It's taken weeks of rearranging, reconsidering, and reimagining — but the three-week Brisbane Festival is proceeding with a lineup that's almost all local talent.
While interstate lockdowns and border restrictions wreaked havoc with the program, organisers say they're hoping audiences find a sense of optimism and celebration.
For the directors of multidisciplinary company Polytoxic, it's offered an opportunity to source fresh talent and stage their largest production yet, called Demolition.
"It's a chance for us to really show all our party tricks."
ABC News: Alice Pavlovic
)Co-director Lisa Fa'alafi is excited by the opportunity to present lots of local artists.
"We've been on tour around the globe up until COVID, so to really establish back home, share everything we've learnt from touring all those years and come in strong, is incredible.
"We're trying to celebrate that moment as much as we can for everybody who can't keep working too."
The festival's artistic director, Louise Bezzina, said this year's program features 16 world-premiere productions, an art boat and live music performances around the city.
ABC News: Alice Pavlovic
)"We are on, and that is number one," she said.
"It has been a very crazy time … I did think this year might be a little bit easier, but it absolutely hasn't. We launched the program and since that launch there is constant change.
Ms Bezzina said the team had rolled with the punches, avoiding any thought that they couldn't make it happen.
"The minute you decide, 'Oh I can't do this', it just falls apart — and that's absolutely the opposite of what we want to give people."
Supplied: Brisbane Festival
)"I think it's about taking locals into an extraordinary space. What's great about this time is we've realised what an extraordinary magnitude of artists we have in our city … I hope audiences are inspired, I hope audiences are feeling hopeful. I hope audiences feel a sense of pride for their city."
'Sense of optimism'
The festival's theme for 2021 is Brightly Brisbane and features light installations in several locations.
"I think that it should give people a real sense of optimism, and I think that's something we really need right now, is to feel optimistic that there are brighter days to come," Ms Bezzina said.
Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the festival would support about 1,000 local artists.
Supplied: Brisbane Festival
)"They're performing a range of different shows, but also in our Street Serenades right across the city," he said.
"It also gives us an opportunity to support local artists in a time when they really need it.
"A lot of these artists have lost their main sources of income, so to have this going ahead it's more than just a celebration of Brisbane's arts and culture, it's actively supporting our artists as well."
It's estimated last year's festival injected about $14 million into the Brisbane economy.
"Every dollar counts in this environment, and it's also important that people not only go along and enjoy the shows and performances, but grab a coffee and a meal at a local business or restaurant or cafe as well," Mr Schrinner said.
Brisbane Festival draws heavily on local talent for a celebration of Queensland pride and optimism - ABC News
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