QTC NEWS Ignite your love of theatre September 2013
Dear friends and fellow theatre-lovers
QTC is a winner
It probably won’t come as news to you that I like to be really busy – and that’s why I love this time of year. It’s definitely the pointy end for us as we make final decisions on the next year’s season. And of course, there’s always one slot that gives us trouble and doesn’t come right until the nail-biting end. I’m already working on one of our plays for 2014 – Black Diggers, the show I am creating about Indigenous soldiers in the First World War. Last week I was in Adelaide talking to the family of Aboriginal soldier Rufus Rigney, about his story and the way we would like to include it in the production. It’s incredibly moving to hear first-hand about these sacrifices and I’m proud that Black Diggers will be QTC’s contribution to the ANZAC Centenary (2014 – 2018). I’ve also been spending a lot of time in Logan (where I grew up) as part of the Logan: City of Choice Leadership Team. I believe that the arts can transform lives, so I’ve been working hard with other colleagues (councillors, politicians and business, health and cultural leaders) to make sure that arts are an important part of the Logan landscape, especially for young people. In 2014, QTC will offer a Youth Ensemble in Logan, based on our already existing Brisbane model (with support from the Department of Immigration and Citizenships’ Diversity and Social Cohesion program). I can’t wait to start working with young people from so many different cultures and artistic traditions. All this activity would not be possible without your support. It’s a real team effort involving you and QTC. And look what a strong team can do – with your donations we made our $150,000 target in our “flood recovery appeal” and were able to claim the matching $150,000 funding from the state government. Congratulations! This funding will make a huge difference as we set QTC up for the future and buy some much needed equipment (more on this later …). Thank you for being part of the QTC family.
Selwyn Buuton, Sue Donnelly, Wesley Enoch, Prof. Richard Fotheringham, Nathan Jarro, and Premier Campbell Newman MP
Last month QTC won the Community Award at this year’s Queensland Reconciliation Awards in recognition of our Indigenous Program, and our efforts to promote reconciliation by bringing Indigenous stories to life on stage. What better way to start passionate discussion in the community about this aspect of Australian life and history? We’re committed to producing one major Indigenous work each year in our mainhouse season as well as providing mentoring and development opportunities for Indigenous artists.
You’re invited ... Design for Living
Behind-the-Scenes Tour Tuesday 1 October at 10:30am QTC, 78 Montague Road, South Brisbane Join designer Richard Roberts as he shares his inspiration for the costumes and glamorous stage design. Invitation includes a visit to the QTC wardrobe and workshop.
RSVP: 27 September 2013 Dee Morris 07 3010 7668 dmorris@queenslandtheatre.com.au
Love
Wesley Enoch Artistic Director
Special guests enjoying a behind-the-scene tour here at QTC
Join us for Opening Nights in 2014 Why don’t you join us for Opening Nights? We have a special opening night season ticket that includes entry to the exclusive Opening Night parties, where you can celebrate the new production with the actors and creative team. Details of the Opening Night package are included in the season 2014 brochure. This season ticket also includes a donation towards staging our productions.
The Coleby family at the Opening Night of Other Desert Cities
Giant Troll Puppet Sold We’ve been trolling about on the net here at QTC … well, one of our nastier creations has been. Following the successful sale of the giant rocking horse from last year’s production of Elizabeth, we decided to recoup some of our investment in the masterful work of our workshop artisans by selling the troll from our recent Queensland Premier’s Drama Award production of Trollop. This giant, menacing puppet, has now found a new home in a Brisbane lounge room, so watch out!
Troll puppet on the set of QPDA winning play Trollop Photo courtesy of Stephanie Do Rosario
Wesley Enoch congratulating cast and crew at a post-show event
QTC and Child Protection Week For the second year running we’re proud to have been actively involved in Child Protection Week, helping a team of Woodridge kids show the world who they are.
Youth Ensemble in Logan We are excited to report that we will be extending our work with young people to the Logan area, on an intensive basis. We will be offering a Logan Youth Ensemble, which will see young people (ages 16 - 20), drawn from African, Pacific Island, SE Asian, Indigenous and white Australian communities joining together to form a close-knit theatre group. The participants will receive hands-on training from theatre professionals, meeting two hours per week and attending a week-long intensive mid-year.
Woodridge State High’s Year 9 Drama class have been working closely with artist Louise Brehmer and teacher, Emma Churchland, over six weeks, to create a Collage Drama based on their experiences of being young people growing up in Woodridge. The hip-hop, drama and music performance challenged pre-conceived ideas about their lives and shared their hopes for the future. After performing in Woodridge we invited the students to perform in the Bille Brown Studio at QTC and tour our facilities. Providing Artists-in-Schools is a very important part of our Education Program. It supports high school drama teaching, reaches many students who may be disengaged with school and enriches their education. Your support is vital to our ability to provide these programs. Thank you.
As well as discovering and developing theatre talent the program is aimed at supporting social cohesion, providing a positive and creative activity for young people which also enables them to tell their own stories and forge a united identity. We are partnering with local high schools, Griffith University and other community groups to bring this project to life. Theatre workshops will begin in February 2014. Year 9 Woodridge State High Drama students
Apprenticeships at QTC It’s a Monday morning and Tom’s hard at work constructing the staircase for the Design for Living set. It’s just another day at work for this 20-year-old carpenter who completed his three-year apprenticeship at QTC in August this year. After finishing a Certificate 3 in Live Theatre and Entertainment with Ice Works, Tom, who loves to build, applied for one of our coveted apprenticeships. Up in our Wardrobe Department, Savannah Mojidi is QTC’s Apprentice Costume Maker, learning from our team of highly skilled costume professionals as she starts on her own career. Each week Savannah spends four days in our wardrobe department and one day at the Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE. At QTC we’re committed to the theatre industry as a whole, developing not only performers but all of the other skilled artisans needed to make professional theatre. In the last decade, 28 careers have been kick-started through our traineeships and apprenticeships program. More than half have remained in employment with the Company, one notably becoming the Operations Manager, while Roxane Eden, who began as a trainee 8.5 years ago has become the backbone of the Finance Department. Despite a loss of government funding for traineeships in 2008, we have Henry managed to keep this vital program Photo by Stephen running, helped by your donations. We need to nurture the next generation of theatre professionals and make sure that these specialised skills are not lost.
Season Launch: Sunday 13 October 2013 Yes, it’s that time of year again – our 2014 season launch will be in the Playhouse at QPAC on Sunday, 13 October. Email invitations (or a postal invitation if you don’t have email) will be sent out in mid-September. Places are limited so please RSVP as soon as you receive your invitation. We look forward to sharing the 2014 season with you.
Join QTC’s Legal Chapter In 2013, the Legal Chapter has taken.. a leading role in bringing Design for Living, by Noel Coward, to the stage. If you would like to join your colleagues for the Opening Night performance of Design for Living on Thursday 24 October or enquire about joining the Chapter, please contact: Dee Morris - Development Coordinator 07 3010 7668 or dmorris@queenslandtheatre.com.au
Estee Lauder Fundraising Event We are excited to offer you access to an exclusive shopping opportunity. At the Estee Lauder Corporate Store you will save a minimum 40% off leading cosmetic brands for women and men. The Store includes a selection of beauty, skin care, hair and perfume products from all of its associated brands: Clinique, MAC, Bobbie Brown, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, Aveda and Tom Ford.
Date: Saturday, 19 October, 2013 Time: Open from 10am to 4pm Location: Level 10, 303 Coronation Drive, Milton Parking: Best access via street parking, Graham St Entry Cost: Tickets are $10 each & can be purchased from our ticketing staff on 1800 355 528. Savannah Mojidi and Tom Paine are instructed by our highly experienced QTC production team.
Thank you - we made it! Thank you for your donations to our “Future Fund” (or the flood recovery appeal), our initiative to raise $150,000. In a tremendous team effort we reached our target and have successfully claimed the matching $150,000 from the state government. This additional funding will be a huge boost as we prepare for the years ahead, re-equipping the Bille Brown Studio and also reorganising our offices to create some desperately needed additional rehearsal space. We look forward to inviting you to the building to see the result of these renovations in the new year.
Staff Profile
Support Us
Claire Christian
If you would like to donate to any of the programs listed in the newsletter, please use the form below or visit: queenslandtheatre.com.au/support-us
Youth Program Coordinator Meet one of our newest staff members, Claire Christian, who has joined us as our Youth Program Coordinator.
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Claire’s been around stages for a long time working as the Youth Arts Director and the co-creative producer of the Projects Company at the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba and as co-artistic director of Mixtape Theatre Collective, an independent partnership.
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EMAIL Would you like to nominate how we use your donation? Career Development/Apprenticeships Productions (Workshop and Wardrobe materials) Education programs (e.g. Youth Ensemble scholarship) Indigenous work
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With more than six years’ exp erience as a high school teacher in both Australia and the United Kingdom, she’s constantly learning herself; this year completing an Australia Council of the Arts JUMP Mentorship with Windmill Theatre’s Artistic Director Rosemary Myers. In 2011, she completed both a Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing [QUT] and a Graduate Diploma in Experiential Arts Therapy [MIECAT]. She is currently completing her Master of Arts [USQ]. At QTC Claire’s in charge of our many youth focused projects, including signature projects like Theatre Residency Week (in the first week of the coming school holidays) and our Youth Ensemble. The Youth Ensemble sees an auditioned squad of around 62 young people (with a junior, intermediate and senior group) work through the year, one night a week, then showcase an item. In 2014, Claire will also be in charge of the newly formed Logan Youth Ensemble.
Donations to QTC are tax-deductible. All donations over $200 are acknowledged on our honour board and in production programs.
Programs for young people have been a feature of QTC since it began in 1970 and we rely on the passion and dedication of people like Claire to make it happen.
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Welcome Claire.
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Your gift can help us do so much, building a secure financial platform for the future, bolstering against unexpected occurrences and allowing us to expand our vital community programs for children, young people and regional Queenslanders.
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After taking care of the needs of your family you may like to demonstrate your love of theatre and all it brings to our lives and the community by making a gift to Queensland Theatre Company in your will.
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The decision to make a bequest is personal, however, if you wish to advise us of your decision or discuss how you would like to direct your gift, please contact Amanda Jolly on 07 3010 7621.
Contact us
For more information about supporting Queensland Theatre Company please use the Support Us form on the back of this newsletter or contact Amanda Jolly on 07 3010 7621.