Brisbane Festival shines brighter

In just over one week, Brisbane Festival will fill the city with art, music and joy; commissioning new work, hosting world premieres and spotlighting a wealth of world-class talent from 3 – 25 September. 

Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said she was thrilled to announce new works from Joel Bray and Babushka, welcome another two eye-catching installations from ENESS and unveil a star-studded line-up of artists across Street Serenades, and Brisbane’s Art Boat. 

“The past 18 months have been incredibly challenging for artists, performers and arts workers so we are delighted to have the opportunity to include more talented local creatives in our program this year,” Ms Bezzina said. 

The reimagined contemporary space saga based on Herman Melville’s beloved classic, Moby Dick, will play QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre from 3 - 18 September. 

Brisbane Festival’s new entertainment hub, BOQ Festival Garden at South Bank welcomes the addition of two playful and interactive light installations from ENESS. 

Visitors of all ages will find joy and contemplation on the radiant I Believe swings on Riverside Green while Light Seesaws transforms another classic playground favourite on Little Stanley Street Lawn.  

Dancer, writer and performer Joel Bray takes an acerbic insider’s look at contemporary dance with the cheekily named, I Liked it, BUT…. 

The proud Wiradjuri man promises to teach audiences how to love contemporary dance, over drinks and with live music, at La Boite Forecourt from 10 – 15 September. 

Street Serenades, Brisbane Festival’s standout 2020 hit, returns for a second year with an epic line-up of artists performing in parks, cul-de-sacs, and public spaces across the suburbs of Brisbane. 

Two new headline acts have just been announced – Kate Miller-Heidke and Katie Noonan - with Cheap Fakes, Emma Dean, Chris Tamwoy, Queensland Ballet, Camerata, The Little Red Company and world music artists Yoyo Tuki and Tibet2Timbuk2 added to the mix. 

Fresh from their Street Serenades success, award-winning performance group Babushka will stage Right to Party; their first children’s show at Brisbane City Hall on 22 September. The performance is free but bookings are essential.  

Brisbane’s Art Boat cruises into its first Festival with a bumper line-up of on-board entertainment, adding Kalkadungu didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton and cross-genre violinist Veronique Serret on 16 September, the glamorous House of Alexander on 17 September and a special Opera Queensland performance on 18 September.  

Unfortunately, ongoing COVID-related travel restrictions and border closures have forced the cancellation or postponement of the following Brisbane Festival events: 

• The Huxleys, Brisbane’s Art Boat 16-18 September – Replaced with William Barton and Veronique Serret, House of Alexander and Opera Queensland  

• Blak Day Out, The Tivoli, 10 September - Postponed  

• An Evening with Marlon Williams, The Tivoli, 21-22 September – Postponed  

• Considerable Sexual Licence, The Bock QUT Kelvin Grove, 10-15 September – Replaced with I Liked It, BUT…  

• Songs That Made Me: Jess Hitchcock, The Tivoli, 12 September – Postponed 

• Ishmael, Cremorne Theatre QPAC, 3 - 18 September – First week rescheduled, extra week added to season from 12 – 18 September  

• Coming Back Out Salon, 18 September – Postponed 

• Heart Is a Wasteland, Cremorne Theatre QPAC, 15-18 September – Cancelled  

• Bunggul, Concert Hall QPAC, 24-25 September - Cancelled 

• AGAPI | ΑΓΑΠΗ & Other Kinds of Love, New Benner Theatre Metro Arts, 14-16 September – Cancelled   

Program updates can be found at brisfe.st/updates.

For a full list of Brisbane Festival events and tickets visit brisbanefestival.com.au 

All Brisbane Festival events comply with Queensland Health’s COVID Safe Events framework and health authority directions. 

If an event is unable to proceed due to COVID restrictions, a full refund is available to ticket buyers. 

Brisbane Festival is proudly supported by Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland.