Brisbane Events Listings

A Lament Made of Memories and Kept in Suitcases - 66A Church Road

Daniel Kitson returns to Brisbane Powerhouse with a new theatrical work of love, heart-ache and a forsaken flat. "Last September I had to move out of my flat after living there for almost six years. I didn't want to. I lived alone. I am single. 66A Church Road was the longest relationship of my life. This is a break up show. For my flat." Daniel Kitson, May 2008 Astonishing images of crumbling beauty and battered grandeur will emerge from time beaten suitcases, telling a funny, sad and truly nostalgic story of a forsaken flat, a broken heart and the ache for home. 'It is poetry shot through with laughter and pathos, a heartfelt reflection on what we mean by home...as good as anything Kitson has done.' The Times Winner Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2008.

Adam Hills: Mess Around

The host of ABC Televisions Spicks and Specks returns to the Brisbane Comedy Festival with something a little different. Adam loves ad-libbing with a crowd. So much so that this year he's throwing the script out the window and devoting an hour-and-a-bit to simply, messing around. No structure, no material, no idea. Literally anything could happen - and if you've been to a Hillsy show before, you know it probably will. No two shows will be the same! Please visit our website for a full list of Brisbane Comedy Festival performances.

Australia Day Festival

Spend your Australia Day public holiday down at South Bank, Brisbane enjoying Queensland’s largest Australia Day festival. There’s no doubt we’ve got a special Aussie way of life, with the chance to enjoy free and safe activities for the whole family. This year, The Parklands at South Bank is the spot to find a jam-packed program of events including the flag raising and multi faith ceremonies), along with music, dancing, acrobatics, magic and family-friendly fun, as well as circus, sound and art workshops for young and old. At 4.30pm, chill out and enjoy ‘AusSounds’, with home-grown bands Omni Anti, Chocolate Strings, Hungry Kids of Hungary and The John Steel Singers. It’s Queensland’s largest Australia Day festival, with something for everyone – and it’s free. End the day with the spectacular fireworks display over the Brisbane River.

Australia Day Open Day at Government House Queensland

The Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency Ms Penelope Wensley, AO and Mr Stuart McCosker invite you and your family to Open Day at Government House on Australia Day. Take a guided tour of historic Government House to see where the Governor lives and works, and learn about the history of Government House and Queensland's Governors, past and present. Stroll through the gardens or take a guided tour with the Government House horticulturalists to learn their secrets. See the Victoria Barracks Historical Society fire the traditional 1.00 p.m. cannon. Bring a picnic and settle on the lawns, while listening to the free musical entertainment, or visit the Sausage Sizzle (all profits for charity). Stroll to the Pavilion and view the historical display or venture to the ponds for a glimpse of the birdlife which abounds on the Estate. Event will be cancelled in wet weather. No on-site parking.

BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge

Take up Bicycle Queensland's cycle challenge, a timed 2.3 kilometre, nine per cent climb up Mt Coot-tha, with the BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge. Join with thousands of other cyclists from all over Australia and challenge yourself with this unique ride that is guaranteed to test your fitness! Whether aiming for your best time for the climb or simply the satisfaction of finishing the ride this is the event for you. The 80 kilometre ride will first take you past city skyscrapers before you begin climbing Brisbane's iconic Mt Coot-tha, where forests make way for spectacular city views. With regular food and drink stops along the way, the ride continues past the scenic Brisbane River to the finish line at South Bank Parklands.

Betrayal by Harold Pinter

Lifelong friends Jerry and Robert are rivals in the publishing world, but also rivals for the love of Robert's wife Emma. Jerry and Emma believe they have created the perfect, private romance that no one will discover, until they begin to learn how hard it is to keep a secret. But is it their friends and lovers they are betraying, or themselves? Nobel prize-winner Harold Pinter peels back the layers of an unfolding love affair, in reverse chronological order, as we eventually discover the idyllic source of this doomed love triangle.

Bike Week

Bike Week is a nine-day festival of cycling with events for cyclists of all ages and abilities and is organised by Bicycle Queensland. There will be events including a Bicycle Maintenance Workshop, a ride for parents and their kids and a Women's ride and seminar. Other events scheduled during the week include a Sustainable Transport seminar, Cyclocross event, BMX event, a film night and road racing. Bike Week culminates on Sunday, 21 March with the Great Brisbane Bike Ride and the BDO Brisbane Coot-tha Challenge. For further details contact Bicycle Queensland.

Boutique Markets

Since commencing at Portside Wharf in June 2009, the Boutique Markets have become a regular staple for market lovers and locals alike. Proudly supporting local independent design, the Boutique Markets hosts the work of more than 50 retailers including artists, designers, stylists and craft practioners, offering savvy shoppers unique access to limited edition products. The Boutique Markets, are filled with treasures galore and interesting and different gift ideas to be found from high-end art, stationery, handmade products, children's clothing and toys, and even fashion for pets. Since its inception in 2007, The Boutique Markets have grown in profile and size to become a reputable hub of creative talent and a reflection of south-east Queensland's thriving art and design community.

Brisbane Camera Fair

Photographic fair where old and modern camera and photographic equipment is sold. Anything to do with photography, from old films to books and magazines and darkroom equipment, even some digital cameras and equipment are often for sale. Their fair caters for almost every field of photography, film, digital, studio and darkroom, and even movie cameras. From the beginner, to those wanting to sell surplus items, to those wanting to trade up to more modern equipment, or just clear out the studio attic, or digital photographers who want to try going 'retro' to return to the nostalgic days of film again.

Brisbane Comedy Festival

It's back! It's bigger! And it's even bloody better! After the inaugural season proved Brisbane was gagging for its own festival, the Brisbane Comedy Festival will take over Brisbane Powerhouse again, bringing you more crazy international and Australian talent than your laughing gear will know what to do with. They have even more artists on board this year and they're packing them into every single space they can find, not just the theatres. There'll be comedians coming out of their ears - you'll be roaring with laughter in the Rooftop Terrace, tickled pink on the Turbine Platform, indeed you'll be cacking yourself in every corner. So grab your diaries, block out a whole four weeks and wrap you’re laughing gear around the Brisbane Comedy Festival. You'll need a holiday after this!

Brisbane Fine Wine Festival

The Brisbane Fine Wine Festival will have over 100 different wine labels from all over Australia including several from Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, Italy and France. See more than 50 Winemakers to talk with while enjoying tasting their wine. 16 Wine and Food Matching classes partnered by Top S.E. Queensland Restaurants. Wine Festival Dinner including Presentation of Trophies on Thursday 25 June. Coffees, cheeses and boutique foods. Wine accessories, glassware and wine fridges. Boutique and difficult to find wine at very attractive prices. Complementary Bormioli Rocco Wine Glass. Avoid the queue and book tickets today through Ticketmaster.

Brisbane Roar Season

Since the Hyundai A-League's inception in 2005, Brisbane Roar (formerly known as Queensland Roar) has gone into battle with the best football teams in Australia. The Roar have gained momentum with every season, and last season were only one game away from the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 Grand Final and a berth in the Asian Champions League. The team boasts hot young talent like Tommy Oar and Michael Zullo, the experience of Socceroos World Cup hero Craig Moore and the class of foreign stars Charlie Miller and Sergio van Dijk.

Bulmers Best of Edinburgh Festival

Bulmers Best of Edinburgh Festival is an unbeatable night of world-class comedy featuring the hottest new talents to have appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This iconic show continues to be a highlight of Adelaide Fringe Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival every year. Starring the winner of the best international show at the New Zealand Comedy Festival, Carey Marx (UK), Geordie superstar Jason Cook and the Welsh hot new star, Elis James. This has been one of the favourite shows of Melbourne Comedy International Festival for 15 years and introduced many new talents to Australia, such as Ross Noble, Arj Barker, Stephen Amos, Dylan Moran and more. See the stars of tomorrow today.

Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival

Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival - Every year in Brisbane Australia, something exciting and flavoursome erupts throughout the course of one weekend. Fresh fish, melt-in-your-mouth prawns, and decadent oysters come together with a variety of wine and musical performances to create the iconic Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival. Now in its 16th year, thousands of people are expected to swarm to Brisbane's most famous party precinct in true Aussie fashion. This year's Festival - to be held on 2 May - promises to be bigger and better with more delicious seafood, wine and a first-class line up of entertainment. The event commences at 11.30 and features live broadcasts on the Street plus the finest Blues, Roots, Hip Hop and Jazz recording Artists across three stages.

Claudia O'Doherty: Monsters of the Deep 3D

Claudia O'Doherty is the last surviving member of a small colony that lived in a deep-sea habitat called Aquaplex. She is going to tell you about that through the powerful medium of cultural presentation. In addition to colossal squid, the salinity of the Pacific Ocean and the effects of long-term deep-sea living on humans, Monster of the Deep 3D will cover gang warfare and witchcraft. Claudia is a member of the exhilaratingly silly and critically acclaimed theatrical sketch group, Pig Island, who won The Golden Gibbo Award for Best Independent Production at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 2007. Monster of the Deep 3D is Claudia's first solo comedy show but as a solo performer, Claudia O'Doherty has performed at the Imperial Panda Festival in Sydney and the Last Tuesday Society in Melbourne. Claudia O'Doherty: Monsters of the Deep 3D was Winner of Best Comedy, Melbourne Fringe Festival, 2009.

Dan Sultan

Dan Sultan's career is exploding! He's released his second album that was Triple J album of the week, performed at both the recent Kev Carmody and the Paul Kelly tributes, and features in the upcoming film, Bran Nue Dae, with Geoffrey Rush and Missy Higgins. Sultan is a singer of immense quality and his sound can be best described as equal parts blues, soul and country. The songs are permeated with a dry sense of humour and showcase a storyteller's knack for transporting the audience into a world where the roads are dusty, the heart is lonely and the car stereo is forever tuned to the likes of Johnny Cash and Otis Redding. Don't miss him when comes to Brisbane Powerhouse with his big soul band and new tunes from his latest album, Get Out While You Can.

David O'Doherty: David O'Doh-Party

David O'Doherty: David O'Doh-Party can be described as uplifting, hilarious, surprising, profound! And really, really stupid! At the very least, it will be some of these things. David is very bad at describing his stand up comedy, but says this new show will be a bit like going down a flight of stairs in the dark. You think there are two steps left, but there only turns out to be one. David O'Doherty: David O'Doh-Party was winner if.com Award (formerly Perrier) for Best Comedy Show, Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2008.

Des Bishop

Comedian Des Bishop is a bona fide celebrity in his adopted home of Ireland and is now ready to embark on his first ever national stand up tour of Australia. Follow Des as he masters his acerbic observations on life in Australia - sure to uncover many parts of our own identity we don't even know ourselves. Sunday Age says that Des Bishop is "one of the finest performers at this year's festival. Fast paced and clever. A sure fire winner.".

Etiquette

By Ant Hampton and Silvia Mercuriali, Rotozaza (United Kingdom) Although performed in a public space, this gripping two-person performance is highly personal as you are the performer. The concept is simple. There is no-one watching - other people in the cafe or bar are not aware of it. Taking a seat with a friend or stranger, you wear headphones which tell you what to say to each other, or to use one of the objects positioned to the side. There is a kind of magic involved - for it to work you just need to listen and respond accordingly. From raw pain to delicate emotion, your story will surprise, amaze and move you in unexpected ways as you gain a new awareness of the power of dramatic dialogue and communication. This fascinating show opened in London in 2007 and has been performed around the world - by people just like you!

Fat Pig by Neil LaBute

When Tom meets Helen in a crowded restaurant, their chance encounter soon develops into a full on romance. Helen's beautiful, smart, and funny and just a little on the large size. But to Tom's self-obsessed work buddies, she's plain cross. As office gossip about their relationship turns increasingly malicious, Tom finds himself questioning whether his love for Helen outweighs the shallow stereotypes of his workmates.

Felicity Ward Reads from The Book of Moron

Award-winning comedian Felicity Ward presents The Book of Moron, an intimate performance of humorous stories; experienced, written and read out by the lady herself. From an awkward interaction with a handicapped Big Issue vendor, to bad poetry nights and spontaneous irritable bowel syndrome, there is no dose of personal truth that Felicity thinks should stay in her diary. So come along, sit back and relax, knowing that it didn't happen to you. You may have seen Felicity on television's The Ronnie Johns Half Hour, Spicks and Specks, Thank God You're Here or Good News Week. Felicity Ward Reads from The Book of Moron has received awards, including Winner of the Most Outstanding Newcomer, Melbourne Fringe 2009, and Nominee Most Outstanding Newcomer, MICF 2009.

Festival of Tibet

The Festival of Tibet is a five-day festival that will engage the senses in a celebration of the unique music and sacred arts of Tibet. The Tashi Lhunpo Monks of Tibet will create a stunning medicine Buddha Sand Mandala and renowned artist Karma Phuntsok will exhibit his cutting edge contemporary Tibetan Paintings. A Discussion Panel featuring prominent environmentalists on "Climate change on the roof of the world: Why Tibet matters" will allow a stimulating exchange on the importance of protecting Tibet's fragile environment. Kuzho Lama Geshe Tashi Tsering will give a public talk on 'Seed of Compassion: The Art of Happiness.' Each evening concludes with a different themed concert featuring Tenzin Choegyal, Tashi Lhunpo Monks of Tibet, The Australian Voices (prominent choral group), Trikaya (The Tibetan Book of the Dead) and Camerata of St John's (string orchestra). Please join your hosts to celebrate this Festival of Tibet.

Fieritalia Italian Festival

Fieritalia Italian Festival is Brisbane's largest Italian outdoor festival. New Farm Park is transformed into Little Italy with open air markets, food stalls, cafés and street entertainment. Almost 800 metres of flags in green, white and red flutter between the huge trees adding to the general merriment. Situated on the Brisbane River, the site is the perfect panorama for exhibitions, classic Italian vehicles and motorbikes displays. Mouthwatering Italian food, fragrant coffee, revitalizing gelati and energetic music make for a wonderful family day out. Try the crisp Italian wines and smooth Italian beer while you stroll through the colourful open air markets. Savour tantalizing woodfired oven pizzas, pasta, luscious sweets and sugary nougat under the 150 year old trees. A wide range of performers, children's rides and activities ensure the event sparkles with vitality and colour. Share the spirited atmosphere and richness of the Italian culture with others.

Frank Woodley: Bewilderbeest

One of Australia's favourite comedians brings a brand new hour of stand up, physical comedy and songs to Brisbane Powerhouse. Life is bewildering. Injustice. Unrequited love. Grapefruit. Since Lano and Woodley, Frank has been flat out! He has toured nationally and internationally with his smash-hit show, Possessed; created an award-winning animated short film, Chicken of God; been a guest on Spicks and Specks, Thank God You're Here and Good News Week; and even received a coveted Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. Whether his bendy brain is musing or his liquid limbs are flowing, an evening with Frank Woodley will send you away feeling tingly.

Gem and Jewellery Festival

Visitors will be able to see and buy rough stones, mineral specimens, fossils, cut stones, beads, lapidary machinery and books pertaining to lapidary as well as jewellery. Displays of hand manufactured silver jewellery by members of Lapidary Clubs will be on show. Faceting demonstrations will be conducted by members of the Australian Facetors Guild. Visitors will be able to fossick for their own gemstones or buy rough rocks and minerals.

Greg Sullivan: Antisexual

Experience Greg Sullivan: Antisexual. For 20 years Greg Sullivan has been randier than a bus full of footballers, and he's sick of it. In a world where everyone seems to want some sort of aphrodisiac, Greg longs to live without being constantly interrupted by sexual thoughts. He has reproduced, he's been sterilised and now it's time to put the cue back in the rack. Join Triple M Funny Man, Greg Sullivan as he searches for a nasal delivery spray which will kill off his libido. Antisexual will explore the history of aphrodisiacs, the economics of impotence and the evolutionary forces acting on us all. Greg will explain why he knows the Buddha was fat, why humans walk upright and why Iphones are so popular. At last a show that brings together philosophy, psychology, evolutionary behaviouralism, religion and whole heap of jokes.

Grimm Tales adapted by Carol Ann Duffy Dramatised by Tim Supple

With their wonderful world of adventure, fantasy and fun the tales of the Brothers Grimm have enthralled children and adults alike for Centuries. Featuring spellbinding characters, these stories are a fabulous escape into a delightful world where anything and everything is possible. From The Golden Goose to Hansel and Gretel, these modern adaptations infuse the mischievous spirit of the Grimm's original fables with a fresh vitality and humour. Suitable for children aged seven and up.

Hamlet

David Berthold directs this contemporary and compelling reinvention of Shakespeare's finest tragedy in his first production as Artistic Director of La Boite. David's recent credits include the world premieres of Saturn's Return for the Sydney Theatre Company and six acclaimed seasons of Holding The Man, which transfers to London's West End in May. One of Australia's most riveting young actors, Toby Schmitz, stars as the Prince of Denmark in his Queensland main stage debut, leading a top-shelf ensemble cast that includes Cocoloco's Trevor Stuart and Matilda Award winners Helen Howard and Eugene Gilfedder. With electrifying designs by Greg Clarke (The White Earth) and David Walters (The White Earth, The Pineapple Queen), Hamlet guarantees an exhilarating evening of edge-of-your-seat drama.

Hannah Gadsby: The Cliff Young Shuffle

So faced with an uphill battle she simply turned around. This show is about preparing for a graceful downhill shuffle. Hannah's droll deliveries punctuated by delightful wordplay and heart-breakingly funny, self-deprecating observations about her own life and family has delighted audiences all over the world. In 2009, she added the invitation-only Carlsberg Cat Laughs Festival in Kilkenny to her ever increasing list of international comedy festival appearances. Hannah's got people all over the world talking, so see her before she nicks off back overseas. Nominee Best Newcomer, Melbourne Comedy Festival 2009 Winner Best Newcomer, Adelaide Fringe Festival 2007 Please visit our website for a full list of Brisbane Comedy Festival performances.

Harley Breen: Personal Space

Harley Breen is a Fred-Flintstone-sized human living in a Bam Bam world, locked inside a three metre square bathroom. Come and see Harley Breen: Personal Space. It's not the night on the tiles he was planning - the going gets weird when you're a big man, in a tiny room, for a long time. One of Australia's hardest working and most respected stand-ups, and a fave of festivals from Melbourne to Edinburgh Harley takes a week from his work on the Aussie and UK circuits, to come home to Queensland and laugh off the claustrophobia.

Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones

The Queensland Art Gallery will be the exclusive Australian venue for a spectacular exhibition exploring the art of millinery. 'Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones' is the result of a collaboration between London's Victoria and Albert Museum and one of the world's foremost milliners, Stephen Jones. Exploring the fascinating world of millinery, the exhibition presents more than 250 hats and iconic headpieces, from the Victoria and Albert’s extensive collection and Jones's own archive. Exhibition organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Jason Byrne

Direct from a massive United Kingdom tour, Irish megastar Jason Byrne returns to Australia after a groundbreaking year. This year saw Jason become the highest selling act at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Don’t miss his first performance in Brisbane. “Byrne is consistently brilliant. This means that seeing him guarantees the following: an aching face, sore stomach muscles and, at some point, the realisation that to rock with laughter is not just a cliche. If you’ve seen him once, just saying or hearing his name makes you laugh out loud”, The Metro, United Kingdom.

John Waters: This Filthy World

Legendary filmmaker, writer and shock auteur supreme, John Waters makes his Brisbane debut with his devious one-man show; John Waters: This Filthy World. America's royal raconteur and director of cult film classics such as Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Cry Baby and Polyester, Waters is famous and infamous as 'The Pope of Trash'. In this rapid-fire comic monologue celebrating his joyously bad taste, Waters will regale with stories about his career from the Underground to Hollywood. Drawing on his childhood and early influences, with gay and hetero-flexible references and wry observations aplenty, Waters will divulge his innermost fascinations with true crime, exploitation films, fashion lunacy, and the extremes of the contemporary art world. Elevating trash culture to something sublime, this is a call to arms to all 'followers of filth'.

Josh Earl Versus The Australian Womens Weekly Childrens Birthday Cake Book

In 1985, Lyn Earl purchased a book that changed her life forever, as well as the lives of her three sons. That book was the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cake Book, and the inspiration for Josh Earl Versus The Australian Womens Weekly Childrens Birthday Cake Book. In 2008, Josh Earl performed a show where he briefly mentioned this book. The reaction was like nothing he had experienced before. People wanted to talk about this book. They couldn't concentrate on the next joke because they were thinking of the cakes in this book. Josh promised that he would come back next year and do a show all about this book. This is that show. The Age states "you'll want to give him a warm hug by the show's end. Fans of Flight of the Conchords take note."

Josh Thomas: Surprise!

Josh Thomas is a regular on 'Talkin' Bout Your Generation' and 'The 7pm Project'. He is a semi-regular on 'Good News Week' and appeared on 'Celebrity Masterchef', but his meringue didn't work. Join Josh Thomas: Surprise for a "fiercely funny" (The Age) event. "Energetic and original with a quirky sense of timing ... Josh left the audience in tatters," (The Courier Mail). Josh Thomas is, according to the Daily Telegraph, "one of the hottest comedians around".

King Lear by William Shakespeare

When the mighty King Lear decides to arrange his succession amongst his three daughters, he poses them a simple question: who loves me the most? But when his favourite daughter Cordelia refuses the challenge, an enraged Lear banishes her, little realizing how his own vanity has blinded him to the purest expression of love and loyalty. Quickly usurped by his scheming elder daughters, Lear is gradually driven mad by the enormity of his decision and its unintended consequences. Exiled on a wind-blasted moor, Lear's few remaining friends try to reveal the folly of his ways, in the desperate hope that it is not too late to save Lear's life and throne from the events he has unleashed. King Lear rages from political intrigues to the most intimate of family secrets as we witness a man unravelled by the misuse and abuse of naked power.

Kitty Flanagan - Charming and Alarming

Good News Week and The 7pm Project regular heads to Brisbane Powerhouse. Kitty Flanagan is preparing to launch herself on a largely unsuspecting Brisbane audience with the show Charming and Alarming. Charming and Alarming promises to be a fast paced evening of cracking stories, skilful characterisations and hard laughs. Armed with a collection of her best stand-up, Kitty likes to describe her comedy as "a little bit oowah" which is to say people often laugh then go "oowah, did she really say that?” Please visit our website for a full list of Brisbane Comedy Festival performances.

Let the Sunshine by David Williamson

Ageing Sydney radicals Toby and his wife Ros head north to escape scandal, only to find that their coastal refuge may contain more treacherous undercurrents than they thought. There's Natasha, the upwardly mobile 'Queen Bee of Noosa', an old schoolmate of Ros, and her brash property developer husband Ron - not to mention the potential minefield of which celebrity to invite to the next book club. When Ros and Toby's drop-out musician son falls in love with the high-flying lawyer daughter of Natasha and Ron, it's on for young and old as these two decidedly odd couples attempt to reconcile themselves to the love of their very own Romeo and Juliet.

Maeve Higgins

Shocking news: a witch caught Maeve Higgins eating one of her radishes and has forced her to write and perform a 'hilarious' new show with Nick Coyle. Only by blowing your mind will Maeve's cervix be returned. Join Ireland's darling Maeve Higgins (Kitten Brides) and Australia's resident Nick Coyle (Simply Fancy) in this enchanting show. Who knows what will happen when this Celtic fun-bomb and this Aussie dreamboat collide. Laughs? Sure - but enough laughs to give any future children a place to form for nine months? Maybe - with your help. So let's raise our glasses to the pair and say "one ticket, please!".

Melinda Buttle: Sista Got Flow

You may have already met Melinda at last year's festival debate or the Josh Thomas Variety Hour, but reacquaint yourself at this Brissy homegrown solo debut, Melinda Buttle: Sista Got Flow. Melinda is 27. Melinda teaches part time at a school for juvenile delinquents. Mel likes to bring it in life, especially when she rap battles. By 'it' she means wicked rhymes and a cardigan. And not to get too Susan Boyle on you, she has, um never been kissed. Since Melinda was a national finalist in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival's Raw Comedy competition she has appeared on The 7pm Project, been a guest on triple j's weekend breakfast show and had some chats to ABC 612's Richard Fidler. Now she is excited to be presenting her first, eagerly anticipated, solo show.

Michael Chamberlin: Keep Yourself Nice

As seen on The Comedy Channel, skitHOUSE and ROVE plus some stuff he isn't proud of and doesn't want to mention - come and see Michael Chamberlin: Keep Yourself Nice. "My dad often says, "Keep yourself nice." It just means be a good person. I think more people should take my dad's advice...including myself" says Michael Chamberlin. Warning: this show contains highly offensive material (it doesn't really, but Michael thinks that will gets people in).

Moonlight Cinema

Ford Fiesta Moonlight Cinema is an outdoor cinema screening new release, classic and cult films on the lawns of New Farm Park at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The Summer 2009/10 season runs from 9 December to 21 February, so gather a group of friends and relax with a picnic as the sun goes down and the screen lights up. Gates open at 6.00 p.m. and screenings start at sundown, approximately 7.00 p.m.

Mount Coot-tha Movember Fun Run - The Mousdash

Take your place on the start line for Brisbane's ultimate running challenge in Movember and support every bloke's favourite charity - Movember. The Mousdash Mt Coot-tha Fun Run is your chance to donate more than just a little sweat to the Movember charity by raising funds and awareness for men's health issues, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. The 10.5km Mousdash course will test even the seasoned runner, but with a breathtaking, 360 degree vista awaiting every competitor, the pleasure will outweigh the pain in this unparalleled running epic. Your Challenge: 10.5km clockwise circuit of Mt Coot-tha | Start & Finish Brisbane Botanic Gardens - Mt Coot-tha Rd Your Options: Individual; or Corporate Team

Oedipus Loves You

By Simon Dyle and Gavin Quinn, Pan Pan Theatre (Ireland) Don't miss Dublin's leading vanguard theatre ensemble on their first Australian tour. Punk rock sensibility strikes a fierce chord in this savvy update of Sophocles' classic drama of the ultimate dysfunctional family. Anarchic Dublin company, Pan Pan Theatre, bring decidedly modern twists and ample humour to their explorations and yet stay more true to the thrust and themes of the original than you might first think. Oedipus is still counselled by the wise Tiresias, but now the sightless sage is a Freudian analyst and ex-glam rocker. Sexual desire runs unchecked and tensions still seethe, but now the backdrop is the barbecue grill of Oedipus' suburban hideaway. The dramatic tension is maxed up by Gavin Quinn's remote-control direction and thrash metal performed live by the cast of five.

Pajama Men: Last Stand To Reason

The runaway success of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Pajama Men make their Brisbane debut: Pajama Men: Last Stand To Reason. Often described as indescribable, this award-winning American duo, Shenoah Allen and Mark Chavez will unleash a hurricane of bizarre characters onboard the Pajama Men's passenger train. They play robbers, killers, heroes, housewives and venom-vomiting demons. Expect split second character switches, high-energy story lines and some of the most hilarious, off-the-wall physical and verbal comedy around.

Performance Anxiety

If we've never had it so good, why do we feel so bad? Nationally acclaimed performer/choreographer Brian Lucas holds a mirror up to our age of anxiety, revealing reflections which dazzle and provoke in Performance Anxiety. Dance, movement, physical imagery, voice and sound combine to create this intriguing and confronting dance theatre work. Lucas draws on personal experience of the particular anxieties which arise when we find ourselves in front of a live audience, and explores the universal parallels that exist between the experiences of the professional performer and the struggle to "perform well" in our day-to-day lives, be it in the bedroom, the boardroom or the supermarket checkout queue. Performed in an intimate cabaret setting, sit back with a glass of wine and share in the tales of the terminally stressed, the people under pressure and the heroes on their small crusades.

Peter Helliar's Dreamboat Tour

Exciting and new. Come aboard, he's expecting you.** It's been two years since Pete has hit the stage with a solo show and he's doing it in style this March, with Peter Helliar's Dreamboat Tour. Peter Helliar is one of Australia's most loved standup comedians. Best known for his ten years alongside Rove McManus on ROVE, Pete has also penned a book, worked on radio with the likes of Judith Lucy and Myf Warhurst and has his first feature film due for release in 2010. Don't miss this chance to see Peter Helliar's dreamy new show - for a limited season only this March. ** That's a reference to The Love Boat, please note that you don't need to be an expert on The Love Boat to appreciate Pete's comedy stylings.

Pine Rivers Aussie Arvo

Celebrate what's great about being Australian at Aussie Arvo. Bring a chair and blanket and enjoy a great line-up of live music including the Royal Bounty Bush Band, Dissonance, Rough Red and Made in Australia's Aussie tribute show. Watch the JC Epidemic motocross displays and stunts, learn how to crack a whip like an expert, draw Your Vision for Australia at the flag art workshop and make some fun craft. There'll be old-fashioned kid's games, lamington eating competitions, Moovin' Balloonin', Dreamtime reptile shows, an animal farm and free rides, all concluding with a fireworks spectacular at 8pm. Relax at the Aussie Beer Tent and enjoy a wide range of food and refreshment options from on-site vendors.

Queensland Bulls Summer of Cricket

Summer's season of cricket heats up with the Ford Ranger Cup. Queensland has a proud record in interstate one-day cricket and been the benchmark in recent years, having won two of the past three Ford Ranger Cup titles. The last home game of the season against Victoria is a re-match of last summer's final and is a bonus for cricket fans with the match scheduled for a Saturday. Don't miss the action of KFC Twenty20 Big Bash! It's fast, fun and furious - interstate rivalry goes into overdrive through the Christmas-New Year period as the XXXX GOLD Queensland Bulls attempt to win the national Twenty20 crown.

Sammy J and Randy in Rickets Lane

Sammy J and Randy in Rickets Lane is the new show from the creators of the award-winning, international man/puppet musical hit Sammy J in the Forest of Dreams. Join Sammy J (skinny man) and Randy (purple puppet) as they navigate everyday life in a share house. Drive straight past Boringville, chuck a left on Goodtime Avenue and you'll find yourself in Rickets Lane. Sammy J and Heath McIvor's previous collaboration was Barry-nominated for Best Show (Melbourne International Comedy Festival), scored five-star reviews at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and went on to sell-out seasons in London's West End. Sammy J in The Forest of Dreams DVD in stores March.

Soundwave Festival

One of the biggest dates on the rock calendar returns in 2010 at Soundwave Festival! They are particularly proud to have enticed one of rock’s all time legendary artists, Faith No More, and one of today’s most talented and intriguing bands, My Chemical Romance to top the bill. Joining them will be indie legends and festival kings Jane's Addiction, the kings of dark punk AFI and one of the hottest bands in the world, Paramore. They are also thrilled to be graced by the presence of the newly reformed and legendary Sunny Day Real Estate and the hotly anticipated return of Get Up Kids and Alexisonfire. In true Soundwave fashion there will be plenty of great new bands to discover as well old and new favourites.

Steam Train Sunday

All aboard Steam Train Sunday! Travel through Brisbane on an historic steam train and relive the splendour of a bygone era. It's big loud fun as you board the steam train at Roma Street Station for a one hour trip through the City. Pass through twenty stations and enjoy two river crossings on your journey aboard vintage carriages. Steam Train Sunday runs on the first Sunday of each month from March to December 2010. There are three trips per day departing from Roma Street Station at 10:10 a.m., 11:40 a.m. and 1:10 p.m.. Bookings are essential.

Stitches and Craft Show

The Stitches and Craft Show is a unique event which has gained a reputation as the largest art, craft and design event in Australia. Featuring emerging independent crafters and designers, as well as over 200 retailers and suppliers, the show provides plenty of inspiration as well as the latest craft products. Expect to find fabrics, zines, knitting, project sheets, and more. Indie crafters and designers will also be there selling their handmade products, patterns and supplies. Workshops covering a variety of crafty pursuits from sewing to "do it yourself" printing are conducted throughout the show. Industry professionals will be there to host demonstrations and seminars, encouraging attendees to get involved and discover their inner creative genius. Daily fashion parades will showcase contemporary fashion design. Bought to you by Living Creatively, the online magazine dedicated to creativity, The Stitches and Craft Show is more than just an arts and crafts exhibition.

Summer of International Cricket

Summer sport in Brisbane will reach a fever pitch with the Cricket International Series commencing from mid November. Be part of the action when the first ball is pitched at the first game of the first test of the summer. Featuring exhilarating One Day tournaments and Test Series matches between local and international teams, Queensland's best cricketers are poised to thrill their fans on the field. 14 February 2010 - Australia vs West Indies - Gabba

The Butterfly Man of Kuranda Exhibition

Join them at the Queensland Museum, Southbank to see their amazing insects. The Butterfly Man of Kuranda is a spectacular and historic insect exhibition showcasing the Museum's F.P. and A.P. Dodd Collection of Tropical Insects from Australia and New Guinea. The exhibition focuses on 28 beautifully-arranged showcases of butterflies, beetles and moths dating from 1917 through to the 1960s. The brilliant colours and delicate forms of the insects on display give insight into the unique creatures that fill our rainforests, woodlands and urban areas and highlight Queensland's biodiversity. The museum is open 9.30am to 5.00 daily for you to view this exhibition.

The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl

The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl is a heart-warming story. Matilde's parents died laughing - literally - but she missed the killer punch line. In her new homeland of America, she staves off the boredom of cleaning the house of the uptight Lane by trying to create the funniest joke in the world. But when Lane's husband decides to leave her for an older woman, it is Matilde who must come to her rescue - if only she can remember the gag. Enter the whimsical world of The Clean House, a heart-warming story of love, loss and the life-affirming power of laughter.

The Eighteenth Annual Brisbane Blues Festival

The eighteenth edition of the Brisbane Blues Festival will return to The Jubilee Hotel in Fortitude Valley. The day will be like a gathering of old friends as the high powered Hipshooters and harmonica ace Doc Span and guitarist partner Ross Williams return to the blues festival stage after many years away. The line-up will also include The Trophy Brides, Jimi Beavis and the 385s, Asa Broomhall (solo), Doug Wilshire and the Tailspinners, Bluesville Station and The Mojo Webb Band. Doors will open at 3.00 p.m. with the first band from 4.00 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door on the day. Still featuring a two-stage format so the live music is non-stop from 4.00 p.m. till late.

The Eisteddfod

One of the most exciting independent theatre companies in the country, Melbourne-based Stuck Pigs Squealing make their Queensland debut, The Eisteddfod. This eloquent exploration into the lives of orphaned siblings Abalone and Gerture reveals their innermost fantasies and fears with compelling precision. Battling to win the adulation of the auditorium at the annual Eisteddfod, Abalone is again trying to prove himself the talent his mother believed him to be - but he can't do it alone. Chris Kohn's emphatic theatrical visioning and the poetic writing of Lally Katz combine once again in a witty and highly immersive blurring of real and imaginary worlds. Winner Green Room Award for Best Independent Production in 2004.

The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane

Hot acting property, Mitchell, is about to make it big professionally, but his personal life is a mess. His cunningly manipulative agent, Diane, knows that Mitchell can be the next big thing, if he can only overcome his 'slight recurring case of homosexuality'. When Mitchell falls for the young hustler Alex and tongues start wagging, Diane resorts to increasingly ridiculous schemes to keep the truth from coming out - literally. Douglas Carter Beane's wicked comedy is torn straight from the pages of today's celebrity magazines, and strips back the superficial glitz and glamour to reveal the hypocrisy and double-dealing that is the real price of fame.

The National Careers and Employment Expo

The National Careers and Employment Expo is the leading platform for organisations to present real jobs, career pathways and further education opportunities to thousands of Australians. Traditionally run over two days, the friendly and informal character of the event provides a welcome and unique environment for employers, career advisors, education and training providers to communicate directly with future employees and students. Attracting more than 115,000 people Australia wide, the event's career seminars and generous program of employment and training activities ensures visitors and exhibitors maximise their experience. The National Careers and Employment Expo is well recognised and established as a key component of any organisations recruitment, employer brand or student marketing strategy.

The Seven Stages of Grieving by Wesley Enoch and Deborah Mailman

The Seven Stages of Grieving is a contemporary Indigenous performance text performed by one woman. The play utilizes many theatrical styles drawn from both Indigenous and western traditions as the woman tells poignant and humorous stories of grief and reconciliation. The woman's journey through love, anger and loss, is a strong reminder of human strength, compassion and the will to survive. Workshop Offer: A 50 minute post-show workshop for school groups is available after every performance. The workshops will provide students with practical exercises to further explore themes and performance styles from the production. Education performance suitable for children from eight to 12 years.

The Sixth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

Established in 1993, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) is the Queensland Art Gallery's flagship international contemporary art event. It is the only major series of exhibitions in the world to focus exclusively on the contemporary art of Asia, the Pacific and Australia. In 2009, APT6 will profile the work of over 100 artists from 25 countries in the region, including a number of artists and artist collaborations never seen in Australia before. APT6 includes an extensive program of artist talks and performances, children's activities and music.

Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno

The underground hit Thom Pain (based on nothing) by Will Eno (Edinburgh, London, New York) has been described as 'stand up existentialism', and it gurgles with the grim humour and pain of life. Thom Pain has an itch to scratch, and with your help he might just find it. But first, he needs to share a few things with you, like the time his girlfriend woke up one morning and decided... oh, but he'll get back to you about that one... With nothing but a sharp suit and some even sharper stories, Thom is an everyman trying to make sense of the world, and his place in it.

Tour the Queensland Institute of Medical Research

Ever wondered what goes on in a medical research facility? Want to know what's being done about cancer, mental health, infectious diseases and other medical ailments? Each month the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) offers members of the public the opportunity to visit the Institute and see the inner workings of one of Australia's largest and most successful research facilities at absolutely no cost. Tours of QIMR's facility in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Herston are approximately two hours in length and include an audiovisual presentation, guided laboratory visit, modest morning tea and the opportunity to hear from some of Australia's leading medical researchers. Booking are essential. Call or email to arrange your visit, or visit the website for more information.

Valentino, Retrospetive: Past/Present/Future

This major exhibition is dedicated to the career of celebrated Italian couturier Valentino Garavani. Exclusive to Brisbane, the celebration will feature a stunning array of haute couture designs tracing Valentino's career from the 1959 opening of his fashion house in Rome through to the presentation of his final collection in January 2008, as well as recent designs from the house of Valentino. The exhibition will be complemented by an exhibition from children featuring work from the Gallery's collection exploring the relationship between fashion and art. Exhibition designed and realised by Les Arts Decoratifs, Paris, with the assistance of the Valentino fashion house. Organised in Australia by the Queensland Art Gallery and Art Exhibitions Australia.

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is an education performance, suitable for Years 10 to 12. Recognised as the most significant play of the 20th century by the National Theatre of Great Britain, Waiting for Godot opens with two men waiting on a desolate road for the arrival of another man, Mr Godot. They pass the time with philosophical debate, petty arguments and game playing. Funny, sad, trivial and profound in every moment, the characters typify something about us all, as we strive to understand a world which has many more questions than answers. Workshop Offer: A 50 minute post-show workshop for school groups is available after all 10.00a.m. and 12.00p.m. performances. The workshops will provide students with practical exercises to further explore themes and performance styles from the production.

When the Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell

Already being hailed as an Australian classic, When the Rain Stops Falling by Andrew Bovell (Lantana, Strictly Ballroom) is a landmark theatrical event. From the claustrophobia of a small 1950s London flat to the windswept coast of South Australia and into the heart of the Australian desert, this stunning epic spans four generations and two families living at the opposite ends of the world bound together by a shared past. When Gabriel Law retraces his father's footsteps in an attempt to solve the mystery of his disappearance, he is forced to confront the truth of a family secret and find the strength to accept what has gone before, in order to follow a new life.

Wil Anderson: Wilful Misconduct

The host of The Gruen Transfer is heading to Brisbane with his brand-new show, Wil Anderson: Wilful Misconduct. 2009 marked Wil's return to the telly, the release of his second book, Friendly Fire and his first ever DVD, Wilosophy - a show that toured nationally and abroad. This is what people had to say about it: "Surprisingly heartfelt, regularly courageous and consistently funny... brilliant" The Age. "Superbly crass, irreverent, smart, manic, soulful and consistently hilarious," The Sun-Herald. Be the first to see his brand-new show. Please visit our website for a full list of Brisbane Comedy Festival performances.

Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge

The Wilson HTM Brisbane to the Gold Coast Cycle Challenge is a mass participation ride from Brisbane to the Gold Coast for over 10,000 cyclists. The event starts at South Bank and utilises the South East Busway to travel to Eight Mile Plains and then travels through Eagleby, Logan, Beenleigh, Coomera and Helensvale to the Gold Coast with a finish at Southport. The 100 kilometre ride starts at South Brisbane progressively from 5.15a.m. to 6.45a.m., and the 60 kilometre ride starts in Logan City Council at Albert River Park at 8.00a.m. In addition to Bicycle Queensland's aim of increasing the awareness of cycling the event also raises funds for health related charity/research organisations for which cycling forms part of the solution to their challenge. The beneficiaries for 2009 were the Heart Foundation and Diabetes Australia - Queensland.

Wondermart

Wondermart is a unique, interactive audio tour that takes you on a journey through the familiar surroundings of the supermarket. Wearing headphones and anonymous behind your trolley, you are guided around the aisles immersed in a private soundscape. The real blurs with the imaginary, and the every day setting of the 'high density retail environment' is rediscovered for decidedly non commercial reasons.

World Music for Migratory Waders Festival

World Music for Migratory Waders is the finale of the 2010 Wetlands Festival. It is a community celebration in honour of the 40,000 migratory birds who visit Boondall Wetlands every year. Be entertained and educated through a mix of music, song, dance and fun. A range of multi-cultural music and dance performances will be on the main stage. Many performances represent the countries the migratory birds pass through. There will be guest speakers, artistic displays, roving performers, prize giveaways, information stalls and interactive workshops as well as a children activities area. International and local cuisine will be on offer throughout the day.

World Theatre Festival

The Brisbane Powerhouse already has a comedy festival, a queer film festival, various music festivals and even a kid's festival. Isn't it about time Brisbane Powerhouse covered all bases by having a world-class theatre festival too? Here it is - the inaugural World Theatre Festival. There is so much new, exciting, innovative and experimental theatre being created locally and around the world and we want to bring it to you. The inaugural program defies traditional theatre conventions with works that demand audience engagement from Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia as well as intriguing installations and artist-run workshops. They hope this annual festival will not only engage and inspire audiences but will also encourage fellow arts practitioners to get involved, to challenge and invigorate their practice. Creatives involved in this year’s workshops include Gavin Quinn (Pan Pan Theatre - Dublin), Rotozaza (United Kingdom), Lally Katz(Australia) and The Suitcase Royale (Australia).

Young Designers Market

For all you fashion lovers out there, the Young Designers Market features some of the best of Brisbane’s up and coming designers and artists selling a range of fashion and accessories, jewellery, homewares, object design furniture and arts. The Young Designers Market display around 80 stalls and trades alongside the weekly Lifestyle Market. The Market will be located on the lawn which runs along Little Stanley Street in the heart of South Bank’s restaurant precinct. Markets held first Sunday of every month.

Young Members Stockies Lunch

Brush off your boots and grab your hats for the Stockies Lunch celebrating the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame & Outback Heritage Centre on Friday, March 12th. Guest of honour are Bill and Jan Hayes. Organised by the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame Young Members the all Aussie lunch at Deery's Restaurant, Story Bridge Hotel, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, will showcase several Australians with country connections.