Do look up! Skylore’s constellations promise a glittering end to this year’s Bris Fest
Brisbane Festival starts with a bang and will end with a heavenly drone show set in the big beautiful night sky.
While one-off events might be the key purpose and allure of international arts festivals, Brisbane Festival has become the nation’s biggest by embracing the entire River City community – including art that’s accessible for everyone and encore seasons by public demand.
One of those triumphs, pioneered by outgoing artistic director Louise Bezzina’s quest to transform every part of the City into a stage, is her gift to the people, Skylore – Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale. This innovative union of high-tech machinery and the ancient lore of the world’s oldest continuing culture returns for the festival’s final three days, from September 25.
Free and family-friendly, Skylore – Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale creates a wondrous and enchanting mirage of drone constellations in the night sky above the water between South Bank and Queen’s Wharf. Narrated by Yaggera and Toorabul traditional owner Shannon Ruska, the spectacle illustrates a 65,000-year-old Dreamtime story of the whale spirit connecting land, water and sky and celebrates culture, country and connection to place.
Before its world premiere, Ruska described Brisbane Festival’s first drone light show as an experience that allows everyone to become part of Meanjin/Brisbane’s history. It’s a sentiment echoed by Bezzina.
“Skylore: Nieergoo – Spirit of the Whale is one of those rare shows that manages to be both breathtaking and deeply moving,” she reflects. “When we first presented it in 2023, audiences were captivated not only by the sheer artistry and magnitude of the work, but also by its spirit – the way it interlaced music, movement and light to create a collective moment of wonder.
“A huge part of that magic comes from Shannon Ruska and Tribal Experiences, whose cultural leadership and deep connection to country imbued the work with profound resonance.”
Co-creators Nova Sky Stories have programmed 3D drone formations representing native Australian animals, shapes and symbols that mimic the movement and mood of an original score created by acclaimed local composer and sound designer Guy Webster.
The work’s popularity led to the creation of a new chapter, Skylore – The Rainbow Serpent, for the 2024 festival. But the achievement of the 2023 original as a world-first self-determined First Nations creation is particularly meaningful to Bezzina.
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“To be able to bring Skylore – Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale back for my final program is incredibly special,” she continues. “It embodies everything I love about this festival: bold creativity, heartfelt storytelling and the power to bring us all together.”
The fact that the dazzling display’s magical journey lasts an all-too-brief eight minutes ensures that this week’s audiences will include both first-timers and repeat visitors. Some might also want to stay and take in more than one of the nightly sessions at 7.15, 8.15 and 9.15pm, or compare the viewing perspectives offered at South Bank and Queen’s Wharf (which also provides ticketed reserved grandstand seating at The Landing).
Skylore – Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, Queen’s Wharf Brisbane and South Bank, September 25-27.