The 7 Best Things To Do In Brisbane This February
The bacchanalian gods of things-to-do are wide awake this month and ready to tempt you out. Be ready for the apocalypse at Brisbane’s new Netherworld Arcade, be among the first to see exhilarating new works of local theatre, and laugh away the heatwave at Brisbane Comedy Festival.
[listicle]Welcome to the Hellmouth
Netherworld Arcade in Fortitude Valley invokes an otherworldly new drinking dimension for Brisbane fans of retro gaming. The lovingly decorated new venue includes vintage pinball and arcade machines, classic consoles, and – for analogue fans – enough board games to plug up a gaping Hellmouth. Speak of which, Netherworld also offers its denizens a menu of vegan-friendly delights at the Hellmouth Diner. Yes, this is possibly the best thing ever to happen to Brisbane: a Buffy-themed diner in the midst of a ghoulish games arcade. There’s also 24 taps’-worth of beer and cider, presumably to facilitate trying a new drink every hour of the day*. (*Drink responsibly or you will be bad at board games.)
In thunder, lighting and rain
The Danger Ensemble (The Hamlet Apocalypse; Sons of Sin) returns to the cutting edge to draw fresh blood from Shakespeare’s accursed classic, Macbeth. Inspired by horrific cinema and the occult, this sensuous production promises a unique Australian take on the Scottish playing. The ensemble warns it features loud sounds, smoke effects, and witchcraft. Macbeth runs from February 7 to 25 at Queensland Academy’s Creative Industries Theatre.
Sister act
La Boite hosts Michelle Law’s absolutely-not-to-be-missed new play, Single Asian Female. This comedy – from one of Australia’s brightest young writers – skewers race and gender through the story of two sisters at their family-run Chinese restaurant on the Sunshine Coast. Have a drink with Michelle and the cast at a special preview event on 13 February, courtesy of Hot Chicks with Big Brains. Single Asian Female runs from 11 February to 4 March at La Boite.
Un-pho-gettable
‘Pho’nomenal’s free program of events at Metro Arts brings a taste of contemporary Vietnamese art to Brisbane. Catch a screening of films Never Forget and Zodiac 12: Five Steps of Love; take in Ao Dai fashions showcased by UQ’s Vietnamese international students; and groove along with Vpop artist Tu Pham. ‘Pho’nomenal runs from February 17 to 19 at Metro Arts.
Pop-punk trumps Broadway
Ready for a Green Day musical? This Broadway hit took out Tony and Grammy Awards before making its way to Brissie for an Australian premier. American Idiot spins the seminal sounds of Green Day’s mid-2000s work into a play about finding meaning in a post-9/11 world. The all-Australian cast features the distinctive vocals of The Living End’s Chris Cheney and Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson. American Idiot runs from February 23 to March 5 at QPAC’s Playhouse.
Rewrite the river
Queensland Poetry Festival presents the first of its bestselling Riverbend Poetry Series for 2017, featuring a star-studded program of local writers and performers. Book a ticket early to witness Queensland slam champion Anisa Nandaula, Thomas Shapcott Prize-winner Stuart Barnes, Whitmore Press Manuscript Prize-winner Carmen Leigh Keates, and Queensland Literary Awards-shortlisted poet Liam Ferney. Riverbend Poetry Series kicks off at 6pm on February 28.
Giggle gala
This year’s Brisbane Comedy Festival promises so many laughs even Brisbane Powerhouse can’t hold it all in, so the program spills over into Brisbane City Hall as well. Nearly 70 comedians are silly-walking their way into the city to provide you with a solid month of snorts, chortles, and hysterics. This year celebrates eight years of BCF, focusing on Steve Martin’s adage that “comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.” Brisbane Comedy Festival runs from February 26 to March 28.
Photo: Aunty Donna[/listicle]
(Lead image: Netherworld)
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