Backbone Youth Arts presents the 2024 Backbone Festival programme in Brisbane.
The festival, themed with This World Is Yours Too, will transform the Seven Hills Hub this October, set to make audiences fall in love with the outrageous minds of Magandjin’s Young Artists all over again.
More than 50 young artists will be involved in 23 events during the festival. It takes over the Seven Hills Hub for three weekends.
For those unfamiliar, Backbone Youth Arts was founded 37 years ago with a dedication to empowering curious, untamed, and experimental thinkers.
The overarching message of this year’s festival, This World Is Yours Too, serves as a reminder, a warning, a promise and a reality. . . Offered by the bold young, queer, transgender, BIPOC and First Nations voices of the community. The programme is a mosaic of works challenging power structures, and reaching out to those on the sidelines.
There are more than 20 artists-in-residence supported with programmes offering time, space, cash, mentorship and resources in order to create their work.
Punters can expect an eclectic mix of performances – notably ‘HARPIES’ by Eli Free, a physical theatre celebRAGEtion with ancient bird women; ‘Bahala/o’ by Buddy Malbasias, a dance theatre exploration of clashing cultures and queerness; ‘Ya’Djin Spirit Women’ by The First Creatives’, an outdoor storytelling experience from a First Nations collective; and ‘Metamorphosis’ by Haus Of Coco, a cultural renaissance featuring drag artists Crimson Coco and Gia Von She.
Outside of the direct performance space there are opportunities for community engagement and special events, like the Family Fun Day dedicated to interactive play, workshops and performances. . . The Digi Youth Arts Takeover Day where a stacked line-up of First Nations artists will present performances and workshops. . . and ‘What’s In The Woods?’ from Brymore Productions, for kids and their parents.
Things kick off in style of course with the Opening Night Event. This features surprise performances from the festival artists and more. And, the Youth Talent Show is a chance to take to the stage for young arts 18 and under.
Tickets are on sale now.
Backbone Festival is on from 10-26 October at the Seven Hills Hub (Brisbane).
