Feast of Festival Fabulosity
From Hastings Street to the hinterland, Helen Flanagan discovers a world-class program of theatre, literature, feasts and music.
Be inspired by imaginative one-of-a-kind cultural adventures and five-star eye-poppers at Noosa Alive! Get amongst the celebrity and glitterati over 10 days of theatre, literature, ballet, cabaret, feasts, films, beats, a gala opera dinner and world and Queensland premieres.
Celebrating 24 years since the festival’s inception, expect more than 50 ticketed and free events, 100 actors, singers, dancers, musicians, authors, food legends and associates taking part, and let’s not forget the culinary heroes and future stars of Stars Alive! When it comes to hitting the high notes, Music of the Night, a Gala Opera Dinner in the Elysium Noosa Ballroom, is an unmissable evening to remember. Featuring the ethereal voices of Divina’s three sopranos Annebelle Kemish, Jessica Low and Laura Coutts, joined by tenor Shannon Leonard, this will be a night to remember long after the final notes echo.
Queensland Ballet hosts a special performance from Jette Parker Young Artists in a world premiere choreography, part of Artistic Director Ivan Gil-Ortega’s visionary leadership.
Witness the World Premiere of Coping with Winter, a new play by David Williamson exploring sexual intrigue and deceit. Holding up a mirror to the kind of country that has allowed the land of the ‘Fair Go’ to become a rapidly disappearing speck in our national rear vision mirror, it stars Erik Thomson, Renai Caruso and Janneke Williamson.
Rory Williamson – husband and son of the Williamsons connected to the play – is also the director.
Intimate, joyful and deeply human, Olivia is an outstanding Queensland Premiere. Join Tottie Goldsmith OAM in an intimate, joyful and deeply human experience sharing stories of her beloved aunt, the legendary Olivia Newton-John, who was instrumental in shaping the woman she is today. Tottie will be supported by singers Julie Walter who will capture the heart and soul of Olivia’s timeless hits and Stephen McDowell who will add depth and dimension together with a powerhouse band.
Ursula Yovich sings Nina Simone pays homage to the High Priestess of Soul with new energy. Together with a live 4-piece band, Ursula (The Sapphires, Top End Wedding) channels the spirit and defiant joy at the heart of Nina’s music with her own distinctive spark. Direct from a sellout performance at the Sydney Opera House to Noosa!
Songbirds is a cabaret show like no other. Gorgi Coghlan (The Project, The Masked Singer) together with her friend of 37 years, lyrical soprano Anna-Lee Robertson will wind hits from Bernstein, Irving Berlin, Paul Simon, Cole Porter, Puccini, and Adele to combine soaring harmonies, comedic charm, and musical brilliance, celebrating the enduring power of friendship.
Serious food lovers will adore Alsahwa Estate’s Hinterland Farm-to-Plate Gourmet Lunch at the beautiful restaurant ēthos, with exquisite music by harpist Hayley Erin.
Festival favourites the Grigoryan Brothers – Slava and Leonard – are justifiably regarded as Australia’s finest classical guitarists. Their performance features works from Bach to Towner, Tchaikovsky to Lovelady, their own compositions, Spanish music and Handel keyboard suites.
Literary notables aplenty are on the menu this year, including Blanche d’Alpuget, acclaimed author of biographies, novels and essays will discuss her latest novel The Bunny Club – a racy tale of crime, intrigue, tragedy and a quest for belonging, where nothing is as it appears and the truth is more chilling than anyone could imagine.
Mike Carlton, one of Australia’s foremost naval historians, presents The Burning Blue – the story of the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm and the men who flew high throughout the twentieth century.
Bryan Brown’s distinctive storytelling voice returns in a gripping new novel – intimate and cinematic, layered with suspense and quiet intensity that keeps you turning the page; and it’s breakfast with Louise Milligan, multi-award-winning investigative journalist for ABC TV’s Four Corners and bestselling author, discussing her latest, Shellybanks – a novel of buried secrets, unimaginable trauma and the love of family.
Robert Forster, with generations of fans from The Go-Betweens, will debut his novel Songwriters on the Run in conversation with Jon Coghill, former drummer for Powderfinger.
Playwrights Catherine Moore, Genevieve Hegney join trailblazer Deborah Lawrie for a lunch and conversation about the creation of Fly Girl, an award-winning play around Deb’s fight to win a case under the Sex Discrimination Act to become Australia’s first female commercial airline pilot.
War Dog by Jamie Williams is a story of trauma, addiction, brotherhood, betrayal and survival – young Jamie’s riveting account of serving with the French Foreign Legion against ISIS in some of the most dangerous places on earth.
Georgia Harper returns with Dove, a vivid portrait of a community on the edge, sparked by a viral moment on social media; and Rosalie Ham (author of The Dressmaker) joins for lunch with the funny, irreverent Look After Your Feet – a celebration of the wisdom that accelerates as body parts deteriorate and life falls into place, often a bit too late.
So What? Now What? Media personality Osher Günsberg will share his thoughts on how to stop being stuck and start living; political analyst Amy Remeikis will release her latest tome, Screw Nice, in a Queensland exclusive; and an up close and personal breakfast with David Williamson and acclaimed playwright Suzie Miller are not to be missed.
The Festival will culminate in a free event on the River Stage, Lions Park Noosaville on Sunday 26 July. This family-friendly event will bring together guest artists as well as the next generation of talented stars with performances by the finalists of Stars Alive!
Passionate Festival Director Ian Mackellar has excelled again, orchestrating an outstanding program that retains its philosophy of accessibility and broad appeal without ever being too cutting edge or elitist.
Several events are already sold-out so don’t delay!
COME ALIVE!
Noosa Alive! 17-26 July 2026
For full event information and buy tickets, visit www.noosaalive.com.au
