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! A transcription of the episode can be found here: https://bit.ly/39V7JNk Sound Design by Brady Watkins Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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! Sound Design by Brady Watkins Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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! Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Hi you’re listening to the Queensland Theatre Quality Time podcast, let me set the scene. 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! Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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! Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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 Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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. Just a little language warning for this one that the team do drop a few swear words in this episode. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

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! Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Trent Dalton’s BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE is the blockbuster Brisbane story with a heart of gold. Not only has Eli Bell’s tale of love, hope and resilience resonated with countless readers, it also inspired the creative team working tirelessly to open such an ambitious production during a global pandemic. On this episode of the Quality Time podcast, Lee Lewis is joined by director Sam Strong and cast members Michala Banas and Tom Yaxley to hear all about their journey getting this beloved story to the stage. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

In a patriarchal justice system where it’s her word against his, Suzie Miller’s award-winning Prima Facie is a rapid-fire, one-woman tour de force indictment of the legal system. Joining director, Lee Lewis in the studio today is Sheridan Harbridge who has embraced the enormous role of Tessa, in her acclaimed portrayal of a ruthless defense lawyer at the top of her game who finds herself on the other side of the bar. We hope you enjoy this lively chat between two passionate performance makers. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Not every great book makes for a great play. What works on the page may not translate into the theatricality of a stage adaptation. But when that lightning does strike — and it’s a best-selling book based on the author’s own life — well, you can only imagine the pressure that sits with the playwright, to not only do right by the author, but also the audiences flocking to see the play. Today, Lee Lewis catches up with Tim McGarry to delve into his adaption of Trent Dalton’s beloved Boy Swallows Universe. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

There’s nothing like a new Australian play to capture the current voice of our country. A story can find its way to our stage through many paths, but perhaps one of the most direct and exciting ways is through the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award. Celebrating 20 years in 2021, this Award discovers, develops and produces outstanding Australian plays. It’s the only playwriting prize in the country that guarantees a premiere season of the work. Joining Lee Lewis in the studio today are previous winners Daniel Evans and Steve Pirie to discuss their experiences with the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award, and their suggestions for playwrights considering entering their scripts this year. You can learn more about the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award here. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Our recent season of White Pearl by Anchuli Felicia King held a mirror to the complexities of pan-Asian experiences. We’d like to keep this conversation going, so in this episode of the podcast, our producer of new work Shari Irwin is joined by guest artists, Ngoc Phan, Merlynn Tong, and Vaishnavi Suryaprakash to share their experiences as Asian women working in the Australian arts industry. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Single fathers raising daughters is a feature in many of Shakespeare’s plays. It reflected the unfortunate reality that many women died in child birth. It also helped drive narratives stemming from these fathers being unsure of how to tackle the challenge of parenting their daughters in a society that wasn’t built to support such relationships, or that offered women much in the way of opportunity. On this episode of the Quality Time podcast, Lee Lewis is joined by John McNeil and Claudia Ware to discuss the father/daughter relationships in Taming of the Shrew. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

There is nothing easy about performing Shakespeare. Throw in COVIDSafe auditions, directorial requests to learn flamenco and a 400 year old script that walks the line of gender politics, and you’ve got an experience for our Taming of the Shrew actors that was nothing less than complicated! Today Lee Lewis is joined by Taming of the Shrew cast members Ellen, Leon and Patrick to discuss how they’ve not only faced these challenges but embraced them. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Audiences adore a classic play, and the king of the classics is undoubtedly Shakespeare. His plays continue to be performed around the world, for over 400 years. So, in 2021, why does Taming of the Shrew still matter? What can this work say to audiences of our era? And how does a director make it more entertaining than ever? Lee Lewis sits down with Damien Ryan on the Quality Time podcast to find out. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

New theatres are an exciting rarity and must be carefully designed to meet the needs of both artists and audiences alike. Comfy theatre seats are an absolute must-have. A loading bay that’s actually big enough for sets is also vital. In this episode of Quality Time, Lee Lewis catches up with our Technical Manager Daniel Madison to discuss his role in future proofing the Bille Brown Theatre during its construction in 2018. Enjoy! Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT

Would your favourite shirt hold up after being worn for rigorous exercise, splashed with blood, ripped off and washed every day for a month? In this episode of the Quality Time podcast Lee Lewis is joined by our Costume Supervisor Nathalie Ryner to discuss the magic of maintenance. Sound Design by The Podcast Boss Theme music by Wil Hughes #QualityTimeWithQT