Brisbane Festival: Baleen Moondjan

Queen’s Wharf will transform into a stage for powerful First Nations storytelling when creative visionary Stephen Page premieres Baleen Moondjan as part of Brisbane Festival 2025.

This landmark work marks Stephen Page’s first major commission since his departure from Bangarra Dance Theatre – and one of his most personal to date, inspired by a story passed down by his grandmother from the Ngugi/Nunukul/Moondjan people of Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island). Performed outdoors beneath giant sculptural whale bones floating on the Brisbane River, Baleen Moondjan is a contemporary ceremony that honours sacred totemic relationships between baleen whales and First Nations communities.

Set to captivate audiences, this immersive riverside experience follows a proud Elder, a curious granddaughter and the moment a whale draws near to shore. Blending expressive choreography, live music and storytelling in the languages of English, Jandai and Gumbaynggirr/Yaegl, Baleen Moondjan celebrates the sacred bond between humans and animals, and the enduring resilience of Country.

Stephen Page is joined by an acclaimed creative team, which includes visual designer Jacob Nash, to deliver this powerful celebration of First Nations stories. Tickets to experience Baleen Moondjan are on sale now via the Brisbane Festival website.