As spring sunshine replaces the winter westerlies, tell-tale splashes of vivid pink coat the city, beckoning all to re-emerge, connect and celebrate with friends and shine brightly under Brisbane’s expansive skies.
Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina leans into the city’s love affair with spring as she prepares to deliver a Brightly Brisbane program of events and experiences.
A celebration of this city, her program features an awe-inspiring line-up of premiere productions, cutting edge collaborations, commissioned new work, award-winning performances, surprising venues and a brand-new Festival hub: BOQ Festival Garden.
“We are making great new works of scale and bringing a new perspective on life into the community as well as a sense of joy and hope, taking us out of our everyday,” Louise explains.
“We are privileged to create, collaborate and realise ambitious new works over 23 days this September.”
Seeing her Brightly Brisbane vision reach fruition has been an at-times bumpy road with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic throwing myriad obstacles in the Festival’s path.
“Trying to predict anything right now is simply impossible – anything can happen – but we keep firing on all cylinders because we owe it to our artists and our audiences to deliver a bright, bold and uniquely Brisbane Festival.
“So, we look for the positives and seek out those moments of pure joy that Brisbane Festival gifts to its community.”
While loathe to play favourites, Louise has narrowed down those “moments of pure joy” to nominate her eight unmissable events.