This was published 11 months ago
A nicely naughty Christmas: The best things to do in Brisbane this week
By Nick Dent
Merry XXXmas! Hamilton’s Northshore welcomes adult entertainment venue the Pink Flamingo this week, with a roster of saucy spectaculars including Suave, Ripped and La Teaze.
If there was any doubt that burlesque has well and truly entered the mainstream, A Very Naughty Christmas is back, with plenty of jokes about “elf love” and more nudity than your average carols by candlelight.
But if Harry Connick Jnr and Christmas Actually are not for you, go pagan with The Ring Cycle and GOMA’s Fairy Tales, or simply rock out with Foo Fighters at Suncorp Stadium.
Monday, December 11
Season of the witch: Trulee Hall’s Witch House (Seance of the Umbilical Coven) at GOMA.Credit: Joshua White / JWPictures.com
Art: Fairy Tales
GOMA’s amazing exhibition of art, movie costumes and installations inspired by European storytelling traditions has work by Del Kathryn Barton, Gustave Dore, Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, Ron Mueck, Tracey Moffatt and more, plus costumes from Jim Henson’s Labyrinth.
GOMA, until Apr 28, $0-$28. Buy tickets.
Kids: Jurassic World by Brickman
Ryan “Brickman” McNaught reimagines Jurassic World in an exhibition of large-scale dinosaurs, props, scenes and activities made from more than 6 million Lego bricks.
Queensland Museum, until Jul 14, 2024, $19.90-$29.90. Buy tickets.
Tuesday, December 12
Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl with new drummer Josh Freese.Credit: Stu McKay
Music: Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl’s legendary outfit returns with a new drummer and 30 years of great rock to power through. Special guests are The Chats and Hot Milk.
Suncorp Stadium, 5pm, $75-$189.90. Buy tickets.
Music: Harry Connick Jnr
It had to be him – Prince Harry performs in Brissie for the first time in a decade, and don’t be surprised if he graces the BCEC with a Christmas classic or two.
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, 8pm, $89-$239. Buy tickets.
Wednesday, December 13
Christmas is all around us: Naomi Price in the musical tribute Christmas Actually.Credit: Dylan Evans
Music: Christmas Actually
In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, music used in Love Actually (by the likes of Mariah Carey, Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy, Kelly Clarkson, The Beach Boys and The Beatles) is performed by a band of Australia’s top musicians and vocalists.
Brisbane Powerhouse, Dec 13-17, $79-$195. Buy tickets.
Cabaret: A Very Naughty Christmas
We can’t promise it will be in good taste, but the popular adults-only Christmas show guarantees stand-up comedy, skits, song parodies, dance and a live band.
Roundhouse Theatre (La Boite), until Dec 20, $59-$79. Buy tickets.
Thursday, December 14
The candy man can: Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka.Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / Village Roadshow
Film: Wonka
An origin story for Roald Dahl’s mercurial chocolatier Willy Wonka may sound like a terrible idea but with Paddington director Paul King on board and Hugh Grant playing an oompa-loompa, we’re sold.
In cinemas.
Kids: The Gruffalo
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s hugely popular picture book comes to the stage with its clever story of a mouse who outwits his predators with stories about a monster called the Gruffalo.
QUT Gardens Theatre, Dec 14-16, $24. Buy tickets.
Friday, December 15
Fellowship of the Ring: Opera Australia’s Das Rheingold is the first part of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.Credit: Wallis Media
Opera: Das Rheingold
Join the gods, giants, dwarves and Rhine maidens for the first part of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle in this landmark production with world-leading costumes and digital sets.
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, 7pm, $165-$625. Buy tickets.
Markets: BrisStyle Twilight Market
Find locally handmade goods by more than 60 designers under the festive glow of City Hall and its massive Christmas Tree.
King George Square, 4-9pm, free.
Saturday, December 16
The Pink Flamingo Spiegeland is opening in Brisbane after years of success on the Gold Coast.
Cabaret: Suave
Roll up, roll up: the Pink Flamingo’s opening night brings comedy, burlesque and acrobatics to a permanent home at Hamilton Northshore.
Pink Flamingo Spiegeland, Tue, Fri & Sat, $88.00-$218.00. Buy tickets.
Markets: Fish Lane Christmas Markets
It’s not too late to do your shopping: stalls set up in the Fish Lane Town Square will be selling gifts including ceramics, art, plants, dog accessories and natural skincare products.
10 Fish Lane, South Brisbane, 9am-1pm, free.
Sunday, December 17
Foodie Jacqui Toumbas will show you how to whip up delectable Christmas dishes at Festive Food Workshops. Credit: Havas Red
Food & Drink: Festive Food Workshops
Jacqui Toumbas will demonstrate the art of crafting a divine dessert, the perfect summer salad, and the ultimate appetiser, with a spotlight on her Tuscan Kale Salad recipe.
Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, 10am & noon, $25. Buy tickets.
Sport: Brisbane Bullets vs Cairns Taipans
The NBL Round 11 plays out at Nissan Arena as captain Nathan Sobey leads his side into the snake pit against Tahjere McCall’s Taipans.
Nissan Arena, 3pm, $16-$560. Buy tickets.
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