What’s in the Woods?

Your babY’s first welcome into the world of theatre

By Brymore Productions

Be transported to a soft and cosy woodland, right out of a picture book, where each new season is full of natural wonders waiting to be discovered by young, inquisitive minds. Enjoy an engaging and interactive story by the campfire before embarking on your own sensory exploration of the woods. Tailor made for audiences aged 0-3 and filled with performance, puppetry and play ‘What’s In The Woods?’ is a gentle welcome to the world of theatre.

“Fantastic. Such a safe and welcoming space.” - Audience Review

“Incredibly skilled in their craft” - Nothing Ever Happens In Brisbane

What's in the Woods? has been developed as part of the new Backbone Theatre for Babies program, developed with company-in-residence Brymore Productions. 

Rhythmology

You’re invited to the house party!

By Tyson Goddard

The Rhythmology cast returns and takes the audience back in time to where it all started ... .in someone's garage. 

Picture it, your cousin is grabbing the bag of ice, your playlist is on point and the pre-game drinks are hitting. You better warm up those vocals, you don’t want to be shown up by that aunty who is always stealing the mic when the guitar comes out.

You smell good, look good and feel like dancing because you’re headed to the house party of the year!

Experience a journey that captures the deep and varied flavours of Meanjins street culture and leads you along an unexpected path of live dance and music, culture and connection.

For one night only Rhythmology takes a voyeuristic look into the imagination and creativity of its all-POC cast, spoiling you with some of Meanjins brightest and most exciting performers. 

Metamorphosis

Transcend from the cocoon into the cultural renaissance.

By Haus of Coco

In the culture of modern-day society, reconnecting with one's past is the ultimate transfusion of identity. Blossom from your inner self and connect with what makes you who you are. ‘Metamorphosis’ explores transformation through a labyrinth of different art forms, exploring identity in a dynamic 1-hour show. This story of transformation will be performed by the collective ‘Haus of Coco’ featuring drag artists Crimson Coco and Gia Von She. Crimson Coco a Pinay trailblazer with an eclectic hip-hop style, culminates Filipino colour and vibrance, to explore culturally through sharp rigid movements, with a blend of sensuality and grandeur. Alongside Assyrian/ Samoan drag powerhouse Gia Von She, a bonafide natural talent, will share her unique story through the power of her incredible voice.

Metamorphosis is never a painless journey, but the end result is our true self.

Dearly Devoured

TIME CONSUMES ALL. THE BEAST CONSUMES TIME.

By Backbone Ensemble

Some call it Leviathan, others the Holy Devourer, but an unlucky few call it home. Old and young, heretical and devout, willing and unwilling, these seven souls stomach a so-called ‘life’ in the belly of the beast, with only the echo of the it’s giant heart to track the passage of time.

Waiting beside each other for eternity, our stewing sacrifices know it’s best to grin and bear it until the unexpected arrival of a lonely bride. Join them in digesting what it is to be selfish, selfless, god-fearing, god-mongering. What it is to taste the life promised to you before it’s ripped from your mouth.

A new work devised by the 2024 Backbone Ensemble, Dearly Devoured is the product of the 18- to 30-year-old artists that gather at the Seven Hills Hub every Tuesday to learn, collaborate and create.

The Playground In the Sky

Who says a playground has to be on the ground?

By Virag Dombay Productions and Room to Play Kids

After floods have devastated the streets of Brisbane, ten-year-old George looks for a silver lining after his family’s home has been ruined. He finds it in a mysterious girl, Melanie, who shows George an impossible playground hidden on a floating island above the city. On this playground in the sky, George, Melanie, and all the neighbourhood kids discover the joys and hardships of moving on from disaster through imagination, friendship, and embracing the wonderful unknown.

Presented by Virag Dombay Productions and Room to Play Kids, this brand new Brisbane-based work by playwright Harry Fritsch will inspire and amaze. Don't miss this one-night-only performance.

Pony Club (Work-In-Progress)

7 horcruxes. 4 rural high-schoolers. 1 famous fan-fic account.

By Observatory Theatre

PONY CLUB is an overnight fanfiction sensation - with over 90 thousand reads and 22 thousand favourites, the title is a well loved Potterhead favourite. Little do the fans know that author, PonyLuvr459, is actually a group of teenage misfits from rural Queensland, and they plan to keep it that way. That is until one of their most loyal fans goes missing, and all eyes turn to PonyLuvr459 to help solve the case.

From one of Meanjin’s brightest emerging playwrights, Grace Wilson (Doghole, Goodbye Eli Anderson), comes a brand new work that explores the complexities of fanfiction, finding identity and how isolation brings us all together.

Metamorphosis

Transcend from the cocoon into the cultural renaissance.

By Haus of Coco

In the culture of modern-day society, reconnecting with one's past is the ultimate transfusion of identity. Blossom from your inner self and connect with what makes you who you are. ‘Metamorphosis’ explores transformation through a labyrinth of different art forms, exploring identity in a dynamic 1-hour show. This story of transformation will be performed by the collective ‘Haus of Coco’ featuring drag artists Crimson Coco and Gia Von She. Crimson Coco a Pinay trailblazer with an eclectic hip-hop style, culminates Filipino colour and vibrance, to explore culturally through sharp rigid movements, with a blend of sensuality and grandeur. Alongside Assyrian/ Samoan drag powerhouse Gia Von She, a bonafide natural talent, will share her unique story through the power of her incredible voice.

Metamorphosis is never a painless journey, but the end result is our true self.

WOman

Love, WOmen xx

By WOmen

Influenced by Euripides' Medea, our performance, titled 'WOman', will explore feminine rage using elements of ensemble theatre. The content has been inspired by our personal experiences which we have developed into universally recognised situations that motivate feminine rage. It authentically reflects our own feelings of suppression, objectification, and rage; as a result, our performance speaks to the broader female experience. This piece utilises modern interpretations of Greek chorus, contemporary movement, and slam poetry. In researching “what is feminine rage?”— and appalled by the results— our group incorporated frequently searched questions regarding women's emotional responses. Consequently, our performance aims to be confronting, challenging, and ultimately, empowering, because ‘WOmen’ reinforces how standing together can ignite change and create sisterhood.

WOman has been programmed in Backbone Festival 2024 after receiving The Backbone Award at the Vena Cava Freshblood Festival.

Dearly Devoured

TIME CONSUMES ALL. THE BEAST CONSUMES TIME.

By Backbone Ensemble

Some call it Leviathan, others the Holy Devourer, but an unlucky few call it home. Old and young, heretical and devout, willing and unwilling, these sacrificed souls stomach a so-called ‘life’ in the belly of the beast, with only the echo of its giant heart to track the passage of time.

Waiting beside each other for eternity, our stewing sacrifices grin and bear it until the unexpected arrival of a lonely bride. Join them in digesting what it is to be selfish, selfless, god-fearing and god-mongering. What it is to taste the life promised to you before it’s ripped from your mouth.

A new work devised by the 2024 Backbone Ensemble, Dearly Devoured is the product of the 18 to 30-year-old artists that gather at the Seven Hills Hub every Tuesday to learn, collaborate and create.

Metamorphosis

Transcend from the cocoon into the cultural renaissance.

By Haus of Coco

In the culture of modern-day society, reconnecting with one's past is the ultimate transfusion of identity. Blossom from your inner self and connect with what makes you who you are. ‘Metamorphosis’ explores transformation through a labyrinth of different art forms, exploring identity in a dynamic 1-hour show. This story of transformation will be performed by the collective ‘Haus of Coco’ featuring drag artists Crimson Coco and Gia Von She. Crimson Coco a Pinay trailblazer with an eclectic hip-hop style, culminates Filipino colour and vibrance, to explore culturally through sharp rigid movements, with a blend of sensuality and grandeur. Alongside Assyrian/ Samoan drag powerhouse Gia Von She, a bonafide natural talent, will share her unique story through the power of her incredible voice.

Metamorphosis is never a painless journey, but the end result is our true self.

Generation Me (Work-In-Progress)

Let’s dance while Rome burns.

By Melissa Herburg

You’re invited to the disco party of the year: ‘Generation Me’.

 Disco is the music that fiddles while Rome burns, and Rome is burning. Escape the cost of living crisis. Lock out climate change. Boogie away from political distress. Step into a modern discotheque, where Gen Z scroll, type, and riot.  

 Dress to impress and join us for this immersive experience as we explore how the young people of today are escaping and confronting the social concerns of their generation.

Fresh Ink Play Readings

4 Emerging playwrights. 4 new works.

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts and ATYP

Throughout the year, 4 emerging playwrights have participated in the Fresh Ink: National Mentoring Program presented by ATYP, delivered by Backbone Youth Arts. 4 playwrights have been guided by industry mentor Lewis Treston to develop two short works for the stage as well as hone their skills and build their writing community. This event see’s the delivery of their final 30min works rehearsed and performed by a professional director and actors for Backbone Festival.

More information about the plays coming soon.

Dax Savage: The Last Man on Earth

A wonderful day at the end of the world!

By Fake Blood

Proudly Presented by Fake Blood, Dax Savage is a parody, satire exploring gender and sexuality in a world without societal constraints. Join us in the year 2110; Discover this strange new world, where “horrible freaks” now roam the wasteland, where the sun burns too bright and there are no more “men”.

Transcendent Acts

Unveiling Stories, Inspiring Change

By Flaming Carnations

Triss Niemi leads a team of six transgender and gender diverse creatives in a devising process called, Transcendent Acts. This performance season sees the group’s work make it to the stage for the first time. Dive into a world of magic, moths, mirth, misery, mystery, and more. A selfish spiritualist, a jaded jock, a willful wallflower, and a nearsighted nomad walk into a share house with a supermassive black mold black hole in the ceiling. Watch and see who makes it out. In a state-first this devising project is developed solely by transgender folks with transgender folks solely in mind.

Ya’djin Spirit Women

Storytelling, sisterhood and speaking out

By The First Creatives

Ya’djin Spirit Women is the premier full-length production from The First Creatives and is based on stories shared by Kabi Kabi/Kuku Yalanji Aunty Sharyn Malone, and Gooreng Gooreng/Kabi Kabi Aunty Chantay Link. Featuring a cast of First Nations’ women traversing colonial violence, dispossession, abuse, motherhood, blak joy, connection, Country and healing, woven together through dance, theatre and film. This unapologetic work seeks to reclaim and sustain traditional healing practices and inspire future generations to stand strong in their identity and truth. Ya’Djin, meaning ‘speak’, echoes a message of resistance and courage from the artists, inviting the community to speak up and fend off any pressure to remain silent.

DYA Takeover Day

DIGI YOUTH ARTS AT SEVEN HILLS

By Digi Youth Arts

Our friends at Digi Youth Arts are taking over the Seven Hills hub for a full day of Backbone Festival.

WHO ARE DYA?

Digi Youth Arts is a not-for-profit arts organisation that shares the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. As a leading youth arts organisation, Digi Youth Arts creates change through artistic excellence, advocacy and ensuring our young people are at the core of all that we do. Through socially and politically engaged arts practice, Digi Youth Arts continues culture by encouraging, documenting, and sharing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories. Through a ‘high expectations and high support’ model of mentoring, Digi Youth Arts is shaping the next generation of connected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural and arts leaders.

Dax Savage: The Last Man on Earth

A wonderful day at the end of the world!

By Fake Blood

Proudly Presented by Fake Blood, Dax Savage is a parody, satire exploring gender and sexuality in a world without societal constraints. Join us in the year 2110; Discover this strange new world, where “horrible freaks” now roam the wasteland, where the sun burns too bright and there are no more “men”.

Ya’djin Spirit Women

Storytelling, sisterhood and speaking out

By The First Creatives

Ya’djin Spirit Women is the premier full-length production from The First Creatives and is based on stories shared by Kabi Kabi/Kuku Yalanji Aunty Sharyn Malone, and Gooreng Gooreng/Kabi Kabi Aunty Chantay Link. Featuring a cast of First Nations’ women traversing colonial violence, dispossession, abuse, motherhood, blak joy, connection, Country and healing, woven together through dance, theatre and film. This unapologetic work seeks to reclaim and sustain traditional healing practices and inspire future generations to stand strong in their identity and truth. Ya’Djin, meaning ‘speak’, echoes a message of resistance and courage from the artists, inviting the community to speak up and fend off any pressure to remain silent.

Transcendent Acts

Unveiling Stories, Inspiring Change

By Flaming Carnations

Triss Niemi leads a team of six transgender and gender diverse creatives in a devising process called, Transcendent Acts. This performance season sees the group’s work make it to the stage for the first time. Dive into a world of magic, moths, mirth, misery, mystery, and more. A selfish spiritualist, a jaded jock, a willful wallflower, and a nearsighted nomad walk into a share house with a supermassive black mold black hole in the ceiling. Watch and see who makes it out. In a state-first this devising project is developed solely by transgender folks with transgender folks solely in mind.

Dax Savage: The Last Man on Earth

A wonderful day at the end of the world!

By Fake Blood

Proudly Presented by Fake Blood, Dax Savage is a parody, satire exploring gender and sexuality in a world without societal constraints. Join us in the year 2110; Discover this strange new world, where “horrible freaks” now roam the wasteland, where the sun burns too bright and there are no more “men”.

Transcendent Acts

Unveiling Stories, Inspiring Change

By Flaming Carnations

Triss Niemi leads a team of six transgender and gender diverse creatives in a devising process called, Transcendent Acts. This performance season sees the group’s work make it to the stage for the first time. Dive into a world of magic, moths, mirth, misery, mystery, and more. A selfish spiritualist, a jaded jock, a willful wallflower, and a nearsighted nomad walk into a share house with a supermassive-black-mould-black-hole in the ceiling. Watch and see who makes it out. In a state-first this devising project is developed solely by transgender folks with transgender folks solely in mind.

On Display - Artist Talk

A peek into the work of Ash Rasch and Shani Finch

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

In the On Display program’s first year, Backbone and Program Manager Micah Rustichelli have supported 4 unique and incredible emerging Visual Artists to deliver 4 evolving displays. Learn more about the process, the artists and the works at an in-conversation event in front of their innovative artistic worlds.

Join us for a chat as Micah sits down with Ash Rasch and Shani Finch, two of the resident artists, as they discuss their projects, the process, and what future they see for the end of the residency.

Ya’djin Spirit Women

Storytelling, sisterhood and speaking out

By The First Creatives

Ya’djin Spirit Women is the premier full-length production from The First Creatives and is based on stories shared by Kabi Kabi/Kuku Yalanji Aunty Sharyn Malone, and Gooreng Gooreng/Kabi Kabi Aunty Chantay Link. Featuring a cast of First Nations’ women traversing colonial violence, dispossession, abuse, motherhood, blak joy, connection, Country and healing, woven together through dance, theatre and film. This unapologetic work seeks to reclaim and sustain traditional healing practices and inspire future generations to stand strong in their identity and truth. Ya’Djin, meaning ‘speak’, echoes a message of resistance and courage from the artists, inviting the community to speak up and fend off any pressure to remain silent.

Bahala/o

Bahala Na - whatever happens, happens!

By Buddy Malbasias

Stemming from Buddy Malbasias’ trips to the Philippines, Bahala/o is a new work within his research project, Bugas - “milled rice." Bugas is a collection of works that explore the intricate cultural influences that mould identity, viewing rice as a symbol of nostalgic memory and a lens through which to scrutinise our perceptions and cultural heritage.

Inspired by the Filipino philosophy of "Bahala Na," this specific work examines the intricate interplay between cultural identity and personal authenticity. In its literal translation - "whatever happens, happens” - Bahala/o explores this fatalistic attitude; rooted in Filipino Catholicism, living the queer immigrant experience.

HARPIES

SCREEEEE! Steal from the gods and we’ll shit on your feast

By Eli Free

A haven of skin, hair, ligament, aching joints, blood, bone, kissing pores and a rust of veins twisted into a sanctuary. The Harpies nest, waiting for the day they never knew they yearned for. Malicious creatures with force tempers, synonymous with hellcat, vixen, siren, disagreeable women, unpleasant women. Ugly. Vulgar. Guiding. Terrifying.

Personified and yapping winds. Feasts for kin.

They will be so hungry they will eat their tables before they reach the end of their journey. 

Utilising the casts talents in physical theatre, Japanese Butoh dance of darkness, clowning, live music and puppetry, HARPIES explores some feelings and lived experiences around what it means to be a femme presenting and othered human in a society not built for us, trying to find community and joy in such chaos. The cast and creative team are made up of sex workers, people of colour and disabled folk, and were gifted stories from the same communities that inspired this first iteration of HARPIES.

Youth Talent Show

A BACKBONE YOUTH TALENT SPECTACULAR

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

Are you under 18 with a talent to share with the world? We want YOU! Backbone is hosting the Youth Talent Show 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.  The Youth Talent Show 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!

Rebels In The High Court

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts & Ipswich Girls Grammar

Over the year, students from Ipswich Girls Grammar have been building their skills in performing and creating in our Drama Club classes every Wednesday. After months of development, they are very proud to present Rebels in the High Court.

Similar to games like Mafia and Werewolf, Rebels in the High Court is an immersive theatre experience where you take control of the story and participate in discussions at the tyrant King’s roundtable. Will you assist in the rebellion or will you regain control by staying loyal to your King?

Who Wants to Own a Planet?

Young Creator Workshop Performance (Young makers)

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

Backbone Young Creators Workshops are an energetic, curious and supportive environment for Young People aged 8 to 18 to nurture and develop their imagination, creativity and collaboration skills. 

Established in Brisbane over 35 years ago, Backbone has a deep history of engaging the creativity of Young People. We foster this creativity through a unique participant-led approach that centres on young artists finding their own voice, and placing them in an uplifting space with dedicated teaching artists who work professionally in the performing arts industry.

Our Young Makers (ages 13-18) have developed an original work for performance titled Who Wants to Own a Planet?

The Bozo Strikes Back

Young Creator Workshop Performance (Skill Builders)

Presented by Backbone Youth Arts

Backbone Young Creators Workshops are an energetic, curious and supportive environment for Young People aged 8 to 18 to nurture and develop their imagination, creativity and collaboration skills. 

Established in Brisbane over 35 years ago, Backbone has a deep history of engaging the creativity of Young People. We foster this creativity through a unique participant-led approach that centres on young artists finding their own voice, and placing them in an uplifting space with dedicated teaching artists who work professionally in the performing arts industry.

Our Skill Builders (ages 8-12) have developed an original work for performance titled The Bozo Strikes Back.

Family Fun Day

Fun for the whole family at the seven hills hub

By Backbone Youth Arts

Looking for a day of free, exciting activities for the whole family? Bring the kids, and come along to our Family Fun Day! We've got a fantastic lineup that’s sure to delight the young and the young at heart.

Event Highlights:

🎪 Circus Play Space (all day)
Try your hand at juggling, hula hooping, and skipping under the guidance of world-renowned circus artist Chelsea McGuffin! Perfect for all skill levels—whether you're a total beginner or ready to show off some tricks.

✨ Glitter Face Painting (10am - 11am)
Get sparkly and creative with our talented face painter, Bella Belle! From magical unicorns to dazzling rainbows, add some sparkle to your day!

💃 Kids Disco Dance Party (11am - 12:30pm)
DJ Richie LeStrange is spinning the tunes while dancing diva Bella Belle gets the party started! Get your groove on in a fun and lively atmosphere with music from across the decades that the whole family can groove to.

🎭 The Bozo Strikes Back: Young Creator Workshop Performance (12:30 - 1:00pm)
Be inspired by the next generation of creators! Watch the talents of Backbone’s Young Creators Workshop participants, aged 8 to 12, come to life in an exciting performance of their collaboratively written play The Bozo Strikes Back!

Don’t miss out on a day packed with creativity, energy, and loads of fun. Best of all, it’s free—so grab your family and come join us at Backbone’s Seven Hills Hub!