Virag Dombay - Page 10

Three independent theatre directors have joined forces to combat the devastating toll of COVID-19 on Brisbane's theatrical landscape.

Last night I was invited to see The Curator Theatre Company's production of Vincent River, a one-act play play by Phillip Ridley told by two characters who are in different stages of grief over the death of someone dear to them.

Next up on my local artists interview segment is Michael Beh, the director of upcoming show Vincent River and the founder of The Curators Theatre.

Next up on my local artists interview segment is the wonderful Bianca Butler Reynolds. She is Brisbane-based actor, playwright, theatre-maker and academic. She is a founding partner and co-Artistic Director of Minola Theatre, with production credits including Love you hate you drive you wild, Highway of Lost Hearts, Grace and Begotten.

Next up on my Brisbane local artists interview segment is the incredibly hardworking and generous CEO and Artistic Director of Anywhere Festival, Paul Osuch. This is probably one of my favourite interviews I've done and I really cherish Paul's vulnerability and openness in his responses. Here's what he had to say...

Written by Yasmin Reza and adapted by Christopher Hampton, Ad Astra's God of Carnage serves as a delightful night of theatre

Next up on our local artists segment is (drum roll please)... The Good Room. They are a Queensland-based performance collective who use the experiences of ordinary people to create extraordinary theatre works, as part of a process that blurs the line between 'audience' and 'maker' to explore theatrical collective authorship. Theirs is an investigation of empathy, connectedness, stakes and sacrifice. Mirrorballs, rose petals, panda suits and party dresses stud our theatrical universe but totems of party, play and celebration are often subverted; this is richly affirmative, highly contemporary, and widely accessible theatre - underpinned by rigour, ethics, and deep consideration.

Next up on my local artists segment is the wonderful and incredibly hard-working Andrew CP, Artistic Director and Founder of Technicolour Theatre Company. Andrew is an award-winning director, performer and designer, currently completing a Bachelor of Theatre and Performance with the University of New England and is the Founder and Artistic Director of Technicolour Theatre Company. He has a number of directing credits and is proud to have held the position of 'Theatre Academic Mentor' for Earle Page College at the University of New England (Securing a Resident Fellowship and Cultural Bursary for achievements in Performing Arts), resident senior drama teacher at Spotlight Theatrical Company (2016-18) and Senior Drama Tutor for 'Raise Your Voice' (2017-present). In 2018 he founded Technicolour Theatre Company and its adjacent Youth Ensemble before acting as Convenor and Curator for the 2019 Gold Coast Festival of One Act Plays. Here's what Andrew had to say about Technicolour Theatre Company's upcoming project and how his company has been impacted by co-vid...

MJ O'Neill is a Brisbane producer, specialising in heavy, colourful beats spanning hip hop, leftfield, house, techno, and breaks. Previously played alongside members of Death Grips, clipping., and Donny Benet.

Check out our interview with Lewis Treston!

Next up on our my Brisbane local artists segment is the amazing and incredibly passionate Kate Edminston, who I was very fortunate to have had as my of my university professors whilst I was studying drama. Katie Edmiston is a passionate arts leader that has been working with, for and on behalf of regional communities in Queensland for over a decade. Katie has worked as an independent creative producer and practitioner and within a number of arts and cultural organisations, creative businesses, festivals and events, universities, peak bodies, local councils and state government.

Next up on my Local Artists segment is one of the most hard-working, kindest and one of the most passionate humans you'll ever meet... performer, theatremaker, writer and access consultant, Madeleine Little. Since 2015, Madeleine has been a member of the Indelabilityarts Ensemble, co-devising Love Me; (2017) and co-devising and performing in Look Mum... No Hands! [The Legless Bar Years] (2016-2018). Among other credits, Madeleine performed in Restless Dance Theatre's Helpmann-nominated work Intimate Space on the Gold Coast (2018) at bleach* Festival in association with Festival 2018. Her original work, Hold, was presented in April 2019 as part of her Master of Arts (Creative Arts) research at USQ testing the implementation of accessible theatre practice conventions in a new work. She worked as a Research Associate for The Last Avant Garde - Disability and the Performing Arts in Australia: Beyond the Social Model research project (UniMelb, UniSyd, AAV, ARC lastavantgarde.com.au). Madeleine was also awarded the inaugural Stella Young Award from Arts Access Victoria (2018) and the inaugural National Leadership Award from Arts Access Australia (2019). Here's what Maddie had to say...

Next up in my Local Artist's Interview Segment is the lovely theatremaker Angela Witcher. Angela studied with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, trained at E.15 Theatre School in London and has a Masters in Shakespeare studies from the University of Birmingham. She is passionate about performance in all forms, inclusive theatre, promoting new work and talent and encouraging creativity to blossom in the most unlikely places. Angela has over 30 years of theatrical experience as a performer, director, tutor/facilitator and artistic director of a theatre company in the UK. As founder and Artistic Director of Independent theatre company InsideOutside (since 2012), Angela produces and facilitates opportunities for emerging artists to create new work and provides opportunities for people with disability, dementia and disadvantage to experience and create theatre. Here's what she had to say...

Next up on my local artist's segment is such an incredible woman who has inspired and continues to inspire me in so many ways. Her name is Dana Holden and she's the President of Drama Queensland, Drama Teacher and A/Head of Department of Teaching and learning. She is also a member of the Queensland Advocates for Arts Education, a past board member of Playlab Theatre, and a QCAA panellist, endorser and subject matter expert. Dana holds a Masters in Creative Industries with a focus on the role of Education Manager's in arts organisations. In 2016 Dana was awarded the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Fellowship in New York, working with schools in curriculum design for all subject areas from prep through to tertiary level.