4MBS BRISBANE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL

19th Annual 4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival
Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 November 2025

Experience the world of the Bard amongst Brisbane’s beautiful Roma Street Parklands!

If music be the food of love, play on!

Join us for two fully-staged professional performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in the lush Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre. Come early for food and Shakespearean themed events!

Book Your Tickets now!

Saturday 8 November

Sunday 9 November

2025 Festival Events

4PM – SWORDPLAY

– with Prima Spada School of Fence
En garde! Agente! Watch an authentic Shakespearean swordplay demonstration, and learn about the skills and weaponry used in historical fencing. Based on the work of 16th and 17th century European masters!
Included in Festival ticket.

4PM – MAKE A FLOWER CROWN

– with Swedes Down Under
Make your own fresh flower crown to wear at the festival, with guidance from community group Swedes Down Under! Flower crown kit available for $8 on the day (funds go to Swedes Down Under).

4.35PM – SHAKESPEAREAN DANCE

– with dance historian Dr Heather Blasdale Clarke
Learn to dance like the Bard! Join Dr. Clarke as she teaches beautiful dances from Shakespeare’s time, accompanied by live Renaissance music. Suitable for all ages!
Included in Festival ticket.

5.10PM – SHAKESPEAREAN LANGUAGE

– with Roland ‘Roly’ Sussex
Discover Shakespeare’s way with words with Emeritus Professor of Applied Language Studies at UQ Roly Sussex, who has been broadcasting language segments on ABC Radio in Queensland since 1997.
Included in Festival ticket.

5.30PM – TWELFTH NIGHT

Step into Shakespeare’s playful world of love, laughter, and mistaken identity! This tale of shipwrecks, disguise and tangled hearts will be spun in music and merriment in the open air. Directed by Xanthe Jones, this professional production features a stellar cast of Brisbane Shakespearean actors.
2 hrs with interval. Included in Festival ticket.

Tickets:
$20 Adults | $15 4MBS Subscribers & Concessions
$10 Full-time students (18 & over) | FREE for Children (under 18) & Companion Card holders

SATURDAY TICKETS

SUNDAY TICKETS

More Shakespeare Events

WIT, STRINGS & SHAKESPEARE

– Library Talks with Gary Thorpe OAM
From witty wordplay to merry music, join 4MBS Classic FM’s Gary Thorpe and a string quartet for a delightful discussion of Shakespeare’s comedies and memorable characters – a charming prelude to the 4MBS Brisbane Shakespeare Festival.

Tue 28 Oct, 11am (60 mins)
Mount Ommaney Library, 171 Dandenong Rd (inside shopping centre precinct)
Free entry, please book | Ph: (07) 3407 7010

Thu 30 Oct, 11am (60 mins)
Carindale Library, Westfield Carindale, 1151 Creek Rd
Free entry, please book | Ph: (07) 3407 1490

Fri 31 Oct, 11am (60 mins)
New Farm Library, 135 Sydney St
Free entry, please book | Ph: (07) 3403 1062

SHAKESPEARE ON RADIO

Classical music inspired by Shakespeare on 4MBS Classic FM 103.7, available in South East Queensland at 103.7FM or on our website live stream.

Thu 30 Oct, 10pm: TRIBUTE – The Slavic Shakespeare
Works which the Bard of Avon inspired from Smetana, Moniusko, Fibich and Sulek.

Thu 6Nov, 8pm: AT THE OPERA – Shakespeare in Opera
The plays of William Shakespeare have long been a mine of material for opera librettists and composers. Here is what some of them have made of the plays.

Fri 7Nov, 10am: MORNING MUSIC – Shakespeare across the Centuries
Music based on the Bard’s plays, from Berlioz to Walton.

Sat 8Nov, 12 noon: SMORGASBORD – Celebrating Shakespeare
Eight overtures to Shakespeare’s plays, commissioned by 4MBS from local composers in 2016.

Sat 8Nov, 4pm: FEATURE – Shakespeare
From Robert Jones’ song settings of Shakespeare’s texts, through The Merry Wives of Windsor, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar, to Wagner’s take on Measure for Measure.