Author: Kate Foy

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This Week in Queensland Theatre: February 8-14

Opening night 'welcome mat' at QPAC Brisbane
Image by Dramagirl via Flickr

For dates and times check company websites

This week is marked by the start of Queensland Theatre Company‘s Season 2010 and two opening nights of productions by the two full-time professional company Artistic Directors: The Little Dog Laughed directed by Michael Gow for QTC, and La Boite Theatre‘s own production of Hamlet directed by David Berthold.  Chasing the Lollyman by Debase TC and the WTF program continues at the Powerhouse and elsewhere in the city.

Opening:

The Flowering by Donna Cameron dir Sue Rider JWCoCA (Tuesday)

Hamlet by William Shakespeare dir David Berthold (Wednesday)

The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane dir Michael Gow (Thursday)

Continuing:

Chasing the Lollyman by Mark Sheppard dir Liz Skitch Debase TC at !Metro Arts

WTF (World Theatre Festival) Powerhouse and various locations

Other:

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The Flowering: JWCoCA

Donna Cameron wrote and performs in her one-woman work directed by Sue Rider. Check the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts website for details.

Online Reviews and Blog Commentary

Curtain Up

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Musical Theatre in Australia: where to now?

Harvest Rain an independent theatre company  based in Brisbane recently hosted a forum on The Future of Musical Theatre in Australia.  This formed part of their Summer School activities.

Here’s Part 1 of the forum chaired by performer Queenie van de Zandt.  The introduction of the participants is longish, so you might want to skip forward to around 3’40” to legendary performer Nancye Hayes’ quick summation of how musical theatre in Australia has changed since the early 60s when she began her career with J C Williamsons.  John Kotzas CEO/Artistic Director of QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Trust) chimes in with his take on why musical theatre is so popular in Brisbane.  Worth a look, so thanks Harvest Rain, and keep them coming!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHlj5mPz3w

And then there’s Oscar Theatre Company, another Brisbane-based independent musical theatre group.  Here they are in a rehearsal for their Cabaret and Season launch on 22 February.  Slick little vid production too. Get ready for a whole lot more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDNAM9Z-zjk

Joymas Creative kicks off their year in April with Megan Shorey’s new work, the all-female Handle With Care, directed by Lewis Jones.  This Brisbane-based group is dedicated primarily to bringing original Musical Theatre productions and contemporary projects to astute Queensland audiences.

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This Week in Queensland Theatre: February 1-7

February today, and that means the 2010 theatre season is getting serious, especially with previews of Hamlet, the first production for La Boite Theatre by its AD David Berthold, and the start of WTF (World Theatre Festival) at the Powerhouse and various other locations.  The local interwebs discussion on the nature of Residencies at QPAC continues on various blogs (Performing Arts Blog and XS Entertainment) and via Facebook commentary.

For dates and times check company websites

In Preview and Opening:

WTF – World Theatre Festival at the Powerhouse and various locations (Tuesday)

Hamlet directed by David Berthold – La Boite Theatre at the Roundhouse (Saturday)

Continuing:

Chasing the Lollyman Debase Theatre at !MetroArts

Other:

Talking Shop at the Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Arts, The Valley.  (Wednesday 5.30-7pm)  This month Sue Rider will facilitate a conversation about theatre direction.  How can we find ways to develop our theatre directors?  How do we give and receive feedback?  How can we engage with each other’s work?  What mentoring models exist?