Vibrant queer events to highlight Brisbane Festival

This year’s Brisbane Festival kicks off this weekend with a host of exciting events, including a range of shows celebrating the LGBTIQ+ community.

Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Queenslanders will embrace the Festival as it brings the community together through the joy of rich arts experiences that celebrate positivity, resilience, and hope.

“The 2021 program has a real focus on connecting Brisbane, bringing life to the city’s streets, suburbs, and cultural venues with diverse and unique performances,” Minister Enoch said.

“Showcasing 63 Queensland companies and employing more than 1,000 local artists, this year’s Brisbane Festival program will also feature 168 First Nations artists engaged across the 23-day festival, the largest in the Festival’s history.”

This year’s Brisbane Festival showcase of queer events includes a First Nations Fashion night, jazz drag extravaganza Razzle Dazzle Riot, and appearances by local burlesque favourites Briefs at Cover Up and Dirty Laundry.

Bowerytopia will be a radical queer costume and dance party at the Tivoli, inspired by and honouring Australian performance artist, fashion designer, and LGBTIQ+ icon Leigh Bowery.

Demolition promises a wild collision of performance and social activism, featuring women and gender diverse people reclaiming space through cabaret and theatre.

Non-binary actor and musician Hugh Sheridan will star in Hughman, spinning iconic beats from Sinatra to George Michael alongside some of Australia’s hottest dancers. 

Festival Director Louise Bezzina said that the Festival captured Brisbane’s diversity and public spirit.

“The curation of the 2021 Festival has at its heart two things, celebration and community,” Bezzina told Pink Advocate. 

“Community meaning ‘public spirit’, signifying mutual recognition and the pleasure of holding something in common. 

“What are we without public spirit and the friendships we cultivate in communities? 

“Critical to this spirit is a diversity of voices, telling stories, sharing artistry, warmly inviting each one of you to connect anew.”

The Brisbane Festival launches this Friday 3 September, concluding on Saturday 25 September with fireworks at South Bank.

Full details of the range of events are available online.