Calling all culture buffs, you’re in for a serious treat because Queensland Theatre just dropped its 2025 line-up and it’s seriously stacked. We’re talking a deliciously cheeky retelling of an Austen classic, world premieres, big-name artists and a goosebump-inducing Indigenous work—all taking place in our backyard across QPAC and the Bille Brown Theatre.
And with the festive season just around the corner, tick Christmas shopping off your to-do list by gifting your special someone a season ticket to the theatre. Packages start at three plays and go up to eight and include heaps of bonuses like priority seating and free date changes. Get yours here.
Whip out your diary and get scheduling, your 2025 is looking cultured AF.
WHAT'S ON THE (PLAY)BILL:
- Calamity Jane
- Pride & Prejudice
- Rhinestone Rex And Miss Monica
- Dear Son
- Julia
- Back To Bilo
- Malacañang Made Us
- A Few Good Men
Pride & Prejudice
If, like us, you devoured every season of Bridgerton in a single sitting, then this sassy retelling of Pride & Prejudice (that features an all-Queensland cast) will be right up your alley.
Transport yourself to the toon, with this Jane Austen classic that is—in our opinion—one of the greatest love stories of all time.
Set amongst the juicy gossip and glitzy regency balls of the 19th century, it follows the fearless Elizabeth Bennet, a feminist who constantly clashes with her husband-hunting sisters. Longing to choose her own destiny, Elizabeth meets straight-up hottie Mr Darcy and despite her immediate dislike of him, sparks fly. The witty one-liners will have you cackling in your seat.
The Details
When: 20 February – 19 March
Where: Playhouse, QPAC
Get your ticket here.
Calamity Jane
Pull on your cowboy boots and get a boot scootin’ to the Bille Brown Theatre. The space will be completely transformed into an old-time Western piano bar, complete with on-stage saloon seating so you can get right amongst the electric energy of this raucous revival.
Musical queen Naomi Price will take to the stage as Jane, the feisty, outspoken sharpshooter who will take audiences on an unruly, unpredictable ride. Don’t be surprised if you find your feet tappin’ and your hands clappin’ along to iconic tunes like ‘Secret Love’ and ‘The Black Hills Of Dakota’.
But that’s probably where the similarities end for any fans of Doris Day’s Calamity Jane. This stripped-back reimagining is packed with heart and girt.
The Details
When: 22 March – 17 April
Where: Bille Brown Theatre
Get your ticket here.
Rhinestone Rex And Miss Monica
Fans of a zingy rom-com will want to snag themselves a seat to this gem from national treasure David Williamson. Reprising their roles, 15 years after the show originally debuted, screen queen Georgie Parker (Home and Away) and Glenn Hazeldine (Colin From Accounts) return to the stage as Monica and Gary.
Polar opposites, the duo come together when Monica, a cultured inner-city gal, hires Gary, a true blue Aussie bloke to renovate her kitchen. They disagree about pretty much everything, from the kitchen sink to their taste in music—Monica loves classical tunes and Gary moonlights as DJ Rhinestone Rex.
But that’s where the magic—and romance—lies. Before they know it, these middle-aged singletons find themselves harmonising.
The Details
When: 28 May – 21 June
Where: Bille Brown Theatre
Get your ticket here.
Dear Son
Based on the poignant and powerful book by Kaurareg, Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man Thomas Mayo, the stories of Dear Son will stay with you long after the curtain closes.
Originally a book in which 12 Indigenous men pen letters to their son, father or nephew, First Nations theatre makers Isaac Drandic and John Harvey have taken Mayo’s masterpiece from the page to the stage and the results are goosebump-inducing.
A melodic masterpiece of music, story and soul, the compendium features deeply personal letters from the likes of Stan Grant and Troy Cassar-Daley. First Nations actors Jimi Bani and Trevor Jamieson (The Secret River, Storm Boy) will take to the stage for the world premiere delivering raw, heart-shattering performances that uncover the challenges faced by First Nations men.
The Details
When: 28 June – 19 July
Where: Bille Brown Theatre
Get your ticket here.
Julia
In a time when women are fighting harder than ever for equality, this evocative play is an absolute must-see.
Created by one of Australia’s brightest playwrights, Joanna Murray-Smith, Julia tells the human story behind former prime minister Julia Gillard and her truly iconic 2012 speech, ‘I will not’.
Based on true events and referencing extracts from published works and interviews, this fictional imagining offers a stirring portrait of a woman who changed the face of Australian politics.
Taking on the role of Julia is the achingly talented Justine Clarke, who will send chills down your spine as she delivers ‘that speech’.
Taking the audience through key moments in Gillard’s life—from her childhood to the battlefield of politics—this is an exploration of sexism, power and privilege.
The Details
When: 16 – 30 August
Where: Playhouse, QPAC
Get your ticket here.
Back to Bilo
Prepare for ALL of the feels with Back to Bilo, a play that beautifully demonstrates the heart-bursting beauty of people's power and what the collective can achieve.
The play chronicles the true story of the Nadesalingams, a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee family who, in 2018, were ripped from their home during a surprise raid in the sleepy Queensland town of Biloela and forced into detention.
Despite the town having a population of just 5,700 people, the community rallied, launching a grassroots campaign that captured the attention of the nation, demanding the government bring the family back to Bilo.
Equal measures heartbreaking and heartwarming, this incredible true tale reveals how powerful we can be when we stand together for what's right.
The Details
When: 3 – 13 September
Where: Bille Brown Theatre
Get your ticket here.
Malacañang Made Us
Beating out 200 entries to take out the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award 2025, Jordan Shea’s Malacañang Made Us is a moving tale of survival, identity and culture.
Spanning two timelines, it begins in the Philippines in 1986 on the history-making night when President Ferdinan Marcos is exiled from the Malacañang Palace and brothers Martin and Ernie, scale the building, storm the hallways and settle into the abandoned throne—legends for just one night.
Fast forward four decades and swap Manila for Brisbane, where the brothers reunite to find history repeating itself. This time, it’s Martin’s teenage son Leo who becomes incensed when the dictator’s heir is elected to the presidency of the Philippines.
The news opens old wounds and surfaces long-held family secrets, as the trio questions the price of rebellion and duty.
The Details
When: 18 October – 1 November
Where: Bille Brown Theatre
Get your ticket here.
A Few Good Men
Cinephiles might claim A Few Good Men is solely a Hollywood gem, but long before it hit the big screen this Aaron Sorkin play was a mainstay on Broadway and now it’s coming to delight and shock Brisbane audiences at QPAC.
Inspired by actual events at Guantanamo Bay in the 80s, the legal drama follows the murder trial of a US marine and the two comrades accused of killing him.
The sizzling courtroom drama centres around a group of young lawyers who go toe-to-toe with the military, eventually uncovering a high-level conspiracy that threatens to unravel the honour and patriotism embedded in the Marines. This gripping thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
The Details
When: 22 November – 7 December
Where: Playhouse, QPAC
Get your ticket here.
Queensland Theatres Season Ticket packages are more flexible and offer big benefits and discounts of up to $160.
Think priority seating, a personal concierge service and free date exchanges. Three play packages start at just $194. Get yours here.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by QLD Theatre and proudly endorsed by Urban List. Thank you for supporting the sponsors who make Urban List possible. Click here for more information on our editorial policy.
Images: Supplied.