News Stories

Working to create new, progressive and socially conscious work; while offering early career and established artists a space to train, grow and develop underpins the work of Q Theatre, which will later this year present a recently commissioned play, Yellow Yellow Sometimes Blue, as part of The Joan’s 2018 Subscription Season.

First up in July is DECODED; Q Theatre’s Annual Youth Theatre Festival, which brings together eight schools across Western Sydney and pairs them with eight professional theatre artists to produce a work that will spark creativity and discussion. Through workshops, rehearsals and performance on the Q Theatre stage, students learn rigorous stage craft and techniques leading to DECODED - a full-scale production.

The Originate ensemble was established by Q Theatre to up-skill early career artists and to facilitate new collaborations with artists, mentors and industry professionals. Guided by co-directors the ensemble moves through a workshop process that dreams a new performance from the ground up. This year’s Originate ensemble presents Mouth of the River, an original work weaving together oral, sonic and physical storytelling. Come along to question, learn and unlearn…

Thanks to the generous support of Southlands, Penrith Performing and Visual Arts awarded three $5000 Breakthrough Awards to early career artists from Western Sydney, enabling them to develop new projects in collaboration with mentors. Breakthrough: Open Studio will include an extract from Monikka Elisah’s play, The Garage Sale (developed with support from mentor Wesley Enoch), and a presentation from Amala Groom whose practice as a Wiradjuri artist informs First Nations epistemologies, ontologies and methodologies (mentor: Salote Tawale). There will also be a music performance from Kristie Steve from her new EP entitled ME, devised with support from mentor Paul Mac.

Director of New Work for Penrith Performing and Visual Arts (PP&VA), Nick Atkins has been championing the activities at The Q and is instrumental in making the arts accessible to Penrith and Western Sydney – a region that is under-funded and under-represented yet bursting with talent and local stories to tell.

“Welcoming early career artists alongside our professional team makes Q Theatre a community worth being part of,” said Nick.

DECODED
6 July 2018 - 12pm & 7pm

Mouth of the River
19 – 21 July 2018 - 7.30pm

Breakthrough: Open Studio
27 July 2018 - 7pm

Venue:
Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith.