Noosa Alive 2024: Stayin’ Alive and in Gear
Excite the senses, kick up your heels and enjoy Noosa Alive! a world-class razzle dazzle cocktail of arts and culture, writes Helen Flanagan.
Ten days of unquestionable Festival Fever like no other, is the promise.
With sun and song in your heart, love, laughter and taste buds piqued, this years’ festival from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July will have arts and culture lovers in a whirl and spoilt for choice.
The Festival is now in its 22nd year, and with acclaimed director Ian Mackellar once again at the helm, the program will offer a broad spectrum of events.
All the things the Festival is famous for – breathtaking live shows, thought-provoking forums, and mind-tingling eye-catching performances, sensational food, film and wine events.
Think dance, ballet, opera and classical music; theatre, circus, magic and stand-up comedy; long lunches, brunches and dinners; fascinating literary events, popular Seaside Vibes dance parties, and all with the stunning backdrop of Noosa. Naturally.
Sure to hit the high notes is the festival’s headliner, comedian extraordinaire Tom Gleeson. The Hard Quiz Overlord, Taskmaster host and Gold Logie winner has taken the Big Brass Mug on the road for the past two years with Hard Quiz Live.
He has performed at every major comedy festival in the world, been nominated for a Helpmann Award three times, won the Gold Logie for the Most Popular Personality on Australian television and now he’s giving Noosa audiences an opportunity to see a master stand-up at work with his brand-new live show, Gear.
“Stand up is my specialty,” says Tom. “Television is a beautiful distraction but I’m looking forward to getting back to doing what I do best. Poking and provoking a live crowd.”
He must be ok at it winning Best Comedy Performer, AACTA Awards 2022; and Best Comedy at Adelaide Fringe Festival 2020 and Perth Fringe World 2019.
Don’t miss the chance to watch this gold-plated, comedy superstar live!
What is not to love about an opening night especially when it features an amazing performance by the world-renowned Opera Divas at the J Theatre?
And better be quick to book Twilight Classics on Noosa Main Beach two nights later. It promises to be a much sought-after event, offering dinner, live chamber music and three outstanding vocalists, two sopranos and a tenor.
Pulling more than rabbits out of their hats will be two internationally acclaimed, truly astounding magicians for a series of intimate up-close and personal experiences, including the inside know-how of amazing your friends. Tim Ellis who has been chosen three times to represent Australia on the Jury at the FISM World Championships will perform Timeless Magic – an exclusive stage performance for Noosa Alive! And Harry Milas will invite an intimate number of guests to share some incredible ‘sleight of hand’ magic, where he reveals (shhh) some of his magical secrets! There will only be a handful (literally, five) of the Up Close Experience sessions with a limit of 40 guests per event – so be quick as opportunities will disappear.
Love a bit of Agatha Christie, known throughout the world as the Queen of Crime as the best-selling novelist in history?
A great who dunnit theatre improv-production Murder Village, will see the audience choose the suspects, the weapon and setting, in this laugh-a-minute spoof.
Noosa Alive! would never be the same without intimate performances by the Queensland Ballet and audiences will be thrilled with their latest World Premiere performances; and similarly irresistible MEOW MEOW! returning with theatre royalty John Bell AO and piano virtuoso Simon Tedeschi, together for an unmissable one-and-only performance.
Junkyard Beats, renowned for their dynamic rhythm shows will present The Box Show of high-energy routines including drumming, body percussion, dance, junk percussion, circus and hilarious skits.
The family-friendly show is inspired by everyday life, created from recycled junk, filled with imagination, humour, lots of rhythm and performed by loveable characters. During the ten days of the Festival, watch out for the Junkyard Beats where you least expect, with pop-up zany snippets of their funky performances.
Noosa Alive! 2024 offers an eclectic array of events and performances over 10 days and nights from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 July with an emphasis on accessible ticket prices to suit all budgets and of course most tastes. The full program will be announced early April with ticket sales direct from the website for a more streamlined, booking fee-free process. We can’t wait!
NOOSA ALIVE! 2024
FRIDAY 19 JULY – SUNDAY 28 JULY 2024
For all events, including the announcement of two additional performances for the Queensland Ballet, be sure to sign up for the latest information via the website.
