1. art and entertainment
2. theatre

bENTERTAINED
Fresh Harvest
A beautiful
freak show
Harvest Rain Theatre Company lends a hand to Brisbane’s
independent theatre scene, writes Chris Herden
La Soirée is saucy, fun, and downright
decadent, writes Chris Herden
T
he Harvest Rain Theatre Company
continues to inject lifeblood into the
veins of Brisbane’s musical theatre
community. The company has just launched
Incubator, a new initiative that aims to grow,
nurture and provide the optimal conditions for
some daring new theatrical experiences.
“Incubator is an opportunity for
independent artists to produce the work
they want to do – to give them a workspace
that won’t cost them an arm and a leg,” says
Brisbane theatre director and curator of the
Incubator program Catarina Hebbard. “We’ll
provide a safe environment in which new work
can be tested, developed, shown, reworked and
then presented as part of the Incubator season.”
Two shows from the inaugural Incubator
season will play through May and June. Matilda
Award-winner Cienda McNamara will direct
the Australian premiere of 35mm: A Musical
Exhibition. Boasting a cast of talented locals,
35mm is set at an art installation where each
photo creates a unique song. “The art work
goes hand in hand with some amazing music,”
Hebbard says. “It’s a song cycle, a visual
spectacle with audience interaction.”
Prior to 35mm you can get your skates on
for the best disco in town, Xanadu. Emerging
Brisbane director Joshua McCann-Thomson
will present a sparkling 21st century stage
musical interpretation of the 1980 film. It's
a hilarious, roller skating adventure about a
mysterious goddess who helps a young artist
create a unique arts club called the Xanadu.
The stage version has all the great ELO
songs from the movie, and it’s a musical about
following your dreams despite the limitations.
So if you want to feel inspired, there’s a place…
and a show… it’s called Xanadu.
Xanadu plays Harvest Rain’s Hayward Street Studios,
Stafford, from 13 May. 35MM: A Musical Exhibition plays
from 3 June. Visit: www.harvestrain.com.au
A
spellbinding concoction of vaudeville,
acrobatics and slapstick, La Soirée
has thrilled more than 10 million
people across the globe. For the theatrical
phenomenon’s 10th anniversary season, QPAC’s
Playhouse Theatre will be transformed into an
intimate salon setting. With a choice of ringside
seats on offer, audience members can expect to
be right amongst the action.
La Soirée is pure entertainment. It’s a
circus like you’ve never seen before in that it
seamlessly melds the old Victorian-era music
hall style of burlesque with the jaw-dropping,
singular and often inexplicable acts that
appeal to a YouTube generation. The end
result is a beautiful and delicious freak show
for adults.
“Ten years ago when we assembled this rag
tag group of fabulous and freaky artists from
the edges of society, vaudeville and variety
were dirty words,” says creative producer Brett
Haylock. “Entertainment guides didn't even
have cabaret sections back then. Now you
can’t swing a leopard-print bra in London's
West End or Downtown Manhattan without
hitting a cabaret artiste who’s at the very top of
their game.”
La Soirée includes a performance by the
awe-inspiring aerial gymnast and Brisbane
Festival favourite Bath Boy, who will return to
drench his gasping admirers once again.
Good nights out don't come better than
this, says star Asher Treleaven. “The best thing
you could do is take your date, your partner,
your wife… whoever! Bring them to see the
show. I guarantee you’ll have a fantastic time.”
La Soirée plays at QPAC Playhouse Theatre from 7 to 24
May. Visit: www.qpac.com.au