The weather’s cooling down, Game of Thrones is over and our city is overflowing with rad things to do – you’ve officially run out of excuses to spend your weekend glued to your couch. Luckily for you, we’ve taken the time to handpick the best things happening in Brisbane on the May 23–26 weekend so you can max out your days off – thank us later. more
“Two households, both alike in dignity …” It’s one of the most famous plays in history, subject to countless rewrites, reinterpretations and creative liberties – so how exactly do you do Romeo and Juliet justice? Shakespeare’s epic story that follows two families at war and two teenagers in love has been given a fresh contemporary edit thanks to the brilliant minds at La Boite Theatre, resulting in a razor-sharp adaptation for the modern age. Running at the Roundhouse Theatre from May 25 to June 16, this bold undertaking is a physical, visceral and accessible take on a true classic. more
Let’s be honest – even if you’re not the most musically talented individual, most of us at some point have dreamed of living the rockstar life. Touring the world, legions of adoring fans and looking like a badass all in the name of your job sounds like a pretty sweet gig, right? Well in the immortal words of AC/DC, it turns out that it’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock’n’roll – and sometimes you need to enlist the help of a few pint-sized pals to help you on your way. If you’ve ever caught yourself fantasising about a life on the stage, listen up – School of Rock is hitting QPAC from July 12 with a tidal wave of humour, cheek and true rock’n’roll soul. more
We’re not going to beat around the bush – the hype around The Book of Mormon is very real right now. In case you’ve missed the billboards, bus ads and every second friend of yours who has already snapped up tickets to the mega-popular musical advising you to do the same, it is landing at QPAC from Saturday March 16. If you’ve been waiting for a sign from some higher power that you need to go to the show, here it is – a special preview performance has just been announced for Friday March 15, with tickets going for a mere $20. This is not a drill and that is not a typo. more
We have a lot to thank La Boite Theatre for, but one of its best exports of late is undoubtedly the red-hot runaway success Single Asian Female. Michelle Law’s poignant, powerful and ultimately hilarious play struck a serious cord when it made its debut two years ago, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The sell-out sensation is coming back home for a second round, bringing its trademark humour, heart and even a surprise new star. more
To earn the title of a classic is no mean feat, but Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman has managed to retain this status since its release in 1949. The iconic story is a perfect reflection of the time in which it was written, but also manages to stand up today as a heavily relatable story – the themes have proven to remain timeless (which is pretty grim, but that’s the reality of it). A brand-new iteration of the award-winning story is set to open Queensland Theatre’s massive 2019 season – and this is one version you won’t want to miss. more
Real talk – while 2018 may have been a great year for Brisbane, we’re even more excited for what 2019 is going to bring. Our cultural sphere just keeps getting better, with a host of local and international events taking place right here in our city. We’ve picked five killer events happening post-New Year that you should get tickets to before they disappear, lest you risk falling victim to some serious FOMO. more
Hot damn, we love a good rags to riches story that also happens to be true – and they don’t come much better than that of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It’s a classic tale of four blue-collar boys with rough backgrounds that go from zero to hero at a skyrocketing pace. The self-made stars did things their way – they wrote their own songs, created their own sound and changed the face of music as it is today (all before hitting 30 years of age, mind you). Their story has been adapted for the stage with thrilling success – Jersey Boys hits QPAC from January 2, 2019 and you’d better believe it lives up to the hype. more
Through its various adaptations, most of us are at least vaguely familiar with the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. The age-old story of compassion, forgiveness and redemption has been given countless reboots since it first arrived on the scene back in 1843, so you might think that an original take at this point would be impossible. Remarkably, this is not the case – the maverick renegades at shake & stir theatre co. have given the tale their distinctive touch to create a new classic. more
When it’s done well, magic has the uncanny ability to turn even the most practical and sensible adults in the room into wide-eyed kids again. The older we get, truly eye-popping moments that make us think, “How the heck did they manage to do that?” are hard to come by – but The Illusionists: Direct From Broadway delivers these shockwaves in spades. Returning to QPAC for a strictly limited season from January 9, this band of world-class magicians will leave you with your jaw on the floor. more
Can you feel that, Brisbane? The humidity is rising, we’re dabbing feverishly at our brows and fanning our chests in pure anticipation. No, it’s not a traditional summer heatwave headed our way – the sexy, salacious and unashamedly bold Wonderland Festival is tumbling back into town! Set to unleash on its home of the Brisbane Powerhouse from November 22, the annual cocktail of comedy, cabaret, circus and all things sexy is set to get temperatures soaring. more
Let’s be honest – when a company has been a driving force in the arts game for 94 years, there is a high chance that it’s doing something right. In the case of La Boite Theatre, you can’t argue the cultural impact that the Brisbane-based company has had on our whole country. Over its long history of taking risks, fostering emerging talent and keeping things relevant, La Boite has gotten pretty bloody good at finding out what makes people tick. As we approach 2019 at a breakneck pace, it has become clear that the iconic theatre company has once again cooked up a killer season – including a a classic reimagined, a triumphant return performance and a brand-new comedy. more
There is something truly intoxicating about being in a city you know nothing about. Once you get past the initial fear of the unknown, you can surrender yourself to anonymity and the lure of brand-new experiences. Kind of sounds like the perfect recipe for finding yourself and falling in love, right? Neon Tiger takes this premise of the gap year you never had, sprinkles it with live tunes and throws in a heady dose of romance. Coming to La Boite Theatre from October 27 to November 17, this stunning production will have you feeling giddy for all of the right reasons. more
If you keep up to date with our Gold Coast publication, you may have recently noticed a phenomenon sweeping the shores down south – one of the red hot, highly physically impressive and riotously funny variety. We’re talking about Infamous, the seriously sizzling fusion of circus, cabaret and comedy. After sold-out shows all around the country and an unprecedented extended season on the coast, Brisbane is about to get a taste of the action. more
Are you feeling a little bit more fabulous, Brisbane? We can explain that – if you’ve had the sudden urge to don a feather boa, stack on a headdress and sing along to the most camp playlist you can find, it’s probably because Priscilla just arrived. That’s right – iconic film-turned-stage play Priscilla Queen of the Desert has officially swept QPAC in a flurry of sequinned glory, taking over the Lyric Theatre from September 26 to November 4. more
Fighting is a deeply personal business. Whether you’re exchanging barbs with a sibling, standing up for justice or stepping into a boxing ring, all fights have one thing in common – the strength they require. We’re not just talking about throwing a punch – all real fights call upon your deepest reserves of mental fortitude. Smash-hit production Prize Fighter proves this sentiment in spades, heading to the Logan Entertainment Centre for two rounds on September 13 and 14. more
Folks, the time is almost upon us – the hotly anticipated Valley Fiesta is back in town and sticking around for an extra few days of goodness. For the first time in its inception, the Fiesta will be spreading its program of live music, art, theatre, immersive experiences and parties across five jam-packed days. There’s so much to see and do that we thought we’d give you a helping hand sorting through it all – from tropical rooftops to laneway shindigs, we’ve picked our must-dos at Valley Fiesta for every night of the week. more
There are two types of people in the world – those who love Twin Peaks and those who just don’t get it. Jokes aside, David Lynch’s bizarre mystery-horror series was a seriously iconic staple of 1990s television. The story of special agent Dale Cooper investigating the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer gripped an entire generation, and went on to retain its status as a cult hit that still holds relevance today. Good news for fans – Brisbane is about to get a true taste of Twin Peaks when a selection of the stars land at Eatons Hill Hotel on Sunday August 26 for a scintillating conversation session. more
Folks, spring has almost sprung and it’s bringing a little something special with it – we’re talking Brisbane Festival, baby! Come September 8, our fine city will be overflowing with a selection of local and international entertainment that will make your head spin. From circus and cabaret to top live bands and immersive theatre, the festival brings together the best of the arts scene for your enjoyment – so you’d better get out there and lap it up. Mark September 8–29 in your diary and start planning your hit-list, because this one’s going to be a doozy. more
A decade ago, if you said the creators of South Park would be responsible for one of the most beloved Broadway musicals of all time, you’d have been laughed at. It seems truth is stranger than fiction, but no one can deny the rapturous response The Book of Mormon received upon its debut. The charming and cheeky tale of Mormon missionaries travelling to Uganda has resonated around the world, and it seems like it might soon be time for Brisbane to experience the comedic musical firsthand. more