ENTERTAINMENT

Paul Tabone

Paul Ettore Tabone began performing at the age of 9 and, throughout his education, attained extraordinary grades in piano, voice and music theory. He was given the honour of the prestigious ‘Most Promising Voice for Music Theatre Award’ in 2007 & 2009 at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music. 

Paul has recently concluded a four-year contract at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s Glimmering West End in the role of Ubaldo Piango in the 33rd year of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of The Opera. Paul continues his success in Ubaldo Piangi as he returns to Australia in the Lawrence Connor production of "The Phantom of The Opera", which will perform for a limited season at the Sydney Opera House & The Arts Centre Melbourne in  2022 & 2023.

Fortunato Isgro

Fortunato is a passionate entertainer who draws inspiration from musical greats such as Elvis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Dean Martin and Tom Jones. He is well-known for his strong vocals, relatable performing style and ability to mesmerise audiences of all ages. His love for music is evident in every performance he does; he enjoys nothing more than bringing joy to his many fans. He is well-loved in the dance community for his ability to cater for various dance styles, including old-time, new-vogue, rock-n-roll, ballroom and line dancers. Fortunato is also a popular entertainer within the Australian-Italian community and performs at numerous Italian events and festivals throughout Australia.

Jim Talladira - Cooking Demonstrations

Learn to cook some traditional Italian dishes with Jim and his experienced team of chefs. There will be opportunities for hands-on experiences. 

Zumpa - Italian Folk Band

Be transported with Zumpà to forgotten Italian fishing villages, moonlit olive groves and a hard life under a hot sun where peasants play music to celebrate life with a fierce sense of humour. They provide the sounds and energy of folk, gypsy and Italian world music woven together to create a truly spaghetti and meatballs experience.

'Taranta Meanjin'

"Taranta Meanjin - Zumpa featured dancer & tarantella workshop

Led by Anna Cerreto, Taranta Meanjin is teaching and performing the dances of Southern Italy in Meanjin/Brisbane at the Australian Italian Festival."

Dean Canan

Dean Canan is a well-known and highly respected entertainer! He has been in the entertainment industry since the tender age of 13, which is 40 Plus years of doing what he loves and does best.

Dean is said to be the Frank Sinatra of today, updated with a touch of Tom Jones, Buble and Ricky Martin, shaken, stirred and served with an extra dash of individual style. He has headlined at some of the biggest Festa's around this vast land of ours.

Carina Dancers

The Carina Dancers will return to the festival this year with their energetic performances of traditional Italian Folk Dancing. Join in the fun, and learn some traditional folk dancing. This activity is great for all ages. 

Cosima De Vito

Vocal powerhouse Cosima De Vito is a fiery Italian songstress born and raised in Perth, Australia. She has been passionate about the world of music from a young age. Her grandfather, a gifted Italian tenor, was a significant musical influence evoking a solid connection within her from the beginning.

In 2003 Cosima went on to share her passion with the world, appearing on the first season of Australian Idol, where she wowed the crowds. Reaching the top 3 on the show, she had captivated the audience and judges alike with countless classic hits, her beautiful rendition of “When The War Is Over” being particularly remarkable. This song then became her first hit single, reaching platinum status and debuting at No. 1 on the ARIA charts, making her the first-ever independent artist to accomplish this upon release!

With the promise of new music and an ever-growing fan-base, Cosima shows no signs of slowing as her determination, passion, and poise continue to forge her place as an icon in Aussie music.

Attori

Attori brings you classic favourites from decades past, including songs from “Vegas” and big band numbers... and they have the dinner suits, the attitude and the banter to match. The entertainers combine their skills to produce a versatile, high-quality corporate entertainment package. This performance can also expand to a cabaret act or the ultimate full-length theatre show. The individual performers have honed their skills in numerous venues and from various performances in both amateur and professional venues throughout Queensland.

Prima Spada

Prima Spada School of Fence is a school of historical swordplay with schools in Queensland (North Brisbane, South Brisbane, Ipswich, and Townsville) and in Tasmania (Launceston). We offer classes in Historical fencing for both performances and competition with a range of weapons, including rapier and the Renaissance sidesword with companion weapons, two-handed sword and smallsword; Classical modern fencing with foil, epee and sabre; and Artistic fencing. Prima Spada ensures that there is something for anyone and everyone who dreams of becoming a Swordmaster, Swashbuckler, Hero, Villain, and anything else in between!
Prima Spada is a wonderful place to meet new people, make friends, get fit, and try something new!

2023 FESTIVAL PROGRAM

2023 Major Festival Partners