Queensland Theatre Returns

 

One of the industries hardest hit this year has been the Arts, but in news that will bring joy to the hearts of so many, Queensland Theatre will reopen the Bille Brown Theatre in November. Audiences will be treated to the world premiere season of the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award 2018 -2019 winner, The Holidays by David Megarrity. This original  play will run from 14 November through to 12 December. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, “ This is wonderful news for our performing arts landscape, and I am delighted the Queensland Theatre can celebrate its 50th anniversary with the much anticipated QPDA 2018 – 19 winner. “ 

Lee Lewis has promised that the show will go on, with COVID – Safe practices in place, capacity will be reduced, but the season will run longer so that as many people as possible can see this beautiful story. She continues, “ It is truly exciting to be staging The Holidays. There is magic inside David Megarrity’s words promising a journey filled with heart, in a time when we really need to celebrate being together.” 

The Play 

The Holidays is a touching portrait of memory and connection.The Holiday family are on holidays and 12 year old Oliver has been pulled out of school for an unexpected trip with his mum and dad , to grandad’s seaside shack. But grandad, an eccentric artist, is not there. In this messy place stuffed with memories, it seems that the Holidays – instead of getting away from it all –  have taken a lot with them. 

This award winning play is a wistful and funny journey combining live performance, music and lyrical projection. A disarming chronicle about family, for families. The Holidays is a show for sons, fathers, grandfathers and anyone who loves. 

I spoke to playwright David Megarrity and director Bridget Boyle who said, “ The play is very relatable for all ages and is a work for all the family. It features a lot of comedy, especially the classic Dad joke and even some Mum jokes. Yet the work is still quite tender, in the end what we explore are those little moments between family. The play will tell and show fragments combining the screen with real life and music, so we will be combining innovation with nostalgia.” 

The Cast 

Several times as I was speaking to David and Bridget they mentioned that they were lucky enough to bring their Dream Team together for this play. This includes Queensland Theatre stalwarts, Bryan Probets and Louise Brehmer as Bob and Summer Holiday, with 12 year old Oliver still to be cast. These actors will transport audiences to a quintessentially Queensland beach getaway for a touching meditation on mortality and a whimsical and deeply recognisable exploration of the relationship between a son, his father and his grandfather.

Queenslanders are encouraged to see this remarkable play, which is a brilliant way to end a tumultuous year. We have all found during this time at home that it is the love of our family that is ultimately most important and we are all looking back with nostalgia to those carefree beach days and seemingly unending Summer holidays.This new play reflects on those moments in a life well lived. It promises to be funny, poignant, tender and relatable for all the family. I can recommend that you bring your tissues to wipe away tears of laughter and for those moments that resonate in the memories of us all. Queensland Theatre is lighting the way and embodies that famous motto , “ The Show must go on.”