World Theatre Festival

Venue: Brisbane Powerhouse
Dates: 2 – 13 February 2010
More info: brisbanepowerhouse.org

 

 

The world comes to you

Although film and music festivals are big business, it seems theatre festivals are thinner on the ground. There’s an obvious reason for that – the logistics of staging multiple theatrical events are far more challenging; but that hasn’t deterred the Brisbane Powerhouse from launching its ambitious theatre festival, the inaugural World Theatre Festival, this month.

The program eschews traditional theatre in favour of new, exciting, innovative and experimental theatre, bringing works that demand audience engagement from Ireland, the UK and Australia. The event will be supported by installations and artist-run workshops.

A familiar visitor to these shores, actor-comedian Daniel Kitson with his tale of love, heartache and a forsaken flat, 66A Church Rd (2 – 7 Feb). Sub-titled “A Lament, Made of Memories & Kept in Suitcases”, the show was the winner of the Edinburgh Fringe First Award. It’s a break-up show, about Kitson’s flat and has been called a “heartfelt reflection on what we mean by home”.

Rotozaza (UK) bring their interactive Autoteatro series to Australia with Etiquette and Wondermart (7, and 9 – 13 Feb). The two pieces set out to completely erase the lines between audience and performer. From Ireland, the anarchic Dublin theatre company, Pan Pan Theatre present Oedipus Loves You, (3 – 7 Feb) a savvy update of Sophocles’ classic with a punk-rock sensibility.

Nationally acclaimed performer/choreographer, Brian Lucas, stages his intriguing and confronting dance theatre work, Performance Anxiety (9 – 13 Feb), drawing on the particular anxieties that arise when we find ourselves in front of an audience, whether on stage, in life or in the bedroom.

The Eisteddfod (10 – 13 Feb) by Lally Katz & Stuck Pig Squealing was the winner of the Green Room Award for best Independent Production in 2004 and is a witty and highly immersive blurring of real and imaginary worlds. For something a little more twisted, The Ballad of Backbone Joe (10 – 13 Feb) by The Suitcase Royale tells a tale of the apparent death of a woman in a red dress, complete with bone-crunching slapstick, dark humour and unique rag ‘n’ bone music.

The organisers’ aim is to not only engage and inspire audiences but also to encourage fellow arts practitioners to get involved, to challenge and invigorate their practice. To that end, industry workshops will be run in conjunction with the festival by creatives such as Gavin Quinn (Pan Pan Theatre - Dublin), Rotozaza (UK), Lally Katz (AUS) and The Suitcase Royale (AUS).

Tickets are now available through the box office on 07 3358 8600 or online at brisbanepowerhouse.org

David Edwards