Big names head to Brisbane

Brisbane Festival has announced its full programme for 2017, which includes five world premieres and 11 Australian premieres. The festival runs from 9-30 September in the Eastern Australian city.

“Brisbane Festival is proud to be a leading international arts festival, bringing some of the biggest names in the business from all over the world to our river city throughout September,” said Brisbane Festival artistic director David Berthold said.

Highlights in the programme include Attractor, which features Indonesian heavy metal duo Senyawa working alongside Australian choreographers Lucy Guerin and Gideon Obarzanek; Laser Beak Man, a puppet show based on the drawings of local artist Tim Sharp; the Australian debut of circus show Per te from Compagnia Finzi Pasca; and I Just Came to Say Goodbye, a brand new show based on anonymous apologies and real stories of forgiveness submitted by members of the public.

Musical entertainment comes from London Grammar, who will headline an outdoor mini-festival; singer-songwriter Megan Washington, who is backed by Queensland Symphony Orchestra; and Australian rock legend Tex Perkins.

Concluded Berthold: “If you want beauty, see Per te. If you want a sense expander, see Attractor. If you want joy, see Laser Beak Man.”

The festival closes with a huge firework display titled Sunsuper Riverfire on 30 September. Full programme details can be found online at the Brisbane Festival website.

brisbanefestival.com.au