Live like a local – explore like a tourist
Steven Grives and Fiona Kennedy in Bakersfield Mist Content warnings: Use of herbal cigarettes, coarse language and sexual references, depictions of violence, mentions of suicide. The California sun is baking inside Ad Astra's black box theatre for Bakersfield Mist. Directed by Jennifer Flowers, the clash of character between Steven Grives’ sophisticated art expert and Fiona... Continue Reading →
Bakersfield Mist 11 May - 3 June 2023 Ad Astra, Misterton Street, Fortitude Valley Bakersfield Mist is inspired by the true story of a retired long-haul trucker in California, Teri Horton, who went hunting for a gag present for her depressed friend and found a big painting of drips and splurges and squiggles in a junk... Continue Reading →
Francis McMahon and Jesse Richardson as Robert and John, photographed by Fraser Smith Content warning: Strong coarse language, reference to self harm Ad Astra have opened their 2023 season with David Mamet's comedy A Life in the Theatre, directed by Pierce Gordon with Assistant Director Caitlin Hill. A punchy two-handed comedy that focuses on the... Continue Reading →
Jesse Richardson (L) and Francis McMahon (R) discuss David Mamet's script, photographed by Fraser Smith A Life in the Theatre 2 - 25 March 2023 Ad Astra, 57 Misterton St, Fortitude Valley From the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of Glengarry Glen Ross comes a tale of two actors exploring the meaning of life. Pierce Gordon will... Continue Reading →
Gregory J Wilken & Felix Jarvis as Ned Weeks & Felix Turner in Ad Astra's production of The Normal Heart. Image supplied. Content warnings: The Normal Heart contains coloured, flashing lights and blackouts, loud music, loud voices, coarse language, adult themes, and strong themes of homophobia, illness, death, and grief. Ad Astra close their 2022... Continue Reading →
Felix Jarvis as Felix Turner and Gregory J Wilken as Ned Weeks The Normal Heart 3 - 27 November 2022 Ad Astra, 57 Misterton St, Fortitude Valley Ad Astra concludes their 2022 season with The Normal Heart, a largely autobiographical play by Larry Kramer which focuses on the rise of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New... Continue Reading →
The cast of Why Young Men Run at 2am. Imagery supplied by Ad Astra. Content warnings: Why Young Men Run at 2am contains sexual references and coarse language. Why Young Men Run at 2am has made its premiere at Ad Astra in Fortitude Valley, produced by the company’s Astra Nova youth and scriptwriting division. Written... Continue Reading →
Why Young Men Run at 2am 6 - 22 October 2022 Ad Astra, Fortitude Valley Terry Schmidt Jr, a travelling pawn shop salesman for Schmidt's Pawn and Laundry, finds himself working his way down the east coast of Australia. 'TJ' is becoming more and more infatuated with this lifestyle as the months sail on. He's... Continue Reading →
Marvin's Room 1 - 24 September 2022 Ad Astra, Fortitude Valley Set in Florida, Scott McPherson's Marvin’s Room throws together characters who are dealing with aging, estrangement, mental illness, carer fatigue, and ties that bind a family; this play has a heart that is visible only once you excavate the layers of frustration, conflict, nostalgia,... Continue Reading →
Gary Farmer-Trickett and Sandra Harman, photographed by Christopher Sharman Photography Content note: Ruby Moon includes sexual references, adult themes, and simulated violence. Ad Astra present Matt Cameron's Australian gothic suburban thriller Ruby Moon, directed by Susan O'Toole-Cridland and starring Sandra Harman and Gary Farmer-Trickett as distraught parents Ray and Sylvie Moon. Written in 2003 and... Continue Reading →
Ruby Moon 21 July - 13 August 2022 Ad Astra Theatre, 57 Misterton St, Fortitude Valley Directed by Susan O'Toole-Cridland and starring Gary Farmer-Trickett and Sandra Harman, Ruby Moon is a contemporary play that explores the grim mythology of the missing child in Australian folklore. Written by Matt Cameron in 2003, it combines elements of... Continue Reading →
Imagery supplied by Ad Astra Content note: Brilliant Traces includes mature themes and simulated violence. Ad Astra have transformed their black box theatre in Fortitude Valley into an Alaskan cabin for Cindy Lou Johnson’s Brilliant Traces. Directed by Fiona Kennedy, with production consultation by Leonard Meenach, this is an intense and engaging two-hander exploring love... Continue Reading →
Backstreet Brisbane 