This year, in my house, we cancelled all our streaming subscriptions. Even Netflix! (Not Prime, of course: we want the free postage.) But it had come to the point where we just weren’t watching TV anymore, so it made sense to unsubscribe and save the money.
When I wasn’t tucked away in bed with a good book, I spent my evenings at the theatre. I started writing reviews in March this year, and since then, I’ve seen around 80 shows, which sounds ridiculous, and at some point, it felt that way. But I feel incredibly lucky to have seen so many fantastic live performances and I can confidently say that the live sphere rivals anything you’re going to get from staring at a screen. But perhaps I’m biased.
It goes without saying that it wasn’t possible to get to everything (and during Brisbane Festival, I tried, I really did). It also needs to be said that I couldn’t put every show I loved this year onto the list. With that out of the way, here are my favourite shows for 2024, broken down by category. I hope to add a few more categories in 2025, namely Favourite Children’s Show and Favourite Comedy Show.
Congrats to the productions in this list that have received Matilda Award nominations! The winners will be announced on Monday 24 February.
Favourite Play
Trent Dalton’s Love Stories, Brisbane Festival and QPAC
Love Stories was a Brisbane Festival world premiere based on Trent Dalton’s non fiction work of the same name. A collection of short stories published in 2021, the idea for the book was conceived after Dalton was bequeathed a sky-blue Olivetti Studio 44 typewriter from a mate’s mum who passed away on Christmas Day, 2020. To honour her, Dalton spent two months sitting on the edge of King George Square in Brisbane’s CBD with the typewriter, and a sign that said, “Sentimental writer collecting love stories. Do you have one to share?” Dalton said it was the most fulfilling and inspiring journalistic endeavour of his life, and the resulting book contained 150 stories.
What I said at the time:
“Trent Dalton’s Love Stories..reminds us why we head into darkened theatres at all. To feel something. To be changed by something.”
“Standing ovations have come to feel a bit de rigueur in the theatre, but Love Stories was the one instance where I genuinely wanted and needed to get on my feet to show my appreciation. There is something so refreshing about authenticity, and Love Stories is the real deal.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Yes! It’s touring in 2025 and will be heading to Wollongong from 27 February and Adelaide from 12 March as part of Adelaide Festival.
Wollongong:
https://merrigong.com.au/shows/trent-daltons-love-stories/
Adelaide:
https://www.adelaidefestival.com.au/events/love-stories
Favourite Indie Play
Wanderings, The Nest Ensemble
The world premiere of Wanderings was the third inclusion of Queensland Theatre’s inaugural DOOR3 program. An initiative designed to platform independent theatre, Wanderings, created by The Nest Ensemble, intertwined fiction and autobiography to delve into the complexities of family, identity, and memory, and was also programmed as part of the 2024 Melt Festival.
What I said at the time:
“Wanderings shines as a testament to the power of storytelling, urging audiences to embrace conversations around the often misunderstood experiences of LGBTQIA+ and ageing communities. Wanderings is a play that both challenges and comforts, championing empathy, courage, and the enduring strength of familial bonds.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Not at the moment, but keep an eye on The Nest Ensemble’s Facebook page for updates.
Queensland Theatre has committed to its DOOR3 program for at least three years, and will announce the indie theatre companies selected for the 2025 program some time in the new year.
Favourite Musical
Beauty & the Beast, Disney Theatrical Group
No one does it like Disney, they truly know how to make something magical. Disney’s 1991 film Beauty and the Beast was the first animated feature ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, and after its big screen success, Beauty and the Beast the musical was conceived. Opening on Broadway thirty years ago, it was the Disney Theatrical Group’s first Broadway adaptation, receiving nine Tony nominations and one win.
What I said at the time:
“..in this production, the whole truly was greater than the sum of its parts. Everyone will have their favourites, and for me it was Cogsworth, Babette and Madame.”
“The ensemble’s group vocals were phenomenal, and their skills were integral in delivering the irrefutable highpoint of the show, ‘Be Our Guest,’ led by Rohan Browne as Lumiere. Director and choreographer Matt West outdid himself with this piece, and the team held nothing back.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Yes! Beauty and the Beast is still touring around Australia and is currently playing in Melbourne. It heads to Adelaide in May and Perth in July.
https://beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au/
Favourite Indie Musical
Tie: Merrily We Roll Along, Ad Astra and Fun Home, PIP Theatre
I’m not going to choose between these two companies, so don’t ask me to! Both musicals were huge successes for each company, and it’s clear Brisbane audiences cannot get enough musicals. More please!
What I said at the time re Merrily:
“Watching Merrily We Roll Along reminded me just how uplifting a good musical can be and left me eager to see more of them.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Ad Astra have indicated that they may do an even bigger production in a return season of Merrily. Join their waitlist for updates about the show.
What I said at the time re Fun Home:
“PIP Theatre’s Fun Home was exquisitely executed with equal parts humour and heartbreak, and the intimate space and thrust configuration enhanced the fly-on-the-wall experience.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Sadly no. PIP Theatre have announced an exciting season for 2025. Details can be found at their website.
Favourite Ballet
Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon, Queensland Ballet (with Hong Kong Ballet and Atlanta Ballet)
It was an extraordinary situation in that the entire season of Coco Chanel sold out before the show officially opened. There was something about the subject matter that transcended the art form, and many non-traditional ballet goers flocked to see this biopic on pointe shoes.
What I said at the time
“..all the creative elements fused in such a way that I felt like I was watching a silent film played out live on stage.”
“Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s choreography played with symmetry and was a thrill to watch, and the Queensland Ballet company’s dancing was the best I’ve seen all year.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Coco Chanel: the Life of a Fashion Icon is not returning any time soon, but Queensland Ballet’s 2025 season is packed with beautiful offerings. If Coco ever returns, you’ll hear about it at The Scoop.
Favourite Contemporary Dance
THREE, Australasian Dance Collective
ADC’s new triple bill THREE, returning for a third time after a hiatus last year, was a visual degustation showcasing the company’s six dancers in two world premieres running either side of a Brisbane premiere by an indie guest artist. I can’t get enough of works of this genre, and while not everyone gets it, plenty of dance lovers do.
What I said at the time:
“The company worked seamlessly to achieve both flow and frenzy with their choreography..”
“Special mention must go to the coolest technicolour dreamcoat I’ve ever seen, made with ballet tulle and UV glow paint.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
THREE won’t be back in 2025 but ADC will be celebrating their 40th season with another triple bill, Blue in May. Details of their 2025 season are on their website.
Favourite Festival Show
LIMBO – The Return, Strut n Fret
After debuting at the Adelaide Fringe in 2013, LIMBO has toured the world and been seen by hundreds of thousands of people, including, famously, by Madonna (twice no less!). LIMBO – The Return was rebooted in 2024 and one of the highlights of the Brisbane Festival. It was the first show to reside at The West End Electric, Brisbane’s coolest new theatre venue.
What I said at the time:
“LIMBO – The Return at the West End Electric ticked all the boxes for a night of escapist hedonism, bringing elements of vaudeville mixed with circus, cabaret and burlesque in a show that is best seen rather than described.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Yes! LIMBO – The Return is coming to the 2025 Adelaide Fringe, with previews from 14 February.
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/limbo-the-return-af2025
Favourite Circus Show
LUZIA, Cirque du Soleil
It’s been 25 years since the first Cirque show hit Australian shores, and to celebrate, LUZIA, a tribute to Mexico, is touring the country. What makes LUZIA unique is the use of a rain curtain which features acrobatics and artistic scenes performed under falling rain, a feat not seen in any other touring production. LUZIA is one of Cirque’s most popular touring shows and it’s easy to see why.
What I said at the time:
“There is something transcendent about their shows, where world class artists and athletes complete mind-blowing tricks that look effortless but are unlikely to be seen live anywhere else.”
“What really makes the show spectacular are the performers, who come from all corners of the world, including two Australians..”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Yes! It’s final tour stop is Sydney where it is currently playing under the Big Top at The Entertainment Quarter until 9 February.
https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/australia/sydney/luzia/buy-tickets
Favourite Concert
Cinematic, Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Cinematic is an annual concert that lovingly pays tribute to the iconic scores of films and television. 2024 marked Cinematic‘s fifth year, with Conductor Nicholas Buc saying it’s his favourite event on the calendar. Buc and the entire orchestra were costumed in outfits that reflected the pieces performed, which really gave the evening a sense of fun. Where else are you going to hear the theme from Batman and the theme from The Simpsons played live?
What I said at the time:
“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas was another concert standout: I could practically see Mickey Mouse waving his wand around in the Disney film, Fantasia.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Yes! Cinematic has been programmed for 2025, and excitingly, will be Oscars themed. It is on from 24 – 25 October. Details can be found in the Season 2025 brochure.
Favourite Christmas Show
Spirit of Christmas, QPAC
Now in its 40th year, QPAC’s longest running show, Spirit of Christmas is a joyous celebration of the festive season, bringing together massed choirs, orchestras, solo artists and the community for a heartwarming evening of live music and singing.
What I said at the time:
“Spirit of Christmas truly captured the magic of the season with its uplifting spirit and sense of community. It is easy to see why it is an unmissable event on the festive calendar.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Spirit of Christmas is an annual event, so keep an eye on the QPAC website for 2025 date announcements.
Honourable Mention
Maho Magic Bar, Broad Encounters
Just one more show to include that didn’t fit into any of the other categories but is worthy of a mention. Maho Magic Bar is part show, part bar, and a guaranteed good time. Premiering in 2020 at the Adelaide Fringe’s Garden of Unearthly Delights, Japanese sleight of hand experts and close up magicians entertain at your table as you sip delicious cocktails. The 2024 Brisbane season was located on the grounds of the Maritime Museum and kept audiences entertained long after the Festival was over.
What I said at the time:
“Maho Magic Bar boasts an up-close, immersive experience set in a bespoke pop-up cocktail bar with a unique Japanese twist.”
“There were many aspects of the show that left us wondering, ‘How did they do that?’ We were left simply amazed.”
Read the full review here.
Can I still see this show?
Yes! Maho Magic Bar is returning to the Garden of Unearthly Delights for the 2025 Adelaide Fringe, with shows from 14 February.
https://adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix/maho-magic-bar-af2025
And that’s the list! Be sure to catch these amazing shows if they are playing in your city in 2025. Here’s to another glorious year of live entertainment.
Cover image: Opening night Brisbane, Cirque du Soleil LUZIA. Photo by Jared Vethaak.
