Brisbane’s September stages are not asking children to sit through anything terribly sensible. At South Bank, VOU Fiji is filling the Piazza with acrobatics, dance and live music, while The Listies have an hour to make a joke of things nearby. Brisbane Powerhouse hands the night shift to a skeleton and a stuffed extinct bird, and in Cleveland, Finnegan the Fart Detective uses headphones to pull the audience into a 3D-audio mystery. Frankly, the title had probably already secured the six-year-olds.
There’s also a considerable difference between committing to ‘a show’ and committing to a show. GOMA’s free Rainbow Connectors’ performances last 15 minutes, while Fijian Flying Circus runs for two hours including interval. Tickets range from free pop-ups and performances to $99.90 at the top end for ESCAPE by DIAVOLO, so both attention span and family budget are worth checking before anyone settles on a favourite.
We’ve put the running times, ages, prices and booking details for all 13 below. The difficult part may be explaining why you chose the internationally touring acrobats over the fart detective.
Thirteen shows, one screenshot — save this before you start comparing ticket prices.
TheatreDome at City Hall
Theatre games and improvised comedy become a fast-moving contest in this free performance, presented as part of the Lord Mayor’s Children’s Program.
When: Wednesday 23 September, 10am–11am and 1pm–2pm
Where: Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide Street, Brisbane City
Ages: All ages
Cost and bookings: Free – Registration required through Eventbrite
Accessibility: Accessible seating available on the day
More information: TheatreDome
Queensland Puppetry Showcase: Larrikin Puppets
These two half-hour Larrikin Puppets shows at GOMA are short enough for a first seated performance — best suited to ages one to nine, though younger and older audience members are welcome.
When: Saturday 26 September, 10:15am–10:45am and 11:15am–11:45am
Where: GOMA, Cinema B, Stanley Place, South Brisbane
Ages: Best suited to 1–9 – Younger and older welcome
Cost and bookings: $7 child, $14 adult, $13 concession and $12 youth – Under-ones free. Bookings required through QTIX, with a ticket for every attendee
More information: Larrikin Puppets
Pop-up Performances: The Rainbow Connectors
At just 15 minutes each and no booking required, these free performances slot into a GOMA visit with young children without commanding the whole day. Three shows run during Family Fun Day.
When: Saturday 26 September, 10:30am, 11:30am and 12:30pm
Running time: 15 minutes each
Where: GOMA, Stanley Place, South Brisbane
Ages: All ages
Cost and bookings: Free – No booking required
More information: The Rainbow Connectors
Gathering: Nana Magic’s Deadly Adventures
Uraine Roelofs brings this free First Nations children’s performance to the Queen Street Mall main stage — no booking, so it can slot into a city visit on short notice.
When: Wednesday 23 September, noon–1pm
Where: Queen Street Mall Main Stage, Brisbane City
Ages: Children’s performance – No specific age recommendation listed
Cost and bookings: Free – No booking required
More information: Gathering: Nana Magic’s Deadly Adventures
Aunty Sharron & The Daughts
This interactive First Nations performance takes place on the Festival Village lawn, with Brisbane Festival including it in its recommendations for babies and toddlers.
When: Sunday 20 September;. Check the start time with Brisbane Festival on 07 3833 5400.
Running time: 60 mins
Where: Village Green, Festival Village, South Bank
Ages: Included in the festival’s guide for babies and toddlers – No specific age range listed
Cost and bookings: Free – No tickets required
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
More information: Aunty Sharron & The Daughts
This Show is a Joke! — The Listies
The Listies bring an hour of comedy to the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, with the kind of silliness that makes a family theatre outing feel very little like a lesson in sitting nicely.
When: Sunday 20 to Saturday 26 September – Check individual performance times through QTIX on 136 246.
Running time: 60 mins, no interval.
Where: Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank
Ages: 4 and over
Cost and bookings: $32.90–$37.90 – Family passes $110–$130 for two adults and two children aged 12 and under
Access and effects: Auslan-interpreted performance Wednesday 23 September at 2pm. Strobe, smoke and sound effects
More information: This Show is a Joke!
Dead as a Dodo
A stuffed dodo and a skeleton explore a museum after closing time in Wakka Wakka’s puppet show — for children drawn to unusual characters and a slightly spooky premise.
When: Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 September, 6:30pm – Friday 25 September, 11am and 6:30pm – Saturday 26 September, 1pm and 6:30pm.
Running time: Approximately 75–80 mins
Where: Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Ages: 5 and over
Cost and bookings: $59.90–$69.90, plus a booking fee of up to $7.20
Effects and entry: Haze, smoke, strobe and sound pressure effects. A nine-minute lockout is listed – Confirm late-entry arrangements with the venue and arrive before the start.
More information: Dead as a Dodo
Betsy Balloon and the Very Great Terrible Flood
Pirate & Queen’s family show runs for 50 minutes at QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre, making it one of the shorter ticketed options in the festival lineup.
When: Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 September – Check individual performance times with QPAC on 136 246.
Running time: 50 mins
Where: Cremorne Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane
Ages: Presented as a family show – No specific age recommendation listed
Cost and bookings: $45 – family-of-four tickets $39 each for two adults and two children aged 12 and under – Booking fee of up to $7.50
Accessibility: Auslan-interpreted and audio-described performance Friday 25 September at 11am
More information: Betsy Balloon and the Very Great Terrible Flood
Fijian Flying Circus
VOU Fiji brings dance, acrobatics and live music to the South Bank Piazza. The season continues until 4 October, giving families an option during the second week as well as the first.
When: Season runs until Sunday 4 October; l. Check performance times through QTIX on 136 246
Running time: 120 mins including a 20-minute interval
Where: South Bank Piazza, South Bank
Ages: Listed as a family show – No specific age recommendation provided
Cost and bookings: $55–$79, plus a booking fee of up to $3.75
More information: Fijian Flying Circus
ESCAPE by DIAVOLO
American company DIAVOLO combines dance with large moving structures, giving audiences a performance built around physical skill and the relationship between bodies and architecture.
When: Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 September – Check performance times with QPAC on 136 246.
Running time: 62 mins
Where: Playhouse, QPAC, South Brisbane
Ages: No published age recommendation – Confirm suitability with the venue.
Cost and bookings: $65.90–$99.90, plus a booking fee of up to $7.50
Effects: Smoke machine and haze
More information: ESCAPE by DIAVOLO
The Box Show at RPAC
A $35 child’s ticket includes an accompanying adult, within the booking limits below. The hour-long show runs twice, with a free Musical Garden open before and after performances.
When: Saturday 19 September, 10am and 1pm – Musical Garden open 9am–3pm
Running time: 60 mins, no interval
Where: Concert Hall, Redland Performing Arts Centre, Cleveland
Ages: Families and children aged 5–12
Cost and bookings: Child $35, including one accompanying adult – Maximum two free adults per booking. Additional adults $35, seniors and pensioners $27, groups of 10 or more $20 each. Companion Card tickets free
More information: The Box Show
Finnegan the Fart Detective
Everyone wears headphones for this detective story, with 3D audio and sound effects created live in front of the audience — a format that’s doing as much work as the title to get kids interested.
When: Saturday 26 September, 9am and 1pm
Running time: 45 mins, no interval
Where: RPAC Studio, Redland Performing Arts Centre, 2–16 Middle Street, Cleveland
Ages: 6–12 and their grown-ups
Cost and bookings: $29 standard, $24 each for a family of two adults and two children, or groups of 10 or more. Companion Card tickets free
More information: Finnegan the Fart Detective
Pinky McFluff Needs Help!
Pinky McFluff runs for an hour at Kingston Butter Factory in the second week of the holidays. Tickets start at $17, with a $5 transaction fee. When: Wednesday 30 September, 10am – Doors open 9:30am.
Running time: 60 mins
Where: Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct, 270 Jacaranda Avenue, Kingston
Ages: No published age recommendation – Confirm suitability with the venue
Cost and bookings: $17 plus a $5 transaction fee – Book through Logan Arts
More information: Pinky McFluff Needs Help!