The Creole Choir of Cuba

Saturday 2 April, 7.30pm

The choir of ten, five women and five men are passionate about singing. The Creole Choir’s Cuban name is Desandann literally meaning ‘descendants’; their music tells the stories of their Haitian ancestors who were brought to Cuba to work in near slave-like conditions in the sugar and coffee plantations until the revolution of 1959 when Fidel Castro came to power.

They sing in kreole, Cuba’s second language which is a fusion of African, French and other languages, and their repertoire includes songs from the seventeenth century, laments, protest songs, Voodoo spirituals and celebratory freedom dances. Each song is a part of Haitian history.

Their energy is infectious; the voices are powerful and harmonies beautiful. They dance when they sing and their sound is mesmerising. There is a sense of jubilation each time they perform; ‘for us music is like food, it feeds the spirit and is a major inspiration for everyday life’.

Entrancing, exquisite, unlike any other music show. THE SCOTSMAN

Anyone who has fallen for Cuban music of any style, be it the Buena Vista Social Club or Omar Sosa or who just like great singing, will be moved by this ultra-colourful, crossgenerational troupe’s performance. THE HERALD

Capture the Flag

Tuesday 10 May, 7.30pm

The Allies celebrated Germany’s surrender on the eighth of May, 1945 and sixty-six years and two days later Townsville audiences have the opportunity to witness the last vestiges of the war. Australian playwright, Toby Schmitz’s new play, Capture the Flag is gripping, intelligent and thought-provoking.

Three young boys huddle for days in the sewers of Berlin as the tanks from the Soviet Army rumble overhead. Karl and Albert are both members of Hitler’s Youth and entrenched in the belief that their ‘body belongs to their nation’. Herret, frantic to return to his mother, his indoctrination not as complete as his companions but he knows enough to fall into line.

All have been conditioned to fight to the final bullet but are now almost paralysed with fear and indecision. Bickering amongst themselves they must determine how to survive; one moment debating the promises made to them by Hitler and the next talking of love and dreaming of their first kiss.

Their camaraderie is broken with the sudden arrival of a teenage girl escaping from the Occupiers. The war is lost; what will happen to Karl, Albert and Herrit who are desperate to become men before their time?

Simple and affecting...effective and evocative. THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

WARNING: Contains strong themes, coarse language, loud noises and smoke effects. Suitable for audiences aged 15 years and over.

Breast Wishes

Original performers from 2009 production.

Tuesday 28 June, 7.30pm
Wednesday 29 June, 7.30pm
Thursday 30 June, 11am and 7.30pm

Breast Wishes is an uplifting new Australian musical about life, love, family and silicon.

Meet four women; add a fumbling boyfriend, a well-meaning husband and a bra-fitter who’s seen it all and you will be taken on a witty and heart-warming journey through laughter to triumph.

Breast Wishes was inspired by creator Anne Looby’s family experience with breast cancer. Not content to be merely a supportive sister, Anne decided that because laughter is the best medicine – a prescriptive cure was in order! Breast Wishes was born. Doing the only thing a well-connected performer could do – she wrote to her extremely talented friends and colleagues asking them to contribute a piece in celebration of the breast, creating a show both uplifting and informative which proudly supports the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Some of Australia’s most respected comedic and dramatic writers became involved including Merridy Eastman, Jonathan Gavin, Richard Glover, Wendy Harmer, Sheridan Jobbins, James Millar and Debra Oswald.

With a dazzling cast and show-stopping numbers Breast Wishes is a sophisticated and hilarious glimpse of cleavage and beyond, which promises to make your heart sing!

Bra-vo! A cheerful show. THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Turns

Wednesday 13 July, 7.30pm
Thursday 14 July, 7.30pm

Pantomime star Marjory Joy [Nancye Hayes] is on her last legs (or is she?). As she reflects on a life spent in show business (or was it?), her son Alistair [Reg Livermore] tries to understand this woman, all women and to come to terms with one woman in particular.

Audiences last saw Nancye Hayes in the comedy-hit Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks with Todd McKenny in 2007. Reg Livermore finally makes his Townsville debut after almost sixty years of being in the Industry, making famous such roles as Dr Frank’n’Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, Betty Blokk Buster Follies and Barnum.

Turns, devised and written by Reg Livermore brings together these two icons of Australian theatre and draws upon a kaleidoscope of styles to create an event that is ultimately entertaining, whimsical, funny and moving. It is a reflection of identity, family, show business and completely loosing your marbles!

Don’t miss Nancye and Reg when they do what they do the best — sing, dance, make you laugh and much, much more.

Rainbow's End

Photographer: Branco Gaica

Tuesday 19 July, 7.30pm
Wednesday 20 July, 7.30pm

Three generations of Koori women, Nan Dear [Lillian Crombie], her feisty daughter Gladys [Christine Anu] and Dolly [Chenoa Deemal], her clever teenage granddaughter live in a shack on a flood-prone riverbank on the outskirts of a country town. For Nan, even life on ‘the Flats’ represents progress of a kind, but Gladys has bigger ambitions for a real house and a real job for Dolly. When the illiterate Gladys takes on buying the Encyclopaedia Britannica from city salesman Errol Fisher to improve Dolly’s chances, their lives take an unexpected and challenging turn.

Set against the Queen’s visit in the 1950’s with music that evokes the period, this tender, funny play celebrates the transformative power of learning and the fierce optimism of the women as they struggle for community acceptance in the conservative Menzies' era.

Rainbow's End is a genuine ‘feel good’ night of theatre. Written with gentle irony and humorous affection by Jane Harrison and flawlessly directed by multi-award winner Craig Ilott (Dealer’s Choice in 2009).

This is a warm, genuine and engaging drama that allows us to experience a neglected part of Australia's social history. DAILY TELEGRAPH

WARNING: Contains smoke effects, strobe lighting and loud noise.

Verdi's La Traviata Oz Opera

Photographer: Jeff Busby

Monday 8 August, 7.30pm
Tuesday 9 August, 7.30pm

Verdi’s sumptuous and luscious score is based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel The Lady of the Camellias — a sad and tragic story about a young, beautiful courtesan.

Violetta Valery lives a life of champagne and extravagant parties but she is a ‘kept’ woman; her lovers are members of Parisian high society. A young, handsome man, Alfredo Germont oversteps the boundaries for an admirer and falls hopelessly in love with Violetta thus compromising her livelihood.

Escaping to the country they are both blissfully happy until his father confronts Violetta, suspecting that she is only after his son’s fortune. He is genuinely surprised to learn that Violetta is indeed in love with Alfredo. In the end Violetta agrees to forsake her relationship with Alfredo but still she does not reveal that she is dangerously ill with consumption.

Violetta returns to Paris and her former lifestyle. Alfredo searches for Violetta only to find her in the arms of an old benefactor. He is jealous and then publicly humiliates her by hurling his night’s winnings from the gambling table; now she has been paid.

Violetta is dying and Alfredo is told the truth and the lovers are reunited for one last passionate encounter.

Oz Opera’s new production, directed by Rachel McDonald is a beautiful interpretation of this romantic Italian masterpiece.

Circus Oz

Friday 19 August, 7.30pm
Saturday 20 August, 2pm and 7.30pm
Sunday 21 August, 3pm

Circus Oz is a legendary, world-famous, globe-roving icon. Quintessentially Australian Circus Oz combines satire and comedy with highly physical stunts.

Prepare to be amazed by two hours of absurd acrobatics, graceful aerial feats and fast-paced knockabout larrikinism combined with a clutch of non-stop energy acts all set to the rocking sound of the live Circus Oz band.

Circus Oz is a rock’n’roll animal free circus that appeals to adults and children alike.

The show is raw, diverse, inspired, spectacular, fantastic for families and very funny. You will be gasping and then laughing yourself silly.

Makes you laugh, think, gasp, grab onto the edge of your seat, let out a sigh of relief and then laugh again. Go and experience it. AUSTRALIAN STAGE

Mathinna

Photographer: Stephen Ward

Saturday 5 November, 7.30pm

Bangarra Dance Theatre performed to a sell-out house in 2008 with their double bill True Stories. The first piece, Emeret Lu was choreographed by Elma Kris, who in 2011 is dancing the role of Mathinna.

Stephen Page’s latest dance theatre work, Mathinna was inspired by Thomas Beck’s portrait of an Aboriginal girl in a red dress. It is a tragic but true tale of the painting’s subject, Mary, who was born on Flinders Island in 1835 and later adopted by the Governor of Van Diemen’s Land and his wife, Sir John and Lady Franklin. Renamed Mathinna, she was propelled into a world that was a complete anathema to her — the upper echelons of white society.

When the Governor and his family were recalled to England, Mathinna was left behind and sent to the Queen’s Orphan School where she was alienated by the other children. Eventually, Mathinna moved to an Aboriginal settlement at Oyster Cove but her traditional community had changed forever. Mathinna despairing and alone, suffered sexual abuse, and at only twenty tragically died.

This is an extraordinary work told through a series of striking images and powerful music composed by David Page. Mathinna became the archetype of the ‘stolen child’; Bangarra Dance Theatre recreates her compelling story of vulnerability and searching in an era of confusion and intolerance.

Mathinna is rich with genuine emotion and vivid poetic imagery. DANCE AUSTRALIA