Wonderland Festival

Brisbane Powerhouse

THU 03–SUN 20 DECEMBER, 2015

Wonderland brings you a cavalcade of burlesque, circus, cabaret, music, comedy, poetry, theatre and variety shows filled with international and Australian artists.

I Want To Know What Love Is

18 December 2015

Powerhouse Theatre Love Box

Friday Night with Michelle Boyd and a joyous time out at the Powerhouse, foyer, front yard and Love Box. A return season of Daniel Evans' creation “I want To Know What Love Is’ drawn from the 812 submissions of the lovelorn, the passionate, the broken hearted and the dreamers of this city and beyond. Even I claim 6 words. Produced by The Good Room there is a change of venue from the original show at the Queensland Theatre Company, one change of actor from Carol Burns to Margi Brown Ash and some small changes from it’s last season just 15 months ago. Before the show I had the usual glass or two of red wine and some really lovely catching up with some brilliant artists who were there as well to see this or other shows at the Wonderland Festival. Lucinda Shaw , Fionn Ellwood, Gabriel Comerford, Ellen Elizabeth Bailey, Kristian Šantić and I met up for the first actual time with Lewis Jones who has directed shows at the Con I have seen this year and is also doing the show I see tonight. 

After the show I got to hug the artists Daniel Evans, Tom Cossettini and Amy Ingram . And then ran into the boys from another show I go to see tonight.

The show is a blend of wildly frenetic outbursts, memories, hopes, bitterness, involved stories and single words that form part of an exploration of just what love is. Tom’s hair is a feature that you can see in the photos, he is sexy and charming and a charismatic scene stealer, Amy’s blunt and unabashed lines and delivery is a wild show of power and lust, anger and commitment, a comedian and a presence to be dealt with and Margi has the versatility of an amazing professional that had the audience reacting to every nuanced step she took. She had them, not to mention Tom, eating out of her hands. Caroline Dunphy brought connection to the goings on in this amazing split personalities ensemble. 

The audience laughed and clapped, showed surprise and succumbed to recognition and familiarity. Love is many things to many people and many things to each single person. You could hear agreement whispered from the audience, the laughter of the absurdity of this madness and all pay tribute to how Daniel Evans has woven a performance with such spot on observation filtered and distilled from the hundreds of people who offered up their stories for display, dissection and sharing with their family of fellow theatre lovers.

 350 light bulbs hanging from the enormous ceiling, tens or hundreds of thousands of petals showering down from all points on actors and audience alike, spot lights and a soundscape both new and familiar by Lawrence English. Yes Jason Glenwright was involved in bringing magical light and dark to the episodes. I would love to say you just have to go, but the last show is tonight and I do not know if there are ant tickets left, but as everyone has been raving about it I assume you have all heard so much about this already and have no doubt been.

The Games We Play

Turbine Platform

19th December 2015 

More great fun at the Powerhouse Wonderland Festival last night with Michelle Boyd, Phil and David Bentley. The Five Fold Collective, namely Brisbanites David Trappes, Adam Strom and Ashleigh Pearce as well as Quebec-based Nate Armour and American Owen Winship. got all hot and bothered for an extraordinary performance of circus gymnastics, juggling and all things difficult. The audience did not stop cheering, clapping, wowing! and the night ended with a standing ovation. Humorous, sexy, campy at times with that great balance of springing on you an original slant to leaping through body rings while playing up how difficult it is and at the same time how easy it is for them. Tension in the great tradition of this sort of amaze me performance and with a charm so invigorating endearing, cute and i just have to say again - original. Did I mention they are all extremely gorgeous and spent most of the evening in their white undies with the occasional getting dressed without hands, upside down etc. You really should have heard the enthusiasm coming from the audience it was a hoot. Lewis Jones the wonderful director around town looked very pleased with himself last night and we have him to thank for yet another wonderful show.

It was back in June 2013 that I first met David Trappes in a spectacular show 'Salon' and now he is international. I was so pleased to run into them on both Friday Night and Saturday night.

Vanguard Burlesque

Turbine Platform

10 December 2015

 Produced by my friend Joel Devereux in the centre.

Lots of fans, nudity and some original fun and comedy.

Glory Box La Revolucion

Powerhouse Theatre Love Box

5 December 2015

 A lot of female nudity and gymnastics. Just returning from South America and Cuba.Some great avant guard performance art pieces and loads of flesh that was popular with the audience however I was there to see Mama Alto

Above is Mama Alto or Benny Dimas who is a counter tenor of extraordinary talent. She specialises in the blues but can belt out amazing songs in a spine tingling voice of beauty and power. After the show while they were taking their bows she came off stage to give me a hug and a kiss. We have been fb friends for a few years and I was so looking forward to seeing her live one day. Just remarkable and a gorgeous person.

Wonderland under the stars

In addition to taking over the inside of Brisbane Powerhouse, the festival also spills into the outdoors with nightly Wonderland Food Markets by Jan Power and Bamboozled performance tents filled with a wide-ranging menu of bite-sized entertainment. 

 I ran into the fabulous Shivannah, Fez Faanana, who was doing shows with cocktails at The Little Palais amongst the tents and fabulous venues outside the Powerhouse on the lawns. Fez is the MC and one of the stars of the amazing show 'Briefs.' which you can see on a large poster on the Powerhouse wall from Last Year's festival

On The Docks - a new musical.

Friday 4th December

Ian Hanger Hall

Queensland Conservatorium

Notes from the programme.

"On the Docks is the debut musical theatre work of Alexander Bayliss and Rex J Ablett. It tells the tale of a young girl, Rachel, who wants more than anything to travel to the UK but feels trapped due to the pressures from her family and her community. This is further exacerbated by the backdrop of an industrial dispute between her father, his union and Shipping company that he works for. Furthermore, an old flame and a new young stranger compete for Rachel's affections making her situation even more complicated.

The December season of On the Docks is the production's first public performance. However, there have been a number of workshops along the way to help refine the show. Thanks in a huge part to Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium of Music the creative team now feel ready to show the musical to the world in a concert format."

 Something special happened in Brisbane last night. The birth of a new musical 'ON THE DOCKS' composed by Rex J Ablett with lyrics by Alex Bayliss. It is sensational. Rex is another brilliant graduate from the Queensland Conservatorium - Musical Theatre and was accepted to do his Masters of Music Studies where he has been able to compose his first major musical. Alex has a bachelor and masters in Creative Writing and together they have created an outstanding work for musical theatre on a topic of high emotional and political impact from 1998 Australia.

There are so many great songs and some I can see as becoming concert favourites by various artists, Stirring ensemble/ chorus work, lyrics that are poignant, emotional, fun, witty and smart. This is a all encompassing great work already. With a touch of crowd funding it only took a couple of thousand dollars to put it on and hopefully the performers get a few bucks out of it. We must start paying our artists in Australia properly. I was pleased to see so many facebook friends in the large cast. Olly Oliver Samson once again allowed us to share in that smooth and beautiful voice as it flowed all over us. Luke Wallace gave us one of the big numbers as the union boss/dad and Josh R H Daveta revealed yet another side of his multi talented soul, cabaret artist, singer, comedian, dramatic actor and the list goes on for this acutely smart and charismatic performer. In the ensemble with various solo moments were the outstanding Matthew Semple, Michael Mandalios, Hayden Rodgers, Isaac Saunders, Simon Mason and Hayley Maybury. There was a some choreography but I can see flags and placards waving, big choreographed opportunities when it gets backing. The music is so varied and exceptional. I was constantly surprised by the inventiveness, the just wonderful music and this had a lot to do with the outstanding Musical Director Luke Volker on fearless piano. His lavish playing created a huge backdrop to the singers and he has been the soul of many a production I have seen this year. He is a star in his field. I have not mentioned the rest of the fairly large cast as I do not know them, but there were some outstanding talents that I had come across for the first time.

I do hope that The Queensland Theatre Company, Harvest Rain Theatre Company, and others start vying for this work to bring a fully staged and fully funded big production to the stage. It already is a major work and hit waiting exposure.

A year or two ago Wesley Enoch suggested Brisbane become a centre for the creation of new Musicals and in an email this week the new Artistic Director of QTC Sam Strong wrote -

'Ladies in Black embodies two things we will be doing a lot more at QTC in the future. Firstly, it’s a production that combines the best Queensland talent with the best talent from all over Australia. Secondly, it creates a world class, world first theatrical experience right here in Queensland. ' Well here is your perfect chance Sam. Local story, composer, writer and we have the directors, actors and singers to make it happen.

I was thrilled to be in at the birth of a hit musical and particularly chufed when the composer came over to say hello to me and thank me for my support just prior to the opening. It cost a mere $15 which might pay each performer less than a dollar. It is heroically good as attested to by the full house last night who cheered, applauded, laughed and even cried.

The Cast.

I do hope that The Queensland Theatre Company, Harvest Rain Theatre Company, and others start vying for this work to bring a fully staged and fully funded big production to the stage. It already is a major work and hit waiting exposure.

A year or two ago Wesley Enoch suggested Brisbane become a centre for the creation of new Musicals and in an email this week the new Artistic Director of QTC Sam Strong wrote -

'Ladies in Black embodies two things we will be doing a lot more at QTC in the future. Firstly, it’s a production that combines the best Queensland talent with the best talent from all over Australia. Secondly, it creates a world class, world first theatrical experience right here in Queensland. ' Well here is your perfect chance Sam. Local story, composer, writer and we have the directors, actors and singers to make it happen.

You really must go and be in at the birth of a hit musical. It will cost you a mere $15 which might pay each performer less than a dollar and it is on tonight and tomorrow afternoon. Just turn up to the Ian Hanger Hall at the Con. It is good as attested to by the full house last night who cheered and applauded, laughed and even cried.

Some words about this famous industrial action from Wikipedia.

"The Australian waterfront dispute of 1998 was a watershed event in Australian industrial relations history, in which the Patrick Corporation undertook an illegal restructuring of their operations for the purpose of increasing the productivity of their workforce. This dispute involved Patrick Corporation locking out their workers after the restructuring had taken place, with many of these workers members of the dominant Maritime Union of Australia. The resulting dismissal and locking out of their unionised workforce was supported and backed by the then Australian Liberal/National Coalition Government.

Major events in the dispute occurred in four major ports, where the Patrick Corporation had significant operations, Melbourne, Brisbane, Fremantle and Sydney. It revolved around attempts by Patrick Corporation and the federal government to improve efficiency on Australia's wharves; primarily by reducing staffing numbers and the power of the Maritime Union of Australia."

Oedipus & Love by Daniel Evans

'Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore'
5 June 2015

Bille Brown Studio

Qld Theatre Company

Firstly in the programme The Premier welcomes 'Oedipus Doesn't Live Here Anymore' by playwright Daniel Evans, winner of the 2014-15 Queensland Premier's Drama Award, the only one of it's kind in Australia. Daniel also wrote 'I Want To Know What Love is in which the title of a small story I submitted was mentioned much to my excitement and I have included that below. Daniel is quite brilliant and has adapted Checkov's The Seagull which is currently having a star actors run at the moment.

The lights dimmed and we embarked on a fast paced ride through the Oedipus plays, Antigone, Oedipus The King, and Oedipus at Colonus, all condensed and told through the eyes of the multiple characters, children, neighbours, school mates etc hanging around the backyards of Brisbane although it is never named specifically. Lots of fiery language, a thoroughly physical performance and just sensational and gripping writing.

The brilliance of the actors who jumped with so much passion, energy, conviction instantaneously from one character to immediately and totally inhabit another as quick as flicking a page was breathtaking. Ellen Elizabeth Bailey, Emily Burton, Joe Klocek and Toby Martin were as committed a group of actors as one could imagine. Moments to cringe, moments to gasp, times to cry and oh so many times to laugh. The evening was magic. Daniel's script is simply outstanding, the actors are nothing short of brilliant, Jason Klarwein' s direction was inspired and gripping to the core and the lights and sound/composition scripted and managed to the millisecond by Daniel Anderson and Justin Harrison lifted the play to epic proportions across the vast space of the Bille Brown stage/floor in front of the huge graffiti mural and the face of Sophocles with his glowing eyes spread across the entire back wall. You just must go and see it. It is so bloody good you will cry if you do not. 

Of course after the really enlightening Q&A at the end of the show there was much shaking of hands, spilling of wine and general partying with the cast and creatives. I had a brilliant and fabulous time and thank everyone and the Queensland Theatre Company for mounting yet another local work pouring forth from the genius minds and talents of Brisbane theatre scene. And thanks to my most darling cousin Michelle Boyd who always takes my theatre whoring photos as I rush around hugging the talented.

Written by Daniel Evans
After: The Theban Plays by Sophocles
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes | No interval
Director: Jason Klarwein
Designer: Jessica Ross
Lighting Designer: Daniel Anderson
Sound Designer: Justin Harrison
Dramaturg: Louise Gough


Cast Includes: Ellen Bailey, Emily Burton, Joe Klocek and Toby Martin



The earlier play by Daniel Evans 
'I Want to Know What Love Is'
September 2014

Based entirely on anonymous stories, I Want To Know What Love Is is a theatrical work made in response to the fragments of love, yearning and heartbreak submitted by the general public via the specially-built website wewantyourlove.com.

You are invited to bear witness to the love stories of strangers – some epic, others fleeting – as we ask some hard questions about the heart: What have you done for love? Is yours the greatest love story never told? Who, or what, do/did you love? Why? Is love science or poetry? What does love look/smell/taste like? What is the ultimate love song or lyric? Was there ever a time when love just wasn’t enough ...

I Want To Know What Love Is throws a spotlight on long-buried thoughts, stories, crushes and conquests as secret confessions are transformed into magnificent declarations centre stage. This is a celebration of the ordinary made extraordinary. This is for you. 

 A brilliant night at the theatre with both the legendary veteran actor Carol Burns and the young sensational Tom Cossettini blending some special magic amongst the thousands of Rose Petals that poured from everywhere. It made for a simple idea but quite lavish image.

Director: Daniel Evans
Designer: Kieran Swann
Cast Includes: Carol Burns, Tom Cossettini, Caroline Dunphy and Amy Ingram
Created and devised by: The Good Room (Daniel Evans & Amy Ingram) with Lauren Clelland, Caroline Dunphy & Kieran Swann
Lighting Designer: Jason Glenwright
Composer/Sound Designer: Lawrence English



My Bit

This is a link to the page on here of the little story of an interlude in Europe the title of which Daniel used in the play. I was so thrilled when I heard Tom Cossettini utter those words 'The Boy With The Green Umbrella' I made friends with both Tom and Daniel at a later stage and have met and thanked each for that thrill for me.
http://pepisymposium.blogspot.com.au/search?q=boy+with+the+green+umbrella

Friends doing it solo. Josh, Dash and Matthew

Josh RH Daveta

17th April

Powerhouse Visy Theatre

I have seen Josh in Boy & Girl twice, met him in foyers at his shows and others and he is a force of nature. Charismatic, talented and a star.

 Put a boy in a fluffy pink onesie, add oodles of stage presence, charm, a touch of naughty and a truly remarkable voice and you have the uber talented Josh R H Daveta. Last night his show Teenage Dreams was a celebration of the pop diva as channeled by Josh and his brilliant accompanist, friend and backup singer Luke Volker who can really play with that piano. There is more to do in that bed and doona than just dream. 

Great to see some surprise appearances which I will keep secret because I don't want to spoil the fun for those going to the final show tonight. Do rush along. Once again a fabulous show brought to us by Troy Armstrong. I seem to be going to them all.
 

I Might Take My Shirt Off

Dash Kruck

14 February 2015

Powerhouse Theatre

Melt Festival

 Dash has been extraordinary in so many productions I have seen and in this he let loose  his one man show.

From the promos: -

It’s Lionel’s first time. You won’t be too rough, will you?

From the mischievous mind of one of Queensland’s favourite actors, Dash Kruck (A Tribute of Sorts), this is the story of Lionel and the reluctant world-premiere of his debut cabaret show; a musical evening of sex, booze, boys and mythical beasts.

Matthew Mitcham

Twist and Turns

6th February 2015

Powerhouse Theatre 

Melt Festival

From  http://www.twistsandturns.com.au/

Matthew Mitcham's

Twists & Turns

On the 23 August 2008, a young Australian athlete made Olympic history. Coming from 30 points behind, and on his final dive, he scored 112.10 to shock himself and the diving world and rob the Chinese of a full sweep of Olympic diving gold medals. 

On that day Matthew Mitcham OAM became Australia's first male diving Olympic gold medallist since 1924, and the only diver ever in Olympic history, to produce a perfect 10 point score from all judges – winning the 2008 Beijing Olympics 10m platform title.

Grinning with pride from front pages around the world, there was no hint of the personal demons that had led this supremely talented young dynamo to quit diving less than two years before his famous win at Beijing.

Joyously out and proud as an openly gay man, Matthew was a role model for his courage both in and out of the pool. Yet the crippling self-doubt and shadow of depression that had plagued him all his life forced him into premature retirement, at one point reduced to circus diving to earn money. 

Even after Beijing and being ranked No 1 in the world, those closest to Matthew could not guess that beneath that cheeky, fun-loving, exterior he was painfully aware of how easily it could unravel.

Matthew has recently released his autobiography Twists and Turns, which reveals a life behind the international spotlight that has been plagued by low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, panic attacks and repeated self-harm as a teenager, leading on to drug abuse. He has also struggled with issues relating to his sexuality, being one of few Olympians to compete at the event as openly gay.

Based on his book of the same name, and told with the honesty and courage he is admired for, this live production of Twists and Turns is an inspiring story of a true champion – in and out of the pool.

Away from the diving pool Matthew is a talented singer and musician, who invites you to share the highs and lows of his incredible life through theatre and song, along with a few surprises, a bit of foot tapping and loads of inspiration, in his first solo show.

Commissioned and produced by the Melbourne Cabaret Festival and directed and co-created by Nigel Turner-Carroll, this extraordinary cabaret show has been scripted by multi-award winning London cabaret star Spanky under the musical direction of Jeremy Brennan (Jersey Boys).

After meeting Matt for the first time.

Music, Drama, Dance and Olympics

Some late updates of Theatre etc this year.
Guys and Dolls
Harvest Rain Theatre Company at The Concert Hall QPAC Thursday 20th March

 This was my first production by Harvest Rain and they have become so big over recent times. It was a thoroughly wonderful evening. Like a time capsule of the 50s musical as they were true to the original spirit. I doubt it could be done any other way. Some great voices and dancers.

 The chorus of exceptionally good male dancers/singers was impressive and a surprise. They were also very, very attractive.

 Costumes were a stand out in those vibrant colours. 

A great friend and outstanding actor with a very famous beginning Steven Tandy bought tears to my eyes with this beautiful solo.
Photos by http://nickmorrissey.com.au/ 
Matthew Mitcham
Wednesday 2nd April at The Powerhouse

We met, he signed my book and then he did a Q&A. It was so great to have a small chat to this darling man as he is good friends with another friend of mine who is a musician and actor. A Gold Medalist from the Beijing Olympic games and the only Out Gay Athlete at the Games. A charming guy and obviously so beautiful. Hope to see him later in the year when he brings his cabaret show to town after the Commonwealth Games.

Matthew received the highest score in Olympic history for his 10 M Dive in 2008.

Macbeth
Qld Theatre Company at The Playhouse QPAC Thursday 10th April

With visiting great director Michael Attenborough at the helm and the largest cast ever assembled for The Qld. Theatre company this awesome production got underway with a crashing lightning storm electrifying this giant set to the sound of giant rhythmic drums.

The battles and sword fights were choreographed my experts the blood really spurted and the acting was phenomenal.

Never have I sat through a Shakespeare with such easy understanding. One was hardly aware of the period of the language and the precise and sparkling diction revealed the clarity of every word. Such ease of  precision and rhythm lifted the beauty of the performance of this most poetic of the plays.

After the show in front of some of the season posters.

Dance Noir

Saturday 3rd May at The Judith Wtight Centre

It has been a year since I became aware of a beautiful local young dancer Kenny Johnson. I became friends over the internet and at long last I got to see him perform live. On Television he reduced everyone to tears with the depth of his soul which positively glows when he dances.

The photographic art of  http://www.alichoudhry.com/ 

Brian Lucas