Tag: Empire Theatre

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Creative Development of new Elaine Acworth play for EPC Toowoomba

Empire Theatre Projects Company in Toowoomba (EPC) are now calling for expressions of interest from emerging and established arts professionals to take positions within the creative development phase of a new play Water Wars by Elaine Acworth:

The four positions are:

  • Directing Secondment
  • Female Actor age – 27-35 ‘Gally’ a wife and mum
  • Female Actor age – 60+ ‘Mrs P’
  • Male actor age – 18-25 ‘Cal’ Gally’s 7yr old son

Water Wars is a timely and darkly funny exploration of what happens between neighbours as the drought gets longer and tougher and then gets renamed as a ‘dry’.

Set just in the future – when our communities face on-going water scarcity, Water Wars charts the bumpy road of neighbourliness as tempers fray and niggles turn into frank discussions, that turn into skirmishes, that grow into outright war.  But in the middle of all this is a young boy, Cal, and his dog, Freddo.  Cal will have to live with the consequences of the adults’ actions in this water-starved world.

The professional creative team includes Director Shaun Charles, Designer Greg Clarke and actors Chris Betts and Jess Veurman-Betts.

Empire Theatres and Umber Productions are teaming up to develop this work over two weekends – 11 and 12 September and 9 and 10 October 2010.

Positions are open to applicants on a contract basis.

Expressions of interest including a current resume and details of previous relevant experience should be marked “Confidential” and forwarded to:

Ann-Marie Ryan
General Manager
Empire Theatres Pty Ltd
PO Box 1227
Toowoomba Qld 4350

Expressions of interest are due by 5pm Friday 13 August 2010.

Further inquiries for the position should be directed to: Ann-Marie Ryan on email: ann-marie@empiretheatre.com.au

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The best job in the world … Lewis Jones (Interview 6)

Everything’s coming up roses for the Empire Theatre right now.  Lewis Jones and I are having lunch at Encores, the very smart little restaurant attached to Toowoomba’s iconic theatre.  As is fitting for the Garden City on the Range, we can see gardenias and overflowing beds of gorgeous pink and white roses just outside the floor-to-ceiling open windows.  There’s a crisp autumn breeze, a touch of rain, but there’s no dampening of enthusiasm when Lewis talks about EPC, the Empire Theatre Projects Company – he’s its Artistic Director.  The Empire goes well with the roses; it’s a beautifully restored art deco building that is justifiably the pride of the city.  Lewis is clearly relishing his job at the helm of EPC.  Since his appointment in 2008, his task has been to establish a company to work with and reflect the community of Queensland’s Darling Downs region.

‘Friends in Brisbane ask me, How are things up there? and they think I’m joking when I say, I have the best job in the world.  I really do.’  I’m keen to hear why he thinks working in a regional city trumps a similar job in a metropolitan centre.  It seems to be all about opportunity, and it’s all positive.

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High School Musical (Review): Empire Theatre

Disney’s High School Musical

Director: Lewis Jones
Designer: Greg Clarke
Lighting: Tim Panitz
Musical Director: Andrew Eunson
Vocal Coach: Sita Borhani
Choreographer: Kath Davis

The matinee performance of High School Musical which I saw this week was full of families; it was a Sunday afternoon after all.  They loved it; they cheered, they screamed … heavens, it was like the good old days of the Beatles back in the 60s, and if that doesn’t date me, nothing will.  Of course, the series of Disney movies had prepared the kids and their adults for the stage show, and I suspect for many of the audience, it was their first experience of live performance.  If so, then it should bring them back again and again.  I believe audience members had the principals lined up after the show for autographs  during the week.  Now there’s fame for you!

The Empire’s community musical productions are always eye-poppingly good, and are led by a professional production team of director, designer, musical director, and choreographer.  As a result, production values are always high.  Amateur performers – actors, dancers, and musicians – learn on the job under the mentorship and tutelage of professionals.  Over the years since the annual (now twice-yearly) musicals have been in production, many Empire alumni have gone on to further performance studies and professional careers.

As to High School Musical … well, whilst this reviewer found whatever plot there was to be corny in the extreme, and that it was difficult to separate one song from another – they all sounded the same to me – I loved the production realisation on the Empire’s big pros-arch stage.  Greg Clarke and Lewis Jones the designer-director team we’ve seen at work on many former Empire productions worked their usual magic supported by Musical Director Andrew Eunson and Choreographer Kath Davis.   Despite my reservations about the book and the music, there was no doubting the energy and the terrific singing-dancing and acting talent that exploded from the stage of  Toowoomba’s Empire theatre.  The cast didn’t stand still long enough for a head-count, but I’d say about 40 actors – all of whom, except for the two ‘adult’ cast members, looked to be about 17 – got the opportunity to work in a wondefully realised version of the show.  Add to the roll-call professional and mentored backstage technicians, creatives, musicians and front of house volunteer staff (the Empire’s legendary Friends’ Group), and you have an outstanding community theatre program, a model for the rest and one for the city to be proud of.

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This week in Queensland Theatre: Oct 19-25 2009

For session dates and times check company websites. Click on the logo on Greenroom’s homepage to access.

Continuing:

As You Like It: Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble at the Roma Street Parklands
Lazarus Won’t Get Out of Bed: AS Theatre at !Metro Arts
Cats: Empire Theatre (Toowoomba)

Opening:

Up Jumped the Devil featuring the songs of Nick Cave: OzFrank at the Cremorne Theatre, QPAC (Oct 21-23)
Montagues and Capulets: 4MBS Classical Players Season – Bulimba and Sandgate outdoor venues – check company website for details

Other:

At the Centre of the Edge: independent theatre conference !Metro Arts, Brisbane (opens Friday)

Launch:

Harvest Rain Theatre Company Monday 12 noon online company site

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This week in Queensland Theatre: Oct 12-18 2009

For session dates and times check company websites.  Click on the logo on Greenroom’s homepage to access.

Continuing:

The Year of Magical Thinking: Queensland Theatre Company at QPAC  Closes Saturday
The True Story of Butterfish: Powerhouse
The Dream: La Boite Theatre Company at the Roundhouse Closes Saturday
As You Like It: Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble at the Roma Street Parklands
Three Blokes and Their Barbie: Tropic Sun on tour

Opening:

Lazarus Won’t Get Out of Bed: AS Theatre at !Metro Arts
Cats: Empire Theatre (Toowoomba)