Category: Brisbane
Review: Gilbert & Sullivan A Soirée Of Song & Satire
•
★★★★☆ Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) were a dynamic duo whose names have been ingrained in the memories of so many theatregoers over the decades. Although I have seen a lot of theatre over the years, my knowledge of this iconic duo only really extends to The Pirates of Penzance. I think…
Review: Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club: Our New Favourite Beach Spot
•
★★★★★ Tangalooma Dunes Cabana Club may just be The Scoop’s new favourite spot in Queensland. As someone who didn’t grow up in Brisbane, I am always open to discovering new and exciting day trips to explore the surrounding regions. A day trip to Noosa has become a logistical impracticality, with…
Review: Koreaboo La Boite Theatre 2026 Brisbane Festival
•
★★★★☆ La Boite Theatre presents Koreaboo, an enlightening perspective on adoptee reconnection and coming to grips with one’s identity.Facing the personal struggles that come with early adulthood, Hannah (Michelle Lim Davidson) is eager to reunite with her biological mother, Soon Hee (Heather Jeong), in Korea and learn more about her…
Review: Strong Is The New Pretty 2026 Brisbane Festival
•
★★★★☆ I am a theatre guy, not a sports guy. I did, however, grow up in an NRL household (insert eye roll). My memories include Broncos flags hanging out the front of the house and my parents yelling at the TV. I never understood the hype. I am, however, always…
Review: The Choir Of Man 2026 Brisbane Festival
•
★★★★☆ Brisbane Festival certainly knows how to make an entrance. For opening night, QPAC was playing host to the all-female cast of Strong Is The New Pretty, while just outside, the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent had gone in completely the opposite direction with The Choir of Man. Nine British blokes. A…
Review: Death Of A Salesman Asks Whether The Life We Are Chasing Is Actually Worth Having
•
★★★★½ There are some theatre experiences that demand a drink afterwards. Death of a Salesman opened at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, on a Sunday afternoon, which turned out to be the perfect time to see it. The performance runs for around three hours, giving you just enough time to find somewhere…
Review: She Loves Me Brings Letters, Love & Lots Of Laughter
•
There is something rather delightful about discovering a musical with no preconceived expectations. Before heading to review Phoenix Ensemble’s production of She Loves Me, I knew virtually nothing about the show, not its story, its musical style or even the era in which it was written. By the time the…
Review: VISTA Is A Powerful Reframing Of Reality
•
★★★★☆ As one enters any dimly lit theatre for a contemporary dance performance, there is a sense of intrigue and anticipation. At Stephanie Lake Company’s VISTA, it is sustained throughout its distinct two-act production. While Night Feast colours the Brisbane Powerhouse’s forecourt outside, the audience inside remains on the edge…
Review: The Gospel According To Paul Has Plenty To Preach About
•
★★★½ There’s a very specific problem with reviewing a show about Paul Keating when you were just a kid when the man left office. You understand enough to know why everyone’s laughing, but every now and then a joke sails straight over your head and lands somewhere around 1993. That…
Review: Do Not Go Gentle Refuses To Go Quietly
•
★★★★☆ What does a crew of early 20th-century explorers to Antarctica have in common with a group of modern-day aged care residents? A boundless hope, an adventurous spirit, regrets, and more. They explore life’s biggest questions in Patricia Cornelius’s beautifully haunting Do Not Go Gentle, presented by Queensland Theatre Company.…
Review: Second Coming Is Saving The Planet, One Laugh At A Time
•
★★★★☆ La Boite Theatre and Playlab Theatre present Second Coming, a spectacular and humorous take on leaving this world for another. Set in 2065, this world premiere, directed by Ian Lawson, imagines a future where Earth is burning, and humanity’s last hope lies in an ambitious mission to save its…
Review: Cirque KOOZA Is The Blockbuster You Need To See Live
•
★★★★★ Attending Cirque du Soleil has become an annual highlight, but KOOZA this year came with an unexpected upgrade: a front-row seat. Reviewing a Cirque production is both one of the easiest and hardest things to do. The experience itself is almost impossible to describe. How do you put into…
Review: Gunawarra Re-Creation, 2026 Clancestry Festival
•
★★★★★ “To see my culture. To hear my language. To see my traditional dance on a mainstage is beyond my wildest dreams and beyond my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Telling this story has been a gift. Weaving creation stories with narratives of today are vital in understanding who I am and…
Review: The Book of Mormon Blesses Brisbane Once More
•
★★★★½ The arrival of The Book of Mormon brings one of musical theatre’s biggest comedy hits back to Brisbane. The first major touring musical to grace the city’s sparkling new Glasshouse Theatre, it remains as provocative as it is popular more than a decade after its Broadway debut. Anyone who…
Review: & Juliet Brings Shakespeare To The Pop Era
•
What do you get when you mix pop hits, ’80s and ’90s fashion, and an insanely talented cast? The Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre’s production of & Juliet, of course. If you’ve been following along on my reviewing journey, you’ll know that I love a good jukebox musical, and &…
Review: Ya’Djin Spirit Women, 2026 Clancestry Festival
•
★★★★★ “When you really hold up a mirror and see who we truly are, we come from this beauty, we’re a reflection of this beauty, it walks in us, it’s in us, f***! How can you be ugly when you come from that.” Aunty Chantay Link A traditional smoking ceremony…
Review: Queensland Symphony Orchestra Levels Up With The Music Of Video Games
•
★★★★☆ With no gaming enthusiasts among The Scoop’s Brisbane reviewing team, I approached The Music of Video Games by Queensland Symphony Orchestra from the perspective of a curious outsider. As a Gen Xer, my regular gaming days are long behind me, but this concert proves you don’t need an encyclopaedic…
Review: THREE By Australasian Dance Collective Is A Theatrical Feast
•
★★★★☆ Now in its fourth iteration, Australasian Dance Collective’s triple bill THREE returns to the Brisbane Powerhouse, showcasing two brand new works and a Queensland premiere. THREE serves as a fertile ground for artistic risk, and this year’s program is no exception. Featuring MAARUNG by Joel Bray, CUDDLE by Harrison…
Review: Pride & Prejudice Is Love At First Sight
•
★★★★★ It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Jane Austen fan in possession of a ticket to Queensland Theatre Company’s Pride & Prejudice will have a greatly enjoyable time. Following a sell-out season last year that unfortunately ended early because of Cyclone Alfred, Queensland Theatre Company once again ignites…
Review: August Osage County Heralds Theatre’s Next Generation
•
I walked into August: Osage County at Metro Arts on Saturday night with no prior knowledge. I had seen a production by the Acting cohort at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University before, so I knew they were good. Nothing, however, could have prepared me for the storytelling I was about…
Review: Snow White Ballet Returns In Enchanting Style
•
Ballet Theatre Queensland returns to QPAC these school holidays with its highly acclaimed production of Snow White. Premiering in January 2025 as a brand-new full-length ballet, it marked a significant milestone for the company, featuring original choreography by Clare Morehen and a newly commissioned score by Lucas D. Lynch. Following…
Review: In Pour Taste 2026 Wynnum Fringe
•
★★★★★ Wine tasting is already a fairly optimistic activity. You sit down, someone pours you a splash of something expensive-looking. Suddenly everyone in the room starts pretending they know what “mouthfeel” means. We swirl, we sniff, we nod thoughtfully. We say things like “stone fruit” and “minerality” despite mostly thinking,…
Review: Gutenberg! The Musical! Brings Infectious Energy To PIP Theatre
•
★★★★☆ Prepare to laugh out loud, kick your feet and howl with joy at Second Beat’s newest production, Gutenberg! The Musical! Playing for a limited time at Brisbane’s charming PIP Theatre, Gutenberg! The Musical! is a hilariously outlandish celebration of musical theatre and cheering on the underdogs. The story follows…
Review: 360 Allstars Celebrates The Joy Of Mastering A Skill
•
★★★★☆ BMX, basketball, breakdancing, acrobatics and drumming come together in 360 ALLSTARS, a high-energy urban circus that celebrates the artistry of street culture through an impressive display of athleticism and skill. Directed by Gene Peterson and presented by Onyx Productions, 360 ALLSTARS features an international cast of world champions and…
Review: Bradley McCaw The Music Of Billy Joel 2026 Wynnum Fringe
•
★★★★½ The music of Billy Joel has a funny way of making you feel like you’ve lived several lives you absolutely haven’t. Suddenly you’re heartbroken in New York, drunk in an Italian restaurant, yelling about history, or convinced you could play piano in a smoky bar despite having the musical…
Review: Adults Only Magic Show 2026 Wynnum Fringe
•
★★★½ About fifteen minutes into the opening night of the Adults Only Magic Show, a man named David was holding a sex doll like a wounded lover, shortly followed by Justin Williams staring lovingly into his soul with the intensity of a man trying to reverse-mortgage his dignity. Somewhere nearby,…
Review: Lose To Win Finds Strength In Survival
•
★★★★★ “In this country, you think it’s your right to have three meals a day. Me, where I came from? I think it’s a miracle.” – Mandela Mathia, Performer / Writer A curved backdrop overlooks several forlorn-looking suitcases of various sizes. Dotted alongside these are crates filled with items. A lone…
Review: Highway To Hell 2026 Wynnum Fringe
•
★★★★½ There are festival openings, and then there are festival openings that make you wonder whether the roof of the Augathella Spiegeltent has its own insurance policy. Highway to Hell: The Rock ‘N’ Roll Circus, which opened the 7th annual Wynnum Fringe Festival last night, belongs firmly in the second…
Review: Hamlet By Queensland Ballet Is Shakespeare At Its Most Beautiful
•
★★★★☆ There’s Netflix, and then there’s live Shakespeare. Choose any feeling: love, madness, vengeance, and you’ll experience it in Queensland Ballet’s stunning reimagined Hamlet, currently at the Thomas Dixon Centre. Brisbane’s mild winter evening was a stark contrast to the beautifully gothic Denmark audiences witnessed within the Company’s home theatre in…
Review: Meet Me At Intermission, A New Bar By Strut & Fret
•
Intermission is exactly the kind of bar Brisbane’s theatre scene has been waiting for. Sitting right out the front of The West End Electric in Brisbane’s ever-colourful West End, the brand-new venue from Strut & Fret doesn’t just feel like a handy spot for a pre-show drink. It feels like…
