It’s season launch time again with other news in the wind. In fact, the wind threatened to blow away the crowd that gathered to launch Queensland Theatre Company’s Season 2009 at the State Library on Monday evening. Brisbane weather can be capricious at this time of year … storms boot up out of any direction, and blow in with a ferocity that reminds us that we really do live in the sub-tropics.
As it happened, things settled on the SL’s delightful ‘tea-cup terrace’ overlooking the Brisbane River. The arts crowd buzzed, and Minister for the Arts Rod Welford and Artistic Director Michael Gow delivered the news most … especially the artists and creatives not already booked for a gig … were waiting to hear. What would the main stage season hold?
2009 will be Gow’s tenth season with the state theatre company, and it bids fair to be his best yet. A mix of classics and brand-new works, Australian and international, home-grown, co-produced or hosted with other Australian theatre companies, and presented in the Company’s home venue the Bille Brown Studio in Brisbane’s own West End, as well as in QPAC’s Cremorne and Playhouse venues. Then there are the state-wide and national tours. A big year all round, especially for the artists; 2009 will probably be the largest contingent of actors for many years.
Other news in the wind …. La Boite Theatre and Toowoomba’s Empire Theatres are about to anoint their own new artistic directors. Facebook tends to be the media release tool of choice these days, though undoubtedly the heritage media will get the nod in a day or so. And so we learned that David Berthold (Griffin, ATYP and formerly of STC and Queensland Theatre Company) is going to La Boite, and Lewis Jones (Circa) up the hill. Exciting times ahead for Queensland Theatre. Good luck chaps!