Six Weird and Wonderful Shows to See at Brisbane Powerhouse's 2018 Wonderland Festival

As we all know, there ain’t no party like a free party. There ain’t no party like a free swing dance party, either. To help wrap up this year’s Wonderland festival, Brisbane Powerhouse is stepping back in time to the 20s. Yes, the 1920s. Because things were weird and wonderful then, too. With music from all-female jazz ensemble Yas Queen, Swing On In will have you flapping the night away. It also wants you to dress up in your best flapper attire, with prizes on offer. Dig out some pearls and feathers, do the Charleston and dance like it’s almost a century ago. And if you need a little sustenance, liquid or otherwise, to go with your merriment, remember to bring your wallet.

Christmas is one of those things people either love or hate. Love Actually, the Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley and Emma Thompson-starring festive flick, is too. Both have been known to cause arguments — and that’s bound to prove the case at Wonderland‘s returning hit Love/Hate Actually. Actually, the entire event is based on a disagreement between pals and creative collaborators. Amy couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the movie; Natalie feels the opposite. As part of their show between Thursday, November 22 and Sunday, November 25, you’ll hear their opposing sides and then you’ll take part of a vote. Expect to leave airing your own affection for, or grievances about, the film in question.

At Invisible Things, what you’ll see is important. You’ll see a woman. You’ll see a transparent cube measuring three metres by three metres. You’ll see a heap of dance and circus moves. But, what can’t be seen is also important here, as the show’s star wrestles with 17 years of personal journals. At the heart of this piece is the idea that things that are invisible — thoughts, feelings and the like — can make a very visible and physical impact. The resulting performance has picked up a swag of awards at this year’s Anywhere Theatre Festival, and it’s hitting Brisbane Powerhouse as part of Wonderland festival between Thursday, November 29 and Sunday, December 2.

Anisa Nandaula’s addition to this year’s Wonderland just might be the festival’s most exciting event: a one-night venture into an apocalyptic world where zombies roam freely — but they’re no longer munching on the contents of your head. Instead, they’re trying to infect your heads, with politicians and lawmakers joining in. Doesn’t sound that far removed from reality, does it? Running across two shows at 6.30pm and 8pm on Sunday, November 25, The Grass Is Dead on the Other Side blends politics, poetry, rap, hip hop and the undead to make a biting statement. It’s all written by Nandaula, who is the Queensland poetry slam champion — and the Australian poetry slam runner-up as well.

As its name suggest, this show searches for the elixir of life. That’s where this circus show stops following the formula, however. Nutty professors, dedicated scientists and everything in-between have graced screens, stages and pages — but can you remember seeing three brainiacs do acrobatics while they’re whipping up strange and important things in the laboratory? The latest piece from Head First Acrobatics, this performance is all about taking physical feats to the brink — and throwing in the laughs as well. It bounces across the Brisbane Powerhouse stage for Wonderland three nights only, between Thursday, November 29 and Saturday, December 1.

Everybody, be cool. This isn’t a robbery — but it is a raucous rush through the filmography of one of the most distinctive directors of the past three decades. Two Man Tarantino is exactly what it sounds like, with two men hopping up on stage to re-enact diamond heists, twist dancing contests, blowing up bad guys, hunting down the hateful and more. Running at Wonderland between Thursday, November 29 and Sunday, December 2, it’s an hour-long recreation that also has the perfect framing device: it’s set in a video store. Everyone knows that’s where Quentin Tarantino‘s love of movies blossomed long before he was asking Samuel L. Jackson to wax lyrical about royales with cheese — and revisiting the kind of shop that has died out in recent years is also part of the fun.