The fourth program from Artistic Director Louise Bezzina simultaneously welcomes the world and spotlights Brisbane on the global stage across 23 days of evocative, accessible, and uplifting work.

Brisbane’s premier arts venues and some of the city’s most iconic locations will stage more than 1000 performances – 230 of which are free – including 19 world premieres, two Australian premieres and 11 Queensland premieres.

Brisbane Festival will provide employment opportunities for more than 1400 Queensland-based artists and arts workers, collaborate with 57 arts organisations and engage more than 170 First Nations artists.

Making its world premiere at Brisbane Festival 2023, Salamander is a stunning, large-scale, sitespecific dance theatre work by internationally renowned choreographer and director Maxine Doyle and artist and designer Es Devlin, working with composer and sound designer Rachael Dease and leading Queensland artistic company Australasian Dance Collective (ADC).

Salamander (1-24 September) transforms a warehouse on the banks of the Brisbane River at Northshore into a futuristic dream-like world, haunted by desperate characters, labyrinths, shifting structures and a flooded landscape.

Eternity, by internationally acclaimed, Brisbane-based Circa, also makes its world premiere at Brisbane Festival (13-16 September).

Staged in the hallowed grounds of St John’s Anglican Cathedral in the heart of Brisbane City, Eternity creates a communion between Circa’s eight-strong ensemble of acrobats and artists and the spellbound audience.

International festival hit The Making of Pinocchio (13-16 September) is a profound piece of storytelling; a heartwarming, at-times funny and deeply personal account of gender transition, playing Brisbane Powerhouse.

The Australian premiere and Brisbane Festival exclusive tells an intimate story through an international lens, sparking a deeper conversation about gender identity in all communities and societies.

After dazzling audiences of all ages across the world, Lightscape – a multi-sensory experience of light, colour and sound – illuminates the City Botanic Gardens (1 September – 8 October).

The brilliant botanical wonderland features glowing tree canopies, larger-than-life flowers and neon roots bursting from the undergrowth along a 2.5km immersive light trail in the heart of the city.

The skies above Brisbane also come alive on opening weekend with Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust (2 September) and Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, a spectacular, never-before-seen massed drone performance (1-2 September).

The Brisbane-first celestial dance of 400 choreographed drones takes place above the river in front of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, telling a captivating First Nations narrative through beautiful visuals and a mesmerising soundtrack.

Bookending the Festival is All Together Now (23 September), a raucous and inclusive, free, all-ages celebration of music, dance, fun and frivolity at Brisbane’s newest inner-city oasis, Victoria Park.

The cacophonous closing night party also serves as the culmination of the Brisbane Serenades program of free mini-concerts across Brisbane suburbs, amassing thousands of everyday musicians in two big events: 10,000 Kazoos and NOISE.

NOISE partners dancers from leading North Queensland company Dancenorth with 100 local drummers who thump out a scintillating live score in a dynamic community-driven performance.,10000 Kazoos calls everyone to join the “Kazoonity” and help assemble the world’s largest and zaniest orchestra, one where no previous musical experience is required.

Brisbane Festival’s epicentre of gathering and celebration, Australian Retirement Trust Festival Garden is an all-ages inner-city wonderland of food, wine, entertainment and discovery set among
the lush South Bank parklands.

Adding a splash of playfulness and colour to Festival Garden is Hiromi Hotel: Yu Ka 夢花, a largescale site-specific installation by beloved visual artist Hiromi Tango.

Crowning the Festival hub is South Bank Piazza, the vibrant and versatile venue hosting a must-see program of uplifting and entertaining works from sizzling circus to Australian music royalty, feelgood cabaret to eye-popping dance.

Continuing a proud tradition, Brisbane Festival again features a strong, surprising and inspiring program of First Nations-led work starting with JARRAH (Sep 1), the popular opening event that honours and pays respect to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities.

Brisbane Festival’s full program encompasses previously announced events including the world premieres of BANANALAND (18 September – 1 October), Tae Tae in the Land of Yaaas! (25 August – 17 September) and Cut Chilli (14 September – 7 October).

It also features the Australian debut of Kuramanunya (13-16 September) by Thomas E.S. Kelly and Karul Projects at Metro Arts.

Making their Queensland premieres are Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Yuldea (28 August – 10 September) at QPAC Playhouse, Hide the Dog (21-23 September) at QPAC Cremorne Theatre, The Farm/Performing Lines’ Stunt Double (6-9 September) and Australian Dance Theatre and Ilbijerri Theatre Company’s Tracker (20-23 September) at Brisbane Powerhouse, and Jodee Mundy’s Personal (6-9 September) at Metro Arts.

Brisbane Festival 2023
1 – 23 September 2023
Various locations around Brisbane
www.brisbanefestival.com.au

In recognition of the UN Year of Indigenous Languages, this year the Festival will explore the powerful ways in which Australia’s traditional custodians convey story, both now and in the past.

“The written word hasn’t always been the primary way to tell a story,” said Festival CEO and Artistic Director Zoe Pollock, “Indigenous Australians have been yarning, weaving, painting, singing and dancing the stories of this land for thousands of years and right up into our present day. At Brisbane Writers Festival this year we are privileged to present some of our most compelling and evocative writers and storytellers from our First Nations including Tony Birch, Melissa Lucashenko and Claire G. Coleman. Acknowledging difference and understanding how we can use stories to connect to one another is at the heart of this year’s program.”

“Our local reading and writing communities are engaged with what’s happening in the world. We live in challenging times and are facing big issues in both our inner and outer worlds. There are so many movements and forces that are reshaping the world at a rapid pace. We’re bringing these conversations to the Festival and inviting open dialogues around how to connect when the conversation is constantly changing.”

The 2019 Brisbane Writers Festival kicks off with a huge celebration at State Library of Queensland headed by Danzal Baker aka Baker Boy. The Indigenous Australian rapper, dancer, actor and visual was named the 2019 Young Australian of the Year and is an advocate for Indigenous Australian communities. Joining Baker Boy is writer, actor and comedian Steven Oliver (A Chance Affair), Omar Sakr (The Lost Arabs), Australian slam poetry championships winner Solli Raphael and Indigenous slam queen Melanie Mununggurr-Williams.

International guests include Jasper Fforde famed for the hugely popular Thursday Next series, best-selling historical fiction author Ann Weisgarber (The Glovemaker), Joanne Ramos, whose dystopian debut novelThe Farm has drawn comparisons with The Handmaid’s Tale, New York Times bestselling author Karen Thompson Walker, Gemma Hartley (Fed Up), and poet, sociologist and author, Eve L. Ewing. Ewing’s work has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post and The New Republic.

The Festival is also proud to showcase the work of local and Australian authors, including audience favourites Benjamin Law (The Family Law), Clementine Ford (Boys Will be Boys), Melissa Lucashenko(Too Much Lip), Ashley Hay (One Hundred Small Lessons), John Marsden (So Much to Tell You and Tomorrow, When The War Began), Jane Caro (Accidental Feminists), Richard Glover (The Land Before Avocado) and Rosalie Ham (The Dressmaker).

In 2019, Brisbane Writers Festival is bringing new ways to experience literature to State Library of Queensland. Angel’s Palace, an immersive literary experience inspired by the Alexis Wright’smonumental work Carpentaria, will return to Maiwar Green featuring performances created by Indigenous playwright and theatre maker Alethea Beetson, for all ages, as well as panel discussions and author talks. First featured at Brisbane Writers Festival in 2017, Angel’s Palace is a 7.5 metre dome decorated with original artwork by acclaimed Brisbane artist Gordon Hookey.

“I’m also very excited to announce a collaboration with Anna Spiro inspired by Jessica Anderson’s Miles Franklin award-winning novel Tirra Lirra by the River. We’re inviting Festival goers to experienceAnderson’s work through the lens of Brisbane’s most iconic designer. Spiro is known for her residential and commercial work – including interior of Mr Percival’s as part of the Howard Smith Wharves development.Tirra Lira by the River will be a special space to catch up with friends, read and soak up the Festival’s atmosphere. We have also planned free events in the installation, including workshops open mic sessions.”

For those aspiring and established writers there is also plenty on offer. Learn the art of historical fiction and archival research with Ann Weisgarber, craft a daring and genre breaking novel with Jasper Fforde, create compelling YA characters with Lili Wilkinson and much more.

Love YA is also back in 2019, bringing a full day of free YA programming to Brisbane Square Library on Saturday 7 September.

“Love YA is a day to celebrate everything that makes Young Adult fiction so compelling. This year we’re shifting focus to look at community and responsibility & the universality of love with some of Australia’s best LGBTQ+ writers including Claire G. Coleman, Alison Evans, Benjamin Law, Jax Jacki Brown andMichael Earp.”

Other Festival highlights include:

• A special event with Ann Weisgarber examining how we can find our compassion through books and writing.
• A session with Walkley Award winning journalist Hedley Thomas of Teacher’s Pet fame.
• Asking for a Friend, a public forum event where attendees can put a problem to a panel of Agony Aunts including Clementine Ford, Benjamin Law, Cal Wilson and Bec Mac.
• Closing night address with Jasper Fforde exploring the what could happen when we dare to imagine.
• Meet the Author book club style events with international and Australian authors.
• A conversation with former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.
• Big conversations with leading Australian commentators and contributors to public life including Tim Costello, Bob Brown, Gillian Triggs, Kerry O’Brien, Chloe Hooper, Matt Condon, Richard Cooke and Richard Denniss.
• Forward thinking feminist conversations with Clare Press, Jane Caro, Gemma Hartley and Jess Hill.
• The very best in Australian fiction including A.S. Patrić, Steven Carroll, Lucy Treloar, Rosalie Ham, Melina Marchetta and Kristina Olsson.
• Crime fiction and the #metoo movement with Meera Atkinson, Caroline de Costa and M. J. Tija.
• Indigenous Language Revival with Des Crump, Sandra Delaney and Rory O’Connor.
• Free family programming including sessions with international best seller Jessica Townsend, John Marsden and many more.
• A spoken word showcase including Zenobia Frost, Pascalle Burton and Maxine Beneba Clarke

“It’s an enormous privilege to bring such a diverse program of thinkers and writers to Brisbane each year. I hope that our local reading and writing communities will come out in force to be part of the big conversations on offer and support a culture embracing literacy and difference in our state,” Pollock said.

“This is an incredible opportunity to hear from the people with nuanced insight into the fast-changing world that we all share. I invite you to join us and have your say.”

The 2019 Brisbane Writers Festival goes on sale from 21 June. Visit bwf.org.au for tickets and more information.

2019 Brisbane Writers Festival
5 – 8 September 2019
State Library of Queensland and QAGOMA
www.bwf.org.au