Anywhere is somewhere at UQ Theatre Festival

In a sparkling debut, the curtain has risen on The University of Queensland’s world premier event, the UQ Theatre Festival which runs until Thursday 24 May.

The festival throws creative energy into the spotlight and showcases the talents of Anywhere Theatre Festival, and also the Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, University of Queensland Union’s Clubs and Societies, Screech Arts, Scrambled Eggs, A Very Theatre Company, Arts UQ, and Underground Productions.

The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble is a vital part of the line-up and Liliana Macarone believes all the world’s a stage, especially at UQ’s St Lucia campus.

“QSE is delighted, as always, to collaborate with UQ and we’re just chuffed to be included in this fabulous line-up of productions,” Ms Macarone said.

“We really love these fast, funny versions of Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet, and what better place to play them that on the beautiful grassy green of the Great Court. 

You can see two of the world’s greatest plays in Half Hour Hamlet, and Instant Romeo and Juliet, so to go or not to go is not the question.

The festival will be performed in the round, on grass, and in unexpected locations across the St Lucia campus, including the Hawken Engineering Building.

Screech Arts jumped at the opportunity to become involved in a festival like the UQ Theatre Festival. Coordinator Martina Cross describes the troupe as an accessible and inclusive performing arts and drama school for creative spirits.

“It’s providing us with that creative professional development for our performers that wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity,” Ms Cross said.

Other performances include a gripping and twisted narrative, Gretel - the Handmaid’s Tale meets Hansel and Gretel.

I wanted to Talk about Death is a grave, ruinous, departing, eternally dissolute show about life, death and the choices in-between.

Media: Sybilla Wilson, s.wilson6@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 3484.​