Live like a local – explore like a tourist
Lachlan Driscoll. Image credit: Backstreet Brisbane Ahead of Observatory Theatre’s 2026 season launch, I sat down with Artistic Director & Producer Lachlan Driscoll to discuss Act 1 of the programming, nurturing new stories, and taking Observatory and audiences to new heights and new worlds while sharing distinctly local stories. What will 2026 look like for... Continue Reading →
(L to R) The Children director Heidi Gledhill, and co-producers and cast members Amanda McErlean, Julia Johnson, and Terry Hansen. Image credit: Backstreet Brisbane Lucy Kirkwood’s play The Children will make its Queensland premiere this month in Milton, co-presented by PIP Theatre, A Moveable Theatre, and Amanda McErlean. During a break in their rehearsals, I... Continue Reading →
Bronwyn Nayler (L) directs Dudley Powell (standing) and Caroline Sparrow (seated) in rehearsals for Observatory Theatre’s upcoming production of Marek Horn’s Octopolis. Photographed by Lucy Rayner-Toy. Bronwyn Nayler describes herself as "a director, deviser, teacher and performer". Bronwyn is the director of Octopolis by Marek Horn, which will make its Australian independent premiere at PIP... Continue Reading →
Alex Raineri, photographed by Trish Dean How did the Brisbane Music Festival (BMF) begin, and how has it evolved? BMF began in 2018, this is the seventh season in 2024! It began as a way to focus all of my curatorial ideas. I’m passionate about commissioning new works and collaborating with both performers and composers.... Continue Reading →
Lachlan Driscoll Lachlan Driscoll is a Brisbane-based creative producer and theatre maker, and the Founder & Creative Producer of Observatory Theatre. I sat down with Lachlan to discuss his current creative endeavours, what he looks for in a new work, and his collaborative approach to directing and producing. How would you describe your creative practice?... Continue Reading →
The Norman Mailer Anecdote will make its world premiere at the Bille Brown Theatre in May 2024, the playwrighting debut of award-winning Australian screenwriter Anthony Mullins. I sat down with the show’s director, Julian Curtis, to discuss the play’s pertinent themes, his directorial debut for the stage, and being the first show presented in Queensland... Continue Reading →
(L to R) Bianca Millroy, Matthew Wengert, and Anne Richards at the launch of the Brisbane Bookshops anthology. Please provide a brief introduction to who you are and what you do, in a broad sense and also in relation to Brisbane Bookshops. Matthew Wengert: I mostly think of myself as an historical researcher, with a... Continue Reading →
Image supplied Stephanie Collins will perform as The Baker's Wife in Redcliffe Musical Theatre's upcoming production of Into The Woods. Stephanie has previously performed in numerous shows including Miss Saigon, Legally Blonde, Phantom of the Opera, and Cinderella. She has also played Sandy in Grease, Cosette in Les Miserables' and her life’s dream, Belle in Beauty... Continue Reading →
Image supplied How would you describe tick, tick…BOOM? What would you say this musical is about? I would say tick, tick…BOOM! is a rock musical with a lot of heart, humour and honesty. It revolves around the main character Jon and his pursuit to write the next big Broadway hit. He struggles with feeling lost and stagnant... Continue Reading →
As part of the launch of Queensland Theatre’s 2020 Season, I spoke with Trent Dalton, author of bestselling novel Boy Swallows Universe, and Tim McGarry, who is adapting the novel for the stage. Boy Swallows Universe is set in Brisbane in the 80s, and it has a very distinct sense of place and time. How... Continue Reading →
David Megarrity is a Brisbane creative of many talents - theatre-maker, composer, musician, and writer, having won the Queensland Premier's Drama Award 2018-2019 for his play The Holidays which will premiere as part of Queensland Theatre's 2020 season. David is also one half of duo Tyrone and Lesley, and has written, composed for, and will... Continue Reading →
After waiting 10 years for theatrical rights to become available, Pannic Productions move into the newly refurbished QUT Gardens Theatre this week in preparation for the Queensland community theatre premiere of Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT. The cast very kindly made time to sit down and chat with me about working on the show, their characters,... Continue Reading →
Backstreet Brisbane 