Elevator Pitches | 10 shows in under 100 words each!

“A love letter to Tina Turner, who changed my life when I saw her live in concert when I was 16 years old. It really started when Mum and Dad would play Tina on the cassette tape, and we would listen to her music on our long drives down south to visit family. I then got to see Tina live in concert in Darwin in 1993. I’ve been doing drag for 24 years, and one of my characters is an impersonation of Tina, so I was curious to see if I could create a show based on her.” — Ben Graetz, writer, director, producer, and performer.

“This new show was developed through a residency supported by Creative Australia. JADE have been working since August 2024, collaborating, improvising, composing and developing Kyo-Wa, which translates as Harmonic Resonance. JADE is such a unique combination. Perhaps the only ensemble of its kind in the world, blending traditional Japanese, Nepalese, Indigenous Australian, world, and classical elements. Our new program explores new transcendent sound possibilities and represents how the iterative process of musical communication and conversation can harmonise to generate new cultural frequencies and representations.” — Anthony Garcia, guitarist, composer, and educator.

“Preparing Ground calls on us to come together, as communities and individuals, to care for the land and each other. We hope audiences will feel hopeful for the future after seeing the performance.” — Co-directors Marilyn Miller, Jasmin Sheppard, and Katina Olsen.

“The Alexander Ball is a ballroom event. The ball has multiple categories with a monetary sum for the winner of the Grand prize for each category. Participants, better known as ‘walkers’, all compete per the rules of each category. Each category is judged by a panel of Ballroom icons and legends. The space is made as a space for queer identities to fully express their artistry on the floor.” — Ella Ganza, curator and Mother of the House of Alexander.

“Community Choir: The Musical grew from my decade-long experience as conductor of Cheep Trill community choir. Over the years, I've met incredible people with inspiring and hilarious stories about why they joined the choir. Drawing from these stories and my love for songwriting (and razzle-dazzle), I created this musical. What makes it special is that the very people who inspired it — members of Cheep Trill — will be performing. Many are first-time performers, and I’m honoured to collaborate with this amazing local community to bring this unique show to life.” — Emma Dean, writer, creator, and conductor.

“I hope the exhibition takes people back to the underground dance scene in Brisbane in the early 1990s! People used to think nothing really happened in Brisbane, but it was a wild time on the gay scene! We were dressing up and out every night of the week! Fashion was a really important part of the whole scene.” — Christopher Salter, Head of Cultures and Histories and lead curator of Make a Scene.

“The Natural Horse is a whirlwind of chaotic Gen Z references, a philosophising horse, and a raw exploration of alienation in the modern world. Part love story, part rage poem, and part fever dream, it captures what it means to be young, furious, and yearning for connection. It’s a dedication to Timothée Chalamet, the poetry of anger, and the absurdity of trying to find meaning when everything feels broken. It's about family. It's about self. It's about modern identity.” — Jasmine Prasser, co-founder and creative producer of Salad Days Collective.

“This show celebrates the power of music to impact some of the biggest challenges we all face as a community, nation, and planet. Griffith Uni's 3 major research beacons focus on climate action, disrupting violence, and inclusive futures. We're presenting short talks by academics and performers who are changing the world, and presenting their works live to celebrate their impact.” — Peter Morris, conductor and curator.

“Quandamooka Festival is a two-day event celebrating culture, people, connections, amid the natural beauty and environments of the Moreton Bay Islands, which is home to the Quandamooka People — the Traditional Owners. This is great for new and seasoned visitors to Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). The festival has a relaxed vibe, easing into the 2-day events beginning with a Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony. This year's festival is on the grounds of the newly built QUAMPI Arts & Culture Centre at Adams Beach/Deanbilla Bay, Dunwich, overlooking the water with beautiful views to Moreton Bay.” — Avril Quaill, Director of QUAMPI Arts & Culture Centre.

“Festitalia is basically Brisbane's answer to bringing Italy right to your doorstep! It's this amazing cultural festival where you can experience authentic Italian vibes without booking a flight to Rome. It’s got everything — traditional music, dancing, and roaming theatre performances from both international artists and local talent that'll have you feeling like you're wandering through an Italian piazza. It's not just another festival; it's like taking a mini cultural vacation without leaving home!” — Nella Alba-Calabrese, festival coordinator.