THE QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE BRINGS A NEW INTERPRETATION TO THINKING GLOBALLY AND ACTING LOCALLY

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has long been an advocate for the development of performing arts and artists in Queensland. Programmes such as Green Jam have given emerging and early career musicians a voice on the main stage through a free weekly outdoor performance programme. Long term support of local companies such as shake & stir theatre co., has seen them now presenting a major musical tour across Australia. And most recently a partnership with the Queensland success story of Circa Contemporary Circus aims to give them a place to create and premiere more home grown work.

From Jul 2016 to Jun 2017, close to half (46%) of QPAC’s programme was from Queensland artists and companies. QPAC’s Chief Executive, Mr John Kotzas said as Queensland’s state performing arts centre, supporting the development of new works, nurturing emerging artists and companies, as well as providing real opportunities for them to perform and grow an audience is a fundamental role for QPAC.

“Every corner of the globe has hidden talent but it has long been our desire to unearth this locally. We have had many a success at our home here in Brisbane for over 30 years and we are well on the way to investing in opportunities across regional Queensland as well.”

“By their very nature, the arts are collaborative, so we seek partnerships and donors that help us to invest more locally, we work with the universities and performing arts schools to provide opportunities for future artists to perform and learn, and we seek out opportunities to co-present new works, often from the ground up, to expand outcomes and build capacity, which really strengthens the sustainability of our sector,” said Mr Kotzas.

Original Brisbane Season Cast featuring Phil Jamieson. Photo credit: Dylan Evans

The most recent success story for a production built from the ground up at QPAC in 2017 is the Australian premiere season of Green Day’s American Idiot, the musical with probably the edgiest company on the Australian performance landscape, Brisbane’s shake & stir theatre co. QPAC has for over ten years been supporting shake & stir’s dynamic trio of Artistic Directors, Ross Balbuziente, Nelle Lee and Nick Skubij to bring new interpretations of existing works to the stage that have gone on to tour across Queensland and key centres nationally. American Idiot is now set to tour in one of the most commercial endeavours for shake & stir to date.

The tour plays strictly limited seasons and kicks off at the Sydney Opera House from 11 Jan, Adelaide Festival Centre’s Her Majesty’s Theatre from 19 Jan, Crown Theatre Perth from 2 Feb, Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from 23 Feb and returns to QPAC from 13 Apr.

Humans by Circa. Photo credit: Sarah Walker

No stranger to tours on the international circuit though is another Brisbane success story, Circa. In late September, QPAC announced a three-year partnership with the internationally renowned ensemble, securing a slice of the company’s time for Queensland audiences in the Centre’s Playhouse annually.

John Kotzas said Circa is a trailblazer in contemporary circus and whilst QPAC have worked with Circa for many years, formalising a deeper relationship is expected to result in great benefits for our industry and our audiences.

Circa has grown to become a phenomenal success across 39 countries, with its edgy and refreshing take on circus combined with acrobatic virtuosity and the sensibility of contemporary dance and theatre.

“Working more closely will provide Circa with a performance home in our Playhouse and further opportunities for public learning and audience engagement for the art form in Queensland,” Mr Kotzas said

Circa Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz said the company was thrilled to form a partnership with QPAC, giving Circa the chance to regularly present its creations to Brisbane audiences.

And Brisbane audiences will be thrilled as QPAC’s Green Jam continues to dish up an array of emerging talent at its outdoor stage on the delightfully relaxed Melbourne Street Green in 2018.

Green Jam. Photo credit: QPAC

The free Green Jam Sessions programme of live music is proudly supported by Major Partner Heritage Bank, putting ‘People First’.

For several years now, the Green Jam programme has provided opportunities for past and present students from the Centre’s neighbouring Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University among other home grown talent.

The programme is not only something that audiences in Brisbane look forward to at the end of their working week but the artists too as they collaborate with the professional team at QPAC and see themselves promoted to vast audiences to grow their profile and showcase their work in a professionally staged environment.

QPAC supports a number of companies in residence with annual seasons including Southern Cross Soloists, Brisbane Writers Festival and Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, alongside its ongoing commitment to presentations by the leading state companies; Opera Queensland, Queensland Ballet, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Theatre, who all in their own right are thriving in their development of new work, quality delivery and unearthing and promotion of local talent.

These partnerships, co-presentations and programmes are just a snapshot of QPAC’s endeavours in the cultivation of new works and development of emerging artists and companies, but at the heart of each is demonstrated focus on capacity building in Queensland and something we can all hope to see grow to presentations on our own stages across the Asia Pacific.

Visit Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s website here.