Now Open: The West End Electric, Brisbane's New 400-Plus-Seat Theatre and Bar, Is Here to Get Sparks Flying

If you like OTT, acrobatic and extravagant theatre, cabaret and circus shows — playful, too — and you live in Brisbane, then you've likely sat down to one of Strut & Fret's productions over the years. Get ready for more from the folks behind Blanc de Blanc, FUN HOUSE, THE PARTY, LIFE — The Show and Fear & Delight at the outfit's own Sunshine State venue. Your destination: The West End Electric.

First announced in mid-2024, the Boundary Street spot opened at the end of August, with its debut show part of 2024's Brisbane Festival lineup. LIMBO — THE RETURN plays until early November, but it's just the first of many productions that'll fill the 400-plus-person spot, which has been decked out by designer James Browne with a nod to West End's London counterpart.

The West End Electric is a theatre, entertainment space and a bar, and marks the second Strut & Fret location around the country, adding a sibling to The Grand Electric in Sydney. Launching with LIMBO — THE RETURN is a case of starting how the venue means to go on. The fact that Strut & Fret wants its venues to get sparks flying is right there in its name.

The company has always had ties to the River City. In fact, that Strut & Fret will bring its new shows to town has been almost as reliable as clockwork for more than a quarter century. Co-founders Scott Maidment and Sarah Stewart are both from Brisbane — and it was in the Queensland capital in 1997 that they gave rise to the production house. Accordingly, The West End Electric is a homecoming in a way, not that the outfit's performances are ever absent from Brissie for long.

"We have already had such an overwhelming response from West End residents and restaurants, who are all very excited," said Maidment in advance of the site's opening. "It's fantastic to be so welcomed, with some of our early visitors describing the space as 'absolutely transporting'."

"We have been blown away by The Grand Electric's success since it opened in Sydney last year. It's quickly established itself as both a smashing venue for our own shows, and a venue for other players like Michael Cassel (Titanique) and Sydney Comedy Festival," advised Maidment back when The West End Electric was first announced.

"We staged our first Brisbane Festival production over 25 years ago in 1998, so it feels very fitting to launch The West End Electric with this year's festival."

Catch LIMBO — THE RETURN and you'll be seeing a revamped version of a show that's been touring the world for over a decade, taking audiences to a netherworld scored by live tunes composed by Sxip Shirey, as filled with cabaret and circus alongside eye-popping acrobatic feats.

For sips while you watch, the bar menu features a range of wine, champagne, sparkling, beer, cider and boozy ginger beer, plus cocktails such as Tall LIMBO (made with Hennessy, honeycomb, lemon and spiced ginger), Pleasure at the Fairground (featuring vodka, passionfruit, prosecco, lime and aquafaba), and Naked and Famous (Aperol, mezcal, yellow chartreuse and lime). A couple of mocktails are also on offer — one boasting Four Pillars' Bandwagon Bloody Shiraz — as are oysters, three types of toasted sandwiches, and a tasting plate of cured meats and pickled vegetables to snack on.

Find The West End Electric at 125 Boundary Street, West End, with LIMBO — THE RETURN playing until Sunday, November 3, 2024. Head to the venue's website for further details.

Images: Camilo Hernandez, Billie Wilson Coffey and Brit Mobbs.