Month: February 2010

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Indie Launch Day … Indie Pride!

La Boite Theatre
Image by Bandido of Oz via Flickr

Today is not only St Valentine’s Day, but also, and perhaps even more importantly for Brisbane’s theatre-lovers, the launch of the La Boite Theatre Indie season, which we’re hoping will be enormously successful for everyone concerned.

A perhaps overused word right now when talking about the wider artistic environment is its ‘ecology’ …

ecology
noun
1 the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
• (also human ecology) the study of the interaction of people with their environment.
2 (also Ecology) the political movement that seeks to protect the environment, esp. from pollution.

and the theatre ecology of Brisbane and beyond requires a robust independent sector to keep it fit and healthy.

We thought we’d post up this little video taken last year by one of Brisbane’s leading independent companies, 23rd Productions.  It was shot to celebrate World Theatre Day 2009, and has gone beyond Brisbane around the world as their contribution.  If you haven’t seen it yet, you should; there’s much in here that celebrates what independent means in a theatre eco-system.

And congratulations 23rd Productions and Artistic Director Kathryn Fray and Associate AD Christopher Sommers on your inclusion in the La Boite Independents season with Blackbird by David Harrower.

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WTF! It’s another theatre festival!!

GUEST POST: Lucas Stibbard makes theatre, sometimes as an actor, sometimes as a director/facilitator, sometimes as a teacher and, memorably, once as a stage-manager. He has done so for himself as well as for companies such as Bell Shakespeare, Queensland Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, La Boite, Metro Arts, DeBase Productions, Hothouse Theatre, Kite, Queensland University of Technology, the Aboriginal Center for the Performing Arts, the Queensland Arts Council and Windmill Theatre Company. Lucas is one-quarter of the Escapists whose shows include Attack of the Attacking Attackers!, boy girl wall, and the in-development Revenge of the Revenging Revengers!. Lucas studied at USQ. For context, some of his favourite shows have been – Gatz (Elevator Repair Service), Anna Karenina (Shared Experience), C-90 (Daniel Kitson), Roadkill (Splintergroup) and 11&12 (Theatre des Bouffes du Nord) – so if you didn’t enjoy those you probably shouldn’t trust his (highly subjective) reviews. He is partial to cardigans, gin and his wife.  Follow him on Twitter @LucasStibbard

WORLD THEATRE FESTIVAL at Brisbane’s The Powerhouse

Is there anything the Powerhouse doesn’t want to take a crack at? Comedy Festival? Check. Queer Film Festival? Check. Jazz Festival? Check. Cabaret Festival? Well they did put on something that looked suspiciously like one when the real Cabaret fest moved … anyway point is, adding to the litany of cultural extravaganzas offered by the Brisbane Powerhouse we have the World Theatre Festival, or WTF if you want to look edgy and impress the kids (it’s almost swearing ooooohhhh!).

Starting last week and continuing its programming till Sunday, the Powerhouse is playing host to a number of exciting acts from around the country (ok here and Melbourne) and around the world (well, the UK).  So I guess you could call it the “Theatre from here, Melbourne and the UK festival,” but it doesn’t have the same edgy-ness, does it? Continue reading “WTF! It’s another theatre festival!!”

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Staged Lives (conversation) State Library of Queensland

Will Eno, Michael Gow, and David Williamson talk about what playwrights talk about when they get together – themselves and their lives.  Jane O’Hara director of the Brisbane Writer’s Festival eggs them on.  Free at SLQ Auditorium 2 but you need to RSVP by Monday 1 March to info@playlab.org.au or by phone 3220 0841.

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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: