EXPERIENCE 22 DAYS OF WONDERAT BRISBANE FESTIVAL 201
Brisbane Festival hasopened the portal to 22 days of wonder, unveilingthespectacular full programfor September’sthree-week city-wide celebration. With more than 60events includingfive world premierecommissions, 11 Australianpremieres,25 Queensland premieres,and a star-studded lineup of international luminaries, Australian legends and homegrown heroes, Brisbane Festival is set to envelope the city in a sea of pink 9 –30 September 2017. “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 said. Live music dominates the program, befitting a city that takes pride in its placein the history of contemporary popular music. There are 26 unique events including British megastars London Grammarheadlining an outdoor mini-festival at Riverstage; the euphoric Megan Washington in concert withQueensland SymphonyOrchestra; and Australian rock legends Tex Perkins, Don Walkerand Charlie Owens.Theatre highlights from the world stages include the Lyric Hammersmith’s compelling production of Ferdinand von Schirach’s controversial courtroom dramaTerror; ravishing Chinese dance-drama UnderSiege; and the exclusive Australian premiere of astonishing new circus and physical theatre work Per Te,from the creators of last year’s La Verita. There’s also a string of work from the Asia Pacific, reflecting Brisbane’s close relationships in the region. There’ll be work from China, Korea, Singapore and Indonesia. The program sings with local legends too, including Dead Puppet Society and Tim Sharp’s highly-anticipated visual theatre extravaganza Laser Beak Man; Casus Circus’s dizzying new work Driftwood;and a double-dose from homegrown hit-makers Strut & Fret, including the sizzling 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.
Don Walker, Tex Perkins and Charlie Owen photographed in Marrickville, NSW, on 8 December 2016 by Bleddyn Butcher
If you want to salivate, see Chef. If you want to sizzle, see LIMBO UNHINGED,” Berthold said. This year,Brisbane Festival increases its venue-footprint to include The Tivoli in celebration ofthe 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,”Berthold said.
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, featuringliveperformances of the entire soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann’smodern masterpieceRomeo + Juliet.2017 sees severalfavourite Festival hubs return, including Treasury Brisbane Arcadiaat South Bank Cultural Forecourt, home to The Courier-Mail Magic Mirrors Spiegeltentand daily free performances at Little Creatures LIVE, and the beautifully-designed festival site Theatre Republic at Kelvin Grove’s QUT Creative Industries Precinct. The 22-day celebration crescendos Saturday 30 September with Australia’s longest fireworks celebration Sunsuper Riverfire igniting the city skyline for the 20thtime. For the full program of theatre, dance, music, circus, comedy, cabaret, visual art, film, and family entertainment, visit www.brisbanefestival.com.au
