New season forms a busy Q

A MODERN adaptation of Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” is to be the opener for The Q’s “Respond, Relax, Refresh, Return” season next year.

The news that former Canberran and 2011 Olivier Award winner, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, will be here to direct it in February was just the first of many theatrical coups unveiled.

Given program manager Stephen Pike’s background in musical theatre, it is not surprising that the genre looms large, with “They’re Playing Our Song” coming in March-April, telling the real-life story of composer Marvin Hamlish and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager. Later in the year, Pike himself will direct the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard” with local luminary Bronwyn Sullivan as the tragic Norma Desmond.

“The Girls in Grey”, telling the stories of the Australian Military Nurses, sees another former local director, Tom Healey, at the helm in April, swiftly followed by Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s “1984”, a theatrical sequel to their production this year of “Animal Farm”.

May sees HIT Productions back in town with A.R Gurney’s Pulitzer Prize-winner, “Love Letters,” starring Huw Higginson from “The Bill” and his wife Hannah Waterman, from “East Enders”.

In a departure from straight theatre, July will see three of Australia’s hottest young players, The Streeton Trio, presenting a musical show called “The Gypsy, The Ghost and Other Tales.”

The second half of the year sees Duncan Ley’s historical thriller “The Burning”, Steve Rogers’ play “Food” (focusing on two sisters running a family fast food shop), and “Sons and Mothers”, written and directed by Alirio Zavarce in collaboration with performers of varying abilities.

All the while, there’s the “Youth Mini Season” and the popular “Morning Melodies”, where you can have a cuppa and enjoy the music.

It’s canny, it’s a good mix of local and national shows, and above all, it looks entertaining.

The Q subscription season, bookings to theq.net.au or 6285 6290.

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