Escape into a kaleidoscopic disco of celestial delights as Candy Social Club returns with their next installment: Platinum Disco.

Presented by Richie LeStrange and Backbone Youth Arts.

Nestled in the Seven Hills nature reserves, join us in our Amphitheatre oasis and revel in the celebration of identity, liberation, pure joy and local artists as we dance under the setting sun.

Dressed in your most luminous platinum fashions, Candy Social Club Platinum Disco will transform into a retro-futuristic, psychedelic chrome sanctuary for connection and celebration.

Dedicated to the delicious underground of Brisbane performing arts scene, Candy Social Club loudly and proudly twists the lolly wrapper on queer club nights, exploding in an eclectic array of music, performance, empowerment, liberation, and celebration.

We acknowledge this event takes place on the stolen lands of the Jaggera and Turrbal people, and we honour their ongoing connection to the lands, skies and waters. We pay our respects to all elders past and present, and extend our love to all First Nations communities attending. Always was, always will be.

a light-hearted and sometimes serious romp that tries to effectively answer the question “Why are you like this?” 

WORK IN PROGRESS SHOWING AND WORKSHOP

By Fen Carter

It's a common misconception that the movie ends and credits roll once you come out to someone. The Label is just the beginning and if you're asexual, the Label comes with a lecture and police-brand investigations into every crevice of your love life. 

Let Fen Carter be your lantern bearing guide through the life of an asexual person: shining light on issues of medicalisation, growing up different and intimacy of all kinds as they peel back the Label for the people they have just come out to.  

An Asexual's Guide to Love and Sex is a light-hearted and sometimes serious romp that tries to effectively answer the question “Why are you like this?”

An ancient story told by new gods.

WORK IN PROGRESS SHOWING AND WORKSHOP
By theatrePUNK co.

MEDEA: THE WITCH OF CORINTH' is a magickal adaptation of Euripedes’ Medea, by theatre maker and witchcraft practitioner El Waddingham & directed by Annabel Gilbert.

It’s the 1970’s. Second-wave feminism is sweeping the Western world. A new-age witch born of ancient magic is being betrayed by all the men around her. Until a female force too strong to ignore comes knocking, and empowers her to take charge, whatever the cost. 

Beware the season of the witch, and her loyal, sirenic coven. 

This isn't your grandma's Medea - it's a concoction of live ritual, dance and traditional Greek theatre, blended to create an experiential piece of performance art. A deep exploration of the danger and joy of social movements, the work seeks to interrogate why women have relentlessly been drawn towards witchcraft throughout history. Daring, dark and divine, for anyone who’s felt the call of something greater from the ashes of the past.

A bumbling artist. A ruined masterpiece. Less than 50 minutes to create a new one. Things are about to get messy!

THEATRE PERFORMANCE
By Brymore Productions

International children's theatre makers, Brymore Productions, return from the Edinburgh Fringe with their ode to creativity, ARTISTE. Witness this interactive exhibition of physical comedy and crafty clowning, as our Artist attempts to create a masterpiece in less than 50 minutes. Mr Bean meets the Mona Lisa in this high-energy, paint-splattered comedy suited for the young and young at heart.

Fun for the whole family at the seven hills hub courtyard

CIRCUS WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND MORE!

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

Kids and families are invited to Backbone for a day chockful of free events!

Highlights include:

• Free Circus Workshop. Learn juggling, play with hula hoops, and get skipping with world-renowned circus artist, Chelsea McGuffin.

• Outdoor Performances

• And More!

Irreverent, Heartfelt and wait, what did she say?

COMEDY AND BURLESQUE PERFORMANCE
By Thalia Novela

Subtitles Not Included is a storytelling experience of being a gender non-conforming immigrant from a Latinx country into Australia. Through the arts of drag, stand up and burlesque, Thalia Novela will guide you through a journey of hard work, gender expression and love. This show is irreverent, but it also combines heartfelt experiences.

It’s always been someone’s apocalypse

WORK IN PROGRESS SHOWING

By Damian Tatum

A debacle Production

How long has it been there? An itch you can’t scratch. 

That feeling, A silent alarm, sounding under the fog of you. 

Stone the Crows is, primarily, the story of four crows incrementally shot off an electrical line in front of the last tree in existence. In reality: four actors, perform upon a balancing apparatus, not knowing the order in which they will perish. 

A faux classic, a cheap thrill, rapturous consequences, silent hopes – our actors staging their harbingers of death, get more than they bargain for as reality and fiction blur. 

It’s always been someone’s apocalypse.

Yours might just be now.

Everyone has their own obstacle course

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Grace Longwill

Being a human with a body can be its own kind of challenge. Stubbed toes, bumped foreheads, grazed knees- mundane and frustrating injuries that do nothing but slow you down. Obstacle heightens the everyday, transforming the frustrating and mundane ordeal of having a body into a series of playful challenges, that the audience can choose to watch or participate in, with freedom to play on the installation for the length of the festival! Let your ironically named host, Grace, encourage you to embrace the ridiculous, make glorious messes, and transform failure into fun, while telling some of her own story along the way. Everyone has their own obstacle course- but it doesn’t mean we have to run it alone. 

WORK IN PROGRESS SHOWING

By A Little Life Theatre

What does it mean to be objectified, looked at, cut open, torn apart and put back together again? What is a body and what stories does it hold? How are bodies both at once abhorrent and beautiful?

The Politics of Undressing is a work of physical theatre that combines elements of iconic bombshell blondes throughout the centuries as our protagonist transforms from ingenue, debutante, femme fatale, girl next door, monstrous beguiling creature, and more. 

Drawing upon imagery from popular culture and art forms like burlesque A Little Life Theatre creates a work of contemporary relevance that casts a critical lens on the politicisation of bodies.

IT’s TIME FOR A TAKEOVER!

A FULL DAY OF WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND MORE

From Digi Youth Arts

Our friends at Digi Youth Arts are taking over the Seven Hills hub for a full day of Backbone Festival. Watch this space for a stocked line up of workshops, performances and more!

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime through all your favorite films!

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Fake Blood

You know tales of adventurers and tomb raiders, well get ready for the ultimate voyage through the ages! Join the brave Jack Sharpe and the beautiful Lady Penelope as they race against time and the nefarious Dr. Invictus on their quest to reach the Tree of knowledge.

Join the cast of Fake Blood as they take you on the greatest adventure of all time through the cinematic history of adventure movies from the 1920’s to now. Bear witness to the evolution of a genre and the effect these movies have had on society.

Everyone has their own obstacle course

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Grace Longwill

Being a human with a body can be its own kind of challenge. Stubbed toes, bumped foreheads, grazed knees- mundane and frustrating injuries that do nothing but slow you down. Obstacle heightens the everyday, transforming the frustrating and mundane ordeal of having a body into a series of playful challenges, that the audience can choose to watch or participate in, with freedom to play on the installation for the length of the festival! Let your ironically named host, Grace, encourage you to embrace the ridiculous, make glorious messes, and transform failure into fun, while telling some of her own story along the way. Everyone has their own obstacle course- but it doesn’t mean we have to run it alone. 

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Jacob Watton

Two best friends get ready to go out on their big adventure to the beach. But what will they need? Swimmers so they can get in the water? Sunscreen for slipping, slopping and slapping? Maybe there will be pirates at the beach so they of course need to bring their swords. They will need some help to get ready for their big beach adventure so come ready to help out! The Great Beach Adventure is a side-splitting-ly funny, family outing that you won’t soon forget. Whether it’s painting Jacob in sunscreen so he doesn’t get burnt or helping Courtney prepare for her underwater expedition with the fish. The whole family will be screaming and shouting for more. Who knows, maybe after the show YOU will be ready for your very own Great Beach Adventure.

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime through all your favorite films!

THEATRE PERFORMANCE AND Q&A

By Fake Blood

You know tales of adventurers and tomb raiders, well get ready for the ultimate voyage through the ages! Join the brave Jack Sharpe and the beautiful Lady Penelope as they race against time and the nefarious Dr. Invictus on their quest to reach the Tree Of Knowledge.

Join the cast of Fake Blood as they take you on the greatest adventure of all time through the cinematic history of adventure movies from the 1920’s to now. Bear witness to the evolution of a genre and the effect these movies have had on society.

This performance includes a 20min post-show Q&A.

Open your eyes to the world of young talent!

OPEN MIC

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

Are you under 18 with a talent to share with the world? We want YOU! Backbone is hosting the inaugural Eyes Wide Open Mic to welcome Young People to the stage to show off their skills. We want Young Artists from any discipline; theatre, music, comedy, drag, poetry, cosplay, storytelling and everything in between.

Backbone Youth Arts has over 35 years of history championing the voices and artistry of Young People, empowering Young Artists with the tools to tell their own stories and create their own work.  Eyes Wide Open Mic aims to give young artists the agency to make their own creative decisions and fuel their passion for the performing arts and storytelling.

Follow the link below to register your talent now!

(Noun). A public announcement dealing with a matter of great importance.

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Ipswich Girls Grammar School Senior Drama Club

Directed by Maisie Crosdale

Written by Maisie Crosdale & Ipswich Girls Grammar School Senior Drama Club

Facilitated by Maisie Crosdale and Martelle Simon-Green 

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

This is our proclamation.

You get one chance to ask what you want. What do you say? How do you ask the perfect question about the world? What happens when it's not the answer you were hoping for.

How can we learn to make our own opinions and OWN them?

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Jacob Watton and Courtney Wagner

Two best friends get ready to go out on their big adventure to the beach. But what will they need? Swimmers so they can get in the water? Sunscreen for slipping, slopping and slapping? Maybe there will be pirates at the beach so they, of course, need to bring their swords. They will need some help to get ready for their big beach adventure so come ready to help out! The Great Beach Adventure is a side-splitting-ly funny, family outing that you won’t soon forget. Whether it’s painting Jacob in sunscreen so he doesn’t get burnt or helping Courtney prepare for her underwater expedition with the fish. The whole family will be screaming and shouting for more. Who knows, maybe after the show YOU will be ready for your very own Great Beach Adventure.

A live reality tv show about one of the most difficult things in the world… being a teenage girl.

STAGED SCRIPT READING

By Virag Dombay.

Fight Like A Girl is a live reality TV show created and performed by youth about one of the most difficult things in the world… being a teenage girl. The challenges are designed to test the mental, physical and social aptitude of each contestant as they try to win the ultimate prize… a guaranteed 100 likes on any social media post. Because that’s what all teenage girls want…

This show is a staged script reading of the first iteration of Fight Like A Girl. Following the reading, there will be a Q and A with opportunity for audience members to share their feedback. You may also be asked to provide written feedback.

Tune in, the trees are whispering…

RADIO PLAY

Created by Backbone’s Young Creators (Skill Builders)

Written by Martelle Simon-Green and Maisie Crosdale

For Backbone Youth Arts 2023

There was once a magical tree that had stood tall and proud since the dawn of time and it remained hidden to those who did not know its magical secret… until a young girl named Lily hears a voice. Follow Lily on a journey of enchantment, trickery, and a lot of quick thinking as she discovers the mystical secrets of the First Tree.

The First Tree was created in collaboration with Backbone’s Young Creators, during our Skill Builders Workshops (Age 8-11). This work is a site-specific radio play - meaning participants were asked to gather inspiration, locations and even sound effects from the Seven Hills Hub and its surrounding environment to create their radio play. 

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime through all your favorite films!

THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Fake Blood

You know tales of adventurers and tomb raiders, well get ready for the ultimate voyage through the ages! Join the brave Jack Sharpe and the beautiful Lady Penelope as they race against time and the nefarious Dr. Invictus on their quest to reach the Tree Of Knowledge.

Join the cast of Fake Blood as they take you on the greatest adventure of all time through the cinematic history of adventure movies from the 1920’s to now. Bear witness to the evolution of a genre and the effect these movies have had on society.

Everyone has their own obstacle course

INTERACTIVE THEATRE PERFORMANCE

By Grace Longwill

Being a human with a body can be its own kind of challenge. Stubbed toes, bumped foreheads, grazed knees- mundane and frustrating injuries that do nothing but slow you down. Obstacle heightens the everyday, transforming the frustrating and mundane ordeal of having a body into a series of playful challenges, that the audience can choose to watch or participate in, with freedom to play on the installation for the length of the festival! Let your ironically named host, Grace, encourage you to embrace the ridiculous, make glorious messes, and transform failure into fun, while telling some of her own story along the way. Everyone has their own obstacle course - but it doesn’t mean we have to run it alone. 

a light-hearted and sometimes serious romp that tries to effectively answer the question “Why are you like this?” 

WORK IN PROGRESS SHOWING AND DISCUSSION

By Fen Carter

It's a common misconception that the movie ends and credits roll once you come out to someone. The Label is just the beginning and if you're asexual, the Label comes with a lecture and police-brand investigations into every crevice of your love life. 

Let Fen Carter be your lantern bearing guide through the life of an asexual person: shining light on issues of medicalisation, growing up different and intimacy of all kinds as they peel back the Label for the people they have just come out to.  

An Asexual's Guide to Love and Sex is a light-hearted and sometimes serious romp that tries to effectively answer the question “Why are you like this?”

TIME TO WAKE UP BACKBONE FESTIVAL 2023!

OPENING NIGHT EVENT

At Backbone Youth Arts

Join us to celebrate the first night of Backbone Festival at the Seven Hills Hub! With performances from your favourites Richie LeStrange, Thalia Novela, and more!

Let’s kick off Backbone Festival with a bang!