of life according to Berthold.
“There really is a remarkable diversity in our program,” Berthold says. “There’s stuff that’s geared towards having a good night out alongside stuff for families and stuff that’s at the leading edge of reinventing what’s possible in live performance. The tried and true sits beside the new. There are revels and revelations. The way we’ve divided our program this year isn’t a glib marketing trick. It’s a genuine reflection of our approach to offering a diversity of experience.”
Berthold says he is keen to provide “easy pathways” for people who might not be used to going to arts events.
“That’s why we have so many free events,” Berthold says. “And why more than half the program costs less than $30 a ticket. And it’s why we place much of our work within a social environment. There are many show you can go to while enjoying food, wine and time with friends. You can be at Treasury Brisbane Arcadia all day and night and have a very good time without buying a ticket to anything and that’s a perfectly fine way of experiencing the festival. “But we hope that the good time you’re having will entice you to try things you might not normally seek out.”
But it’s horses for courses and matching the right people to the right event is the trick. Because not everything appeals to everyone. So here are some highlights in a guide that will match you to an event that might suit you. Different strokes for different folks, right?
WHAT TO SEE AT BRISBANE FESTIVAL
IF YOU ARE A TAD PRETENTIOUS:
You may look down at some of the more common fare but there is some serious brain food in the program. May I suggest Invisible Cities (Yeerongpilly ; Sept 24-28) for those of you with literary pretensions.
This groundbreaking new work combines dance, theatricality and the latest projection technology in a show that will be presented in an old warehouse. You may love that it is based on Italo Calvino’s poetic novel of the same name. You may have a copy in your bookcase, even if you’ve never read it. Having such impressive literary elevates this work by Britain’s 59 Productions. Meanwhile it’s a four-letter word that makes South Africa’s Isango Ensemble’s St Matthew Passion (Playhouse, QPAC Sept 8)perfect for classical music snob. That four letter word is Bach. Inspired by Bach’s grand choral work, St Matthew Passion is a musical retelling of Christ’s final hours on earth, using some of Bach’s magnificent vocal music set alongside South African traditional songs and laments and a full marimba orchestra. This groundbreaking, semi-staged concert deals with the political and spiritual battles Christ faces as he struggles to teach and inspire in an occupied state.
I have to include Yang Liping’s Rite of Spring (Playhouse, QPAC, Sept 25-28) too, an esoteric contemporary dance interpretation of one of the 20th Century’s most iconic compositions by the great Igor Stravinsky.
IF YOU ARE FEELING A BIT FRISKY
Oh behave! There’s much sauciness this year. Blanc de Blanc Encore (The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent Sept 6 - 28) leads the charge.
The man behind it, Brisbane impresario Scott Maidment tells me he wants people to leave his show saying “I never thought I’d see that on stage.” This doesn’t work for everyone and the original Blanc de Blanc a few years ago involved someone sticking a candle where the sun don’t shine. I did speak to one Brisbane socialite who won’t be going back for that very reason. But these Strut & Fret Production House shows pack them in and people seem to love the mix of circus, sideshow and burlesque.
For titillations you might also like Briefs: Close Encounters (Playhouse, QPAC, Sept 11 -15) which is sexy and camp as hell. Love + (Theatre Republic - The Block, Kelvin Grove Sept 10 - 15) might also appeal to you sickos. It’s about what happens to romance when there’s a machine who cooks for you, cleans for you, never forgets your birthday, tells you you’re beautiful, holds you when you’re crying, and still makes you ... well, I’ll keep it clean but I think you know where this is going.
IF YOU WANT TO BE CONFRONTED:
Bitch on Heat (Theatre Republic - The Block, Kelvin Grove Sept 17 - 21) should do it for you. Self-confessed “psycho siren”, Brisbane performer Leah Shelton doesn't hold back and doesn’t mind flashing her bits in this confronting absurdist critique of sexual politics.
Nothing is sacred as Shelton, directed by UK provocateur Ursula Martinez, trawls through a Pandora’s box of ancient myths, porn, pop-culture, instructional records and revenge movie heroines. The program warns : “Beware. This Bitch bites.” Nice
You might also find British performance artist Bryony Kimmings edgy. Her show I’m A Phoenix, Bitch (Playhouse, QPAC, Sept 18 - 21) is confronting and she warns you may end up crying. But they won’t be tears of laughter.
IF YOU’RE NO CULTURE VULTURE
If you’ve never set foot in a theatre (WTF?) and don’t intend to (bless you) Brisbane Festival still has plenty to offer. You can just prop up the bar at Treasury Brisbane Arcadia for one thing. Or you can indulge the pyromaniac within and watch our City Botanic Gardens set alight for Fire Gardens (Sept 11-14). Fire Gardens is suitable for all ages and children under two years enter free for this spectacular fire show by France’s Compagnie Carabosse.
Meanwhile, each night at Brisbane Festival you can see another show that doesn’t involve entering a theatre foyer. River of Light is a laser and water spectacular that tells a story from Brisbane’s history.
Of course the big event for philistines is Sunsuper Riverfire (Sept 28) is the ultimate expression of that bread and circuses idea and that’s the only thing some will see at this year’s Brisbane Festival and hey, that’s okay.
IF YOU’RE A CHEAPSKATE
Okay so you have short arms and long pockets. We understand and we won’t judge you. But know this, Brisbane Festival has you in mind. You might enjoy the free concert Symphony for Me (Riverstage, Sept 21) at which ordinary people tell stories about their favourite piece of orchestral music which will be played by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra under conductor Guy Noble, a funny bloke who likes a chat and a laugh.
Bring a blanket (but no monkey business under it please) and gates open from 5.30 for a 7.30pm start. At Treasury Brisbane Arcadia the entrancing maze-cum-installation 1000 Doors (Sept 6 - 28) is a bit of sideshow fun and you can lose yourself in it (or lose someone else) for as little as $10. Cheaper than Sideshow Alley at the Ekka! If you want something more theatrical to get bang for your buck Orpheus or Eurydice (Theatre Republic - The Block, Kelvin Grove, Sept 17 - 21) is just the ticket for as little as $20.
IF YOU LIKE A LAUGH
Laugh? Well, we hope you will. John Safran Jew Detective : Sarcasm is Not A Crime (Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, Sept 11 - 14) should supply a few laughs as Safran tells stories of his daring exploits in the world of racist extremism. What a hoot.
Sam Simmons : 20 things You’ve Been Doing Wrong (The Tivoli, Sept 11 - 12) should also be amusing. Just looking at that guy makes me laugh. Are you sick of getting sand in your bathers at the beach? Got linty jeans? Don’t know how to eat a chicken wing in public? Bendy elbows getting you down? Does your face look all shit in the mirror?
Sam Simmons has all the answers for you apparently.
Personally I’m keen to chortle over Brisbane comedian Annie Lee’s show Pawn Again Christian (Theatre Republic - La Boite Studio Kelvin Grove, Sept 24 -25). Lee, one third of The Kransky Sisters, explores the meaning of life and growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness. There have to be a few jokes in that!
IF YOU’RE WITH KIDS
Bloody kids. Oh well there’s Regurgitator’s Pogogo Show for the littlies (The Tivoli, Sept 14 and 15) which will keep them distracted, briefly. For kids 5+ We Live Here (Cremorne Theatre, QPAC Sept 5 - 8) should entertain. This inspiring circus show by Brisbane’s very own Flipside Circus celebrates the memories and moments that make a life.
A Not So Traditional Story (Cremorne Theatre, QPAC Sept 24 - 27) is a beautiful and funny production by Terrapin Puppet Theatre using masks, shadow puppetry and physical theatre to tell an important story of culture, identity, bravery and friendship. Of course you don’t have to have kids to go along but if you don’t, and you do, that could be a bit weird. Just saying.
IF YOU THINK YOU’RE COOL
If that’s the case you may be more interested in the contemporary music program and there’s heaps on. The Riverstage Birthday Bash (Riverstage Sept 7) celebrating the venues 30th birthday features Hot Dub Time Machine, Cub Sport, Confidence Man, Last Dinosaurs and Clea are playing. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain.
The Tivoli in the Round program is also hot with Paul Dempsey, No Mono, Emma Louise and Husky. Folk Rock favourites The Middle East are also at the Tivoli (Sept 13) with special guest Banff. That’s the Brisbane indie performer not the Scottish or Canadian towns.
Oh god, there’s so much more but being an old fart I haven’t heard of half of them so I’ll let you work it out. Enjoy.
Brisbane Festival , Sept 6 - 28
Some things should never have been seen on stage
The verdict is in on the most accolade-worthy, the most awe-inspiring and even the most awkward shows at Brisbane Festival 2019, but special mention must also go to some of the most distasteful acts the arts and theatre extravaganza has ever seen.
Dallas Green lost for words at Riverfire gig
Just days after the death of his friend and producer, superstar Dallas Green admitted he had been close to cancelling his performance for the Brisbane Festival closing ceremony. Thankfully, for us, he chose to go on.