This bi-annual extravaganza is a celebration of excellence, showcasing previous title holders who have not only dazzled on stage but also contributed significantly to the burlesque community and industry.

Be mesmerised by performances that push the boundaries of burlesque artistry, featuring masters who have refined their craft to perfection. These performers are more than just winners; they are innovators, educators, and leaders who have shaped the burlesque world through their exceptional talents and dedication.

Seasoned professionals will enchant guests over 18 years of age with the glamour, the passion, and the artistry of Mx Burlesque Masters – where legends come to life!

MX Burlesque Masters
18 January 2025
The Princess Theatre, Brisbane
www.theprincesstheatre.com.au

Tickets are now on sale for more than 350 hilarious events with more than 130 comedians descending on Brisbane to raise the roof at iconic venues Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, The Princess Theatre and The Fortitude Music Hall.

Following its most successful year in 2023, Brisbane Comedy Festival returns with an even bigger and more diverse program than ever before.

Global headliners include British comedy master Stephen K Amos, Irish actor and comedian Ed Byrne, New Zealander Guy Montgomery, South African comic Schalk Bezuidenhout and festival favourite from the UK, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare. Scotland’s Fern Brady and Brit Adam Kay make their Brisbane and Festival debuts, alongside Tom Sainsbury, Adrian Bliss, Connor Burns.

Australia’s favourite comedic export Josh Thomas returns to Brisbane Comedy Festival for the first time since 2013, and Australia’s Crown Prince of comedy Joel Creasy steps back onto the festival circuit after four years gracing the airwaves of the country’s most popular drive radio show.

Bringing the laughs across alternative formats to stand-up are national entertainment icons Annabell Crabb, Judith Lucy and Kaz Cook, and Zan Rowe and Myf Warhurst, with storytelling and podcasts.

The diverse program continues with everything from theatre to film and music, including Murder Village, An Improvised Whodunnit which returns after a sell-out season in 2023, and from the razor-sharp pen of playwright provocateur David Finnigan comes apocalyptic rom-com theatre show 44 Sex Acts in One Week.

Brisbane Comedy Festival includes film for the first time, presenting some great Australian comedies at the Dendy Powerhouse Outdoor Cinema, and Queensland musician Eddie Ray presents Silence of the Jams with his Band of Legends bringing an epic and hilarious soundtrack to self-made independent film for one night only.

Rising stars and comedy favourites round out the laughs with Award-winning newcomer He Huang taking audiences on a hilarious global journey, Daniel Muggleton shares his bracing social commentary, and Felicity Ward returns to Brisbane as part of her first national tour in five years.

Claire Hooper hosts the much-loved Frocking Hilarious with Australia’s queens of comedy, Alexandra Hudson flips societal misconceptions about disability in Making Lemonade, and Logie Award-winning, former hairdresser Effie presents her masterclass in the art of Upyourselfness!

With razor-sharp wit and undeniable charm Are You Pulling My Leg? showcases some of Australia’s funniest and award-winning performers with a disability or chronic illness, and the

Aboriginal Comedy Allstars present some of our best First Nations comedians to deliver their top- tier comedy and storytelling.

Brisbane Comedy Festival 2024 Festival Director Phoebe Meredith said this year’s program is a true celebration of what comedy has to offer as artists from all walks of life converge on Brisbane.

“Comedians are our commentators. They are observers of our world and pull out what they think is interesting, stretching our perception on a huge range of topics. There is something for everyone in this Festival,” Meredith said.

“Across one month, the festival features a stellar line-up of 30 international acts alongside local comedians. Mixing festival favourites with fresh faces, we guarantee audiences will leave with a spring in their step. With the average Festival ticket sitting at $35, it makes for a great and affordable night out.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said 2024 Brisbane Comedy Festival offers a dazzling array of shows that will attract crowds throughout the five-week event.

“The Brisbane Comedy Festival team works incredibly hard to ensure a program full of variety so there is something on offer for everyone,” Cr Schrinner said.

“We invite both visitors and locals to immerse themselves in the vibrant cultural landscape of our city, while embracing local and international acts across Brisbane’s most celebrated venues.”

Brisbane Powerhouse is the home of Brisbane Comedy Festival with six stages ranging from the intimate to the epic including the 690-seat Powerhouse Theatre, Underground Theatre, Fairfax Studio, Rooftop Terrace, Park Mezzanine and Graffiti Room, and the newly added Switch Room. By the river is their alfresco venue, Pleasuredome, which transforms into a luxe outdoor comedy venue.

The Fortitude Music Hall returns to host The Opening Gala, and The Tivoli returns as a Festival venue, with sister venue The Princess Theatre the newest addition to the mix.

Brisbane Comedy Festival runs Friday 26 April to Sunday 26 May at Brisbane Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre.

Brisbane Comedy Festival is produced by Brisbane Powerhouse through the support of Brisbane City Council, and supported by B105, We Are Flip, goa, Ovolo Hotels, PixelFrame, Scenestr and Triple M.

Make the most of a month of comedy and big belly laughs by snapping up tickets and subscribing for program updates at brisbanecomedyfestival.com.

Brisbane Comedy Festival 2024
Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, The Fortitude Music Hall and The Princess Theatre
Friday 26 April to Sunday 26 May 2024
www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com

More than 20 Festival favourites and fresh new faces are among the first big acts announced in a diverse program of more than 300 events across three iconic Brisbane venues: Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre.

In this first program release is Brisbane Comedy Festival’s Opening Gala, Australia’s favourite comedic export back at Brisbane Comedy Festival for the first time since 2013, Josh Thomas, national favourites Nazeem Hussain, Joel Creasey, Rhys Nicholson, Reuben Kaye, Luke Heggie, Ivan Aristeguieta, and international artists Melanie Bracewell, Guy Montgomery, Schalk Bezuidenhout, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare and many more.

Tickets are on sale for these first big acts from 10am Friday 17 November.

Make the most of a month of comedy and big belly laughs by snapping up tickets and subscribing for program updates at www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com.

Brisbane Comedy Festival 2024
Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre
26 April – 26 May 2024
www.brisbanecomedyfestival.com

Formed in 2003, HTRK have blazed a sprawling musical trail, collaborating with the late Roland S. Howard, artists Gian Manik, David Ferrando Giraut and Laure Prouvost, scoring films, headlining sold-out international tours and releasing a string of critically acclaimed records, including Psychic 9–5 Club (2014), named among the best albums of the last decade.

Their fourth album, the richly melancholic Venus in Leo (2019) was released to more plaudits, with Pitchfork hailing the band’s sound as “sensual and gloomy . . .as harrowing as it is intimate.” HTRK’s fifth album, commissioned by the City of Melbourne’s Flash Forward project, sees its highly anticipated release in August.

HTRK
25 February 2022
The Princess Theatre, Brisbane
www.theprincesstheatre.com.au

Revisit the nostalgic ‘90s sound at this incredible opportunity with special guests.

Regurgitator presents Tu-Plang Redux
21 January 2022
The Princess Theatre, Wolloongabba, Brisbane
www.theprincesstheatre.com.au

Electronic music as you’ve never heard it before: using classical instruments to play non-classical music in new and innovative ways. The perfect opportunity to reinvent the heritage of the duo and to salute their immense talent… One more time!

What You Will Enjoy
An intimate ambience in a beautiful venue bathed in candlelight
A talented string ensemble performing classics by Daft Punk
Stunning architecture of iconic venue The Princess Theatre

Programme
Pentatonix
Doin It Right
Get Lucky
I Feel It Coming
Instant Crush
Star Boy
TRON: Legacy Melody
Within
Performers

Candlelight: Tribute to Daft Punk
7 January 2022
The Princess Theatre, Brisbane
www.theprincesstheatre.com.au

Join the twenty-two year old Darwin on HMS Beagle’s daring voyage to the far side of the world and discover the gripping story behind one of the most important discoveries in history.

An ensemble cast, remarkable puppetry, cinematic projections and an original score by Lior and Tony Buchen all combine to bring to life uncharted landscapes and incredible creatures in this highly ambitious theatrical event.

Nominated for a Olivier Award and 2x Helpmann Awards.

The Wider Earth
5-19 February 2022
The Princess Theatre
www.theprincesstheatre.com.au

Australia’s infamous theatre thugs and carnie queens are serving up their signature concoction of circus, drag, burlesque and comedy in a silly, sassy and sexy showcase. Sahara and her rollcall of Brisbane’s maven muso’s team up with the Briefs boys and throw down an arty party like no other. We’ve checked twice and this show is definitely on the naughty list.

If your holiday season is in need of a good dose of art, spirit and decadence, this fabulously festive and gloriously risqué show will leave your baubles sparkling and Xmas spirit over flowing. The Carol Lloyd award winning Sahara Beck armed with her band and backed by her Briefs boys will string you along and gift wrap your Bite Club experience with a cheeky mistletoe overhead.

Bite Club: The Xmas Edition
11 – 18 December 2021
The Princess Theatre, Brisbane
www.theprincesstheatre.com.au

Joining the fun in 2021 is The Princess Theatre, a sister venue to The Tivoli and Brisbane’s newest home for live music and the arts in Woolloongabba’s emerging lifestyle and entertainment precinct.

True to the brand of the iconic Tivoli, live music again remains at the heart of the Open Season program with a stunning program of artists and musicians handpicked to perform at across both The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre.

As part of Open Season, The Princess Theatre will welcome a stellar line-up of artists including King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (in a consecutive 5-show residency), Julia Jacklin, Regurgitator (in an exclusive Brisbane anniversary performance of the band’s debut album Tu-Plang), Sunnyboys, Jarryd James, HTRK, The Murlocs, Tropical F*ck Storm, TEEKS (NZ), COLLAR and Amyl & the Sniffers.

The Tivoli rolls out the red carpet for world-class musicians and performers including Marlon Williamsand Young Franco, and an exciting Nine Lives Festival line-up including headliners Stella Donnelly, Mildlife and Big Scary.

Born as a direct action designed to counter the industry-wide devastation brought by COVID-19, the inaugural Open Season in 2020 brought life back into Brisbane’s live performance scene.

Despite battling restrictions, Open Season 2020 saw an almost sell-out crowd with 91% of tickets sold – which is no small feat – and we expect the love to return in 2021 even bigger and better than the year before.

Tickets available from 9am Thursday 1 July (pre-sale) with general public able to purchase from Friday 2 July at openseason.live.

Open Season
June – December 2021
The Tivoli and The Princess Theatre
www.thetivoli.com.au