The Courier Mail Spiegeltent - Brisbane Festival

Editorial Review

Ever dreamed of running away with the circus? When the Spiegeltent’s in town, anything’s possible

Image: The Courier Mail Spiegeltent - Brisbane Festival

Editorial Review

18 July - 3 August 2008
Queen's Park
George St,
Brisbane

Brisbane's party girl is in town - frocked up and ready to flaunt her stuff. Flapping her sails throughout the Brisbane Festival, she's set to give partying Brisvegas-ites oodles of exotic fun under the big top.

Kicking off the festival season on 18 July is a free opening night party with groovers Dubmarine, Deep Ends and Afro Dizzi Act. Once you've recovered, swing back to the festival hub and catch the crazy antics of the Kransky Sisters, The Tiger Lillies (pictured), music from Deborah Conway, Willy Zygier, Fourplay and My Friend the Chocolate Cake, all adding their pizzazz to The 7.00 Show.

But wait, there's more! Hang around after the early show and catch a large dose of sautéed acrobatics at the burlesque sideshow Feasting on Flesh at 9.30pm. Top off your night under the big top at the Festival Club with a entertaining smorgasbord of entertainment, including The Pablo Discobar, Upsteppers, The Tonights, Kafka and True Live, all beating their best rhythms to get you shaking the dance floor till late into the night.

Maybe you'd rather be a culture-vulture? Get up close and personal with the Festival's directors, cast members and composers with the In Conversation series, running on weekends at noon. During the week, composition and computers form a happy marriage at Midday Sessions, which look at the role of technology in performance.

If you want to know more about the largest Spiegeltent in the world, go on a tour with its owner, Rik Klessens. The Spiegeltent Historical Tour is on Saturday, 19 July at 10am and 11am. It's free but you need to book.

Melbourne and Sydney's Spiegeltent season was a rip-roaring hoot, and now it's Brisbane's turn - so grab your glad rags and put yourself in the company of the grand party girl. Ever hospitable, she'll keep a light on for you until the very wee hours. For bookings and more information on the Courier-Mail Spiegeltent, click here.

Judith Hatton, Arts Editor, Citysearch