From Amanda Bell, Company Manager, 23^rd Productions, based in Brisbane, Australia.

Our plan is to take a video camera to the WTD performance of our current production of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman. Pre-show, we will film mini-interviews with our audience, asking them their thoughts about theatre in Brisbane.  Before the performance, we will read Augusto Boal’s address to our audience.  We will then film the performance.  Finally, we will film our audience’s thoughts after the performance is finished.  We would then like to upload this footage to the World Theatre Day Blog.  Essentially, we are taking our audience’s usually momentary pre- and post- show ideas, and turning them into a permanent piece of our production.

Follow 23rd Productions on Twitter.

Check back on March 27 for the footage.

From Kate Foy

Queensland Theatre Company’s March 26 opening night after-party for Polly Stenham’s ‘That Face’ will kick on through the midnight chimes into Friday making it the first global event for March 27 World Theatre Day 2009. There is a hotlink to this blog from the Company’s website.

The social media networks in Brisbane are at work spreading the details on the venue. The idea is for as many of the Brisbane theatre community as possible – those performing or rehearsing that day – as well as their supporters and even an audience member or two, will join Queensland Theatre Company is celebrating ‘our day’ together.

Images and sounds from what could be the biggest after-party of the year will be up on the WTD Tumblr site as soon as possible after the show.

Follow Queensland Theatre Company on Twitter @qldtheatreco

See elsewhere on the blog for Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble’s plans for WTD, and if you are on the Sunshine Coast there is a Flash Mob event at 12 noon on Friday. People will be gathering at the Sunshine Plaza for a bit of ‘invisible theatre’ – spontaneous laughter for 1 minute. Fun!

Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble are opening up a dress-rehearsal run of Shakespeare’s Shorts to the general public on World Theatre Day.

Shakespeare’s Shorts are fast and funny half hour versions of the original scripts, delivered with QSE’s trademark clarity and accessibility. Each of the Shorts also features gentle audience participation to get everyone into the action.

The Half-Hour Hamlet takes out all the procrastination – the tragedy is performed in 20 minutes, then, in 7 minutes, and again, in just 3.
Instant Romeo & Juliet turns the tragedy of the star-crossed lovers into a high-paced comedy with plenty of wooden-sword-buckling.

These celebrated shows are rarely performed for a general audience (usually only at corporate events and festivals). This one-off performance is a celebration of World Theatre Day and is free to everyone.

If you’re in Brisbane Australia on the day, get along at 7pm to the Michie Amphitheatre, University of Queensland, St Lucia.

Want to know more about QSE? Check them out on their website.