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Jacinda Ardern To Take The Stage At Brisbane Writers Festival

Brisbane City Hall will host former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern in October, when she takes part in a conversation titled A Different Kind of Power.

Read: Australian AI Film Awards to Celebrate AI Filmmaking at The Precinct

Ardern will appear with Brisbane author and journalist Trent Dalton at the Brisbane Writers Festival event on Sunday, October 11. The conversation is scheduled from 5pm to 6pm and shares its name with Ardern’s memoir.

The session will look at Ardern’s experiences in public life and political leadership, with the festival event providing the setting for her conversation with Dalton. The appearance puts a former national leader on the festival program alongside Australian and international authors.

A four-day festival across Brisbane

The Brisbane Writers Festival will run from October 8 to 11, with events taking place across Brisbane, including Brisbane City Hall and Brisbane Powerhouse.

More than 200 Australian and international authors are included in the 2026 program, with more than 110 events covering subjects including fiction, crime, romance, food, history, journalism, popular culture, politics, parenting, gardening and wellbeing.

The wider program includes international writers such as Susan Orlean and Andrew O’Hagan, while British author Alice Oseman is also scheduled to appear at Brisbane City Hall in a session focused on Heartstopper.

Australian writers including Kate Grenville, Richard Flanagan, Holly Ringland and Suzie Miller are also part of the program. The Queensland Literary Awards will form part of this year’s festival after Brisbane Writers Festival took over management and hosting of the awards from the State Library of Queensland.

The Queensland Literary Awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 8, with winners to be announced during the ceremony.

Ardern’s political career

Ardern in 2018 (Photo credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/Newzild/Wikimedia Commons)

Jacinta Arden was elected prime minister of New Zealand in 2017 at the age of 37, becoming the country’s youngest prime minister in more than 150 years. In 2018, she gave birth to her daughter, Neve, and became the first leader of a country in 30 years to give birth while in office.

Ardern stepped down as prime minister in 2023 and was later awarded the accolade Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Read: Fortitude Valley Science Week Summit Puts Queensland Quantum Future in the Spotlight

Since leaving office, she has continued with writing and speaking. She is the author of the memoir A Different Kind of Power and What If You Could, a motivational book for teenagers.

The conversation with Dalton is scheduled for the final day of the four-day festival, running from 5pm to 6pm at Brisbane City Hall. Tickets for the Brisbane Writers Festival are on offer through the festival website.

Published 26-August-2026

Inner City Public Pools Face Tighter Rules on Cameras, Smart Glasses

Photo Credit: BrisbaneCityCouncil

New conditions of entry are rolling out to public pools in Spring Hill, Paddington, South Brisbane, and Fortitude Valley. The updated rules give Brisbane City Council clearer authority to stop patrons from using discreet devices, like smart glasses, to record others without permission.

Consent rules extend across pool grounds

Brisbane City Council is strengthening conditions of entry at its public pools to prohibit photography, video recording and still-image capture without prior consent.

The rules cover mobile phones, action cameras and wearable devices such as smart glasses, and target covert recording, particularly in changerooms where patrons expect privacy.

New signage will be progressively installed over the coming weeks.

Smart glasses put discreet filming in focus

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said recent concerns about smart glasses being used without people’s knowledge or consent had heightened privacy concerns. He said families should be able to use the facilities without worrying that they or their children were being secretly recorded.

Camera-equipped glasses can resemble conventional eyewear while allowing photographs or video to be captured without the user holding a phone or camera. Council says the updated rules are designed to keep pace with more accessible wearable recording technology.

No particular Brisbane pool has been publicly identified as the site of an incident that prompted the changes. Council has described the initiative as a response to broader concerns about covert recording and the growing availability of discreet technology.

BRISBANE PUBLIC POOLS

Child safety groups support tighter safeguards

Queensland Family and Child Commission principal commissioner Luke Twyford welcomed measures aimed at reducing foreseeable risks to children in public spaces. He said organisations operating services and facilities for children needed to ensure those environments were safe and protected against exploitation.

Digital Rights Watch head of policy Tom Sulston also welcomed the move, citing threats to privacy and dignity posed by smart glasses and similar covert cameras. He called for councils and state and federal governments to consider stronger protections against unwanted recording.

Signs to spell out consent requirement

Proposed signs will advise patrons that recording, photography and still-image capture, including through smart glasses, are not permitted without prior consent. Wearing or carrying smart glasses is not itself prohibited under the announced rules; the restriction applies when the devices are used to capture people without permission.

Separate approval rules already apply to commercial filming and photography using Council-managed assets, including swimming pools.

Schrinner said the changes would give pool staff clearer rules for responding to inappropriate filming and help protect swimmers’ privacy. Council says the rollout will occur progressively over the coming weeks.

Published 26-Aug-2026

Fire, Waltons and Redevelopment: The Long History of 250 Wickham St

For generations of Brisbane shoppers, Fortitude Valley’s department stores were destinations in their own right. Among them was Overells, which became Walton-Sears in 1953 before the property passed to Waltons in 1956.

More than a century after Overells established itself in the Valley, the heritage-listed property at 250 Wickham Street remains part of a broader redevelopment push. Earlier schemes have been proposed for the site, while Brisbane City Council is preparing a new planning framework for Fortitude Valley ahead of Brisbane 2032.

A draper grows with the Valley

William James Overell established a small drapery business in Fortitude Valley in 1883, initially trading from the corner of Ann and Warner streets. As Brisbane expanded, so did the firm.

Council heritage records show Overell acquired land near Brunswick and Wickham streets in 1899 and moved the business into new premises the following year. Rival retailers including T.C. Beirne and James McWhirter were also expanding their operations in the Valley during the period.

Improved transport helped turn the area into one of Brisbane’s favourite shopping destinations by the early 20th century. Large retailers drew customers into the Valley, creating opportunities for smaller businesses and entertainment venues.

Rising from the ashes

Disaster struck in February 1904 when Overell’s premises were destroyed by fire. Council records say the blaze killed one man, disrupted power to trams and also destroyed the neighbouring Bank of New South Wales premises.

Photo Credit: National Library of Australia

A replacement building opened later that year, offering improved light and ventilation and larger departments. The company adopted the phoenix as its trademark, reflecting the store’s recovery from the fire.

Further expansion followed. A Wickham Street extension opened in 1907, allowing the business to separate departments across the complex. State Library of Queensland records describe electric lighting, two passenger lifts and a goods lift among the store’s features.

By 1910, Overells had 20 departments in the Valley and branches elsewhere in Queensland. The company also developed a mail-order trade and continued expanding vertically, adding three storeys to the Wickham Street building in 1926–27.

Waltons takes over

Overells remained a prominent Valley retailer through the first half of the century, selling clothing, furniture, household goods, footwear, radios, toys and groceries.

The family business entered a new era in 1953, when Sydney department store Walton-Sears replaced Overells as part of its expansion into Queensland. Title to the property passed to Waltons in 1956, according to Council heritage records.

Waltons carried out substantial internal alterations through the 1960s and 1970s, as the Valley’s position as a dominant shopping destination began to weaken. Council records say the department store closed in the 1980s.

Waltons’ retail stores were sold to Venture in 1987. Published histories of the Valley site record the premises subsequently trading as Venture before the chain entered bankruptcy in 1994.

A landmark faces another reinvention

The former Overell building has been recognised as a local heritage place since 2000, with Council’s detailed heritage citation dated 2011. Its significance rests partly on its association with the Valley’s emergence as an important commercial centre and with W.J. Overell and Sons.

Several redevelopment proposals have been put forward for the complex over the past decade. A 2021 development application by Mount Cathay Pty Ltd envisaged a Torrens University campus, student accommodation, retail space, co-working areas and a tower, along with refurbishment of the heritage Overells and Lincoln Mills buildings.

By 2026, redevelopment reporting was again presenting a different mixed-use future for the site. A broader 4,077-square-metre holding was being promoted for residential, retail and commercial uses, alongside improved public areas.

New planning rules could reshape the next proposal

Future redevelopment of the site is being considered as Brisbane City Council develops its Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan. This remains in progress and is intended to encourage more housing and mixed-use development while improving connections, public spaces and the protection of the Valley’s heritage. Council expects to release a draft plan later in 2026, with adoption targeted for 2027.

The site has survived fire, repeated expansion, changes of ownership and the decline of the department-store era. Whether the latest redevelopment push finally gives the old complex a new role remains unresolved, but its history shows that reinvention has long been part of the property’s story.

Published 25-Aug-2026

Australian AI Film Awards to Celebrate AI Filmmaking at The Precinct

The inaugural Australian AI Film Awards will be presented at The Precinct in Fortitude Valley on Wednesday, August 26, bringing filmmakers, creators, and screen industry professionals together for an awards ceremony and live industry forum.

Read: Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley Turns Brain Science into a Live Comedy Quest

The event is being held as part of Something Fest, with the program running from 1pm to 4pm. The Precinct describes the event as bringing Australia’s AI filmmakers, screen professionals, studios and Screen Queensland together, with winning films to be screened as part of the afternoon.

Organisers described the event as a celebration of filmmakers, creators and studios shaping the next era of AI storytelling. The categories include Best Australian AI Film, Best International AI Film, and Best Regional Storyteller. The organisers said more than 300 entries had been received from Australia and overseas, while public voting was open for the People’s Choice award.

International judging panel

The seven-member judging panel includes figures from the traditional screen industry alongside practitioners working in AI. The panel includes David Freeman, a former executive vice president at Disney and Fox; Canadian director David Hackl, director of SAW V and production designer of the SAW franchise; and Emmy-nominated producer Adam Gilad.

Jim Dodson, producer of Netflix’s The Night Agent, is also on the panel, alongside Jennie Zeiher, CEO of AI-native VFX studio Alussein and formerly of Rising Sun Pictures.

Jamie van Leeuwen (Photo credit: aifilmawards.com.au)

Marie-Celine Merret, co-founder of the AARON Awards, and US-based creative AI educator and technologist Jerrod Lew are also listed on the judging panel.

Jamie van Leeuwen, Co-Director of the awards and Founder of Absolutely AI, said the response to the inaugural event had been strong.

“The volume and quality of entries we’ve received has been outstanding, and it’s a real testament to the depth of creative talent we have here in Australia,” he said.

Van Leeuwen said the entries represented films made with tools that had not existed a few years ago.

“This is not a gimmick reel. These are films with craft, emotion and point of view, made with tools that simply did not exist a few years ago,” he said.

Forum to examine AI filmmaking

Photo credit: LinkedIn/Australian AI Film Awards

Alongside the awards, THE NEXT FRAME will bring screen industry and AI practitioners together for a live discussion about how the filmmaking process changes when AI becomes part of the medium.

Speakers include Julie Eckersley, Executive Director of Screen Content at Screen Queensland; Clayton Jacobson, director of the Australian classic Kenny and CEO of AI creators Gunshy Cowboys; and Jennie Zeiher, CEO of Alussein.

Award-winning AI creator Emma Barbato will also give a live presentation on new formats and opportunities emerging through AI-powered content.

Jacobson, who is also an AAIFA panel member, said AI filmmaking could bring audiences into a more direct relationship with the storyteller.

“When you watch an AI film, it can be just you and the artist in direct conversation, and there’s something really special about that,” he said.

Read: It Started With an Email Between Friends. Now It’s Coming to Brisbane.

The organisers said the event is intended to bring Australia’s AI filmmaking community together with the established screen industry.

Doors open at 1pm, with the awards and forum running until 4pm. Networking drinks will follow. Registration is free, although places are limited. Further event information and registration details are available through the Australian AI Film Awards website.

Published 21-August-2026

New Train Numbers Roll Out Across Queensland’s Rail Network

Fortitude Valley commuters will soon have a new number to look for when catching trains through the inner city, with the Rosewood to Nambour route being identified as T1 under South East Queensland’s new rail numbering system.

Read: Fortitude Valley Public Transport Outpaces the Car in New Data

The change is being progressively introduced in August 2026, with line numbers appearing alongside destinations across train and tram passenger information. For Fortitude Valley, T1 links the suburb with Brisbane’s CBD and communities stretching from Rosewood and Ipswich to the Sunshine Coast.

T1 connects a long stretch of the rail network

The T1 corridor runs from Rosewood through Ipswich, Goodna, Darra, Indooroopilly and Toowong, continuing through Brisbane’s CBD and Fortitude Valley before heading north through Northgate, Strathpine and Petrie.

The service then continues towards Caboolture, Beerwah, Landsborough and Nambour, with services also extending to Gympie North. That makes T1 one of the longest and most geographically wide-reaching labels in the new numbering system. For passengers in Fortitude Valley, the number provides another way to recognise services travelling along the corridor without relying on the destination name alone.

Translink said the new numbers will be displayed alongside destinations on network maps, signage, the journey planner and onboard information. The rollout does not change timetables, routes or stopping patterns.

The destination will remain visible, meaning a passenger at Fortitude Valley can still check whether a train is heading towards Caboolture, Nambour or another destination while using T1 as an additional identifier.

Better Transport Queensland supported the broader change, describing train line numbering as a common practice internationally and a system that aligns with the way Queensland already labels buses, ferries, and trams.

BTQ president Rowan Gray has said the new labels should make the rail network easier to understand, particularly compared with some of the less familiar service codes that passengers can encounter in journey-planning and mapping systems.

He has also argued that introducing the numbers before Cross River Rail opens gives passengers time to become accustomed to the new system before further changes are made to the network.

Other train lines get their own numbers

T1 is part of a wider numbering system being introduced across South East Queensland. T2 will run between Springfield Central and Kippa-Ring, linking the western corridor with Brisbane and the Redcliffe Peninsula.

T3 covers the Doomben branch, while T4 connects Cleveland, Brisbane and Shorncliffe. The T5 corridor links Varsity Lakes and the Gold Coast with Brisbane and the Airport, while T6 runs between Beenleigh, Brisbane and Ferny Grove.

Read: Howard Smith Wharves Shared Path Debate Rekindled After Near Miss Near Fortitude Valley

Translink said the numbers are intended to make the network easier to understand, navigate and use, particularly for visitors and customers with accessibility needs.

The number will not change where the trains go. Instead, it provides another reference point for passengers navigating one of the region’s busiest and most extensive rail corridors.

Published 17-August-2026

Softball Greats From Six Decades Come Together in Brisbane

Photo Credit: SMP Images/Softball Australia

Close to 50 Australian softball representatives spanning more than six decades came together in Brisbane, bringing former players, coaches and officials into the same room for a reunion across generations.

The gathering on Saturday 8 August included representatives from the 1960s through to the present, along with umpires, families, volunteers and long-time supporters of the sport.

At the centre of the Brisbane softball reunion were nine players from Australia’s Atlanta 1996 Olympic team, who joined head coach Bob Crudgington and the team’s manager three decades after softball made its Olympic debut.

Brisbane Softball Reunion Brings Generations Together

The evening extended beyond the Atlanta team, recognising the wider group of people who had contributed to Australian softball over different eras.

Each Australian representative attending was invited to stand and was applauded for their service in the green and gold.

Atlanta captain Joyce Lester OAM also recognised the role of players who helped strengthen Australian softball even if they did not make the Olympic squad. She reflected on the depth of talent around the game at the time and the contribution those players made to raising its standard.

Crudgington similarly recalled a period when Australia had more players capable of competing at Olympic level than could fit into the 15-player Atlanta squad.

For Lester, the reunion also brought attention back to relationships that continued well beyond competition, with long-standing friendships among teammates remaining an important part of her experience in the sport.

Earlier Generations Recognised

The gathering also acknowledged 1965 world champion Lorraine Woolley, connecting the celebration with an earlier chapter of Australian softball.

Woolley pitched the game that secured Australia’s first Women’s Softball World Championship. Her contribution continues to be recognised through the Lorraine Woolley Medal, awarded to the best pitcher at the Open Women’s National Championship.

The recognition placed the Atlanta generation alongside representatives whose involvement in Australian softball stretched back decades before the sport reached the Olympic stage.

Hall Of Fame Honour Shared With Teammates

Another moment during the Brisbane gathering recognised Natalie Titcume following her induction into the WBSC Softball Hall of Fame in January.

Titcume was honoured at the Softball Celebration Dinner with her Hall of Fame plaque while members of her Atlanta 1996 Olympic team were beside her.

Australia won bronze at Atlanta 1996, beginning a run of four consecutive Olympic medals for Australian softball. The Brisbane reunion used that anniversary as the setting for a wider gathering of those who had represented and supported the sport across generations.

The event was organised by an Alumni Organising Committee led by Maree Holden, with support from Joyce Lester, Kim Cooper and Peta Edebone.

Published 14-August-2026

Ceramic Paint and Sip Classes in Brisbane Add a Creative Night Out to Fortitude Valley

Photo Credit: Art Masterclass

Ceramic paint and sip classes in Brisbane are now running in Fortitude Valley, and the format feels made for a suburb like this. The sessions are held at Shop 2B, 826 Ann Street, with a simple mix of painting, drinks and an easygoing night out.

The idea is pretty simple. People bring their own drinks, settle in and paint ceramic pieces with step-by-step help. The organisers say no experience is needed, so first-timers should feel right at home.

The class covers the basics too. Guests get ceramic plates and bowls, paints, brushes and a wineglass. Instructors stay with the group throughout, which keeps things moving without too much fuss.

BYO, Turkish treats and a piece to take home

The event page says the venue is BYO only. Guests can bring wine, beer or bottled alcohol. They can also bring small nibbles, although table space is limited.

There is a nice little extra built in. Each class includes apple tea service with Turkish delights. It gives the workshop a different feel and adds a bit more character than your standard paint-and-sip night.

There is also a practical upside. The beginner class does not need a kiln, because the bowls already come glazed. When the session wraps up, guests take their finished piece home.

Sessions spread across the week

Ceramic paint and sip classes in Brisbane run across morning, afternoon and evening slots. That gives locals a few options, whether they want a daytime break or an after-work plan.

Bookings close one day before each session starts. The listing also notes that details can change, so anyone heading along should check the ticket or booking page first.

The class is pitched as a date idea, a catch-up with mates or a solo outing. That broad reach probably helps explain why it is getting a run.

Another option for the Valley crowd

Fortitude Valley already has plenty going on after dark. Still, this workshop adds something a little different to the local mix. It gives people a chance to slow down, chat and make something by hand.

Ceramic paint and sip classes in Brisbane offer more than a craft session. They bring a guided activity, a social setting and a take-home piece at the end. For locals after something low-key but a bit out of the ordinary, that should be enough to get a few people through the door.

Published 14-August-2026

Fortitude Valley Public Transport Outpaces the Car in New Data

New transport data from GoThere Brisbane shows Fortitude Valley’s measured public transport journey into Brisbane’s CBD beats the car, with the fastest trip taking just 14 minutes.

Read: New Train Station to Remain ‘Albert Street’ After Community Consultation

That places Fortitude Valley equal second with Milton in the ranking of Brisbane suburbs with the quickest measured public transport journeys into the CBD. Only Bowen Hills, at nine minutes, records a shorter trip.

The 14-minute journey is door-to-door, arriving in Brisbane Central by 9am. For Fortitude Valley, the calculation comprises 12 minutes of walking and two minutes on the train, with no waiting time recorded.

Fortitude Valley ranks highly for transport access

The suburb also ranks highly for public transport services available within walking distance. Fortitude Valley is third in GoThere’s connectivity table, with 89 routes and 639 peak departures per hour within an 800-metre walk of its population-weighted centre.

The connectivity ranking measures the number of distinct routes and peak departures available nearby, while the 14-minute figure measures the fastest door-to-door public transport journey into the CBD.

Fortitude Valley ranks highly on both measures, recording the equal-second-fastest commute and third place for connectivity.

What the commute figures measure

GoThere’s analysis measures every gazetted suburb within 20 kilometres of Brisbane Central from its population-weighted centre. The public transport journey is calculated as a door-to-door trip arriving in the CBD by 9am, with the journey broken into walking, waiting and in-vehicle travel.

The car comparison uses the same origin and morning peak traffic conditions. It includes an eight-minute allowance for finding a park and walking to the destination, making the comparison door-to-door.

Read: Fortitude Valley Train Transforms into Spontaneous Rave, Enthralling Commuters

The dataset records a 17-minute car journey, compared with 14 minutes by public transport, giving transit a three-minute advantage. The figures represent the measured journey from the specified origin and conditions and will not necessarily match every commuter’s trip.

For Fortitude Valley, the data places public transport among the fastest measured ways to reach Brisbane Central.

Published 13-August-2026

Fortitude Valley To Host Quantum Tech And Neuroscience Events For National Science Week

Fortitude Valley is set to feature prominently in National Science Week, with quantum technology, advanced technologies, and neuroscience explored across two events on 18 and 19 August.

Read: Fortitude Valley Science Week Summit Puts Queensland Quantum Future in the Spotlight

Running from 15 to 23 August 2026, National Science Week will reach more than 3 million people through thousands of events nationally, with Queensland’s program featuring everything from moon rover technology and sports science to Indigenous botanicals and disease research.

Quantum technology is already here

For Fortitude Valley, the program begins with the Qx Summit on Tuesday, 18 August. The Qx Summit, presented under the theme ‘Make it in Queensland’, will focus on the state’s work in quantum technology, semiconductors and deep tech.

Rather than treating quantum technology as something far off, the event will look at Queensland-made breakthroughs that are already being deployed locally and globally.

The program will bring together stakeholders from industry, officials, research and the broader quantum community to examine how advanced technologies are translating into real-world outcomes.

Health, sports technology, logistics, artificial intelligence and defence are among the areas highlighted for discussion, giving the summit a practical focus rather than concentrating solely on laboratory research.

Queensland’s push to attract investment, talent and partnerships will also be examined, alongside the skills, education and training pathways supporting the state’s quantum and advanced technology workforce. There will also be opportunities for attendees to connect with investors, industry experts, researchers and policymakers.

The Qx Summit will be held at The Precinct on Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley on Tuesday, 18 August.

Dungeons, Dragons and neuroscience

On Wednesday, 19 August, Monsters and Molecules: Journey to the Centre of the Brain will bring science and fantasy together in an improvised live comedy show.

Cutting-edge quantum research meets role-play as comedian Jaimeson Gilders, educator Joel Gilmore and Professor Lezanne Ooi take on a Dungeons & Dragons-inspired adventure centred on one of the most complex systems to exist: the human brain.

The event is supported by the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology and explores quantum research connected with mapping the brain.

Science communicator and dungeon master Shu Ezackial will host the show, with live music by Melbourne musician Sean Sully.

The performance will take place at The Brightside on Warner Street, with doors opening at 6.30pm and the show beginning at 7pm. The event is listed for audiences aged 18 and over.

Read: Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley Turns Brain Science into a Live Comedy Quest

Fortitude Valley is only part of Queensland’s National Science Week program. Elsewhere, Queensland highlights include a Planetarium concert exploring music, misinformation and the cosmos, an electric flying taxi made by Sunshine Coast students, and a Gold Coast Airshow featuring super-fast planes, an Australian astronaut and a Moon rover.

Toowoomba will host a sport psychology VR experience exploring the brain of a professional rugby player, while Townsville will look at the science behind gin made using Indigenous botanicals.

Other events across the state will explore topics including mosquitoes, superbugs, the Tasmanian devil and Australia’s wildflowers.

For Fortitude Valley audiences, however, the local program offers two particularly different perspectives: one on technologies being developed and deployed now, and another on the science of the brain delivered through live performance.

Published 10-August-2026

Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley Turns Brain Science into a Live Comedy Quest

Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley is heading to The Brightside on Wednesday 19 August, and it sounds like a properly weird, clever time. The Dungeons & Dragons-style show mixes quantum research, improv comedy and a trip through the human brain. In Fortitude Valley, that feels right at home.

A brainy night with a bit of swagger

The Valley has never minded a night that breaks the mould. This one leans all the way in.

Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley lands at The Brightside on Wednesday 19 August. Doors open at 6.30pm. The show starts at 7pm and runs for three hours, with an intermission. It is an 18-plus event, which suits the late-night energy nicely.

Comedian Jaimeson Gilders, educator Joel Gilmore and Professor Lezanne Ooi will front the show. Together, they will work their way through one of science’s most complicated subjects. That is the human brain. They will do it live, in front of a crowd, with a fantasy twist.

It is a smart idea. It also feels refreshingly un-snobby. Science can sometimes sound boxed away in jargon. This show seems happy to kick the door open and make room for a laugh.

Quantum ideas, minus the lab coat

The night is hosted by science communicator and dungeon master Shu Ezackial. That should tell you plenty. This is not a sit-still-and-listen kind of event. It is playful, fast, and a little bit unhinged in the best way.

Live music from Melbourne bard Sean Sully will add another layer. So the show does not just explain science. It turns it into a full evening out.

That approach should suit a Fortitude Valley crowd. Locals know how to spot a good night before it even starts. They also know a bit of theatre when they see it. Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley offers both, with a science edge.

The event also sits neatly inside National Science Week. That gives it a wider purpose, too. It is not just there to entertain. It is there to pull science closer to everyday people.

A local crowd, a live experiment

The project has support from Inspiring Australia Queensland and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology, or QUBIC. That gives the show solid science backing, even if the mood stays loose.

And that balance matters. The event does not try to preach. It tries to spark curiosity. That is often the better way in.

For Fortitude Valley, Monsters and Molecules Fortitude Valley is a reminder that science does not always need fluorescent lights and lecture slides. Sometimes it works better with a stage, a crowd and a few dice rolling around.

The Brightside is at 27 Warner Street. Wheelchair access is available. Auslan support is also available on request by emailing shu@shulab.xyz.

Published 10-August-2026