Bananaland

Overview

Brisbane Festival's theatre lineup has been shining especially bright in recent years, after the world-premiere adaptation of Boy Swallow Universe played at the River City arts and culture festival in 2021, then fellow page-to-stage hit Fourteen did the same in 2022. Following them in 2023 is a musical comedy from the songwriting team behind Muriel's Wedding The Musical: Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, who are taking the fest to Bananaland.

Created by the pair after their success treading the boards with everyone's favourite Porpoise Spit resident, Bananaland focuses on 21-year-old Ruby. She has her own protest band called Kitty Litter, which accidentally becomes a hit with preschoolers.

Penned by Nuttall and featuring a score composed by Miller-Heidke, with the duo joining forces on the show's musical numbers, Bananaland promises a warmhearted but incisive exploration of chasing dreams — and an ode to performing live.

Charting Kitty Litter's path to following in The Wiggles' footsteps, Bananaland is taking over QPAC's Playhouse from Saturday, September 16–Sunday October 1

Jo Duck

Production images: Darren Thomas.