With the shock announcement that Beetlejuice’s Brisbane season will be cut short, finishing up 5 July, there’s a little unease rippling through the arts scene this month. But if you ask us, there’s no better time to see some theatre.
The winter school holidays bring a welcome boost to Brisbane’s stages this July, with plenty on offer for younger audiences and the young-at-heart. Beyond the family-friendly fare, there’s also a strong mix of award-winning independent theatre, ambitious new work and major cultural festivals.
From Matilda Award winners to powerful solo works, here are five of the best theatre experiences to catch in Brisbane this month – with a few extra mentions because there’s just so much to see!
Brisbane theatre guide – quick links
PRAMKICKER
MO Theatre’s PRAMKICKER returns to Brisbane after a celebrated 2025 season, with the talented Sarah Ann McLeod and Sarah Ogden bringing Sadie Hasler’s sharp and potty-mouthed script to life.
After a meltdown at a cafe lands Jude (Sarah Ann McLeod) in mandated anger management, her sister Susie (Sarah Ogden) insists on joining the sessions. What follows is a darkly funny, G&T-soaked exploration of sisterhood and the pressures of modern womanhood.
Nominated for three Matilda Awards, including Best Independent Theatre Production, the work places conversations about reproductive rights and female autonomy back where they belong, with women.
PRAMKICKER runs at QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre from 1 to 4 July.
KOAL
Created and performed by physical theatre artist Jacinta Yelland, KOAL is an inventive solo work that blends documentary theatre and clowning to explore the impact of the bushfires over 2019 and 2020, one of the most devastating fire seasons on record in Australia.
Through three interconnected perspectives – a baby koala, a coal miner and a young Indigenous girl – Yelland examines environmental loss, resilience and the stories often ignored by news outlets. Recipient of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival’s 5 Star Award, KOAL balances humour with heart, creating a work that is both playful and yet deeply impactful.
KOAL is at Brisbane Powerhouse from 9 to 11 July.
Pride & Prejudice
Following a sold-out 2025 season, Queensland Theatre’s Matilda Award-winning Pride & Prejudice returns to QPAC this July. In her four-and-a-half-star review for ArtsHub, Suzannah Conway praised the production as a ‘stunning’ retelling of Jane Austen’s beloved novel, noting its blend of Regency-era elegance and contemporary humour.
Adapted by Wendy Mocke and Lewis Treston and directed by Daniel Evans and Bridget Boyle, the production features an all-Queensland cast led by Maddison Burridge as Elizabeth Bennet and Andrew Hearle as Mr Darcy. With a charming design and Austen’s enduring wit at its heart, this acclaimed adaptation is a must see for Austen lovers.
Pride & Prejudice will be performed at QPAC’s Playhouse from 10 to 26 July
WORKS/IN/CHAOS 2.0
Development programs are often hidden from audiences, but Salad Days Collective’s WORKS/IN/CHAOS places the creative process centre stage.
Following a sold-out debut season, the initiative returns with three new works developed over just four weeks. The result is an evening that embraces experimentation and artistic risk, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience theatre at the spark of its creation.
This year’s line-up includes Our House by Aimee Tacon, Spaceman by Samuel Herbertson and Dance Forever! by Malika Savory, who won a Matilda Award in 2025 for their supporting role in The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek, a standout production at Pip Theatre last year.
WORKS/IN/CHAOS 2.0 is on at Pip Theatre from 23 to 24 July.
Clancestry
Now in its 14th year, Clancestry remains one of Queensland’s most significant celebrations of First Nations arts and culture.
Led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and communities, the festival spans theatre, music, dance, visual arts and community events. Highlights include the opening event First Gathering, acclaimed artist Jessica Mauboy’s The Story of Me, a deeply personal evening with Troy Cassar-Daley, and a cheeky interactive circus show, Camp Culture.
Clancestry invites audiences of all ages to listen, learn and celebrate the traditional custodians that continue to shape Australia.
Clancestry is at QPAC from 30 July to 8 August.
More Brisbane highlights for the calendar
If the winter blues have got to you, A Bee Story is sure to get you and your kids buzzing again. This award-winning family production combines circus, physical theatre and clowning in a charming environmental adventure from Gold Coast company ARC Circus.
When it comes to other arts for the little ones, Ballet Theatre Queensland’s Snow White returns with choreography by Artistic Director Clare Morehen and live music by Dr Lucas D Lynch in a retelling that promises to be a visual feast.
Queensland Ballet also brings a modern take on children’s classic Red Riding Hood and the Wolf to the stage, where kids aged two to 12 can join Queensland Ballet Teaching Artists in artist workshops, exploring the characters, storytelling and ballet moves of the production.
First Nations storytelling continues across the city with works including Bangarra’s three-in-one offering, Sheltering, as well as Australian Theatre for Young People’s Saplings, the Winner of Best Production for Young People at the 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards.
At Metro Arts, New Zealand-born choreographer and Dancenorth ensemble member Jag Popham presents god eater, an immersive solo work investigating ritual, transformation and the body’s capacity for change. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat for the whole performance.
New talent doesn’t get much fresher than Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University’s third-year acting students taking on Pulitzer Prize-winning play August: Osage County. Directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Ngọc Phan, the production offers audiences a chance to see Brisbane’s next generation of performers tackle one of theatre’s most demanding ensemble works.
Finally, if Broadway musicals are what you’re here for, global musical phenomenon The Book of Mormon returns to Brisbane from 31 July, bringing its trademark blend of irreverent comedy and award-winning music back to QPAC.
