Here are The Weekend Edition, we love a weekend. This should be obvious from the name of our publication, but sometimes this fact bears repeating, you know? Thus, you should take it from us when we say that we know what to do when the clock strikes 5:00 pm on a Friday. From craft beer festivals to postmodern jukeboxes and boozy brunches, we’ve done the legwork to find what’s happening in Brisbane on the September 21–24 weekend. more
There are certain people who quite simply have a way with words – when they have something to say, we pay attention. One of these people is Tim Rogers, a bona fide Australian arts legend. Perhaps best known as the frontman for rock and roll outfit You Am I, Tim’s prolific career has spanned to include solo albums, books and now a stage production. The celebrated raconteur has teamed up with the Melbourne Theatre Company to bring us What Rhymes With Cars and Girls, coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse from October 25 to November 4 to hit us hard with feelings. more
Hot damn, this town really loves spring. Far from gently awakening from a winter slumber and delicately dipping a toe into the pool to see if it’s warm enough, Brisbane prefers the cannonball method when it comes to new season celebrations. One such event that personifies this ethos is the annual Brisbane Festival, a crazy and colourful carnival running from September 9–30 that brings together all manner of artistic matter. From sex clowns to hoedowns, you’ll find it at Brisbane Festival. more
While genres can come in handy for classification, they can also be kind of limiting. We all know that one person who only listens to this or that, throwing some things aside and embracing others all because of a label (we see you, people who profess to hate country more than anything). Life is way more fun when you take the time to dig a little deeper and uncover what’s not so obvious – Restrung is taking over the Brisbane Powerhouse from August 17–19 to bring us a smorgasbord of strings-driven music, dance, theatre and art that pushes the boundaries of music and art. Let’s take a closer look at the spaces in between … more
How do you know when a movie has hit truly iconic status? Sometimes it’s when it cops more spoofs and parodies than you can ever keep track of. Other times, thirsty producers will milk it for all its worth and pump out several useless sequels with a dubious B-list cast that would make Paris Hilton cringe. However, the true hallmark of a film’s legendary status is when it gets turned into a bona-fide worldwide smash hit musical. Hard to argue, right? A case in point is The Bodyguard, coming to QPAC from July 19 to August 13 for a strictly limited season to deliver the story you know with the songs you love. more
When it comes to politics, often the truth is stranger than fiction. Here in Australia, we have seen all manner of larger-than-life characters make their way through the government at various levels – some of them loveable (g’day Bob Hawke), some of them incomprehensibly daft (looking at you, Pauline Hanson) and some of them downright sinister. One of the most controversial figures in Australia’s political history is finally getting what he deserves – that’s right, it’s time to learn all about the life and times of Joh Bjelke-Petersen through the medium of the musical. Heading to the Brisbane Powerhouse from July 7-16, Joh for PM will have you roaring with laughter about something that definitely wasn’t funny at the time. more
What happens between here and eternity? One thing is for sure – the arts make life worth living, and are capable of transporting us to an otherworldly place. From June 21–23, the Judith Wright Centre will play host to Heaven & Earth, three nights of unique performances showcasing the specialist disciplines of the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. With one evening each dedicated to singing, dancing and acting, this is a triple-threat program that promises to be on another level. more
It’s always a bit spooky when works of fiction predict the future – heck, nobody could have guessed that The Simpsons picked the Cubs finally winning the World Series years before it happened. One of history’s most definitive works of literature has turned out to bear some serious foreshadowing in modern society – George Orwell’s 1984 isn’t just a book you were probably forced to read in high school, but more a manifesto of the shape of things to come. Coming to QPAC from June 14–18, this worldwide classic is taking to the stage to bring us a hefty dose of the heebie-jeebies. more
One of the coolest things about theatre is that it is pretty much wide open – the only thing that can actually limit a work of art is one’s own imagination, after all. Any sort of creative process is always a journey, with the audience usually only privy to the finished product. La Boite HWY has arrived to give us an open invitation and a front-row seat to the creative processes behind the curtain. From June 12–24, the La Boite Theatre will come alive with a series of creative collabs and experiences that give audiences an inside look into the workings of not only the industry, but also the immersive world of live theatre. more
Cabaret is one of those things that you can’t really pin down into any specific description. Most of us are familiar with the vague, abstract concept – smoky rooms, dimly lit tables, clicking fingers and simmering sensuality. Turns out there is so much more to the genre than we give it credit for – and there is a dedicated event set to show us what it’s all about. The Queensland Cabaret Festival is returning from June 1–15, sashaying into three key venues to bring us a load of sauce, sizzle and spark with a serious side of heart. more
Any time you’re having a bad day, you’ve probably shaken your fist at the sky and cursed Murphy’s Law – you know, the old adage claiming that anything that can go wrong will most definitely go wrong. All it takes is one piece of bad luck and suddenly your whole life feels like it’s spiralling out of control like a bad B-grade movie. Turning this pessimistic point of view into a riotous comedy might seem like a mammoth task, but that’s exactly what The Play That Goes Wrong does. Bursting onto the QPAC stage from May 4–14, this Olivier Award-winning piece of prime schadenfreude will leave you with tears (of laughter, not pity) running down your face. more
You’re probably familiar with the sentiment that great things happen when you step outside of your comfort zone, but just how far are you willing to go? One event that has epitomised the concept of pushing boundaries is the Anywhere Theatre Festival, a smorgasbord of pop-up shows that take place in the nooks and crannies of Brisbane. From May 4–21, the festival will spread across 104 locations, each more surprising and unconventional than the last. The only rule? To perform anywhere but a theatre, or exhibit art anywhere but a gallery. more
Adaptations can be very tricky territory, especially when the original source material is culturally iconic. Too many times our favourite books have been chewed up and spit out by bigwig producers, barely recognisable in their new form as films and plays – Trainspotting Live is not one of these instances. Based on Irvine Welsh’s era-defining novel about a band of drug-fuelled Scottish miscreants, this production comes to the Brisbane Powerhouse from April 19–22 along with a solid seal of approval from the author himself. more
If you’ve ever been near a radio, chances are you’ve heard of a little band called Green Day. The trio, fronted by the incomparable Billie Joe Armstrong, is known worldwide for making some of the most recognisable punk-rock jams to come out of a 30-year strong career. Not content with just ruling the airwaves, Billie Joe thought he would try his hand at creating a musical – turns out he’s really good at that, too. American Idiot will burst onto the QPAC stage from Thursday February 23, weaving songs from the iconic Green Day album into a rock solid narrative that packs way more than a punch. more
When it comes to theatre, race and gender are two subjects that often yield some pretty heavy material. It’s a sensitive topic for many people, and rightly so – we’re living in a strange time where both of these issues are at the forefront of the world stage. Taking a far more tongue in cheek (but no less poignant) approach is Single Asian Female, the new play from Brisbane’s own maverick babe Michelle Law. This fresh comedy is taking over La Boite Theatre from February 11 to March 4 to confirm that if you think the people at your local Chinese take-away are talking about you in their native tongue, they definitely are. more
Anyone who’s worked in retail can tell you how incredibly dry the industry can be – from lazy bosses to know-it-all customers, most people hardly think of department stores as much more than a place to buy stuff. However, there was a time in history when the humble ‘shop’ was far more than it appeared – these institutions were a beacon of prestige and a conduit for social change. Coming to QPAC from January 28 to February 19 to lift the change-room curtain is Ladies in Black, a musical extravaganza that will have you looking at your local Myer in a whole new light. more
Let’s just take a moment to appreciate that gender bending is pure entertainment – anyone’s who’s watched RuPaul’s Drag Race can attest to this. Seasoned cabaret queen and Australian drag royalty Trevor Ashley has been using this art form to make people laugh for decades now, so you know he’s got the formula for a winning show locked down. His latest creation Liza’s Back! (is Broken) comes to QPAC from January 17–22 to pay homage to the showbiz greats – sequins mandatory. more
When you think crazy, kooky, brilliant and heart-warming, one name that immediately springs to mind is Roald Dahl. The timeless wealth of Roald’s iconic narratives have often been the subject of adaptation, but there has been none quite like Matilda The Musical before. Using Roald’s story as the frame, the visionary team of Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly has created an internationally successful knockout of a production that is coming to QPAC from November 25, 2016 to January 29, 2017 to spread the magic. more
What has 31 shows packed into 14 days and is the steamiest way to kiss 2016 goodbye? Why, it’s Wonderland of course! Built on the foundations that a little debauchery never hurt anybody, this fabulous festival returns to the Brisbane Powerhouse from Thursday November 24 to Sunday December 11 to bring the best in circus, burlesque, cabaret and comedy to our city. From trippy interactive installations to knee-slappin’ pop culture homages, we’ve picked five must-dos at this year’s Wonderland carnival. more
When it comes to pure entertainment value, it’s hard to top a night at the circus. We’re not just talking about your standard ringmaster rigmarole here – Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA is a pure visual feast that sees the iconic company return to traditional form, delivering a show that’s as engaging as it is complex. Coming to Skygate from November 24 2016 through to January 8 2017, KOOZA is one crazy trip that reaffirms Cirque du Soleil’s reputation as the best in the business. more