Theatre Brisbane | What is on in Brisbane

Hit musical The Book of Mormon announces its Brisbane dates

03 Aug 2018

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

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Crime, comedy and coming of age combine when Jasper Jones hits the stage

19 Jul 2018

Cast your mind back to your early high-school years and the glorious stretch of summer holidays, before the internet was around to keep you occupied. Most of us had to rely on our imagination and the other kids in the neighbourhood to make our own fun – but oftentimes we would crave a bigger adventure. What do you think you would have done if your town’s resident bad boy came tapping at your window one night asking for your help when they were placed at the scene of a grisly crime? Coming to QPAC from July 28 to August 18, the beloved Australian novel Jasper Jones is getting the stage treatment and is here to answer some questions about morality, guilt, race and growing up – all with impeccable flare. more

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Lysa and the Freeborn Dames brings fun, fierceness and feminism to the stage

12 Jul 2018

In the age of #MeToo, #TimesUp and nasty women, it’s hard not to be inspired by the fierce females standing up and speaking out against gender inequality. Although it may not have been on our home turf, one of the turning points in the conversation around feminism and equal rights was the election of one Donald Trump. Heck, it’s not hard to see why – the dude’s a straight-up monster. If we have anything to thank him for, it’s that his presidency seems to have sparked a fire in the belly of many creative individuals all around the world – including that of Claire Christian. The world premiere of her brand-new play Lysa and the Freeborn Dames is about to hit the La Boite Theatre stage, bringing with it a whole heap of grit and girl power. more

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See both sides of a story that captivated our nation in Letters to Lindy

28 Jun 2018

When it comes to modern Australian history, Lindy Chamberlain is a name that almost all of us are familiar with due to the devastating events in 1980 that saw her accused of her own child’s murder. The case was as fascinating as it was heartbreaking, with media and public opinion playing a huge part in Lindy’s wrongful conviction. Though justice was finally served, it is hard to know just how Lindy would have been feeling during the whole ordeal. Letters to Lindy is coming to Brisbane Powerhouse from August 1–4, putting together the missing pieces using correspondence sent to the woman herself – from supporters, detractors and everyone else who had something to say. more

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At last! Step inside the life and times of the iconic Etta James

07 Jun 2018

When it comes to iconic voices, few people can hold a candle to Etta James. Known as the Matriarch of R&B, Etta spent decades singing songs across the spectrum of human emotion, all while battling some of the most paralysing demons that one can face in a lifetime. She didn’t just sing the blues – she lived them. Coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse for an exclusive run of shows from June 27–30, At Last: The Etta James Story shines a light on one of the most legendary voices of all time … as well as the rich life behind it. more

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The Weekend Edition x W Insider: Brisbane’s June Cool Hunter Guide

04 Jun 2018

Friday June 1 marked a very special day for Brisbane City – the opening of its first five-star hotel in 20 years, W Brisbane. There are many elements that make W Brisbane particularly worthy of the five-star accolade, one of which is the W Insider, Montana Tozzi, a gal about town whose job is to ensure guests have access to whatever they want, whenever they want it. Each month Montana treats guests with her hit-list of what to do and see in Brisbane via the Cool Hunter Guide, and seeing as that's our specialty, we've partnered with her to curate it each month. Here you have it folks – the best of Brisbane this June. more

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How long really is The Longest Minute?

24 May 2018

Ever question how long the longest minute really is? The last minute before the microwave is done? Or the minute before that important interview? We've all been there. Queensland Theatre is collaborating with JUTE Theatre Company to bring The Longest Minute to QPAC from May 26 to June 23, exploring an iconic night in NRL history that rewrote the history books. more

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Engage your inner detective as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes to QPAC

24 May 2018

Engage your curiosity as Mark Hadden's best selling novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has been transformed into a global theatrical phenomenon and is set to take Australia by storm. The timeless story is coming to Brisbane for the first time from June 12–24, bringing Mark's charming characters and all of their quirks to the QPAC stage. more

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Science, poetry and modern love combine for The Mathematics of Longing

17 May 2018

Look, maths definitely isn’t universally loved, but you can’t deny its force. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of numbers, it’s pretty incredible when you bring everything back to the basic notion that humans invented their own way to make sense of things that were previously impossible to comprehend. Much like maths, theatre is another avenue that people use to explain the inexplicable – and it’s a marriage of these two things that has created something close to magic. Making its world premiere at La Boite Theatre from June 2–23, The Mathematics of Longing draws from two different worlds to help us understand ourselves better. more

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Knock your ridiculous yellow stockings off as Twelfth Night hits the Playhouse

03 May 2018

Mischief making and cross dressing? Sounds like a classic Shakespearean comedy to us! Follow the twisted tale of mistaken identities, separated twins and, of course, a love triangle that can still bring the laughs after 400 years. Shakespeare’s most notorious comedy Twelfth Night is taking over QPAC's Playhouse from April 28 to May 19 – and it’s bringing a musical twist. more

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Here, queer and killin’ it – MELT Festival returns with a rainbow of entertainment

26 Apr 2018

Although there is still a ways to go in the fight for equality and acceptance, Brisbane boasts a festival that is all about taking these struggles, throwing some glitter on them and using them as a vehicle for moving forward. Returning to its home of the Brisbane Powerhouse from May 17–27, MELT Festival is an open invitation for one and all to celebrate Brisbane’s wonderfully diverse queer communities. more

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Our top five highlights for week one of Festival 2018 Brisbane

04 Apr 2018

It's official – the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games have arrived! While most of the action is taking place down south between April 4–15, Brisbane will still be buzzing with a stellar program of world-class events and live entertainment thanks to Festival 2018. For 12 huge days, the city will come alive for an arts and culture extravaganza and best of all – it's entirely free. Here are our top picks for Week One of Festival 2018 in Brisbane, from Wednesday April 4 to Sunday April 8. more

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Who run the world? WOW at Festival 2018 celebrates females in all of their forms

29 Mar 2018

Although there is still a long way to go in the fight for equality, it’s always nice to look around and take stock of the progress that has been made. Between same-sex marriage laws getting passed and the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements taking off, there is a global conversation happening around the subject of gender – particularly in regards to breaking down conventions and entering a brave new world where women speak up, stand out and have equal footing. Coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse on April 6–8, Women of the World at Festival 2018 (or WOW if you’re feeling cheeky) is a three-day celebration of everything it means to be a woman in this modern world. more

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Demi-pliés meet degustation – Spicers Retreats pairs with Queensland Ballet for an Australian-first

26 Mar 2018

Fans of breathtaking ballet, bountiful feasts and boutique accommodation (or a combination of all three) are in for a real treat. Spicers Retreats and Queensland Ballet are teaming up for a series of truly unique experiences across three weekends and three luxury hotels, where intimate performances will be matched with exceptional cuisine, making for a one-of-a-kind getaway. more

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Sass is served – Hot Brown Honey brings its genre-defying live show to Brisbane

22 Mar 2018

When it comes to equal representation, Australia still has a pretty bloody long way to go. Considering our First Nations people have been here for a whole lot longer than white folk, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of people of colour in popular media. From movies to breakfast panels and even stage shows, things are looking pretty … well, white. Stuff that! There’s a new crew in town set to shake up the game and shatter some cultural paradigms in the form of song, dance and straight-up activism. Coming to Brisbane Powerhouse from April 4–7, Hot Brown Honey will have you fist pumping, booty shakin’ and leaving feeling all kinds of empowered. more

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Festival 2018 – the free arts and culture festival hitting Brisbane for the Commonwealth Games

15 Mar 2018

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you might be aware that a little old event called the Commonwealth Games is happening really soon. If you’re a Brisbane dweller, you might be feeling a sense of FOMO creeping up on account of our southern neighbours on the Gold Coast getting all of the hosting glory. Fear not, friends – Brisbane is getting in on the action with a huge roster of events running parallel to the Games! Festival 2018 is coming to Brisbane from April 4–15 to connect Brisbane to the exciting happenings of GC2018 – all without having to leave the city. more

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Take a peek into the crystal ball – La Boite’s HWY showcases the future greats of Queensland theatre

08 Mar 2018

While there is no way to actually predict the future (unless you believe that Paul the Octopus was an oracle and truly knew the World Cup results), there are certain events that can give us a glimpse at the shape of things to come. La Boite HWY is one such predictor, providing us with a tantalising taste of what’s in store for the landscape of Queensland theatre. This innovation festival is running at La Boite Theatre from March 12–24, inviting the industry and wider arts community to join the conversation on the outlook of Brisbane’s theatre scene. more

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Wish granted – Disney’s Aladdin: the Musical is finally here!

15 Feb 2018

Real talk – regardless of your Disney fanatic status, if you haven’t seen the 1992 animated classic Aladdin you simply have not lived. It’s your classic feel-good formula of good guys and bad guys, moral conflict, dazzling romance and a hefty dose of comedy. Honestly, what’s not to love? Good news, folks – this legendary tale has been transformed for the stage and its flying on a magic carpet straight to Brisbane! From February 20, QPAC will turn into a cave of wonders for Disney’s Aladdin: The Musical – and it’s everything we could have wished for. more

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Introducing HOTA – the Gold Coast’s new Home of the Arts

06 Feb 2018

Brisbane, we'd like you to meet HOTA (Home of the Arts). It's possible you've actually met before – HOTA was formerly known as The Arts Centre Gold Coast and as of today (Tuesday February 6) will be officially named Home of the Arts. This is way more than just a shiny new name – the announcement also marks the unveiling of the cultural precinct's $37.5-million outdoor theatre, which is underscored by a spectacular program of events that will take the city's arts and culture scene to dizzying new heights. If it's been a while in between trips, it's high time you ventured down to check it out. more

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Let’s talk about sex (and love, and suicide, and guinea pigs) with Fleabag

01 Feb 2018

Any woman who has consumed any form of visual media in their life (so basically all of us living here in the first world) would be able to tell you that popular representations of females are far from realistic. Since the dawn of time we’ve had it drilled in to us that we have to look, act and live a certain way – and the pressure is bloody exhausting. Going through life without seeing other women doing the natural things we do – farting, watching porn, having periods, sleeping with strangers and the like – can lead us to believe that we are freaks of nature. If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t living up to society’s towering expectations, it’s time you got acquainted with Fleabag. Coming to the Brisbane Powerhouse from February 8–10, she’s the anti-heroine we need and the one we deserve. more