Following a record-breaking 2017, Brisbane Powerhouse’s adored Wonderland Festival returns for 11 salacious nights of revelry from 22 November.
Now in its fifth year, Wonderland Festival brings together talented performers for a unique carnival of comedy, burlesque, circus, music, magic and more.
Brisbane Powerhouse Artistic Director Kris Stewart said Wonderland Festival 2018 will make the most of Brisbane’s sultry summer nights, with a whole-of-venue takeover filled with weird and wonderful experiences handpicked to surprise and delight.
“This year is about enhancing the atmosphere we have created previously to deliver a sexy, silly and spectacular carnival takeover,” Stewart said.
“Over the past four years, we’ve established a wonderful community that loves to come here and play each November.
“With over 25 shows over 11 nights, this year’s Wonderland Festival will act as the city’s downtown hub for nightly delights and promises bold spectacles and thrills around every corner.”
The 2018 lineup sees several festival favourites return, including Bombshell Burlesque, whose titillating new show Heatwave is guaranteed to sizzle; the darkly seductive threesome from Babushka with a wickedly funny cabaret, Happily Ever After; and cabaret chanteuse Mama Alto, with a powerful tribute to jazz icon Billie Holiday.
A proven launchpad for new works, this year’s festival features four world premieres, including guaranteed crowd-pleaser Two Man Tarantino – all eight films in one hilarious hour of comedy and chaos performed by Emily Vascotto and Stephen Hirst. Also premiering at Wonderland is a new work under construction by psycho-siren Leah Shelton, directed by renowned UK performance art provocateur Ursula Martinez, Bitch on Heat.
“Wonderland Festival represents everything Brisbane does so well – originality, creativity and hilarity” Stewart said.
“We want people to head on down to Brisbane Powerhouse and let loose for this end of year cavalcade of fearless physical feats, great storytelling, captivating live music and laugh-out-loud comedy. The Festival is united by a palpable sense of fearlessness and heart with guaranteed glamour and giggles.”
Additional highlights include The WonderWombs – New Zealand’s all-female circus renowned for eating binaries for breakfast; and award-winning mentalist and magician Matt Tarrant in Honestly Dishonest. Stretching their vocals will be some of Brisbane’s best homegrown female singers in the ultimate romantic ode to city with I Left My Heart in Highgate Hill,and vaudeville vamp Christa Hughes will takes audiences on the journey from that elegant first sip of the Speakeasy Siren to the despair and pain of the Dive Bar Diva in Beer Drinking Woman.
Wonderland Festival is Brisbane Powerhouse’s most significant celebration of and single investment in local artists, with 100 per cent of net box office going directly to those creating and delivering the work.
“Wonderland Festival epitomises Brisbane Powerhouse’s commitment to emerging artists and new works, providing a low-risk, safe platform for artists to play, and audiences to take a gamble on something new,” Stewart said.
“It’s Brisbane Powerhouse’s fringe offering, a downtown escape into something a little different and risky. Come for a show, to hang with friends, or just come to enjoy the madness of the whole experience. Our doors are open to everyone; let the silly season begin!”
Wonderland Festival plays Thursday 22 November – Sunday 2 December at Brisbane Powerhouse.
Tickets on sale now at wonderlandbrisbane.com.au
Wonderland Festival is generously supported by 4ZZZ, Archie Rose, PropMill, Scenestr, TRYP, Valiant and the Brisbane Powerhouse Associates.
– SEE WONDERLAND FESTIVAL PROGRAM SNAPSHOT OVER PAGE –
About Brisbane Powerhouse
Brisbane Powerhouse is Queensland’s home for contemporary culture; a magnificent power station of the 1920s reborn as an arts centre on the Brisbane River. With more than 1,250 performances and events each year, Brisbane Powerhouse is one of the busiest arts venues in the Asia-Pacific region, offering a year-round program of music, comedy, dance, film, visual arts, cabaret, circus, theatre and more. Brisbane Powerhouse is home to some of Queensland and Australia’s largest events, including Brisbane Comedy Festival, Australian Performing Arts Market, MELT: A Festival of Queer Arts and Culture, and Wonderland Festival.
For more information, visit brisbanepowerhouse.org
EVENT DATE VENUE INFO SOCIAL
Wonderland Festival
Thur 22 Nov – Sun 2 Dec 2018
Brisbane Powerhouse
07 3358 8600 / wonderlandbrisbane.com.au @bris_powerhouse / #wonderland2018
