In Review 2025
Always Was
Brisbane Festival, the Festival Board, and the Indigenous Advisory Group continue to build a festival that expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the various Traditional Owners and Custodians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands and waterways. Our respects extend to the local and neighbouring Communities where the works are performed and celebrated across Brisbane areas.
We acknowledge their continuing connection to land and waters and honour the Elders past and present.
We recognise the fundamental role that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play in creative events and celebrations, as well as the importance of our continued engagement with the Indigenous Advisory Group and First Nations Communities. We are committed to the development of opportunities for further growing the various Cultural performances across the Festival.
Brisbane Festival and the Indigenous Advisory Group will continue to embrace, engage, and collaborate in partnership towards a progressive future.
“Brisbane is transformed by an explosion of extraordinary colour." – The Guardian
Image by JD Lin
Cover image by Brizzy Pix
From the Artistic Director
As with every Brisbane Festival I’ve had the privilege to direct, my aim was simple yet ambitious: to create something unforgettable — experiences that would live on in our hearts long after the final curtain fell.
This year Craig & Karl transformed Brisbane into a living artwork — their dazzling interventions turning the city itself into a canvas. Their vibrant colour and sense of scale lit up our bridges, buildings, and streets with joy, a welcome so warm it could be seen from the skies as planes descended into Brisbane. The response was extraordinary — people are already telling us how much they miss the larger-than-life playground that reimagined our city’s arterial infrastructure with such playful wonder.
Equally unforgettable was Stephen Page’s Baleen Moondjan — a powerful triumph that brought ceremony, story, and Country to the very heart of the city. As the river glowed beneath the night sky, audiences were immersed in a deeply moving First Nations work that will remain etched in our collective memory for years to come.
Brisbane Festival 2025 celebrated artistry. Two highlights for me were the Australian exclusive of Benjamin Millepied’s Gems, which connected Olympic sister cities Brisbane and Los Angeles on the global stage. And Bad Nature by Australasian Dance Collective became a breathtaking and ambitious international collaboration — five world-leading creative houses across dance, design, sound, fashion, and set uniting for a world premiere of scale and ambition, now bound for a 35-venue tour of the Netherlands.
Yet amid the grand spectacles, it was often community that offered the Festival’s most surprising treasures. 100 Guitars electrified Brisbane Powerhouse with the power of shared participation — a soaring testament to what happens when a city comes together to play. Milestone, William Yang’s tender blend of humour, memory, and reflection, turned a life’s journey into a work of gentle wit and deep emotional truth.
Pasifika Made raised the roof — the result of years of collaboration with cultural producer Queenie Pelesa — and took over Brisbane Powerhouse, proving this vibrant celebration has the appetite and energy to soar even higher.
From the early days of COVID, when creativity and community kept the arts alive, to today’s roaring celebrations, the Moorooka Block Party has come alive like never before. What began as a cul-de-sac concert on the back of a truck has grown into a vibrant, all-ages festival for thousands — a joyful, unstoppable celebration of Brisbane’s resilience and generosity that brings people together each Queensland spring to share in a love of art and music.
Here’s to Brisbane Festival — a citywide celebration that is unmistakably Brisbane: bold, vibrant, and alive with imagination. It has been a true privilege to help bring our city to life through this extraordinary Festival. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made this journey possible — the artists, government, partners, donors, the BF team, and, most importantly, the people of Brisbane, whose spirit and creativity continue to inspire and remind us why we do what we do.
LOUISE BEZZINA ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
From the CEO
I couldn’t be more proud of this year’s Festival. It received an outstanding response from supporters, artists, and audiences, and the media coverage achieved locally, nationally, and internationally was exceptional.
The Brisbane Festival team is the best in the business. Delivering a program that spanned bridges, rivers, stages, and parks took a huge collective effort, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone involved. Our Board, led by Chair Anna Reynolds, provided unwavering support. Our Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council shareholders not only invested in the program but also played a vital role in its delivery. My sincere thanks to them for their partnership and commitment.
Our First Nations program was a highlight, with Baleen Moodjan on the river, Skylore — Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale in the skies, and many powerful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works presented across communities and stages. Our Indigenous Advisory Group ensured our venues were culturally safe, and our program followed appropriate protocols. I particularly thank Aunty Bridget Garay for her leadership as IAG Chair, and all IAG members for their dedication and guidance.
Our Philanthropy program continues to exceed expectations. The generosity and advocacy of our donors is invaluable, and I warmly thank Justice Thomas Bradley and the Giving Committee for their outstanding contribution.
Our corporate partners also remain central to our success. Alongside our long-standing partners such as Australian Retirement Trust, Channel 9, and Brisbane Airport Corporation, we were delighted to welcome ANZ, QIC, Ray White Queensland, and Perpetual to the Festival family this year.
Over the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside my colleague and friend Louise Bezzina. Brisbane Festival has grown significantly thanks to her care, vision, and leadership. I thank Lou for all she has contributed and wish her every success in the future.
Finally, I’m thrilled to welcome Ebony Bott as our incoming Artistic Director. I look forward to supporting her vision and the new creative chapters we will bring to life together at Brisbane Festival in 2026 and beyond.
CHARLIE CUSH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
14
2 MILLION+ TOTAL AUDIENCE
AUSTRALIA'S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
$7.7 MILLION
112
4 GROSS BOX OFFICE
QUEENSLAND PRODUCTIONS
1,299 PERFORMANCES GIVEN
92
PERFORMANCES
234 WORLD PREMIERES
27 NEW WORKS AUSTRALIAN PREMIERES
690
62 FREE PERFORMANCES FREE WORKSHOPS IN NEIGHBOURHOOD AND COMMUNITY CENTRES SOLD OUT
2,636
TOTAL ARTISTS QUEENSLAND ARTISTS
1,801 FIRST NATIONS ARTISTS
$2,887,182
RECORD PHILANTHROPIC INCOME
139
VOLUNTEERS
41%
259
DONATIONS
59
FESTIVAL PARTNERS
221.7 MILLION
MEDIA REACH
UPLIFT IN KANGAROO POINT BRIDGE DAILY TRAFFIC DUE TO THE UNMISSABLE ANZ'S WALK THIS WAY BY CRAIG & KARL.
BY AUSTRALIAN RETIREMENT TRUST #1
398,000
CHANNEL 9’S TOTAL TV REACH (BROADCAST & BVOD)
550,000
WATCHED PROGRAM OF THE NIGHT
IN-PERSON ATTENDEES
ALONG BRISBANE'S RIVER BANKS, BRIDGES, BARGES, AND CITY ROOFTOPS
Brisbane Festival 2025
Brisbane Festival 2025 was the year the city became a stage — and what a stage it was. Streets, bridges, riverbanks, parks, and theatres came alive with performance, story, and spectacle. Art spilled from traditional venues into the streets of the city itself, transforming Brisbane into a living, breathing theatre where everyone — artists, audiences, and communities — played a part.
City Spectacles turned the everyday into the extraordinary. ANZ’s Walk This Way by Craig & Karl stretched across three city-centre bridges, draping the city in colour and inflatable forms and extending into more than seventy-five pieces across the full Craig & Karl: Public Art Trail. Baleen Moondjan rose from the river atop a barge of towering whale bones, a breathtaking celebration of First Nations storytelling. Skylore: Nieergoo Spirit of the Whale painted the night sky with 500 drones, while Afterglow filled the City Botanic Gardens with fire and light. In 2025, Brisbane itself became the set, backdrop, and performer all at once.
The Dancing City pulsed with bold energy. Benjamin Millepied’s with contemporary ballet at the highest level, while Bad Nature fused five international companies into a celebration of movement, design, and sound. The Chronicles woke us up by striking at our souls, Elements of Freestyle reimagined urban and extreme arts, and Preparing Ground culminated years of meticulous research. Together, these works transformed Brisbane into a city that moved — bold, fearless, and alive with extraordinary dance.
The Storytellers brought narrative to life.
humour and poignancy on a life fully lived, Back to Bilo shone a light on the power of community and the resilience at the heart of an unforgettable Australian story, while The Lovers turned up the volume on joy — a glittering, pop-fuelled celebration of love, laughter, and pure theatrical magic.
music lovers a series of concerts to remember, and 100 Guitars transformed Brisbane Powerhouse into a communal crescendo. Music reverberated through streets, parks, and hearts alike.
A Festival for You ensured everyone could join the performance. Free events, neighbourhood centre workshops, Brisbane Serenades, parkland gatherings, and interactive arts exhibits invited communities to see themselves as the main character on the stage of their own city.
by Brizzy Pix
In 2025, Brisbane Festival proved that when a city becomes a stage, imagination has no limits. Every corner, every bridge, every river bend became a place of wonder, joy, and connection — a city performing, celebrating, and shining for all.
Image
City Spectacles
Homegrown heroes and masters of colour Craig & Karl returned to Brisbane to unveil their most ambitious project yet.
In a vibrant city-wide transformation, the duo reimagined iconic Brisbane landmarks and walking bridges with their signature pop art sensibility — a joyful collision of pattern, form, and vivid colour.
Their striking centrepiece, ANZ’s Walk This Way by , brought major art installations to life across the Neville Bonner Bridge, Goodwill Bridge, and the new Kangaroo Point Bridge — immersing more than 750,000 people in a kaleidoscope of creativity, as the Kangaroo Point Bridge alone recorded a remarkable 41% uplift in daily traffic.
Craig & Karl came of age in 1980s Australia, surrounded by bold graphics, bright palettes, and unapologetically lurid colour. Their creative partnership began at Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art and Design, where contrasting perspectives and kindred imaginations sparked a lifelong collaboration. Now based in New York and London, one of Queensland’s most internationally acclaimed creative duos returned home to set the scene for Brisbane Festival 2025.
Image by JD Lin
Craig & Karl: Public Art Trail
Craig & Karl’s bold visual language extended through the city with the Craig & Karl: Public Art Trail, engaging an estimated 250,000 people with major new works across 23 locations. The trail spanned Brisbane Airport, Brisbane Powerhouse, Brisbane Quarter, Fish Lane Arts Precinct, Griffith University’s Brisbane CBD Campus and Queensland Conservatorium, South Bank Cultural Forecourt, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Westfield Chermside, and throughout Brisbane’s CBD as part of Brisbane City Council’s Outdoor Gallery exhibition Rear Vision
Art and design lovers explored the city-wide spectacle via the Craig & Karl: Public Art Trail app or joined Brisbane Festival’s free guided walking tours. Across 28 tours, 310 participants gained exclusive insights from the artists, tracing their evolution from emerging local talents to global design superstars.
Image by
Georgia Haupt
“... a show that fills the soul and will linger in memory long after the final moment."
– Hush Hush Biz
“... achingly beautiful ..."
– InDaily Queensland
City Spectacles
Baleen Moondjan
Set within a cathedral of towering whale bones rising from a barge on the Brisbane River, Baleen Moondjan proved that even the river itself can anchor a stage. Directed and co-written by Stephen Page — his first major commission since leaving Bangarra Dance Theatre — this breathtaking work was a powerful celebration of First Nations storytelling and artistry. Audiences filled the specially built grandstand on The Landing at Queen’s Wharf, while others gathered on the Neville Bonner Bridge, at The Star, and along the riverbanks. Even a flotilla of boaties drifted nearby for a prime view.
Playing to sold-out audiences, Baleen Moondjan was both a landmark achievement and a technical and artistic triumph. The striking set, designed by Daly River man Jacob Nash, floated on a 50-metre-long, 200-tonne barge featuring 39 monumental whale bones — some soaring nine metres high — and 44-gallon drums releasing billows of eucalyptus smoke.
In a year when Brisbane truly became a stage, Baleen Moondjan stood as a defining example of a city of the future — where art, culture, and community transform public spaces into shared experiences. As Brisbane looks toward the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, works like Baleen Moondjan offer a glimpse of the city’s potential to tell stories on a global stage — stories grounded in Country, Culture, and connection.
Brisbane Festival extended this vision through the First Nations Capacity Building Panel, where Stephen Page, Katina Olsen, Ben Graetz, and Bradley Chatfield explored storytelling across mediums, celebrated its strength and diversity, and fostered capacity-building within the local community and arts sector — creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing, mentorship, and professional growth.
Images by Morgan Roberts
City Spectacles
“I didn’t realise how much I needed Afterglow until I was standing there, surrounded by firelight, nature, and stillness."
– Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane
Afterglow
Afterglow transformed the City Botanic Gardens into a glowing wonderland of fire sculptures and candlelit artworks, drawing school holiday crowds to capacity. Visitors enjoyed date nights, family outings, and group adventures as they explored the trail, roasted marshmallows, and savoured delicious offerings from local food trucks.
Audiences immersed themselves in the warm ambience, witnessing live fire performances and sculptures created by both international and local artists. The experience also featured a story by Traditional Owner and storyteller Yuggera and Toorabul man Shannon Ruska, with sound composition by Guy Webster. Community members were invited to take part by crafting their own lanterns in a hands-on workshop with artist Sam Harrison, or by following step-by-step video instructions.
Cultural Forecourt Festival Club
The Cultural Forecourt was a vibrant Brisbane Festival intersection, where performance and activation spaces met Craig & Karl installations. It featured a Craig & Karl open design studio, where budding designers could join workshops and contribute to a communal colouring wall, alongside a Festival merch and information container and sponsor activations from ANZ, Airbnb, Volvo, and Ray White.
Across the Festival, the Cultural Forecourt welcomed 51 artists, hosted 20 workshops, five live performances, and the hugely popular Run event — a fun, social morning blending fitness, art, and music — attracting a site-wide audience of 45,000.
In the heart of Brisbane’s Cultural Centre at QPAC’s Melbourne Street Green, Festival Club was the ultimate late-night hangout, where artists and arts lovers came together to celebrate this Brisbane Festival.
Across 18 nights, Festival Club hosted live music, a vibrant food and drink scene, and a line-up of high-energy after-dark entertainment. Featuring BADASSMUTHA, The Great Debate, The Huxleys, Quivr DJs, PIGSUIT, and more, 112 artists performed over 100 sets to an audience of 4,500 — opening the door to the wonder of Festival.
Image by Geoff Lawrence
Image supplied by artist
Image by Georgia Haupt
Brisbane once again exploded with colour with the spectacular Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust.
For the first time ever, this year’s display featured three pyrotechnic drones, which launched nearly 600 effects alongside the thousands of fireworks fired from bridges, rooftops, and barges.
The live broadcast of the event by Channel Nine was the No.1 program of the night in Brisbane, achieving a new viewership record of 398,000 viewers. A further 550,000 people watched the display in Festival managed locations around the river.
Skylore — Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale
Since its inception in 2023, Skylore has quickly become a staple of the Brisbane Festival calendar.
This year, the much-loved and newly redesigned Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale returned with an additional 100 drones — 500 in total — and was enjoyed from both the The Landing at Queen’s Wharf and South Bank.
Traditional Owner, Yuggera and Toorabul man Shannon Ruska, and Tribal Experiences once again brought this powerful story to life, accompanied by an original composition from Guy Webster. More than 110,000 attendees experienced the dazzling performance from viewing areas across Queen’s Wharf, the Neville Bonner Bridge, and South Bank. The introduction of the ticketed River’s Edge grandstand at The Landing proved an enormous success, with both nights selling out.
Image by JD Lin
Image by Morgan Roberts
Image by JD Lin
"Flawless work... constantly — delightfully — surprising
The Guardian
The Dancing City
Gems by L.A. Dance Project
Gems, performed by L.A. Dance Project under the direction of Benjamin Millepied, was a dazzling centrepiece of Brisbane Festival 2025. This landmark World Premiere marked the first full staging of Millepied’s evening-length trilogy, co-commissioned with Van Cleef & Arpels, and reimagined Balanchine’s Jewels for the 21st century.
Blending classical ballet precision with contemporary movement, visual art, and live music performed by Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra and Yanfeng (Tony) Bai from Trio Azura, Gems shimmered with elegance and innovation. It was a meeting of worlds, where timeless form met modern expression, and Brisbane audiences were invited into a rare and radiant conversation between dance, design, and sound.
Beyond its breathtaking artistry, Gems symbolised the connection between Brisbane and Los Angeles — two future Olympic cities — and between artists and audiences, united through beauty, emotion, and craft. It shone as a defining moment of Brisbane Festival 2025, a dazzling fusion of international artistry and local opportunity, illuminating the Festival’s commitment to bringing the world’s most inspiring work to Brisbane while nurturing Queensland’s creative community.
“It’s not every day Brisbane plays host to a world premiere of this calibre.”
– Stage Buzz
Nurturing Queensland’s Dance Future
Alongside the premiere, L.A. Dance Project delivered two professional development masterclasses, engaging 53 Queensland-based dancers, including 10 regional participants from Townsville, Mackay, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast.
Led by Sébastien Marcovici and Audrey Sides, dancers explored Balanchine-style technique and repertoire from Hearts and Arrows, gaining firsthand insight from one of the world’s most exciting contemporary companies.
Importantly, the program provided rare opportunities for regional artists across Queensland, offering access to international leaders in the field from Queensland Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre, Australasian Dance Collective, Dancenorth, and Stephanie Lake Company. The experience culminated with complimentary tickets to Gems, a post-show Q&A with national company directors, and a networking event connecting local dancers with their L.A. Dance Project counterparts.
“It is rare to connect with internationally renowned artists like L.A. Dance Project without
leaving your home state. Thank you to Brisbane Festival for enabling this opportunity.”
– Participant
Image by Jade Ellis
Image by Rose Eitchenbaum
Image by Joanna Borgiel
The Dancing City
“Richly imaginative — beautiful, bold, adventurous and intriguing — superbly executed.”
– InDaily Queensland
Bad Nature
Bad Nature, co-created by Australasian Dance Collective and the Netherlands’ Club Guy & Roni, was a landmark World Premiere at Brisbane Festival 2025. More than a dance work, it was a breathtaking collision of disciplines: twelve dancers in dialogue with live music from percussionists HIIIT, kinetic stage environments by Boris Acket, and striking costume design by Maison the Faux.
The performance interrogated humanity’s volatile relationship with nature in a world mediated by technology. Audiences were immersed in a shifting landscape of light, sound, and movement — where beauty and chaos, fragility and resilience collided — creating a multi-sensory experience as disorienting as it was exhilarating.
This visceral 60-minute journey — fragile yet fierce, apocalyptic yet hopeful — captivated Brisbane audiences and will now tour 35 venues across the Netherlands, cementing its status as a work of global ambition and scale.
“…hard to believe this extremely technical show could have been better. Bravo all.”
– Deborah Jones
by
Images
David Kelly
“Outgoing
Brisbane Festival artistic director Louise Bezzina worked hard for a few years to bring Elements of Freestyle to the festival, so it’s a wonderful gift for her and audiences that her efforts have come to fruition.”
– InDaily Queensland
Elements of Freestyle
Over 2,000 patrons filled the Powerhouse Theatre with cheers, gasps, and applause as 12 multi-award-winning athletes performed breathtaking tricks in the urban arts spectacle that is Elements of Freestyle.
The Netherlands’ ISH Dance Collective showcased world-class skill across breakdance, inline skating, skateboarding, freestyle basketball, BMX, and freerunning, with each discipline seamlessly brought together by director Marco Gerris (So You Think You Can Dance). Families packed the sold-out performances, with the enthusiastic cheers of younger audience members nearly constant throughout.
The Chronicles
A box office smash success, Stephanie Lake Company’s
The Chronicles transfixed audiences with an ensemble of 12 performers, a 30-strong children’s choir (Voices of Birralee), soloist Oliver Mann, and a brilliant score composed by Robin Fox. Lake’s choreography — her blend of explosive dynamism and poetic introspection — navigated the cycles of life with tenderness and power. Over 1,000 audience members enjoyed this work at the Thomas Dixon Centre, with glowing reviews from critics and patrons alike.
Preparing Ground
Audiences were moved by this urgent act for our shared future, created by Marilyn Miller (Kukuyalanji and Waanyi), Jasmin Sheppard (Tagalaka and Kurtitjar), and Katina Olsen (Wakka Wakka and Kombumerri). Developed over six years in close collaboration with the performers’ communities on their Countries, Preparing Ground embodies First Nations storytelling, Sovereignty, and the profound meaning of belonging to a land that remembers. Over 60 minutes, the work shifts between past and present, tradition and disruption, inviting audiences to listen, witness, and remember.
Image by Alex Brenner
Image by Nikita Pere
Image by Daniel Boud
The Storytellers
GATSBY at The Green Light
A
venue transformed, and audiences inspired.
After a quieter spell, the Twelfth Night Theatre was ready for its next act. When Gail Wiltshire took the reins in the late 1980s, the stage lights flickered back to life, and the spirit of revelry returned. Building on its bold and progressive legacy, the theatre was given a glamorous refresh — upgraded facilities, specialised rigging, and reimagined cabaret-style seating have transformed it into Brisbane’s hottest playground for live performance.
The Twelfth Night Theatre became the talk of Brisbane as Caper & Crow’s GATSBY at The Green delighted hedonistic audiences who couldn’t get enough of its eclectic performances, igniting a fevered party atmosphere through which “the art of escapism – blazed through with intoxicating Stage Whispers).
A dynamic ensemble of synchronised waitstaff kept the energy high as key characters raised the stakes with exquisite aerials performed on bespoke apparatus, all framed by Renier Jansen van Vuuren’s jaw-dropping set design.
Daniela Del Mar’s breathtaking hair-hanging act left jaws on the floor, while Maître d’ Bettie Bombshell’s fire-eating striptease set pulses racing. Add in Florian Vandemeulebroucke’s playful juggling and a sultry aerial pas de deux reimagining Gatsby and Daisy’s doomed romance, and the result was pure cabaret alchemy.
Part speakeasy, part fever dream, GATSBY at The Green Light marked the perfect debut for Twelfth Night’s new era — glittering, cheeky, and utterly irresistible. A roaring success.
Images by Morgan Roberts
½ – Brisbane Times
“a pop-fuelled triumph that proves Australian theatre can shine just as brightly as Broadway or the West End."
– The Scoop
The Lovers
Shake & Stir Theatre Company’s The Lovers was a standout hit of Brisbane Festival 2025, bringing Shakespeare into the 21st century with a dazzling pop score, electrifying performances, and a playful, irreverent energy that had audiences on their feet. Laura Murphy’s original music, lyrics, and orchestrations gave the classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream a bold, modern heartbeat, while Nick Skubij’s direction and Yvette Lee’s choreography turned QPAC’s Playhouse into a whirlwind of colour, movement, and “the joys and chaos of young love” (Nothing Ever Happens In Brisbane).
Focusing on the four central lovers and the mischievous machinations of Oberon and Puck, the show distilled Shakespeare’s chaos into a highenergy, accessible story, blending heart, humour, and magic. The cast’s charm and vocal power ensured every twist and amorous turn landed with technicoloured delight. Striking design, video, and lighting amplified the experience, creating a popfantasy spectacle full of the best kind of neo-pop earworms.
The Lovers didn’t just entertain; it elevated the form. A contemporary Australian musical, conceived, written, and staged with confidence and ambition, it captured hearts across generations and left audiences buzzing. This was festival theatre at its most joyful: bold, celebratory, and impossible not to fall in love with.
“Mark my words: this is Australia’s next big musical.”
– The Courier-Mail
Images supplied by Company
The Storytellers
“the remarkable story of the Nadesalingams and Biloela makes for compelling theatre."
– The Guardian
Back to Bilo
Selling out its season at Queensland Theatre’s Bille Brown Theatre, Back to Bilo made a powerful emotional impact at Brisbane Festival 2025.
The play tells the true story of Priya and Nades, a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee family living in the Queensland town of Biloela, and the extraordinary grassroots campaign by local women to bring them home after their detention. It is a story of resilience, community, and the power of people coming together.
by Morgan
This verbatim theatre work combined live performance with multimedia elements to create an immersive experience that brought both the family’s ordeal and the wider community response to life. Audiences were drawn into moments of tenderness, humour, and tension, and participatory elements, such as a candlelit vigil, created a sense of shared presence and urgency.
A distinctly Queensland story on a major festival stage, Back to Bilo highlighted the Festival’s commitment to local voices and contemporary social issues, showing how theatre can foster empathy, spark conversation, and give national visibility to stories of courage and human connection. It was a timely reminder of the difference storytelling can make — and why some stories need to be heard, seen, and remembered.
“The
Festival’s outgoing Artistic Director, Louise Bezzina, can be proud that this production is part of her creative legacy."
– Stage Whispers
Images
Roberts
A Place in the Sultan’s
Kitchen (or How to Make the Perfect One Pot Chicken Curry)
Merrigong Theatre Company’s A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen (or How to Make the Perfect One Pot Chicken Curry) captured the hearts — and taste buds — of Brisbane Festival audiences.
A collection of stories from the family of Joshua Hinton, the work explored the journey of finding belonging and understanding of oneself, all centred around Josh’s grandmother’s chicken curry recipe — prepared live on stage. Following the performance, audience members were invited to dine in the Cremorne Theatre Foyer and share stories of their own family histories over a serving of Mehmeh’s Chicken Curry.
“It’s theatre at its most nourishing — almost ‘eat, love, pray’ on stage — a work that honours heritage, family, and the search for belonging.”
– Hush Hush Biz
Back to Bilo
Milestone
William Yang is a trailblazing photographer and performance artist. Drawing on his vast collection of documentary photographs and poignant personal reminiscences, Yang wove together themes of family, cultural, and sexual identity in Milestone. The personal yet deeply resonant journey was set against Elena Kats-Chernin’s haunting score, performed live by Camerata – Queensland's Chamber Orchestra.
The one-night-only event was deeply moving, with those in attendance giving the production a well-deserved standing ovation. Audiences laughed, cried, applauded, and learned about the extraordinary life of one of Australia’s most revered visual artists.
“It’s wonderful to see Brisbane Festival promoting diverse voices and important stories, especially from an awardwinning artist like William Yang."
–
The Scoop
Image by Victor Frankowski
Image by Finnian Mullen
The Music City
Tivoli in the Round
Back by popular demand and bigger than ever, Tivoli in the Round returned to Brisbane Festival for the first time since 2019, delivering audiences and artists an unparalleled surround sound experience.
For a limited run of performances, one of Brisbane’s most iconic venues reinvented the concert format with a 360° stage beneath a brand-new halo, placing the audience at the very heart of the music.
Raw, electric, and unfiltered, this immersive experience drew capacity crowds and showcased a diverse lineup spanning electronic, blues, and alternative. Odd Mob, Franck, C.W. Stoneking, Phantastic Ferniture, and Mallrat each blurred the boundaries between audience and performer in an intimate and unforgettable setting.
Amplified: The Exquisite
Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett
A live-wire journey through the words and music of the Divinyls’ Chrissy Amphlett, the rebel-queen of Australian rock.
Chrissy was a seismic force — her raw talent, audacious energy, and fearless blend of sexuality and vulnerability defined a generation. As front woman for the Divinyls, she shattered a male-dominated scene, taking the band from pub floors to the top of the charts.
Beloved actor and writer Sheridan Harbridge (Prima Facie) fronted the band in an electrifying cabaret that channelled Chrissy's fierce spirit through personal narratives, anecdotes and songs. Co-created with multi-award-winning director Sarah Goodes (Julia), Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett took audiences on a kaleidoscopic tour through the eyes of fans and those who knew Chrissy — and into the heart of an artist well ahead of her time.
Image by Sakina Indrasumunar
Image by Jade Ellis
100 Guitars
100 Guitars was a breathtaking sonic experience — a powerful, site-specific performance at Brisbane Powerhouse featuring 100 electric guitarists from communities across Brisbane. Composed by Canadian guitarist Tim Brady, the work unfolded over three performances, drawing 2,250 audience members who were encouraged to move throughout the Turbine Platform and Levels 1, 2 and 3 to experience the music from shifting perspectives.
In the lead-up to the event, contemporary ensemble Topology led 19 free workshops for 148 participants, helping them learn the piece together and engaging communities from Kurilpa Kiosk, Picabeen Community Centre, and Yeronga Community Centre.
“It was an awesome time for all involved to have such a fantastic opportunity with such immensely lovely people. Can't thank you enough." – Participant
Community Choir: The Musical
Community Choir: The Musical, written by Emma Dean and directed by Belinda Raisin, was a heartwarming and hilarious Brisbane tale performed by local community members. The story follows a quirky choir accidentally invited to Sydney’s prestigious National Choral Competition, blending humour, drama, and original music in a toe-tapping celebration of unity and self-discovery.
Performed by a cast that was 95% non-professional, the performance also included a flash mob made up of Community Centre participants from Benarrawa Community Development Association and Zillmere Community Centre workshops, led by Cheep Trill. 193 participants, totalling 229 artists, performed to an audience of 1,200 in one of the feel-good moments of the 2025 Festival.
Image by Barbara Lowing
Images by Lewis James Media
A Festival For You
Pasifika Made
Returning in 2025 as part of Brisbane Serenades, Pasifika Made transformed its new surrounds at Brisbane Powerhouse into a living arts and cultural village, bringing together artists and communities from across the diaspora and the Moana. Across the vibrant one-day program of arts, culture, and ceremony, 91 artists performed to an excited crowd of more than 6,000 attendees.
Pasifika Made featured 24 free live performances, 10 cultural activities, 4 workshops, 2 exhibitions, 1 talk, and 3 First Nations–engaged activities, as Pacific artists and communities from across the region and beyond gathered to share ancestral knowledge, contemporary practice, and unapologetic cultural expression.
Pasifika Made honours the past, celebrates the present, and forges future pathways through Pacific cultural and contemporary arts — a space where artists and communities meet and lead with pride and unapologetic presence.
Images by Nikita Pere
Moorooka
Block Party
Back for its fourth year, Moorooka Block Party once again ignited the Brisbane Serenades program with an electrifying celebration of culture, music, and community. A masala of music and dance from across the globe, this crowd-favourite event showcased an extraordinary line-up of Australia’s finest contemporary and globally influenced artists, alongside captivating dance performances that highlight the rich diversity and creativity of our shared heritage.
The cornerstone of the Brisbane Serenades program saw 47 artists perform across 7 live performances to an audience of 6,000, in the ultimate display of community spirit.
Introducing Moorooka Feast
More than a music festival, Moorooka Block Party debuted Moorooka Feast — a vibrant cultural celebration for all the senses. The sold-out event brought together 70 food lovers, who were spoilt for choice with an array of global culinary delights, offering a delicious journey through flavours from around the world — all crafted with love by the Brisbane Festival friends at the Sultan’s Kitchen.
St Lucia Serenades
The Great First Nations Songbook, led by Quandamooka crooner Adam James and The Dreamtime Swing, headlined the free, all-ages St Lucia Serenades, featuring an incredible line-up of musical talent that included performances from Western Gugu Yalanji and Birrigubba songman Jungaji (featuring Topology) and 16-year-old singer-songwriter Layla Havana. Establishing itself as another cornerstone of the Brisbane Serenades program, hundreds of attendees descended on The University of Queensland's scenic Dr Mary Mahoney AO Amphitheatre for an afternoon of First Nations music, dancing, and sunshine with friends and family.
Image by Jade Ferguson, Visual Poets Society
Images by Nikita Pere
Image by Nikita Pere
A Festival For You
Neighbourhood Centres
9 neighbourhood centres.
62 free workshops.
725 participations.
29 artists.
In 2025, the Brisbane Festival Neighbourhood Centres program once again embodied its ethos that art is for everyone — making the arts accessible to as many Brisbanites as possible. The program collaborated with local artists and neighbourhood centres across the length and breadth of Brisbane, bringing music and songwriting to the suburbs and dance to the districts.
Now in its fifth year, and with the support of the Queensland Government, Brisbane Festival continued to break down barriers and provide communities with opportunities to access and participate in authentic and meaningful arts experiences.
PERFORMATIVE OUTCOMES
CHEEP TRILL WORKSHOPS
Community Choir
The Musical flash mob
TOPOLOGY WORKSHOPS
100 Guitars
JUNGAJI WORKSHOPS
7 recorded songs
SAM HARRISON WORKSHOPS
Permanent art installation
BRING A PLATE
Mini Serenades festival
Neighbourhood centres play a vital role in connecting communities through creativity, offering welcoming spaces for engagement and expression. In 2025, Brisbane Festival partnered with Bracken Ridge Library, Hub Neighbourhood Centre Inala, Kurilpa Kiosk at the People’s Park, Sherwood Uniting Church, Mount Gravatt, Picabeen, Sherwood, Yeronga, and Zillmere Community Centres to deliver workshops led by exceptional local artists including Cheep Trill, Jungaji, Topology, Sam Harrison, and Bring a Plate. These creative sessions spanned choir, singing and songwriting, visual arts, and dance.
Images supplied by Neighbourhood Centres
Undercover Artist Festival
Brisbane Festival was proud to once again partner with Undercover Artist Festival, a dynamic and ambitious celebration of inclusive performance under the direction of Artistic Director, Madeleine Little. From 22–27 September, this fast-growing festival continued its rise, showcasing the extraordinary creativity and artistry of d/Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent performers.
Highlights included Wired Differently by Screech Arts and Zen Zen Zo, a high-energy 60-minute performance that mixed dance, physical theatre, and humour to explore what it means to think, move, and live differently. Audiences cheered every performer’s honesty and joy, with each story resonating with warmth, humour, and heart.
Alisha McLennan Marler’s White Noise was a standout, immersive work blending dance, circus, voice, animation, and a pulsating soundscape to communicate the lived experience of disability and the challenge of being heard. Other highlights, like The Travelling Rose Theatre’s Daydreamer, took audiences on a deep dive into living with epilepsy — a vital example of powerful ensemble storytelling.
Across all works, audiences and critics alike praised the festival’s inclusivity, artistry, and impact. Undercover Artist Festival is more than a program — it is a vital platform, a celebration of difference, and a clear signal of commitment to presenting ambitious, transformative work that pushes boundaries and inspires communities.
by
Image
Cinnamon Smith
Image by Cinnamon Smith
Image by Jade Ellis
Australian Retirement Trust (ART) ANZ
Returning in 2025 as a Platinum Partner of Brisbane Festival and presenting partner of Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, ART once again united with the Festival’s most iconic and widely attended event.
Drawing hundreds of thousands both in person and via Channel 9’s live broadcast, Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust offered ART the opportunity to connect with Queenslanders through joy, spectacle, and shared experience.
Central to the partnership was ART’s giant blue super monster and Riverfire’s new mascot, Artie, who featured across campaign and digital platforms, leading the ‘Where to Watch Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust’ guide and ‘Artie’s Festival Favourites’. Artie also appeared at the Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust media call and the Channel 9 ‘Monster Seats’ activation at Howard Smith Wharves, engaging families and audiences of all ages.
A multi-channel campaign across out-ofhome, digital, TV, and radio reinforced ART’s involvement with Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, strengthening its connection with the community and celebrating one of Brisbane’s most cherished events.
In the second year of this dynamic partnership, ANZ combined bold design and immersive storytelling at Brisbane Festival 2025. The centrepiece, ANZ’s Walk This Way by Craig & Karl, transformed Brisbane’s pedestrian bridges into vibrant large-scale artworks. Complementing the installation, themed wayfinding towers guided audiences through Festival precincts, seamlessly connecting art and city.
At South Bank Cultural Forecourt, ANZ’s House of Falcons activation brought the bank’s power of personalised customer protection to life. This family-first, digital art experience enabled Festival-goers to create their personalised falcons using ANZ Falcon®Lens technology. Blending fun, innovation, and community engagement.
A strong multi-channel campaign amplified ANZ’s presence across out-of-home, digital and social media, while exclusive eDM offers rewarded ANZ customers with special show deals.
Through bold creativity, interactive experiences and a strong sense of place, ANZ’s 2025 partnership elevated the Festival atmosphere and strengthened its connection with audiences in memorable, meaningful ways.
Image by Georgia Haupt
Fitstop Queen’s Wharf Brisbane (QWB)
Brisbane laced up their sneakers this year for Fitstop’s first-ever Run the River, a 6km fun run turned morning rave. Held across two weekends at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt, the event kicked off at 8am with a live DJ set that powered participants through the course in true Festival style.
The functional fitness brand brought together hundreds of participants for a vibrant, high-energy celebration of movement and community. Post-run festivities at the Forecourt kept the rhythm alive with freestyle dance, mini fitness challenges, cold brew coffee, hydration stations, and plenty of giveaways.
Run the River by Fitstop became one of the Festival’s most shared highlights, generating a wave of social media buzz, national PR coverage, including a live cross on Channel Nine’s Today Show, and strong engagement from both dedicated members and new audiences.
The activation not only boosted brand presence but also introduced a fresh, energetic way for audiences to experience Brisbane Festival, embodying Fitstop’s passion for wellbeing, connection, and fun.
Returning Platinum Partner Queen’s Wharf Brisbane (QWB) delivered a series of bold activations for Brisbane Festival, positioning The Landing as a vibrant hub of entertainment and Festival energy.
At the heart of the collaboration was The Star Brisbane's "BEST SEATS EATS BEATS" campaign to drive engagement with the precinct-wide experience combining hospitality, live music, and dynamic visual projections. A custom-built barge and seating bank on the Brisbane River hosted headline Festival productions, including Baleen Moondjan and Skylore — Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, offering audiences intimate perspective of blockbuster large-scale Festival spectacles including Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust.
QWB also delivered the official VIP Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust event on Sky Deck, treating guests to exclusive views of the RAAF flyover and Foti fireworks. Integrating vibrant Craig & Karl projections and curated offers across The Star’s venues, QWB showcased the power of placemaking through connection, creativity, and community.
Image by Georgia Haupt
Image by Morgan Roberts
Giving Program
Now in its tenth year, the Giving Program emphatically highlights community connection, collective generosity, ambition, and innovation, delivering meaningful impact and tangible outcomes for Brisbane Festival artists and audiences.
Artistic Director Louise Bezzina’s final Brisbane Festival was a triumph of bold vision, fearless creativity, and a city alive with possibility. Brisbane Festival 2025 invited audiences to experience art at every scale, from free public activations to ambitious theatre, dance, and visual arts projects, and our devoted donors once again played a pivotal role in bringing this extraordinary program to life.
We celebrated a milestone ten years of the Giving Program, with over $11 million raised for Brisbane Festival during the past decade. The Giving Program delivered a new record philanthropic income for the 10th year straight. In 2025, 278 generous donations contributed $2.88 million, representing a 23% increase on 2024 giving. This remarkable support enabled 29 projects to flourish, from major highlights such as ANZ’s Walk This Way by Craig & Karl, the Craig & Karl: Public Art Trail, GATSBY at The Green Light, Gems, Bad Nature, Baleen Moondjan, and Elements of Freestyle, to countless other performances, exhibitions, and activations that transformed Brisbane into a stage.
The Giving Committee again blazed a trail by leading our end-of-financial-year fundraising campaign. Members matched all donations during this time dollar for dollar, doubling the impact of donors’ gifts and creating an extraordinary impact, together contributing just over $1 million. Giving Circles continue to grow in significance, with Ian and Cass George’s Gems Syndicate, the 24kWealth Gatsby Syndicate, and Next Gen Syndicate raising $460,710, collectively demonstrating the power of collaborative philanthropy to support important artistic outcomes.
Welcoming new donors to the Giving Program was a highlight this year, and we are deeply grateful to returning supporters who are deeply dedicated to investing in the Festival’s ambition and potential. The Brisbane Festival Next Gen Committee continues to make a meaningful impact, engaging and inspiring a new generation of philanthropists and ensuring a vibrant, sustainable future for for the Giving Program.
Image by Morgan Roberts
The Giving Program remains fundamental to Brisbane Festival’s mission: commissioning new works, fostering artistic ambition, and keeping experiences accessible to all. From ticketed productions to free events, donors ensure that Brisbane Festival continues to break barriers, ignite imaginations, and bring this city to life.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to our Giving Committee, Next Gen Committee, syndicate leaders, and every donor who has contributed to this exceptional year. Your generosity makes extraordinary things possible, and 2025 has been nothing short of phenomenal.
“Louise Bezzina was generous with her time, insights, and enthusiasm. Each year, we watched the festival grow, sharing its energy with donors and new fans — moments that inspired more giving. Over seven years, we’ve built something brighter than expected, gaining good friends and fond memories along the way.”
– Justice Thomas Bradley, Brisbane Festival Giving Committee Chair
“Brisbane Festival 2025 was another year of brilliance! Every show and every performance reinforced why we feel so committed to supporting the Festival and to spreading the word about how the arts sector makes Brisbane such a better place to live.”
– Russell Mann and Margot McLay, 24kWealth Gatsby Syndicate
Image by Nikita Pere
Image by Morgan Roberts
Image by Jade Ellis
Giving Program
Image by Claudia Baxter
Image by Morgan Roberts
Image by Morgan Roberts
Image by Morgan Roberts
Image by Morgan Roberts
Image by Morgan Roberts
The Giving Program supports areas of need within artistic programming, creating opportunities for local artists, commissioning new work and ensuring access for all through reduced-priced tickets and free events.
The generosity of Festival donors was crucial in delivering the following key programming this year.
100 Guitars
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC, and by Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation.
A Place in the Sultan's Kitchen (or How to Make the Perfect One-Pot Chicken Curry)
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation.
Afterglow
Amplified: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Siganto Foundation and Jodie Siganto.
ANZ's Walk This Way by Craig & Karl
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Shaun and Suzanne Kenny.
Bad Nature
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Wilson Foundation.
Baleen Moondjan
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC.
Camerata: Your Eternal Memories
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Philip Bacon AO.
Common People Dance Eisteddfod
Community Choir: The Musical
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation.
Craig & Karl: Public Art Trail
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Paul, Susan and Kate Taylor.
Elements of Freestyle
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC.
Festival Club at QPAC
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Paul, Susan and Kate Taylor.
GATSBY at The Green Light
This project was supported through the Giving Program by the 24kWealth Gatsby Syndicate.
Gems by L.A. Dance Project
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Ian and Cass George's Gems Syndicate and Haymans Electrical.
Manly Serenades
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical.
Migrating
Bird
Milestone
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Philip Bacon AO.
Moorooka Block Party
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation.
Moorooka Feast
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation.
Pasifika Made
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical.
Preparing Ground
Skylore — Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Philip Bacon AO.
St Lucia Serenades
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical.
The
Chronicles
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Liz Pidgeon and Graeme Wikman.
The Lovers
Trio Azura
This project was supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical.
Undercover Artist Festival
Giving Program
THANK YOU!
A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors for supporting Brisbane Festival 2025.
GAME CHANGERS
Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC
Haymans Electrical
Paul, Susan and Kate Taylor
Carolyn Vincent - Ubuntu Foundation
COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS
Philip Bacon AO
Ian and Cass George
Shaun and Suzanne Kenny
Wilson Foundation
FESTIVAL ADVOCATES
Liz Pidgeon and Graeme Wikman
HIGH COMMISSIONERS
Anonymous
Justice Thomas Bradley and Dr Matthew Yoong
Frazer Family Foundation
Gallus Partners
Simon and Prue George
Harding Philanthropy
John and Rhonda Hawkins
Cate Heyworth-Smith KC and Dr Ben Duke
Dr Susan and Andrew King - ASHER Capital
Simon and Nicole Morrison
Kevin and Laura Perkins
Ben and Fiona Poschelk
Shepherd Family Foundation
Siganto Foundation
Jodie Siganto
Courtney Talbot
Michele and Michael Taylor
CREATIVE CHAMPIONS
Anonymous x 2
Andrew Baker and Louisa Taliacos
Brett Clark AM and Maria Clark
John and Regina Cotter
Judith Cush
Michael Hodge
Kim Hodge
John and Holly Livingstone
Russell Mann and Margot McLay
Vicki and Tom McGuire
Ray White Collective
Phillip, Marisa and Bella Vecchio
Simon White and Chanelle Simpson
COMMISSIONERS
Antoinette Aquilina and Gary Hutchins
Louise Bezzina
Virginia Bishop
Sue Brown and Lisa Worner
Nicki and Alan Cadd
Andrew and Katrina Carrick
Kim and Luke Challenor
The Consultancy Bureau Pty Ltd
Marshall and Fabienne Cooke
Heidi and James Cooper
Sheryl Cornack
Louise and Robert Corrigan
Tim and Cheryl Courtice
Drs Ailbhe and Frank Cunningham
Charlie and Alicia Cush
Christine and Ted Dauber
Kate and Jamie Duffield
Tamara and Jack Fahy
Rhyll Gardner and Rusty Graham
Marian Gibney
Deidre P Grace
Amanda and Jeff Griffin
Dr Neal Harvey
Tai Harvey
Valmay Hill and Russell Mitchell
Drs Elizabeth Hodge and Daniel Hagley
Scott Hooper and Claire Hooper
Susan Learmonth and Bernard Curran
David Lyons
Libby Mackay
Annie and Stuart Macnaughton
Brendon Mann and Brendan Smith
Amanda Newbery
James and Prue Pateras
The Hon Anthe Philippides
Susan and Matthew Pople
Dare and Andrea Power
Liam and Sarah Prescott
Anna Reynolds and Ian O'Connor
Dr Kieran Rowe and Suzie Rowe
Penelope Slogrove
Alison Smith
Paul Spiro
Stack Family Foundation
The Hon Justice David Thomas and Jane Thomas
Jenny Usher and Peter Good
PJ Wolff and PJ Wolff
Tony and Linda Young
Sarah Zeljko
INDEPENDENTS
Anonymous Pema Bastin
Melissa Brown
Cathi Collier and Stephen Larosa
Ingrid Costello
Bertie Cush
Denis Cush
Tilly Cush
Harley and Prue Dalton
- Altor Capital Pty Ltd
Nick and Marie Dore
Sonia Bronwyn Klepp
Ashleigh Mansfield
Brisbane Tax Services Pty Ltd
- Olivia Michail
Sally Mitchell
Ross Molloy and Cath Nicholson
Naomi Murphy
Tim and Katie Pack
Lois Penney and Stuart Birkbeck
Janelle Rayner
Niki Schomberg
Andrea and Craig Templeman
Ewen and Tina Thompson
Georgia and Jamie Thomson
David and Judy Usher
Bruce and Jocelyn Wolfe
BFFS
Mike Adams
x 2
Beatty and Bree Byer
Fairbairn
Gass
Gass
Sarah and Elisa Hutson
Justice John Logan RFD
Xanthe Lowe-Brown
Dr Ashleigh Marshall Thomas McCarthy
Michael Morris
Edwina Piper
Margaret Stenson Susan Street AO Liz Ward
Neil and Delcey Waterer
Went
Zawilska
IAN AND CASS GEORGE’S GEMS SYNDICATE
Philip Bacon AO
Christine and Ted Dauber
Ian and Cass George
Simon and Prue George John and Rhonda Hawkins
Vicki and Tom McGuire
Kevin and Laura Perkins
Liz Pidgeon and Graeme Wikman
24KWEALTH GATSBY SYNDICATE
Cathi Collier and Stephen Larosa
Tim and Cheryl Courtice
Annie and Stuart Macnaughton
Russell Mann and Margot McLay
Sally Mitchell
Neil and Delcey Waterer
NEXT GEN SYNDICATE
Georgia Athanasellis
Saul Beatty and Bree Byer
Ethan Butler and Alissa Bermingham
Amy Clarke
Cosette Cooke
Maddisyn Dixon-Whiteburne
Helen Driscoll
Michael Fairbairn
Mary Hanlon
Renata Hasell
Sarah and Elisa Hutson
Joseph Kelly
Xanthe Lowe-Brown
Ashleigh Mansfield
Thomas McCarthy
Inge Mellor
Lois Penney and Stuart Birkbeck
Cory Scherer
Niki Schomberg
Charlotte Thomas Jolie Went
The Giving Program enables Brisbane Festival to deliver ambitious, large-scale artistic experiences while keeping them accessible to everyone. Through free events and affordable tickets, donors help remove barriers and empower artists to dream and create. Every dollar contributed to the Giving Program directly supports Brisbane Festival programming and the artistic vision that brings our city to life each year. If you would like to become involved with the Giving Program by making a donation to Brisbane Festival, please contact Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy Fabienne Cooke via philanthropy@brisbanefestival.com.au
Earned
INTERSTATE/ NATIONAL CLIPS
Media coverage by media type
8,364 TOTAL
5,014 TV
3,623
Social Media & Web
WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS
3,793,258
EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS
175,363 17% Increase
FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS
121,787
INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
68,511 12% Increase
TIKTOK FOLLOWERS
1,817 41 % increase (NEW CHANNEL STARTED IN 2023)
LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS 14,749 11% Increase
X (TWITTER) FOLLOWERS
168,265
FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS REACHED Marketing & Publicity
2,767 98% Increase
INFLUENCER SOCIAL
394 25% Increase RADIO
ONLINE & SOCIAL 1,752 PRINT
199 42% Increase
SYNDICATED ARTICLES
5,843
384,986 FOLLOWERS ACROSS ALL BRISFEST PLATFORMS
14,125,252 144% Increase
IMPRESSIONS ACROSS ALL CHANNELS
11,630,387 361% Increase
CRAIG & KARL
Festival is an initiative of the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council
Chermside
Festival Team
Louise Bezzina Artistic Director Charlie Cush Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors
Anna Reynolds Chair
Philip Bacon AO Deputy Chair
Kim Challenor
David Lyons
Simon Morrison
Amanda Newbery
Anna Palmer
Michelle Tuahine
Graeme Wikman
Indigenous Advisory Group
Aunty Raelene Rallah-Baker Yuggera, Birri, Girramay nations
Shannon Ruska Yuggera, Toorabul
Aunty Bridget Garay Kemer Kemer Meriam Nation
Ben Graetz
Malak Malak, Kungarakan, Muran Clan, and Torres Strait Islands
Danielle Ah Boo Samsep, Dhoeybaw, Maluligal, Kulkalgal
Luke Peacock
Samsep/Meriam
Sharnee Hegarty Gunggari, Wulkurukaba
Leadership Team
Michael Adams
Marketing and Communications Director
Fabienne Cooke Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy
Bella Ford Program Director
Claire Hooper
Chief Financial Officer/Company Secretary
Tim Pack Technical Director
Justine Robins
Administration
Anna Betcher
Clare Glassock
Development
Jared Cameron
Alan Jenner
Isabel Matthews
Lizzie Moore
Jess Simon
Jenny Usher
Vanessa Van Zyl
Finance
Lorelle Edwards
Olivia Michail
Administration Manager
Executive Assistant
Office Assistant
Development Coordinator
Event Manager
Development Administrator
Event Manager
Development Coordinator
Development Manager
Development Manager – Partnerships
Finance Assistant
Financial Accountant
Marketing and Communications
Lucy Andrews
James Armstrong
Grace Campbell
Rylee Gauld
Persephone Hitzke-Dean
Nadia Jade Okorn
Lucy Rayner-Toy
Valerie Smith
Mark Sutton
Kaylee Watson
Marketing Executive
Business Systems and Ticketing Manager
Marketing Assistant
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Ticketing Lead
Marketing Manager
Digital Content Lead
Ticketing Assistant
Brand and Content Manager
Content Specialist
Programming
Darcy Boyd
Feena Callinan
Tania Cervantes
Associate Producer
Associate Producer
Associate Producer
Sue-Anne Chapman Logistics Coordinator
Francesa Cross Creative Producer
Alexa Davyd-Whitrick Volunteers Assistant
Mayella Dewis-Koroi
Claire Dix
Lily Hayman
Creative Producer
Creative Producer
Associate Producer
Hannah Kelly Associate Producer
Laura McCabe Production Coordinator
Josh McIntosh Site Designer
Simon Mula
Creative Producer
Renee Place Education Consultant
Maddy Pollard Signage and Site Design Coordinator
Toby Saltwell Volunteers and Capacity Building Coordinator
Matt Seery
Sanja Simić
Creative Producer
Creative Producer
Adam Sleeman FOH Manager
Genevieve Trace Program Manager
Kate Usher Creative Producer
Arts Queensland Capacity Building Program
Henry Boote Assistant Project Coordinator
Mya Fulwood Technical Production Placement
Isabella Hall Site Design Assistant
Max Heers Assistant Project Coordinator
Dylan Kelly Head of Construction
Renee Russell Assistant Project Coordinator
Emma Tomlinson Assistant Project Coordinator
Anthony Walker Sound Design Assistant
Giving Committee
Justice Thomas Bradley Chair
Courtney Talbot Deputy Chair
Philip Bacon AO
Andrew Baker
Heidi Cooper
David Lyons
Anna Palmer
Ben Poschelk
Paul Taylor
Festival Agencies
Bigfish Brand & Website
Bolster Advertising
Commonstate Publicity
Dowling & Dowling Design Graphic Design
IER Research
Technical
Belinda Binnington WHS Manager
Kelsey Booth Technical Coordinator
Christophe Broadway Operations Manager
Jack Brownridge-Jones Technical Coordinator
Richard Clarke Production Manager
Charlie Graham Technical Coordinator
Blake Howson Technical Manager
Richard Middleditch Technical Manager
Kiara Smith Technical Coordinator
Liz Suess Technical Manager
Jess Summit Production Administrator
Jacob Wall Technical Manager
Jason Waide Technical Manager
Lois Zonnenberg Technical Coordinator
Next Gen Giving Committee
Ashleigh Mansfield Chair
Jack Gallagher Deputy Chair
Alissa Bermingham
Xanthe Lowe-Brown
Tom Peabody
Bianca Wylie
Phoebe Zavros
BRISBANE FESTIVAL
Festival House, L2, 381 Brunswick Street
PO Box 384, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006
brisbanefestival@brisbanefestival.com.au 07 3833 5400 brisbanefestival.com.au instagram.com/brisbanefestival facebook.com/brisbanefestival tiktok.com/@brisbanefestival