Brisbane Festival’s inaugural program under new artistic director Ebony Bott is set to deliver a diverse and accessible cultural experience, anchored by the Olivier Award-nominated musical The Choir of Man. The production, a high-energy show featuring a working onstage bar and a compilation of hits by Queen, Sia, Paul Simon, and Guns N’ Roses, returns to Queensland for the first time after previously selling out venues across Australia and enjoying a five-year run on London’s West End. Its season at the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, which itself marks a return after a six-year absence, has already been extended due to strong demand.
Bott, who took up the role in October after leading contemporary performance at the Sydney Opera House, described The Choir of Man as “the best night down the pub you’re ever going to have – but with better singing.” She emphasized the show’s celebration of male friendship and camaraderie as a positive counterpoint to discussions around toxic masculinity. The 2020 Brisbane season of the musical was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but Bott has positioned it as a central highlight of this year’s festival.
The program is designed to appeal widely, with offerings ranging from sunrise yoga sessions and early morning DJ sets to the annual Riverfire fireworks display. It also features new artistic works such as Strong is the New Pretty, a play by prominent playwright Suzie Miller that opens the festival on September 4. The production explores the development and launch of the AFL Women’s competition and is presented in collaboration with Sydney Theatre Company and Trish Wadley Productions. Bott praised the ensemble for their combined theatrical and football skills, noting the significance of the story being told by a female-led cast and creative team.
Despite broader economic challenges affecting many Australians, Bott reported strong ticket sales and underscored the festival’s commitment to accessibility, with approximately 70 percent of events offered free of charge. Among public attractions is a nightly laser, light, and water sculpture show along the Brisbane River. Bott, originally from Perth and experienced in major arts institutions including the Adelaide Festival Centre and Arts Centre Melbourne, said she had been warmly welcomed in Brisbane and praised the local artistic community’s enthusiasm and support.
Brisbane Festival, often described by Bott as “a very fit festival” that takes over the city, promises this year to continue its tradition of vibrant celebration, blending established favorites with new works and broad community involvement.