Connection, community, complexity and joy is promised in this year’s Brisbane Festival programme – a city-wide celebration of arts, culture and live performance.
This is the fourth programme from Artistic Director Louise Bezzina. Premier arts venues and some iconic city locations will stage more than 1,000 performances – 230 of which are free – including 19 world premieres, 2 Australian premieres, and 11 Queensland premieres.
"My fourth Brisbane Festival programme is driven by my boldly Brisbane vision to create a Festival for Brisbane; one that invites the international community to participate but, more importantly, shows the rest of the world how amazing this city is," Louise Bezzina says.
“A strong sense of community and connection is embedded in the 2023 programme, from deeply personal stories that invite human connection to moments of pure celebration and joy that unite the entire city."
‘Salamander’ will enjoy its world premiere at Brisbane Festival – a large-scale, site-specific dance theatre work from internationally renowned choreographer and director Maxine Doyle and artist/designer Es Devlin, working with composer/sound designer Rachael Dease and Australasian Dance Collective.
Next up, ‘Eternity’ by Circa makes its world premiere too, creating a communion between eight ensemble members and the spellbound audience.
'The Making Of Pinocchio'
International festival hit ‘The Making Of Pinocchio’ is a profound piece of storytelling; a heartwarming, at times funny, and deeply personal account of gender transition. It plays at Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the festival.
The City Botanic Gardens will be illuminated in Lightscape, a multi-sensory experience of light, colour and sound along a 2.5km trail in the heart of the city. Plus, the skies above will explode when the iconic Riverfire opens the festival alongside ‘Nieergoo: Spirit Of The Whale’, a never-before-seen massed drone performance.
Bookending Brisbane Festival will be ‘All Together Now’, a raucous, inclusive, free, all-ages celebration of music, dance, fun and frivolity at Victoria Park. Closing night also serves as the culmination of the ‘Brisbane Serenades’ programme, of free mini-concerts across Brisbane suburbs.
The epicentre of the festival is Festival Garden – an all-ages inner-city wonderland of food, wine, entertainment and discovery, set among the lush South Bank Parklands. Adding a splash of playfulness and colour to Festival Garden is Hiromi Hotel: Yu Ka 夢花, a site-specific installation by Hiromi Tango.
Lightscape
South Bank Piazza will also once again host a must-see programme of uplifting, entertaining works. . . From sizzling circus to Australian music royalty, feel-good cabaret, and eye-popping dance.
Brisbane Festival continues a proud tradition by again featuring a surprising, inspiring programme of First Nations-led work too – starting with ‘JARRAH’, an event honouring and paying respect to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.
Previously-announced events for Brisbane Festival include ‘BANANALAND’, ’Tae Tae In The Land Of Yaaas!’ and ‘Cut Chilli’. The programme also features The Australian debut of ‘Kuramanunya’, by Thomas E.S. Kelly and Karul Projects.
Queensland premieres as part of the festivities are Bangarra Dance Theatre’s ‘Yuldea’, ‘Hide The Dog’, The Farm/Performing Lines’ ’Stunt Double’, Australian Dance Theatre/Ilbijerri Theatre Company’s ‘Tracker’, and Jodee Mundy’s ‘Personal’.
Tickets are on sale now.
Brisbane Festival 2023 is on from 1-23 September.
