Brisbane Festival has opened the portal to 22 days of wonder, unveiling the spectacular full programme for September’s three week city-wide celebration.
With more than 60 events including five world premiere commissions, 11 Australian premieres, 25 Queensland premieres and a star-studded line-up of international luminaries, Australian legends and homegrown heroes, Brisbane Festival is set to envelope the city in a sea of pink.
“Brisbane Festival is proud to be a leading international arts festival, bringing some of the biggest names in the business from all over the world to our river city throughout September,” Brisbane Festival Artistic Director David Berthold says.
A dominating element of the programme is live music, which will benefit a city taking pride in the history of contemporary popular music. Across the 22 days there are 26 unique events, including British megastars London Grammar who will headline an outdoor mini-festival at Riverstage, Megan Washington joined by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Australian rock legends Tex Perkins, Don Walker and Charlie Owens.
The world stage will land in Brisbane with shows including the Lyric Hammersmith’s compelling 'Terror', Chinese dance-drama 'Under Siege' and an exclusive Australian premiere: circus and physical theatre piece 'Per Te' from the creators of last year's 'La Verita'.
Also making up productions from the world stage will be a string of work from the Asia Pacific, reflecting Brisbane's close relationships in the region. You'll see works from China, Korea, Singapore and Indonesia.
It wouldn't be Brisbane Festival without celebrating local legends. Dead Puppet Society and Tim Sharp's highly anticipated visual theatre extravaganza 'Laser Beak Man' will premiere at La Boite Theatre, you'll witness Casus Circus's dizzying new 'Driftwood' and a double-dose dose from the homegrown Strut & Fret including the sizzling show 'LIMBO Unhinged'.
“If you want spectacle, see 'Under Siege'. If you want beauty, see 'Per Te'. If you want a mind expander, see 'Terror'. If you want a sense expander, see 'Attractor'. If you want fun, see 'Fun House'. If you want joy, see 'Laser Beak Man'. If you want to salivate, see 'Chef'. If you want to sizzle, see 'LIMBO Unhinged',” David says.
This year, Brisbane Festival increases its venue footprint to include The Tivoli in celebration of the building’s 100-year anniversary.
“It’s a big year for The Tiv, so we thought we’d celebrate in style with a program of very special shows, aimed at celebrating the past, whilst looking towards an exciting future for The Tivoli in Brisbane,” David says.
Tivoli highlights include Brisbane art-rock legends Regurgitator, indie sensations Angus and Julia Stone, and the ultimate ‘90s masquerade ball rock show Young Hearts Run Free, featuring live performances of the entire soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’s modern masterpiece 'Romeo + Juliet'.
2017 sees several favourite festival hubs return, including Treasury Brisbane Arcadia at South Bank Cultural Forecourt, home to the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent and daily free performances at Little Creatures LIVE and the beautifully-designed festival site Theatre Republic at Kelvin Grove’s QUT Creative Industries Precinct.
