Curtain Up: The Shows Worth Leaving the House For at QPAC This Season
Brisbane’s theatre calendar is looking dangerously good this winter and beyond, with Queensland Performing Arts Centre serving up everything from modern spins on Shakespeare and cult-classic musicals to razor-sharp comedy, romance, nostalgia and a little sporting history.
Whether you’re planning a date night to remember, a family outing or simply chasing an excuse for pre-show pasta and a martini, here’s what’s lighting up the stage over the coming months…
Macbeth | 6–21 June
If Shakespeare were writing for the doomscroll generation, it’d probably look a lot like this. In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Shake & Stir Theatre Co are reimagining Macbeth as a dark, slick and media-fuelled spiral into ambition, power and public image. Before the curtain rises, settle in at Midtown Bar or lean into something moodier with a glass at Maeve Wine.
Beetlejuice The Musical | 7 June – 19 July
Chaotic, camp and gloriously over-the-top, Beetlejuice The Musical is finally haunting Brisbane. Expect huge sets, sharp comedy and enough spectacle to make your inner theatre kid very happy, all wrapped up in one wonderfully unhinged night at QPAC. We’d suggest kicking things off with dinner at Hello Please or gathering the group for a feast at Chu The Phat before the insanity begins.
Fantastic Mr Fox | 24–28 June
Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s smash-hit adaptation of Fantastic Mr Fox is burrowing back into Brisbane this June, bringing all the clever chaos and quirky charm of the beloved classic with it. Expect live actors, lush animations and enough mayhem to keep little cubs and grown-ups equally entertained. Afterwards, continue the school holiday fun with dumplings and noodles at Chu The Phat.
Pride & Prejudice | 10–26 July
After dazzling audiences last year, Pride and Prejudice returns to the Playhouse stage in all its witty, romantic glory. This Queensland Theatre adaptation leans fully into the humour, chemistry and ballroom drama, proving once again that enemies-to-lovers never really goes out of style. Make a night of it & fill your drinks card with dinner at Marlowe or a long lunch at Southside before the show.
The Book of Mormon | 31 July – 20 September
Still outrageously funny after all these years, The Book of Mormon returns to Brisbane this July. Created by the darkly hilarious minds behind South Park, it’s sharp, ridiculous and somehow still one of the smartest musicals around. If you only book one comedy this season, make it this one, and be sure to book a pre-show dinner at Julius or Bar Rosa *well* in advance, as they’ll fill quickly!
Death of a Salesman | 28 August – 6 September
There’s classic theatre, and then there’s Death of a Salesman. Arriving in Brisbane for a strictly limited season, this critically acclaimed production stars Anthony LaPaglia under the direction of incredible theatre-maker Neil Armfield. Powerful, devastating and timeless in all the right ways, this is shaping up to be one of the season’s major theatrical events. We reckon theatrical drama pairs well with the dramatic flavours of Mexico at El Planta or Portugal at Lisboa Caffe.
Strong Is The New Pretty | 1–19 September
From acclaimed Australian playwright Suzie Miller comes a world premiere charting the rise of the AFLW and the women who refused to let the game overlook them any longer. Strong Is The New Pretty promises heart, grit and plenty of emotion, telling a story fuelled by determination, resilience and belief. Even if you’ve never watched a game of footy in your life, this one sounds impossible not to get swept up in, and the best pours to pair would have to be at Saccharomyces or Hello Please.
Anastasia The Musical | 16 September – 18 October
Romantic, lavish and packed with sweeping Broadway spectacle, Anastasia The Musical arrives in Brisbane this spring. Expect soaring ballads, beautiful costumes and enough old-world glamour to transport you somewhere far beyond South Brisbane for the evening. It’s the kind of theatre night that calls for cocktails beforehand at Marlowe and lingering over dessert afterwards Maeve Wine Bar.
Fiddler on the Roof | 9–25 October
Fresh from a record-breaking run in London’s West End, Fiddler on the Roof lands at QPAC this October for a strictly limited season. Warm, moving and packed with iconic songs, this critically acclaimed revival is shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest theatre moments. Consider this your sign to finally see the musical everyone’s been talking about, and pair it with a family banquet at Chu the Phat or Southside.
From gothic musicals and Shakespearean spirals to classic romance and Broadway spectacle, there’s plenty worth booking ahead for at QPAC this season. And with Fish Lane just across the road, consider this your sign to make a whole night of it.
