Queensland Theatre's Quality Time podcast

Mikey Webb is the energetic Auslan interpreter who has become a household face thanks to daily COVID updates from the Queensland Government. But when he's not telling Queenslanders about the latest lockdown he’s working with us to share our stories with members of the D/deaf and hard of hearing communities. On this episode of the Queensland Theatre Quality Time podcast our Artistic Director Lee Lewis talks to Mikey to learn how he found his way onto our stage as an Auslan interpreter and how it’s possible to interpret a production as big and as complex as Hamilton. Enjoy!

It's not every day that we have a centurion in our Company. This year Bernhardt/Hamlet will mark David Walters’ 100th show as a lighting designer with Queensland Theatre. To put that into perspective this means on average David has designed just shy of three shows a year with us since his first show in 1985. But that’s just the numbers game, on this episode of the Queensland Theatre Quality Time podcast David Walters goes much deeper into the story of how he came to achieve this fantastic feat. Strap in, because it’s a wild ride that takes us everywhere from gem geology around the world to Iceland, through the history of light, candles and fireflies all the way back to our hometown of Brisbane. Enjoy!

One of the best things about working at a theatre company is that there’s almost always someone on hand with a niche skill to perfectly fix your niche problem. When that problem is a stain, rip or any other kind of wardrobe emergency that person is Wardrobe Coordinator, Barb. She’s got the perfect mix of magic potions and tricks to pristinely preserve our costumes so we can enjoy them now and in the future when we need to reuse the same pants 30 years after they were last worn on our stage. On this episode of the Queensland Theatre Quality Time podcast, she’s joined by our Artistic Director Lee Lewis to talk about how she came to Queensland Theatre and what it’s like to work in the wild world of wardrobing.

Right now in Brisbane we are very fortunate to have three strong women leading the major companies that contribute to our local theatre industry. But what pathways and opportunities led them into these positions? Did they always dream of being at the helm? Today our Artistic Director Lee Lewis is joined by La Boite Executive Director Zohar Spatz and Metro Arts Creative Director and CEO Jo Thomas to have a chat about what it means to be a leader in a job that often doesn’t come with a playbook. Enjoy!

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According to 2021 enrollment numbers, selection of drama as a senior subject has been rapidly declining in the thousands since 2017. It’s a shocking statistic, caused by a push towards STEM subjects, the impact of Covid and a fear of career instability. Today our Artistic Director Lee Lewis is joined by Drama Queensland President Stephanie Tudor to discuss why it’s important for every student in Queensland to have access to an arts education, so that the arts can also be a part of their adult life, whether that be on stage, backstage or in the audience. Enjoy! 

The 2022 Season is officially here, from classics with bite through to powerful new works that pack a punch, there’s something to suit everyone. But out of the endless number of shows in the world, who decides which 8 will make it into our Season? Today we’re joined by our Artistic Director Lee Lewis, Director of Programming Rod Ainsworth, Producer of New Work Shari Irwin and Associate Artist Daniel Evans to discuss how the 2022 Season came to be. Enjoy!

Headed by Festival Director Madeleine Little, Undercover Artist Festival exists to profile and promote outstanding work by performing artists with disability. In 2021 they were one of the few organisations in the world to successfully share an arts festival through numerous COVID updates, lockdowns and restrictions. Today our Artistic Director Lee Lewis is joined by Madeleine and performer/writer of the festivals opening act Oliver Hetherington-Page to discuss just how they proved risky wrong and ended up with a roaring success.

What does the history of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion and one of Shakespeare’s classics have in common? For artists Jimi Bani and Jason Klarwein these are two worlds that almost begged them to be combined. Today they are joined by our Artistic Director Lee Lewis to discuss their vision for this electric adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.

Sound Design by The Podcast Boss

We’re seeing more and more stories on the Queensland Theatre stage, and stages around the country, based on authentic personal experiences. Most recently we’ve presented the new works Triple X, City of Gold and now Return to the Dirt that all feature the writer playing themselves in a version of their own life story. But how does a writer look after themselves and separate reality and fiction when they take to the stage each night to relive, what is at times, a traumatic moment from their life? On this episode of the podcast director Lee Lewis is joined by Return to the Dirt playwright and performer Steve Pirie and fellow cast members Mitchell Bourke and Sophie Cox to discuss how they have worked together to bring the gravely humorous new work to the stage.

From organising schedules to making cardboard AK-47s, there’s not a lot that stage managers can’t do. But what draws someone to a life in the theatre behind the stage, and what are the qualities that make them the perfect people to manage a production? To celebrate International Stage Management day on 10 October, Lee Lewis is joined by Boy Swallows Universe Senior Stage Manager John Reid, Prima Facie Stage Manager Khym Scott and Othello Assistant Stage Manager Analiese Long. They share what it’s like being the first point of contact on a show when something goes wrong and the rush when it all goes right. Enjoy!