Review: How to Seduce Your Dragon
Picture: How to Seduce Your Dragon scene-setting bell and chicken. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Following the rip-roaring runaway success of Improv Queensland’s 2024 show, A Lust of Elves and Magic, I was delighted to see that the 2026 Anywhere Festival program includes the newly-minted How to Seduce Your Dragon.
The Improv Queensland stars have cornered the market in funny, improvised, ‘romantasy’ bodice-rippers that draw on fairy and fantasy tales of days of yore. Be ready for dragons, wenches, magic, lustful references, excellent costume choices, creative scene-setting, and some quite absurd storylines. Sit back and watch the tale unfold, or be ready to join in with your own suggestions, and provide the requested sound effects. Just make sure you get your opportunity to control the ‘passion control’ bell or chicken …
The sold-out audience for Improv Queensland’s opening night performance of How to Seduce Your Dragon had a great time. As improv experts, the performers know that the best comedy comes from reading your audience, and breaking that fourth wall. The opening reading of the book set the scene perfectly: introducing the romantasy genre, as well as identifying key locations and characters. Over the next hour or so, we laughed, cheered, tweeted, and babbled—only some of which was for the requested sound effects.
And, on the subject of sound, it’s so good to go to an event where there are no microphones, and with live music. Great musical accompaniment on keys, and opening night improvised songs that included the fabulous ‘I want the king’ and memorable ‘No-one Can Wizard Like You.’ And we all loved the ways in which the performers built the occasional sounds from the first-floor bar into the show.
How to Seduce Your Dragon is a sometimes silly, slightly smutty, and suitably entertaining piece of comic theatre. My favourite moments from the opening night had to be the introductory scene-setting, the quirky mushroom/banana chapter, the relationship between the king and his wizard (complete with two great songs), and the werewolf/wench wood-cutting. But, as no two shows are the same, I am certain that I’d have different ‘memorable moments’ at the final three shows of the run.
Picture: How to Seduce Your Dragon. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Picture: How to Seduce Your Dragon. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Picture: Fabulous How to Seduce Your Dragon king and wizard moments. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Picture: A great Anywhere festival venue for How to Seduce Your Dragon. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
If you are an avid romantasy reader or improv comedy veteran How to Seduce Your Dragon is perfect for you: a chance to help write a new romantasy, and have some fun. If you are new to improv comedy, or are yet to develop a passion for the romantic fantasy genre, then How to Seduce Your Dragon offers an entertaining escape from world news and screentime—and is a great date night choice or basis for a night out with friends and colleagues. Comic and lustful references guaranteed, but dragons may or may not make an appearance.
The first show sold out, so probably best to get in quick. If you miss out on tickets for How to Seduce Your Dragon, Improv Queensland is also reprising the fun Murder at the Bowlo show, promoted as the only event where you can ‘solve a murder and win a meat tray.’ Having seen this Anywhere Festival show last year, I can confirm that it is a fictious, improvised comedy event, but that the meat tray is real. Murder at the Bowlo is an immersive piece of light-hearted escapist entertainment that can be enjoyed by all members of the family, and is a great choice for a group of friends or colleagues.
The Brisbane Anywhere Festival opened on 1st May, and I already have two great shows to recommend! Time to get out and about Anywhere across Brisbane, folks.
Picture: How to Seduce Your Dragon. Image credit: Creative Futures Photography
Audience information: The 2026 Anywhere Festival Brisbane program includes only four performances of How to Seduce Your Dragon (2, 9, 16 & 30 May 2026) at The Raven Hotel, West End. Tickets $29 (plus $4.40 ticket fee). Suggest 15+. Not suited for people with accessibility issues, as the cellar is only accessible via steps. Licensed to serve alcohol. 60ish minutes.
The reviewer attended the 2 May 2026 7:30pm performance.