The Making of Pinocchio – September 13–16, Brisbane Powerhouse
Following a hugely successful premiere at the London Festival of Theatre, The Making of Pinocchio is heading to Brisbane Festival for an Australian exclusive show. Experience the sheer joy and limitless potential of the Queer imagination in this tale of love and transition, told through the story of Pinocchio. This autobiographical and heartwarming show combines the complex story of artists and lovers Rosana Cade and Ivor MacAskill’s relationship in response to Ivor’s gender transition with a magical story of a lying puppet who wants to be a ‘real boy’, posing the question – what does it truly take to tell your truth?

Bite Club: 2nd Serve – September 19–23, The Princess Theatre
Get ready for the ultimate encore, as cult-cabaret and mischief-makers, Briefs Factory, alongside songbird Sahara Beck, combine forces once again for Bite Club: 2nd Serve. This extravagant event is a fabulous fusion of circus, drag and burlesque that is sure to bring a whole lot of mischief, music and utter mayhem to The Princess Theatre.

Unconditional – August 30 to September 9, Brisbane Powerhouse
Is love really unconditional? The world premiere of Unconditional reexamines and redefines the nature of love and what we tell ourselves we would accept. This intimate and poetic production weaves a compelling tale of a Queer relationship between a man who identifies as gay and a person whose identity evolves from ‘he’ to ‘she’ during their marriage. Through humour, insight and raw honesty, Unconditional questions belief systems, politics and relationships, and poses the question – is love unconditional, or does it come with conditions like everything else?

Party Ghost – September 20–23, Metro Arts
High-level circus, dark comedy and drag combine at the exceptional event, Party Ghost. Starring Jarred Dewey and Olivia Porter, and directed by Nicci Wilks, this refreshing, jaw-dropping and hauntingly hilarious production is not for the faint hearted. Expect to see a fantastic fusion of outrageous shenanigans like dismembered limbs, ghosts and death, and come prepared to be a little bit spooked.

Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! – August 25 to September 17, QPAC
shake & stir theatre co will make its return to Brisbane Festival after the sold-out season of Fourteen in 2022 (we hope you you saw that one!), with a brand-new work – Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! Inspired by the true story of Estee Lee and written by her sister shake & stir’s Nelle Lee, Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! is an inspirational retelling of Tae’s journey from adversity and heartbreaking loss to a life full of adventure, success and love. She’s supported by a phenomenal family and a loving community – and a fabulous Fairy Godmother played by drag-queen superstar and RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under icon Maxi Shield.

Bowerytopia: TABOO – Saturday September 16, The Tivoli
Don your wildest wardrobe and immerse yourself in a glittering, outrageous and taboo night at this crazy costume party. At Bowerytopia: TABOO you are encouraged to embrace provocative and boundary-pushing creativity, where gender, style and identity are boundless. Combining Leigh Bowery’s talent and larger-than-life personality with top performance artists and DJs from Meanjin and across the continent, prepare to dance, crown the next Queen of Bowery and let your glamour shine.

The Alexander Ball – Saturday September 2, The Tivoli
Meanjin’s trailblazing ballroom house returns to The Tivoli once again for a night of extravagance, forged by courageous Trans women of colour all the way from Harlem and New York. Shining a spotlight on self expression, identity and talent, The Alexander Ball celebrates authenticity and invites audiences to revel in the magic of self discovery.

Skip on over to the Brisbane Festival website for more information and to secure your tickets to these unmissable events. 

This article was written in partnership with our friends at Brisbane Festival.