Brisbane has a new theatre. No, I’m not talking about QPAC’s Glasshouse, which opens next year. I’m referring to the new performing arts precinct on historic Petrie Terrace.
This phoenix rising from the metaphorical ashes of Brisbane Arts Theatre is known as Ad Astra, which is Latin for “to the stars”. An ambitious title for an ambitious project, which encompasses two theatres – Galaxy (continuing the celestial theme), which is a 150-seat proscenium arch theatre; and Pluto, a 44-seat black box theatre. The wall in that smaller theatre reveals just how historic the site is, as it was convict built.
The complex also includes a bar and other spaces for workshops and rehearsals. The complex is perched on a ridge with views across the city from the front and towards Mt Coot-tha at the rear.
Brisbane Arts Theatre still exists as an entity, based elsewhere now. It began In 1936, founded as Brisbane Amateur Theatres by Jean Trundle and Vic Hardgraves. Later as Brisbane Arts Theatre it occupied an important place in Brisbane’s theatre history.
… committed to continuing to offer smaller professional theatre productions and opportunities in its new permanent home
Ad Astra executive producer Gregory J. Wilken acknowledges that history and reels off a few famous names who began their career here.
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“Carol Burns, Shane Porteous, Sigrid Thornton, Barry Otto and Australia’s first celebrity chef,” Wilken says, pausing for effect to see if I can guess who he means.
“Bernard King?” I suggest, and he nods smiling. Recalling King’s notoriety as a judge on mid-’70s TV game show Pot of Gold, one can imagine that his performances would have been colourful, to say the least. I should add that King was a Queenslander.
Ad Astra Theatre Company made a name for itself in its previous location at Fortitude Valley. Now the company has committed to continuing to offer smaller professional theatre productions and opportunities in its new permanent home – the revamped Brisbane Arts Theatre.
On the day of my visit the building isn’t quite finished but it will be (mostly) in time for its first major production, a season of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, directed by Tim Hill, opening September 24.
Wilken points out that since 2018 Ad Astra has performed more than 30 plays and musicals and has worked with highly awarded industry professionals and talented emerging and “re-emerging” creatives.
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He adds that the company’s program provides an opportunity for Queensland’s emerging playwrights to be mentored over 12 months by respected industry professionals, and then vie for a place in the AstraNova showcase that will open the Pluto theatre’s season each year.
Backing the company financially are two Brisbane professionals – Dan Kennedy (a surgeon), who serves as technical director, and Fiona Kennedy (a lawyer), who serves as artistic director. They put their money where their mouth is to purchase the site for $3 million, with another $1 million-plus spent on the refurbishment.
Passion for theatre is the driving force, according to Wilken.
“And there is unbridled excitement from every level of the local theatre world”’ he says. “Brisbane has a thriving theatre seen but we didn’t have the equivalent of a Belvoir or Griffin in Sydney, and that’s where we come in. Brisbane does not have a theatre at this level, something that can feed into the larger companies such as La Boite and Queensland Theatre.”
Wilken, an actor himself, knows the business inside out and confesses he will be treading the boards again next year.
In the meantime, we have Into the Woods to look forward to in the Galaxy and to open the new black box theatre, Pluto, Ad Astra Theatre Company brings you a comedy about the romance of a waitress and a short-order cook, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, by American playwright and screenwriter Terrence McNally.
And just to get you interested, we’ll let you know that the play opens with the audience in the dark and the sounds of enthusiastic lovemaking. Enjoy!
Into the Woods, Galaxy theatre, Ad Astra, September 24 to October 18: Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, Pluto theatre, Ad Astra, October 29 to November 22.