QPAC YEAR IN REVIEW 2013
MINISTER’S MESSAGE
Welcome to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s QPAC Year in Review 2013
QPAC has a reputation locally, nationally and increasingly internationally as a centre of excellence. It is the leading performing arts centre in Queensland and along with State Library of Queensland, Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, make up the outstanding Cultural Precinct on Brisbane’s South Bank. QPAC is a place for people to gather, enjoy performances, be entertained and engage with the arts. In 2012-13 QPAC welcomed over one million people to the Centre, presented more than 1200 performances across four theatres and outdoor venues, produced the first Clancestry festival and held the second season in the prestigious QPAC International Series – the Bolshoi Ballet. Many of these visitors travelled from across Queensland and Australia to enjoy QPAC’s quality arts offer. Producing and presenting major events, international exclusives, specially created festivals and the best in local and national performing arts, QPAC is also making a growing contribution to the state’s cultural tourism market. I hope you enjoy this review of QPAC’s 2013 successes and I look forward to our leading performing arts centre providing us with an even bigger and better year in 2014.
The Hon. Ian Walker MP Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
CHAIR’S MESSAGE This is my first year as Chair of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and I am proud to see the outstanding achievements of the organisation over this and recent years. I come to QPAC knowing that the expertise, experience and enthusiasm of the staff have made the organisation a leader in the performing arts both here in Australia and overseas. At the same time I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the board who give much of their time and experience to support and drive the excellence that is vividly displayed, almost daily. Our appreciation and gratitude is extended to the Queensland Government who provide tangible support that demonstrates their clear understanding of the value that the arts provide to the community. At QPAC we believe that watching, listening, experiencing and making art are some of the most powerful ways for people to understand themselves and the societies they live in and affect change. Our mission is to engage people through live performance in order to enrich lives and enable active participation in civic life. All of our activity reaches towards this mission. As Queensland’s state performing arts centre we fulfill many roles. QPAC is a venue, a producer, an investor, a presenter and a public place. On any given day we simultaneously host artists and companies from around Australia and the world, we produce our own festivals and productions, we collaborate with local arts companies, we create contexts to bridge the space between artist and audience and all the while we ensure the centre remains a viable part of a unique and vibrant cultural precinct. Over the past twelve months QPAC has embarked on a new strategic direction, one that builds on many years of growth and success. Our new plan is underpinned by the concept of ensuring public value is delivered by being entangled with our communities. The plan articulates four key focus areas that drive us – CURATE, LEARN, EXPERIENCE and SUSTAIN – and supports our vision of a world where the performing arts matter to everyone. QPAC has many reasons to be proud of 2013: the first Clancestry festival, the second QPAC International Series, more record attendances and a positive balance sheet for the fourth year running. Our ongoing focus will be on our audience and ensuring that each visit to QPAC is a memorable experience.
Chris Freeman AM Chair
QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
QPAC
QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY
The right way to value QPAC is to look at what it does not just individually but also in terms of leveraging the character, scale and activities of the larger arts industry as a whole. Professor Mark H. Moore
QPAC is Queensland’s premier performing arts venue and a statutory body of the Queensland Government.
STATE LIBRARY
GOMA
Since opening in 1985, with the purpose to contribute to the cultural, social and intellectual development of all Queenslanders, QPAC has grown into one of the most recognised performing arts centres in the Asia Pacific and a driving force of Queensland’s reputation as an exciting and innovative cultural hub. More than 17 million people have attended performances at QPAC since its opening. QPAC is positioned along the riverfront in the heart of the city and located as part of a vibrant cultural and education precinct that encompasses not only the Cultural Precinct – State Library of Queensland, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Museum – but also Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. This precinct is unique in Australia in size and character and is deeply connected to its surrounding communities.
QPAC’s live performance program reflects a commitment to excellence and diversity and includes works produced or presented by QPAC as well as those presented by others. QPAC regularly collaborates with artists, companies, producers and presenters from around the world, utilising its resources, networks and the expertise of our staff to create a dynamic live performance culture. In addition, QPAC is the performance home for Queensland’s leading performing arts companies – Queensland Ballet, Queensland Theatre Company, Opera Queensland and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. QPAC operates across both the commercial and public sectors, managing the Centre to deliver financial return and fulfil its cultural and social functions. QPAC owns and operates its own ticketing service, qtix, as well as all its food and beverage retail operations. QPAC is also the country’s only major performing arts centre that invests in major musical theatre productions.
Cremorne Theatre 312 seats
Playhouse 850 seats
primarily designed for theatre and dance
intimate and versatile black box theatre space
QPAC belongs to a network of five major performing arts centres in Australia (Sydney Opera House, The Arts Centre [Melbourne], Adelaide Festival Centre, Perth Theatre Trust) and maintains connections with centres around the world. At the heart of QPAC’s activities is the aim to cultivate excellence in cultural thinking, planning and delivery and help build the success of art in Queensland. In all its activity, QPAC strives to be a place that is readily accessible, filled with people learning, exploring and having fun. QPAC has four theatres catering to a range of performance styles as well as a variety of outdoor performance spaces and studios.
Lyric Theatre 2 000 seats designed primarily for opera, ballet and large-scale theatre events such as musicals
Concert Hall 1 570 seats
versatile space, designed primarily for orchestral performances and also used for contemporary music, stand-up comedy and awards presentations
Mind boggling illusions and magic and comedy. Steve – audience review, QPAC website
JANUARY 2013 began in a puff of smoke…with the world’s best magicians live on stage in The Illusionists.
JUSTIN NICHOLS, ATMOSPHERE PHOTOGRAPHY
It was scary but I loved it! Oscar Wilson 7
JUSTIN NICHOLS, ATMOSPHERE PHOTOGRAPHY
Summer holidays are popular with our youngest artists, audiences and their families. January featured: Hairy Maclary and Dinosaur Petting Zoo, as well as Opera Australia’s musical South Pacific and Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap which began life as a short radio play and has become the world’s longest running production. SOUTH PACIFIC PHOTOGRAPHER JEFF BUSBY, THE MOUSETRAP ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN CAST PHOTOGRAPHER JAMES MORGAN, HAIRY MACLARY
FEBRUARY Two of the world’s greatest actors came together in the Pulitzer Prize winning play Driving Miss Daisy. Stage and screen legends Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones were joined by internationally acclaimed theatre actor Boyd Gaines and delighted audiences in this sold out season which premiered in Brisbane ahead of a national tour. Off stage the stars generously gave their time at a fundraising event to benefit the Actors and Entertainers Benevolent Fund (Qld) at a special morning tea held at QPAC’s Lyrebird Restaurant. The Fund assists hundreds of performers each year who have fallen on hard times and need a helping hand.
ANGELA LANDSBURY AND JAMES EARL JONES. DRIVING MISS DAISY. © JEFF BUSBY
One of QPAC’s four Resident Companies, Southern Cross Soloists, presented its first performance of the year in the Concert Hall with international mandolin master Avi Avital. The chamber music ensemble’s 2013 season included three subscription concerts across the year, each with renowned special guest artists as well as a range of other performances at QPAC.
Having a reliable home at QPAC has given us opportunities to connect with new communities, be more strategic about our business while continuing to offer audiences outstanding musical experiences. Tanya Fraser, Creative Director, SxS
PHOTOGRAPHER: DAVID KELLY
MARCH QPAC’S inaugural Clancestry: A Celebration of Country was a weeklong festival of free events, workshops, concerts, conversations bookended by opening and closing ceremonies. More than 10 000 people came together to celebrate the arts and culture practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Queensland is home to two indigenous cultures and Clancestry aims to preserve culture, build capacity and build pride among all Australians for the rich and diverse heritage of our First Nations peoples.
Clancestry was supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and the Backing Indigenous Arts Initiative (Arts Queensland). Clancestry also received widespread community support including 98.9FM radio, Brisbane’s Indigenous music station. QPAC partnered with Nguin Warrup to develop the program for Clancestry and this partnership was recognised at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards.
CLANCESTRY 2013 . PHOTOGRAPHER JO-ANNE DRIESSENS
Clancestry didn’t just honour our stories – it honoured us... Dr Chelsea Bond
our community, our spirit and our people.
CLANCESTRY 2013 CLOSING CEREMONY. PHOTOGRAPHER JO-ANNE DRIESSENS
QPAC is a venue, producer and presenter. In curating an annual program there is a blend of thoughtfulness, balance and relevance in putting together a program where success is measured in the number of people who visit QPAC and their satisfaction with their visit.
Deeper than this is the aim for QPAC that high quality artistic experiences should be available for all Queenslanders and visitors to the Centre. Curating this program underpins much of how QPAC demonstrates the inherent public value of the organisation.
LEGALLY BLONDE. PHOTOGRAPHER JEFF BUSBY
APRIL
Legally Blonde: the Musical, the stage adaptation of one of the most popular movies of the 2000s, brought musical theatre favourite Lucy Durack back to QPAC. The building blushed pink throughout the season as audiences visited the specially themed Bend and Snap Bar for cocktails and blow drys before the performance.
MAY Major companies and artists from across Australia perform regularly at QPAC. In 2013 this included the Australian Chamber Orchestra, The Australian Ballet, Musica Viva, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Opera Australia and Sydney Dance Company.
PROJECT RAMEAU. AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND SYDNEY DANCE COMPANY. PHOTOGRAPHER JUSTINE WALPOLE
Having QPAC support the Conservatorium’s popular music students has provided these emerging artists with invaluable music industry experience and exposure, and opened them up to a much broader audience than they would previously have had. Dr Donna Weston – QCGU Deputy Director
Melbourne Street Green Friday night, free music, independent artists and the outdoors. QPAC and the Queensland Conservatorium have partnered to produce two performance seasons. Summer = Green Jam. Jazz standards and contemporary funk from The Con students. Winter = The Seed Project. Local independent bands from The Con’s Bachelor of Popular Music with styles from pop, rap, alternate rock, folk and hip hop. PHOTOGRAPHER EMMA GLOEDE
JUNE The Bolshoi Ballet is one of the largest, oldest and most renowned ballet companies in the world. Their exclusive season was their first appearance in Australia in almost two decades. The season formed part of the QPAC International Series, supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland. The two-week sold out season featured the Bolshoi Ballet in two productions: Le Corsaire and The Bright Stream. This visit by the Bolshoi Ballet was a massive undertaking for QPAC logistically and technically. The Bolshoi Ballet was one of the largest companies to have performed at QPAC. The company praised the Queensland Symphony Orchestra for its performance in both productions.
THE BOLSHOI BALLET LE CORSAIRE. PHOTOGRAPHER DARREN THOMAS
8 shipping containers carrying over 50 tonnes of freight travelled by sea
154 dancers and company staff travelled 14 000 kilometres from Moscow to Brisbane 12 sold out performances in the Lyric Theatre Live simulcast of Le Corsaire to nearly 6 000 people across 9 regional venues Almost 29 000 people experienced the Bolshoi Ballet across Queensland 22.4% of audience from intrastate | 16.3% from interstate
4 kilograms of rosin for dancers’ shoes
The Bolshoi Ballet season was also Feet First on the Cultural Forecourt opening dancing to everyone. A Russian Bazaar on the Melbourne Street Green with traditional Russian dancing, food and wares. The Russian Supper Club in the Lyrebird Restaurant to relax after the performance. Bolshoi Conversation Series in the Concert Hall which featured expert panellists discussing the finer points (or should that be pointe) of ballet.
Tools of the Trade exhibition in the QPAC Museum looking at ballet costume design over the years. Steppe by Step, an installation in the QPAC Tunnel exploring the birth and development of classical ballet. Gala dinner on the Concert Hall stage ahead of opening night for The Bright Stream including a dessert with a balletic twist that left guests amazed.
FEET FIRST: AN INVITATION TO DANCE AND BOLSHOI CONVERSATION SERIES PHOTOGRAPHER DARREN THOMAS
Creating a memorable experience requires a clear perspective on the dynamics between artists, audiences and setting. There are multiple ways for people to interact with QPAC and our programs – visit our building in South Bank, watch our YouTube channel, dine in our restaurants and bars, take part in discussions, workshops or programs, view exhibitions and installations.
Audiences connect with us digitally via our website and social media profiles as well as via satellite in more remote parts of the state during our live simulcasts. Each year several thousand students have their first experience of QPAC when schools host speech nights in the Concert Hall and Universities their graduations.
JULY War Horse is the story of a beloved horse sold to the cavalry in World War I. The National Theatre of Great Britain’s hit production enthralled audiences in the Lyric Theatre.
Sensational, poignant, innovative. audience review, QPAC website
Exquisite puppets, created by the Handspring Puppet Company, brought the animals to life on stage and made it almost impossible to distinguish between puppet and animal during a visit from the Australian War Animal Memorial Organisation.
AUGUST
GREASE ORIGINAL OVERSEAS CAST. PHOTOGRAPHER PAT BROMLOW-DOWNING
PHOTOGRAPHER DARREN THOMAS
QPAC’s annual program features three or four major musical theatre productions. One of this year’s most popular was Grease which began its national tour in Brisbane. On opening night, QPAC’s Melbourne Street Green was transported back in time with a vintage, retro, rockabilly market.
I loved the Grease show! QPAC is a very nice place and the performance was great! For sure I’ll be back soon. Patricia – audience review, QPAC website
From Here QPAC is part of Queensland’s strong and vibrant arts scene and each year partners with a diversity of artists, companies and communities to produce and present works. This year, QPAC presented, and co-presented performances with: Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts, Brisbane Festival, Camerata of St John’s, Expressions Dance Company, Harvest Rain, Oscar Theatre Co, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Queensland Music Festival, Queensland Pops Orchestra, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland Youth Orchestra and University of Queensland School of Music.
WHEN TIME STOPS EXPRESSIONS DANCE COMPANY. PHOTOGRAPHER DYLAN EVANS
SEPTEMBER
South Bank’s Cultural Forecourt is QPAC’s front yard. An expansive outdoor space on the banks of the Brisbane River, it regularly transforms to host outdoor cinemas, intimate symphonies, large rock concerts, markets and dance classes.
This year the Feet First program presented as part of the QPAC International Series Bolshoi Ballet season attracted thousands keen to try their skills at rockabilly, swing, tap and more. In September, the Forecourt became the focal point of the city when the 2013 Brisbane Festival presented Santos GLNG City of Lights and the Brisbane Airport Light Garden.
PHOTOGRAPHER SCOTT BOURKE
For One Night Only QPAC’s Concert Hall is regarded as one of the best in the country and each year houses an incredibly diverse suite of performances including the world’s largest orchestras, chamber music ensembles, contemporary music artists and stand up comedians. In contrast to long running musical theatre seasons, the Concert Hall features many ‘one night only’ performances from some of the world’s most acclaimed artists.
PHOTOGRAPHR OLY BEGG
TOP ROW (L-R) KRISTIN CHENOWETH, GEORGE BENSON, CYNDI LAUPER, IDINA MENZEL, CHUCHO VALDES, DAME KIRI KANAWA SECOND ROW (L-R) STEPHEN ISSERLIS, SARAH BLASKO, GLEN FREY, UTE LEMPER, STEPHEN MERCHANT, JOAN BAEZ, MARK ATKINS, ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK THIRD ROW (L-R) BERNADETTE ROBINSON, KEVIN MCLOUD, DON MCLEAN, YURI BASHMET, DR BRIAN COX, DEBORAH CONWAY AND WILLY ZIEGER, JASON ALEXANDER FOURTH ROW (L-R) CHARLEY PRIDE, JULIE ANDREWS, BARRY HUMPHRIES AND MEOW MEOW, ANH DO, COUNTING CROWS, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR, JOSH GROBAN
QPAC connects people, ideas and content to enhance learning in and through performing arts. Throughout the year curated activities – conversation series, foyer talks, online discussions, exhibitions, markets or workshops – support main stage productions.
Stand alone events are also produced to advance discussion and debate on industry issues including cultural policy, public value and arts education. This year Harvard Professor Mark H Moore and US cultural planner Steven Wolff re-visited QPAC to deepen the public conversation on how arts organisations create public value in and for their communities.
OCTOBER QPAC formalised a strategic alliance with one of China’s most prestigious performing arts centres – Guangzhou Opera House. QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas travelled to China to sign a Friendship Agreement between the two organisations that will mean collaboration across staff professional development as well as the creation of new work.
IMAGES SUPPLIED BY GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE
Queensland’s major performing arts companies present a large part of their annual seasons at QPAC. In 2013 our home companies – Queensland Theatre Company, Opera Queensland, Queensland Ballet and Queensland Symphony Orchestra – represented 22% of performances. As well as being a performance space, QPAC regularly co-produces and presents in partnership with our home companies.
URSULA YOVICH MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN. PHOTOGRAPHER ELOUISE VAN RIET-GRAY
NOVEMBER
PHOTOGRAPHER JEFF BUSBY
300 young and hopeful Queenslanders auditioned for the roles of Jeremy and Jemima Potts and the chance to be on stage alongside stars David Hobson and Rachel Beck in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL ANDREW DARE
A thrilling night from the powerful, sweeping moments to those that showed such restraint, such a deft touch – this was a wonderful, wonderful evening. Standing ovations that went on for longer than any I’ve experienced and still didn’t feel like quite enough… a perfect evening. Melissa Mitchell, audience review, QPAC website
ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA. PHOTOGRAPHER DARREN THOMAS
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s debut visit to Australia came as part of the Orchestra’s 125th anniversary world tour. Named the best orchestra in the world by Gramophone Magazine, their two performances in the Concert Hall continued QPAC’s run of high profile international concerts by leading orchestras.
DECEMBER QPAC’s longest running and most popular annual program, Spirit of Christmas celebrated its 30th concert this year. To mark the occasion, the QPAC Choir released its first Spirit of Christmas album. The QPAC Choir is a community choir and choristers meet weekly to sing together and perform publicly throughout the year.
Something magical happens when a group of individuals sing together, making music so much greater than the sum of its parts. Tim Sherlock – QPAC Choir Master SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. PHOTOGRAPHER DARREN THOMAS
Open House
Each year several thousand students have their first experience of QPAC when schools host speech nights in the Concert Hall and Universities their graduations. Attending these rites of passage at QPAC ensures that for many, the Centre holds a special place in the lives of young Queenslanders. QPAC is a public building and while many of the spaces are freely accessible each and every day there are certain areas that are not usually visible. This changes when QPAC throws open the doors during Brisbane Open House whereby people can tour behind the scenes at QPAC and explore the hidden areas, including backstage where the theatre ‘magic’ happens.
GREASE BUMP-IN. PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL ANDREW DARE
QPAC is focused on expanding our capacity, agility and vitality. In addition to secure funding, earning a reputation as an international centre of excellence relies on creating and sustaining a network of resources and advocates. As relationships with local companies and communities our partnerships extend across governments and the private sector and internationally through our colleagues in the performing arts and Ambassadors and Consular staff. In particular QPAC is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and Tourism and Events Queensland.
As well as being a venue for hire, QPAC is also a presenter, a producer and an investor in productions, partnering with local and international creatives and production companies. QPAC’s Scholar in Residence, a position created in partnership with Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Industries Faculty, works as a bridge between staff, audiences, and artists to enrich arts experiences and provide a deeper connection to what happens on stage. Our partnerships with PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Treasury Casino and Hotel, Heritage Bank, Oaks Hotels and Resorts, Louis Roederer Champagne, Qantas, Sirromet, Giancarlo Coffee and The Wheel of Brisbane support us in delivering major productions as well as helping us connect with audiences across the state.
Before and After The performing arts are capable of spiriting us away from our everyday lives and entrancing us through stories, music, dance and drama. An important part of any performance is getting the chance to anticipate and then to discuss. QPAC has spaces for conversations before and after performances for people to reflect on and continue the conversation for what has happened on stage. Throughout QPAC there are spaces for people to connect with what is on stage: in our foyers; in the QPAC Tunnel which hosts installation pieces; and in the QPAC Museum and Tony Gould Gallery. These areas extend the on stage experience and also invite people to learn more about the performing arts.
PHOTOGRAPHER MICHELLE BOWDEN, VISUALL PHOTOGRAPHY
TOOLS OF THE TRADE EXHIBITION. PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL ANDREW DARE
2013
FEBRUARY LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 3 February Shen Yun Falun Dafa Association of Queensland Inc
21 – 28 February Swan Lake The Australian Ballet
JANUARY
23 February McAllister in Conversation
LYRIC THEATRE 2 – 27 January South Pacific
26 February Once Upon a Time
Opera Australia
CONCERT HALL 18 – 27 January The Illusionists QPAC
PLAYHOUSE 2 – 20 January Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap Mousetrap Australia Pty Ltd
23 – 26 January Peter Pan Ballet Theatre of Queensland
CREMORNE THEATRE 9 – 25 January Hairy Maclary and Friends QPAC
STUDIO TWO 11 – 15 January Invisible Me – Tour to Melbourne QPAC
21 – 23 January QPAC Choir Auditions QPAC
The Australian Ballet
The Australian Ballet
28 February People’s Day The Australian Ballet
CONCERT HALL 8 February The Hollies ATA Allstar Artists Pty Limited
9 February Sarah Blasko QPAC
14 February All Hallows’ Inaugural Mass 2013 All Hallows’ School Limited
16 February QSO Maestro 1 with Kuerti & Fritzsch High Viennese Romantics Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
18 February Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Les Currie Presentations
21 February Glenn Frey
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 8 – 20 January Dinosaur Petting Zoo
Artist Network Pty Ltd / Bluehawk Presents
QPAC
Australian Chamber Orchestra
TONY GOULD GALLERY 2 – 31 January Exhibition: All Dressed Up – Costumes from Broadway to Hollywood
24 February SXS Concert 1 – Mandolin Mastery
QPAC
22 February The Reef
QPAC
26 February Clancestry Conversations: Postcode Justice QPAC
27 February Clancestry Conversations: Life Through Art – In Conversation with Rhoda Roberts QPAC
28 February Tim Rogers and The Bamboos QPAC
PLAYHOUSE 3 – 24 February Driving Miss Daisy Dorcat Productions Pty Ltd Trading As Gordon Frost Organisation
4 February This Is The Stuff: A Celebration for Bille Brown AM QPAC
MARCH LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 2 March Swan Lake Australian Ballet
10 – 31 March Legally Blonde Legally Blonde Australia Pty Ltd
CONCERT HALL 2 March Dirtsong by Black Arm Band QPAC
6 March QSO Secondary Schools Symphonic Revolutionaries
CREMORNE THEATRE 2 – 28 February The Pitch and The China Incident
Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
Queensland Theatre Company
QPAC
CONCERT HALL ORCHESTRA ROOM 1 February QPAC Choir Auditions
13 March Soweto Gospel Choir 10th Anniversary Tour
QPAC
25 February Swan Lake Workshop Australian Ballet
STUDIO ONE 28 February Clancestry Conversations: Kinship and Identity. Just who is black enough? QPAC
LYREBIRD RESTAURANT 5 February Clancestry Elder’s Lunch QPAC
22 February A Conversation with Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones Actors’ & Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund (Qld) Inc
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 28 February Exhibition: All Dressed Up – Costumes from Broadway to Hollywood QPAC
9 March Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
HVK Productions Pty Ltd
14 March Goran Bregovic
PLAYHOUSE 2 – 24 March End of the Rainbow QPAC and Queensland Theatre Company
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 9 March The Pitch and The China Incident
APRIL
FUNCTION ROOM 4 - 7 March Guangzhou Opera House Educational Visit
LYRIC THEATRE 10 – 31 April Legally Blonde
QPAC
Legally Blonde Australia Pty Ltd
12 March NARPACA Welcome Function
26 – 28 April Carl Barron
NARPACA
A List Entertainment
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 2 – 3 March Clancestry Weekend Program
CONCERT HALL 9 April Cirque de la Symphonie
QPAC
QPAC
15 & 22 March Green Jam Sessions
13 April Best of British
QPAC
Australian Musicians and Orchestral Services Pty Ltd
CASCADE COURT 2 – 3 March Clancestry Weekend Program QPAC
16 March QSO Maestro 2 with Lan & Fritzsch The Siege of Leningrad
UPPER CASCADE COURT 12 – 31 March Bend and Snap Bar
Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
QPAC
21 – 23 March St Matthew Passion
MERIVALE STREET STUDIO 1 – 5 March Legally Blonde Orchestral Rehearsal
24 March QSO Music on Sundays 1 Music of the British Isles Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
24 March QYO Concert 1 – Mahler 5 Queensland Youth Orchestra Council
25 March Steven Wolff Strategic Sessions QPAC
27 March Counting Crows Live Nation Australasia Pty Ltd
28 March Beatlemania Rockcity Event Marketing Pty Ltd
QPAC
Queensland Theatre Company
Arts Projects Australia Events Pty Ltd
Opera Queensland Ltd
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 31 March Exhibition: All Dressed Up – Costumes from Broadway to Hollywood
Legally Blonde Australia Pty Ltd
SOUTHBANK CULTURAL FORECOUT 1 March Clancestry Opening Performance QPAC
1 – 2 March Clancestry Riverside Stage QPAC
3 March Clancestry Closing Event QPAC
TUNNEL 1 – 3 March Clancestry Markets QPAC
17-20 April Oklahoma Harvest Rain Ltd
21 April QSO Music on Sundays 2 Something Old, Something New Queensland Symphony Orchestra
26 – 27 April Josh Groban Live Nation Australasia Pty Ltd
28 April Operamania Global Marketing Communications Pty Ltd
PLAYHOUSE 5 – 20 April Cinderella Queensland Ballet
27 – 30 April Red Queensland Theatre Company
CREMORNE THEATRE 6 April Candyrat Guitar Night Fretfest Pty Ltd
9 – 13 April Hairy Maclary QPAC
SOUTHBANK CULTURAL FORECOURT 1 – 9 June Feet First: An Invitation to Dance
18 – 30 April Next to Normal
30 – 31 May Bolshoi Ballet: Le Corsaire
25 – 31 May Mother Courage and Her Children
1 & 5 & 8 June Bolshoi Backstage Tours
23 June SXS Concert 2 – Rhythm and Dance
Oscar Theatre Company
QPAC
Queensland Theatre Company
QPAC
QPAC
PLAYHOUSE STUDIO 1 15 April Auditions for the Bolshoi Supernumeraries/Extras
CONCERT HALL 1 May Berlin Cabaret
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 4 May Next to Normal
4 June Bolshoi Ballet Simulcast
24 – 26 June Giggle and Hoot and Friends
QPAC
Andrew Kay & Associates
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Oscar Theatre Company
QPAC
2 May ‘Whole Lotta Love’ Led Zeppelin Celebration
15 – 25 May Animal Farm
19 – 22 June Ballet Revolucion
29 June Idina Menzel in Concert
ATA Allstar Artists Pty Limited
QPAC
QPAC
Contempree Calderazzo Entertainment Pty Ltd
Shake & Stir Theatre Co
7 May Anh Do
28 – 31 May A Clockwork Orange
26 – 30 June Slava’s Snowshow
30 June Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier – Stories of Ghosts
JULY
A List Entertainment
Les Currie Presentations
11 May QSO Maestro 3 with Wispelwey & Aadland Ultimate Heroes
FUNCTION ROOM 16 May Live Performance Australia Member Forum
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Live Performance Australia
15 May The Ten Tenors – Mum’s the Word! Tour
PLAYHOUSE LOUNGE 17 May Animal Farm Workshop
PLAYHOUSE STUDIO 2 17 April Auditions for the Bolshoi Supernumeraries/Extras QPAC
RECEPTION ROOM 22 April Yunan Delegation Workshop QPAC
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 5, 12, 19, 26 April Green Jam Sessions QPAC
UPPER CASCADE COURT 2 – 20 April Bend and Snap Bar QPAC
LYREBIRD 18 April Clancestry Elders Lunch
Frog in a Sock
17 May Time of My Life Premier Artists
18 May An Evening with Julie Andrews Spiritworks Pty Ltd
QPAC
19 May QSO Music on Sundays 3 Classic Cinema
MERIVALE STREET STUDIO 9 – 10 April Secondary School Teacher Workshops
19 – 20 May Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Frank Productions
QPAC
TONY GOULD GALLERY 2 – 6 April Exhibition: All Dressed Up – Costumes from Broadway to Hollywood
26 May Carnival of the Animals
QPAC
University of Queensland School of Music
27 – 28 May Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Launch
23 – 30 April Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume
TML Enterprises Pty Ltd
QPAC
QPAC
MAY
29 May Bolshoi Ballet Conversation Series 30 May Bolshoi Le Corsaire – Pre Show Function QPAC
LYRIC THEATRE 3 – 25 May Hot Shoe Shuffle
PLAYHOUSE 1 – 19 May Red
David Atkins Enterprises Pty Ltd
Queensland Theatre Company
Shake & Stir Theatre Co
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 3, 10 May Green Jam Sessions QPAC
CASCADE COURT 30 May Bolshoi Le Corsaire – Opening Night Function QPAC
LYREBIRD RESTAURANT 12 May Mother’s Day High Tea at the Lyrebird QPAC
31 May Russian Supper Club QPAC
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 31 May Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume QPAC
JUNE LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 9 June Bolshoi Ballet: Le Corsaire/The Bright Stream QPAC
Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Pty Ltd
CONCERT HALL 1 June QYO Concert 2 – Romeo & Juliet Queensland Youth Orchestra Council
QPAC
PLAYHOUSE 1 – 16 June Mother Courage and Her Children
QPAC
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 30 June Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume
LYRIC THEATRE 6 – 31 July War Horse War Horse Productions Pty Limited on behalf of the War Horse Partnership
2 June Bolshoi Ballet Conversation Series: Old Tradition, New Tricks?
Queensland Theatre Company
QPAC
Queensland Ballet
CONCERT HALL 5 – 6 July Engelbert Humperdinck
7 June Bolshoi The Bright Stream – Dinner
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 8 June A Clockwork Orange
13 July Take 6
QPAC
21 – 30 June Giselle
Mellen Events Pty Ltd
8 June Bolshoi Ballet Conversation Series: But I thought Ballet was French?
Les Currie Presentations
The Queensland Music Festival Pty Ltd
22 – 30 June Venus in Fur
14 July One Man Lord of the Rings
QPAC
Queensland Theatre Company
Tim Woods Entertainment
8 June Valentina Lisitsa in Recital
PLAYHOUSE STALLS FOYER 24 June LPA Helpmann Awards Nominations 2013
16 July Steve Vai
QPAC
FUNCTION ROOM 1 June Italian National Day
18 July An Evening with Jason Alexander and his Hair. With special guests ‘The Umbilical Brothers’
QPAC
A List Entertainment
19 June QPAC hosting ‘VMA After 5’ Function
19 July The Pink Floyd Experience
QPAC
Spiritworks Pty Ltd
PLAYHOUSE LOUNGE 5, 8 & 12 June Mother Courage Pre/Post Show Workshops
20 July Renee Geyer with Big Band
Queensland Theatre Company
23 – 25 July QUT Graduations July 2013
QPAC
13 June Chucho Valdes John Cristian Productions
14 June Kristin Chenoweth in Concert QPAC
15 – 16 June QSO Maestro 4 with Tiempo & Tchivzhel Pathetique Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
17 June Richard Tognetti Presents ACO2 Australian Chamber Orchestra
18 June QPAC Choir: True Colours QPAC
21 June The Whitlams with Symphonie Des Femmes QPAC
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 1 & 8 June Russian Bazaar QPAC
Live Nation Australasia Pty Ltd
Spiritworks Pty Ltd
Queensland University of Technology
27 July QSO Maestro 5 Premieres with Morrison & Bliss Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
8 August QSO Masterworks 1 with Cislowska & Fritzsch Fantastic Scherzo
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 17 August Blood Brothers
PLAYHOUSE 1 – 6 July Giselle
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Harvest Rain Limited
12, 26 August Joan Baez
21 – 31 August Tequila Mockingbird
Queensland Ballet
Maggie Gerrand Presents Pty Ltd
Shake & Stir Theatre Company
11 – 13 July Project Rameau
13 August Cory Band World’s Best in Brass
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Brass Down Under
FUNCTION ROOM 2 August American Ballet Theatre Media Launch
18 – 27 July Bangarra ‘Blak’
17 – 18 August QSO Maestro 6 with Demidenko & Fritzsch Slavonic Passion
29 July Barefoot Fiddler Australian Chamber Orchestra
QPAC
21 July The Mabo Oration QPAC
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
20 August Brian Cox
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 27 July Venue in Fur
Lateral Marketing & Management
Queensland Theatre Company
QPAC
LT LOUNGE 17, 24, 27 & 31 July War Horse School Workshops
23 August Don McLean
War Horse Productions Pty Limited on behalf of the War Horse Partnership
24 August QYO Concert 3 – War Requiem
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 31 July Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume QPAC
AUGUST LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 4 August War Horse War Horse Productions
18 – 31 August Grease Skyline Theatricals Pty Ltd
CONCERT HALL 1 August Paul Kelly – Spring and Fall Live Nation Australasia Pty Ltd
2 August American Ballet Theatre Launch QPAC
22 August George Benson
Lennard Promotions
Queensland Youth Orchestra Council
25 August Coalition Campaign Launch Move Your Audience Pty Ltd
29 August LET IT BE The Songs of Lennon and McCartney Spiritworks Pty Ltd
31 August Come Swing with Me Australian Musicians & Orchestral Services Pty Ltd
PLAYHOUSE 1 August Elegance Dress Rehearsal (Open for the public) Queensland Ballet
2 – 4 August Elegance Queensland Ballet
10 – 31 August Other Desert Cities Queensland Theatre Company
QPAC
CONCERT HALL 2 September QPAC Choir ‘Spirit of Christmas’ CD & Recording
CREMORNE THEATRE 3 – 7 September Tequila Mockingbird
27 September QTC’s Theatre Residency Week Rehearsals
Shake & Stir Theatre Company
QPAC
11 – 19 September ACPA Spirit of the Lore
LYREBIRD RESTAURANT 27 September Out of the Box Partner’s Lunch
QPAC
QPAC
21 – 29 September The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
OCTOBER
6 September QSO Masterworks 2 with Gillham & Aadland Grieg Piano Concerto Queensland Symphony Orchestra
7 September Conversations with Ghosts
QPAC
Queensland Theatre Company
LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 7 October Grease
8 August Queensland Plan – Cultural sector workshop
Brisbane Festival
CONCERT HALL ORCHESTRA ROOM 23 September QPAC Choir Auditions
Skyline Theatricals Pty Ltd
11 – 12 September Cyndi Lauper
QPAC
Lennard Promotions
QPAC
Opera Queensland Ltd
LYRIC THEATRE LOUNGE 3 August War Horse Weekend Workshop
13 September Ute Lemper
STUDIO TWO 8 – 9 September Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Children Auditions
War Horse Productions Pty Limited
14 September QSO Maestro 7 with Perianes & Aadland Nijinsky’s Petrushka
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 9, 16, 23, 30 August The SEED Project QPAC
25 August Kustom Krafts Brisbane Retro & Vintage Market QPAC
LYREBIRD RESTAURANT 2 August American Ballet Theatre Partners Launch QPAC
MERIVALE STREET STUDIO 9 – 16 August Tequila Mockingbird Rehearsals Shake & Stir Theatre Company
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 31 August Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume QPAC
SEPTEMBER LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 29 September Grease Skyline Theatricals Pty Ltd
Brisbane Festival
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
21 September Brisbane Sings Queensland Show Choir Inc
24 September In the Mood Mario Maiolo Promotions Pty Ltd
27 September Harrison Craig The Harbour Agency
29 September QSO Music on Sundays 5 Musical Swoons & Lollipops
TML Enterprises Pty Ltd
FUNCTION ROOM 12 September Long Paddock Networking Event arTour
16 September American Ballet Theatre Advance Party Dinner QPAC
25 September Farewell to Italian Ambassador QPAC
PLAYHOUSE LOUNGE 21 September Collective Magazine Freeze Frame Event QPAC
24 to 31 October Otello 25 October Carl Barron A List Entertainment
30 October Grand Designs – An Evening with Kevin McCloud Andrew Kay & Associates
CONCERT HALL 5 – 6 October Brassfest 2013 QPAC
7 October Come Dine With Me Australia – Interview Filming ITV Studios Australia Pty Limited
11 October QSO Masterworks 3 with Astanova & Schwarz An American in Paris Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
3 – 28 September
PLAYHOUSE 1 September Other Desert Cities
Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume
12 October QSO Maestro 8 with Astanova & Schwarz An American in Paris
QPAC
Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
Queensland Theatre Company
6 – 14 September When Time Stops
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 6, 13, 20, 27 September The SEED Project
14 October King and I Launch
Expressions Dance Company
QPAC
18 – 22 September Freeze Frame
MERIVALE STREET STUDIO 19 – 22 September Ozfrank September Actor Training Workshop
16 – 17 October A Festival of Russian Ballet
Brisbane Festival
25 – 28 September The Rite of Spring/Petrushka Brisbane Festival
Frank Productions
Opera Australia
Russian Ballet Touring Pty Ltd
19 October Viva Italia Australian Musicians & Orchestral Services Pty Ltd as Trustee for The Pickett Family Trust
20 October SXS Concert 3 – Celebration QPAC
21 October QPAC Choir “Spirit of Christmas” CD & Recording QPAC
23 October QSO Launch – Special Event 2014
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 6 October The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) QPAC
23 – 26 October Our Turn Griffith University – Queensland Conservatorium
Queensland Symphony Orchestra Pty Ltd
30 – 31 October Carmen Sweet
24 October Taikoz presents Crimson Sky
Expressions – The Queensland Dance Theatre Limited trading as Expressions Dance Company
Synergy & Taikoz Ltd
CONCERT HALL ORCHESTRA ROOM 13 – 14 October King and I Children Auditions
25 October CSTD in Concert 2013
NOVEMBER
12 November St Margaret’s Speech Night 2013
LYRIC THEATRE 1 November Anh Do
St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School
A List Entertainment
2 November Otello Opera Queensland
19 – 30 November Chitty Chitty Bang Bang TML Enterprises Pty Ltd
CONCERT HALL 1 November QSO Maestro 9 with Osborne & Fritzsch Guide to the Orchestra
Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing
Opera Australia
26 October The Tallis Scholars
STUDIO ONE 22 – 23 October Taikoz Workshops
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Synergy & Taikoz Ltd
Queensland Youth Orchestra
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 4 & 11 October The SEED Project
4 November Brisbane Boys College Speech Night 2013
QPAC
27 October UQ School of Music: Choral Fantasia University of Queensland School of Music
28 October Brahms 4 & Steven Isserlis Australian Chamber Orchestra
29 October St Rita’s Annual Thanksgiving Celebration 2013 St Rita’s College
30 October Clayfield College Annual Speech Night 2013 Clayfield College
31 October All Hallows’ Night of Celebration 2013 All Hallows’ School Limited
PLAYHOUSE 1 – 5 October The Cat in the Hat QPAC
10 – 12 October Ashgrove Dance – Encore! Ashgrove Dance Studio
13 October QTC Launch of 2014 Program Queensland Theatre Company
19 – 31 October Design for Living Queensland Theatre Company
QPAC
18 & 25 October Green Jam Sessions QPAC
CASCADE COURT 5 October Brassfest 2013 QPAC
MERIVALE STREET STUDIO 25 – 31 October Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Kids Rehearsals TML Enterprises Pty Ltd
VARIOUS 12 October Brisbane Open House QPAC
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 12 October Exhibition: Tools of the Trade – Exploring the traditions of ballet costume QPAC
22 – 31 October Exhibition: Page to Stage – Costume Design for Performance QPAC
2 November QYO Concert 4 – Finale
Brisbane Boys College
5 November QPAC Choir Recording Session QPAC
6 November Iona College Junior and Senior School Speech Night 2013 Iona College
7 November Academy of Ancient Music & Sara Macliver Musica Viva Australia
8 November Bernadette Robinson – In Concert QPAC
9 November Roy Orbison Reborn – 25th Anniversary Celebration Ben Maiorana Entertainment
10 November QSO Music on Sundays 6 A Musical Zoo Meets Peter and the Wolf Queensland Symphony Orchestra
11 November St Aidan’s AGC Annual Award Ceremony 2013 St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School
CREMORNE THEATRE 1 – 2 November Carmen Sweet
9 – 13 December QUT Graduations December 2013
13 November Brisbane Grammar School Speech Day 2013
Expressions Dance Company
14 December Jack Johnson
Brisbane Grammar School
QPAC
14 November Somerville House Speech Night 2013
STUDIO ONE 4 – 5 November Public Value and Professor Mark Moore
Somerville House
15 November Smokie Live in Concert NOW Music Co
16 November QSO Gala 2 Last Night of the Proms Queensland Symphony Orchestra
20 November Charlie Pride Concert Events Limited
21 November QSO Masterworks 4 with Chindamo & Fritzsch Beethoven’s Eroica Queensland Symphony Orchestra
22 November Here Comes the Night Backstage Productions Pty Ltd
23 November Bjorn Again Zaccaria Concerts and Touring Pty Ltd
24 – 25 November Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra QPAC
28 November An Evening with Mandy Patinkin and Nathan Gunn Opera Australia
29 November Peace Train Spiritworks Pty Ltd
30 November QSO Maestro 10 with Chen & Fritzsch Triumphant Tchaikovsky Queensland Symphony Orchestra
PLAYHOUSE 1 – 10 November Design for Living Queensland Theatre Company
6 November 2013 Educator’s Performing Arts Market
QPAC
LYRIC THEATRE LOUNGE 6 November 2013 Educator’s Performing Arts Market QPAC
PLAYHOUSE LOUNGE 6 November 2013 Educator’s Performing Arts Market QPAC
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November Green Jam Sessions QPAC
LYREBIRD RESTAURANT 8 November Clancestry, A Celebration of Country: Elders Lunch QPAC
TONY GOULD GALLERY 1 – 30 November Exhibition: Page to Stage – Costume Design for Performance QPAC
DECEMBER LYRIC THEATRE 1 – 22 December Chitty Chitty Bang Bang TML Enterprises Pty Ltd
CONCERT HALL 3 December Brandenburg Chamber Orchestra Australian Chamber Orchestra
7 December QSO Gala 3 Messiah Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Queensland University of Technology
Live Nation Australasia Pty Ltd
20 – 21 December Spirit of Christmas 2013 QPAC
31 December 30th New Year’s Eve Gala Australian Musicians & Orchestral Services
PLAYHOUSE 4 – 21 December The Nutcracker Queensland Ballet
27 – 29 December A Murder is Announced Louise Withers & Associates Pty Ltd
CREMORNE THEATRE 21 December Shake & Stir Holiday Workshop Shake & Stir Theatre Co
STUDIO TWO 16 – 21 December Shake & Stir Holiday Workshop Rehearsals Shake & Stir
MELBOURNE STREET GREEN 6, 13, 20 December Green Jam Sessions QPAC
LYREBIRD RESTAURANT Actors’ & Entertainers’ Benevolent Fund Annual Christmas Luncheon 2013 QPAC
TONY GOULD GALLERY 3 – 31 December Exhibition: Page to Stage – Costume Design for Performance QPAC
CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTERWORD QPAC had many great accomplishments in 2013 that collectively represent artistic and financial success for the organisation. The year was filled with international presentations, local collaborations, audience participation and much discussion and debate. I would like to reflect on one particular presentation that I believe represents so much of what we strive to do as a performing arts centre. In February QPAC had the honour of hosting the Australian premiere of Driving Miss Daisy which meant we experienced up close the unmatched talent and charm of Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones. The production opened in Brisbane as the result of a collaboration between a major producer and Tourism and Events Queensland, a partnership that expanded the capacity of QPAC and the city. Iconic tends to be a term used broadly these days but certainly these two giants of the stage and screen rightly deserve to be considered as such. This production of Alfred Uhry’s Pulitzer Prize winning play was stunning, absolutely world class. That these two actors are masters of their craft was undeniable, audiences were mesmerised. Off stage, Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones captivated people with behind the scenes stories from decades in the industry at a fundraiser for the Queensland chapter of the Actors and Entertainers Benevolent Fund. A generous gift. The season sold out and set the tone for the Australian tour. Driving Miss Daisy was a combination of great art, strong partnerships and opportunities for learning and personal connection. 21st century performing arts centres are many things. Around the world they function variously as performance houses, meeting places, community centres, national icons and vibrant sites of civic and cultural expression. I look forward to QPAC becoming more entangled with our communities, artists and partners as we move towards our fourth decade as Queensland’s performing arts centre.
John Kotzas Chief Executive
Audience satisfaction 97% Venue utilisation 84% Performances 1182 Visitation 1 166 757
Audience from interstate 6% Audience from regional Queensland 21.3% Venues to receive Bolshoi Ballet simulcast
Burdekin Theatre, Ayr | Moncrieff Entertainment Centre, Bundaberg | Cairns Civic Centre | Palmer Coolum Resort | GEC Marquee, Gladstone Seafront Oval, Hervey Bay | Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre | Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton | Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
Cities with QPAC programming Cairns | Townsville | Mount Isa | Toowoomba | Gladstone | Bundaberg | Maryborough
QPAC YEAR IN REVIEW 2013