WHAT’S ON

Join us for a joyfully irreverent night of comedy, circus and rock music soaked in fabulously festive cheer.

Hosted by the world-renowned, multi-award-winning, circus and variety legend Mario: Queen of the Circus and featuring an array of his special friends. PERFECT EVENT FOR CHRISTMAS PARTIES! THU 16 – SAT 18 DECEMBER

Redland Performing Arts Centre, Auditorium

Tickets: $32–$35 via 3829 8131 or www.rpac.com.au

Booking fees: $5 by phone & $6 online per transaction LOOK forward to A Very Mario Christmas when Redland Performing Arts Centre presents a joyfully irreverent night of comedy, circus and rock music.

ARTISTS UNITE FOR EXHIBITION

THREE creative Brisbane artists are getting together to show their work at a pop-up gallery in Hamilton.

Lyn McClelland is a watercolourist and a member of the Queensland Watercolour Society. Most of her career has been spent on the Central Queensland coast where she is a known and respected artist. She moved to Brisbane in 2020.

Lyn has successfully participated in many exhibitions within Queensland, including one solo at the Mill Gallery, and is known for her vibrant and transparent home, a balcony or in the garden. Her paintings are mainly recent watercolours with some unframed mono prints, linocuts, and mixed media as well.

Hosted by the world-renowned, multi-award-winning, circus and variety legend Mario: Queen of the Circus, the variety show features awe-inspiring skills, ridiculous comedy and heart-warming connection, celebrating the power of live entertainment at its absolute best.

Mario is a master at enthusing and transforming audience, not only with his deep love of super-band Queen, but also with the array of special friends he introduces at his shows.

For this festive cabaret he will be joined by Helen Cassidy, Clint “Booff the clown” Bolster, Stephen “the hunk” Williams, Shannen “no bones” Jones, Abbey “super circus” Church and improvised musical-

paintings of coast, river boats and florals.

Kathy Lathouras is a Brisbane textile artist who makes beautiful felt creations. Her scarves are stunning and popular because of their texture and brilliant colours.

Hetty Doyle is a Brisbane artist who has been exhibiting her art for years and has a silver medal from plein air painting in Florence in 2002 in the Caterina de Medici Painting Award.

Hetty creates many art forms and in this exhibition is showing some of her hand-painted cottons and silks, as well as earthenware fired forms suitable for the comedy legend Jenny “funny mummy” Wynter.

This is a perfect event for Christmas parties, with lots of audience interaction and a jubilant party atmosphere.

There are five fabulously festive shows to choose from.

Seating is in cabaret tables of four or book Mario’s VIP lounge which seats up to six people and includes a bottle of wine on arrival.

Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland. December 16-18 Tickets $32-$35. Bookings: RPAC Box Office 3829 8131 or visit rpac.com.au (Booking fees are $4.50 by phone and $5.20 online).

St Augustine’s Church Hall, 56 Racecourse Rd, Hamilton Friday, November 5, from 3pm; Saturday 6, 9am-6pm and Sunday 7, 9am-noon.

Redland Performing Arts Centre presents

THE QUEEN OF THE NILE

Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra featuring soprano Sofia Troncoso

This stunning concert features showpiece Baroque arias by Handel inspired by the enigmatic Egyptian monarch, alongside music by his contemporaries that will surprise and delight. The luxurious voice of soprano Sofia Troncoso will also be on full display in two arias from Handel’s Giulio Cesare and Vivaldi’s opera Il Tigrane.

Handel • Valentini • Hasse • Heinrich Biber • Locke • Pisendel • Vivaldi Plus a selection of Christmas carols to close

FRIDAY 17 DECEMBER, 7PM

The Queen of the Nile was originally presented by Musica Viva Australia in association with Camerata in 2020

POPS PREPARES FOR ITS NEW YEAR GALA

THE Queensland Pops Orchestra presents its New Year’s Eve concert at the Queensland Performing Art Centre’s Concert Hall for the 37th consecutive year.

Maestro Patrick Pickett has crafted a concert with a Carnival of Venice atmosphere packed with virtuosity, colour and movement to welcome in the new year.

The Pops lights a fuse of excitement as the countdown to January 1 begins.

Joining Patrick and the musicians of the Queensland Pops Orchestra are a star cast of exceptional and gifted musicians.

For NYE 2021, Pops is proud to welcome internationally renowned tenor Rosario La Spina, mezzo-soprano Milijana Nikolic and dramatic soprano Elizabeth Lewis.

This highly regarded trio will bring highlights of operatic music to the concerts, with Patrick’s favourite of all time—Cosi fan tutte: Soave sai if vento.

Ballroom dancers will grace the stage in a Viennese waltz.

After the lavish stage spectacular head up to the QPAC rooftop to hear piper Bruce Grice pipe in the New Year at an exclusive Black-tie function, with champagne and nibbles.

As has become the tradition, there will be two performances of the New Year’s Eve gala concert – the first at 5.30pm and the second at 9pm.

An orchestra that loves the music it plays – and the joy it brings –Queensland Pops Orchestra is a vital part of the Queensland performing arts scene.

Patrick, his loyal artistic and technical support staff, outstanding specialist artists and the dedicated players of the orchestra invite guests to sit back at an unforgettable night of colour and superlative music.

QPAC Concert Hall December 31, 5.30pm and 9pm Tickets are limited. Bookings qpac.com.au or call 136 246 Visit qldpops.com

SET SAIL ON THE TIDES OF BRISBANE

Did you know giant steam ships were once deposited by flood waters in the City Botanic Gardens, or that the Brisbane River was the scene for a dramatic political incident that saw Parliament House almost in the line of fire for a cannon ball?

These and many other fun and fascinating facts about Brisbane River life will be revealed in the new Museum of Brisbane Tides of Brisbane boat tours during November and December.

History buffs can splash into the stories of Brisbane’s past in this new historical tour, taking to the water for a feast of amazing facts, fantastic views and a pitstop at one of Brisbane’s top breweries.

Starting from the City Botanic Gardens, the tour floats past the city skyline, convict-built structures, landmarks and incredible feats of engineering before stopping at Sea Legs brewery in the shadow of the Story Bridge.

This is the first river tour for MoB, following its many successful walking tour programs.

MoB CEO Renai Grace said the tour was another way that Museum of Brisbane was looking to push beyond the walls of City Hall and present Brisbane’s rich history through a new lens.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the stories of our city from one of its most iconic features, the Brisbane River,” she said.

The three-hour tour is as entertaining as is it educational. Bookings are essential. CLEOPATRA, depicted by history as a woman possessing legendary intelligence and enviable beauty, is the inspiration for the stunning program of classical music in The Queen of the Nile.

Queensland’s chamber orchestra, Camerata, has established itself on the national stage with its track record of artistic achievement.

Redland Performing Arts Centre (RPAC) is proud to welcome Camerata to its Concert Hall for the first time with The Queen of the Nile.

The program was originally presented by Musica Viva in association with Camerata.

The concert features showpiece Baroque arias by Handel inspired by Cleoptara, alongside music by his contemporaries.

Praised by critics world-wide for her “vivacity and clarity” soprano Sofia Troncoso (pictured) will feature in two arias from Handel’s Giulio Cesare, including the sublime Piangero.

The evening finishes with a burst of vocal pyrotechnics from Vivaldi’s opera Il Tigrane, inspired by the other Cleopatra, the Queen of Armenia.

Performing without a conductor, Camerata celebrates an environment where all musicians take full ownership of their artform in the spirit of chamber music. Demonstrated in Heinrich Biber’s colourful and eccentric Battalia is their taste for flair. Virtuosity is in full flight as artistic director Brendan Joyce takes a central role in Pisendel’s Violin Concerto in D Major.

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels and has a capacity for 20 passengers.

Boarding at the River Hub, City Botanic Gardens. Wednesdays 11am2pm, Sundays 3pm-6pm from November 3-December 19. Tickets $120, concessions $115. Bookings and more information, visit museumofbrisbane.com.au

RPAC Concert Hall, Cleveland Friday, December 17, 7pm. Tickets $30-$45 Bookings: RPAC Box Office 3829 8131 or visit rpac.com.au (Booking fees are $4.50 by phone and $5.20 online).

JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO BRISBANE

PRESENTED by the Japan Foundation, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) makes a grand return at Palace cinemas for its 25th year.

The 2021 program features an expertly curated selection of films, from features to action, anime, drama and documentaries.

It also includes a free tribute series of films by Shuji Terayama, one of Japan’s most influential avant-garde film directors.

For seven days from November 15, there will be a free online program of five films available for movie lovers and japanophiles from around Australia to enjoy from the comfort of home.

Palace Barracks and Palace James Street. November 11-21. Visit japanesefilmfestival.net

Sat 5 Mar 2022 1.30pm & 7.30pm

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre QSO.COM.AU