I've attended the Brisbane Festival for the past 4 years in a row and I'm always amazed by the vast array of talent on show. From musical acts, live theatre, circus, dance, multimedia shows, interactive exhibits, and visual arts, it's a cultural dream.
The Treasury Arcadia
I attended the opening weekend of the festival on Saturday September 7th, and Brisbane was just starting to get into the swing of things. They had the Treasury Arcadia set up with various food stalls, bars, roving performers, musicians, the classic Spiegletent, and of course the annual River of Light show. The River of Light starts at 6:15pm and 8pm each night and I recommend checking it out. The Brisbane River errupts in a show of colourful lights and dancing water, accompanied by music and a story told by the native Aboriginals about our history and the history of Brisbane. It's a nice visual show as well as a learning experience.
1000 Doors
Located near the Voodoo Bar in Arcadia is an art exhibit in a shipping container called "1000 Doors." It is created by the same people who designed the mirror maze "House of Mirrors" at the 2018 festival. It costs between $10 - $15 depending on the time of day you go and I highly recommend paying it a visit. On purchase of your ticket, you are also given an antique key to be granted entry into the container. The atmosphere inside can only be described as old and rustic. The doors are all antique as you make your way through the maze. It is set out like an old Victorian house with rusty patterned walls and dirty dim lighting. You are allowed to touch any of the pieces inside, the only rule is that you must close all the doors behind you. Rooms are filled with old paintings, black and white photographs, rustic furniture, and added sound effects really bring the place to life. Check it out for yourself and make sure to bring a camera and a friend as the setting inside is perfect for some pictures for the 'gram.
SS Mendi: Dancing the Death Drill
My first show of the day was SS Mendi: Dancing the Death Drill at 1:30pm located in the QPAC Playhouse. On entry of the room, the stage was mostly empty except for tables, stools, and musical equipment on either side. Once the show started, a performer emerged onto the stage and sat in the centre to tell us the story about the SS Mendi. This show told a beautiful and crushing tale from a full cast of South Africans about the SS Mendi ship setting sail in from Cape Town in 1917. Hundreds of black South Africans volunteered to help support the allied forces fighting in France. The story follows the journey of the SS Mendi and the collision that caused 646 people to die. This show is based on the book by Fred Khumalo and is a highly moving and engaging musical theatre piece based on real life tragic events. The show also portrays a conflict between the black and white men, and is a very confronting piece to witness. The story is told through various South Africans and the original music pieces are so powerful they bring you to tears. Their voices work together in harmony and you can hear the pain in their voices as they scream to be heard. Along with bongo drums and wooden tables, odd items are also used to make music such as shakers in bins and water bottles to make gunshots. A really powerful moment for me was when the white men held 3 Africans on a rope as they proceeded to be whipped from behind with the banging of bamboo sticks and material on the ground to create a soundscape in unison. This is a very confronting powerful piece of theatre and is recommended for those that like strong compelling stories, this is not a piece for people wanting a fun lighthearted day at the theatre.
We Live Here
Second show of the day was We Live Here presented by Flipside Circus at 4:30pm at the QPAC Cremorne Theatre. On entry the stage was dimly lit with a single spotlight on a purple wooden chair. As the show started, a performer was seen sitting on the chair as a multimedia video played behind her on a projection, depicting scenes and moments of people's lives. Projections were often used throughout the show with music leading the performance. The entire show was circus/physical theatre, with the story being mostly depicted by only body movement with very minimal speaking. The performers can only be described as nothing less than impressive, as they supported eachother, flipped and threw eachother through the air, and performed stunts that require alot of practice. There were some very visually compelling moments in the show such as when one performer danced and moved around a pole, and ascending and descending using only his arms to support his weight on the pole. This could be seen as the ascension of christ and the birth of men. Another beautiful moment was when the performers lay together on the ground in a circle and one man balanced on top of the others hands, whilst the performers on the ground lifted their legs up simultaneously, representing a flower closing and wilting. The final standout moment for me was when a performer spun multiple hoola hoops around her body and arms, and they gave the appearance of being stuck inside a rainbow bubble. This show celebrates the memories and moments that make a life and are based on stories of parents and siblings. This was my favourite show of the day and is recommended for audiences that love interpreting physical theatre.
From Darkness
The final show of the day was From Darkness written by Steven Oliver presented at the LaBoite Roundhouse at 7:30pm. From Darkness is an Australian story written by an Aboriginal man presented by an Aboriginal cast. This show deals with Aboriginal culture and the spiritual force that the Aboriginals connect with. The play is based around a family's loss of their son Vinnie. Vinnie's brother Preston is visited by the spirits while he sleeps. The spirits are portrayed on a huge projection at the back of the stage as the room turns dark blue while spiritual music plays. The family are grief stricken and deal with it in different ways. The father is in denial about his sons death, whilst the mother has turned to alcohol to help ease the pain. The daughter Akira is constantly buried in her phone and the nan likes to talk constantly. The family are very disconnected from one another as they constantly argue and yell at one another during the play. Prestons connection with the spirits is used to try and reconnect the family and bring some harmony back into their lives. The play is a mix of drama, comedy and political theatre. It is nice to see representation of Australia's Aboriginal culture in theatre as From Darkness makes it's world premiere at the Brisbane Festival. I saw the original play reading for this show back in 2017 and it has changed quite significantly within the last couple of years. While you're at LaBoite, it's good to check out Theatre Republic and the installations set up in the courtyard.
My experience at the Brisbane Festival provided many thought provoking moments and was a fantastic way to connect with friends and discuss the magic of the stage. I will be attending again on the final weekend to witness Blanc de Blanc Encore, Invisible Cities, and You & I.
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