Brisbane Theatre Festival Presents WORLD THEATRE FESTIVAL

The best independent theatre from Italy, Belarus, India, United States, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia will hit the stage at World Theatre Festival 2012, along with forums, masterclasses and a new Festival Lounge with free live music and Wi Fi, at the Brisbane Powerhouse from 16 - 26 February 2012.

According to Artistic Director Andrew Ross World Theatre Festival 2012 is a chance for everyone in Brisbane to get involved in theatre and see the world from a different angle.

"I think one thing this year's festival does well is provide everyone with something to suit their interests" said Ross. "Technology enthusiasts will love Il Pixel Rosso's And the Birds Fell from the Sky - where two audience members wear video goggles and MP3 players and experience a completely different universe.

"Where We Once Belonged, a Samoan coming-of-age story told by New Zealand's Pacific Institute of Performing Arts graduates will have musical theatre fans enthralled with its authentic Pacific singing and dancing entwined with serious drama.

"Drama enthusiasts will love Ibsen's The Lady from The Sea, reimagined with spectacular visuals by India's Abhinaya Theatre Company in a new collaboration with Brisbane band Topology.

"And anyone who saw Belarus Free Theatre's visit in 2009 will need to see their new show Discover Love - a beautiful love story and a hard look at political ‘disappearances' around the world."

Also heading to Brisbane are Italy's Motus Theatre with their stripped back version of Sophocles Antigone in Too Late! (Antigone) Contest #2 and the Rude Mechanics from Texas, US. who bring the most dangerous approach to acting back from the 70s in The Method Gun.

Australia is represented by Brisbane Indie champions The Escapists with Elephant Gun - an inventive and clever play using puppets, dance and projections. Team Mess blurs the line between reality and fantasy in This Is It! , a show where the audience take on the role as the press at a movie launch - complete with probing questions on how the movie This Is It! was made.

In addition to these shows World Theatre Festival 2012 presents Scratch - six new works in development by Australian artists where audiences can see how theatre comes to life.

Audiences are also encouraged to take part in industry masterclasses, have their opinions heard during the In Conversation discussion series and relax in the new Festival Lounge.

The Festival Lounge will be open all hours with free live music, and will be the perfect place to relax between shows, discuss what you've just seen or meet with friends during the festival.

Brisbane Powerhouse is Brisbane City Council's leading arts performance venue helping to deliver a vibrant and creative city. World Theatre Festival is supported by Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland and Events Queensland.

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