Queensland Theatre Company has just launched its 1998 program with a mixture of English, American and Australian plays. The company also welcomes back to his home town Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush. Geoffrey will be appearing in an Australian play entitled The Festival Show which is opening in the South Bank Playhouse as part of the Brisbane Festival.
Opening the year, Artistic Director, Robin Nevin said that" one of the highlights of the past year was the acquisition of the Shed. After noting our serious need for a rehearsal space the State Government gave the QTC this old Brisbane building and so for the first time in its history the company now has its own rehearsal rooms, and a place in which we can hold QTC and industry events in the arts precint of South Bank."
Robin was also proud to announce an historic year of 1998. "Queensland will receive a new theatre. The Queensland State Theatre Company will open it for Queensland. The South Bank Playhouse, a splendid state-of-the-art 850 seat theatre will open in September with a production designed to celebrate this important occasion. After farewelling the Suncorp, QTC will finally be fully resident in the state's art precint, playing both the Cremorne and the new Playhouse. To mark this event I have invited an actor of international renown to return to his roots. Geoffrey rush will return to Brisbane and to QTC where he began his career in 1871. We shall delight in celebrating the return of this special son of Queensland to open the new Playhouse."
The first play Amy's View is set in 1979. As the West End is ceasing too offer actors a regular way of life, Esme Allen, stage legend, is visited by her daughter, Amy, with a new boyfriend. The encounter sparks the beginning of an emotional and ideological struggle between mother and daughter that we follow through the '80s and '90s to its conclusion in the uncertain present.
Venue: Queensland Culteral Centre, Stanley St. Southbank South Brisbane. Ph 07 3840 7000. Fax 07 3840 7040. Email: [email protected]. -- Peter Kemp
Australia Correspondent
