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Looking to aid independent artists realise their projects and creative ambition, the Queensland Theatre Company has announced an unprecedented level support for independent artists and companies for 2017.

Introducing the program, Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Sam Strong explained “earlier this year we held a forum with the sector to hear what was important to independent artists.

“The feedback was clear - resources and opportunities offered to independent artists must be as flexible, varied and as unique as the diverse needs of each artist, and each project.”

In October, Queensland Theatre an invitation to independent artists to apply for assistance resulted in 41 applications for projects in a wide mix of genres, from artists of all levels of experience, each voicing their specific ambition for making new Queensland work.

The applications were assessed by a panel comprising of members of Queensland Theatre’s National Artistic Team: Margi Brown Ash, Marcel Dorney and Lucas Stibbard along with Company staff Associate Artistic Director Paige Rattray, Programming Manager and Senior Producer Sophia Hall, and Producer (New Work and Development) Shari Irwin.

As a result, Strong explains “I’m thrilled that in 2017 we will be providing artistic, financial or venue support to 10 uniquely different projects involving over 50 artists.

“The projects and artists are as diverse as the sector itself, ranging from young and emerging artists to stalwarts of the Brisbane stage.

“We have tailored our support to what the artists needed. Some are seeking public performance outcomes, some development support and a closed industry showing.

“For others this is the chance to work with a particular artist of note. Some projects have been developed by other companies and others will have outcomes elsewhere.

“Investing in the independent sector and these artists is the next step in our commitment to support the whole industry and whole ecology,” said Strong.

Artists supported include: Iraqi-Australian artist Niz Jabour with his community-engagement performance The Rain Project; Dog Spoon (Brisbane theatre artists Andrew Cory, Leon Cain and Sue Rider) with a contemporary absurdist comedy 2 Guys In A Box; playwright Sally McKenzie, with her new play Belinda; early-career writers Steve Pirie for his play Return to the Dirt, and Kathryn Marquet (in collaboration with Little Black Dress Creatives) for the creation of the libretto for a new children’s opera The Owl and the Pussycat; Columbian-born actor Alexander Forero with a laboratory-theatre exploration of Dario Fo’s play Mistero Buffo and Heidi Manche’s Room To Play for their upcoming production of Someone is Going to Come by Jon Fosse, directed by Valerio Binasco.

New generation ambitious theatre-collectives Counterpilot and Your Mouth Collective will receive support respectively for the participatory audio-theatre-installation work Spectate and a dark adventure of make-believe Alice is Drowning; and emerging duo, Emily Burton and Ellen Bailey, will undertake their first devised work together using the stories of Anais Nin. 

Images: The Queensland Theatre team [front, from left]: Lucas Stibbard, Simon Burke, Jess Tovey, Sam Strong, Sarah Morrison and Jason Klarwein [back, from left] Marcel Dorney, Nakkiah Lui, Libby Munro, Kat Henry, Ben Winspear, Paige Rattray and Jimi Bani (top) and Sam Strong (below).

12th February 2016 - NEW QUEENSLAND THEATRE COMPANY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING CREATIVE TEAM 

22nd September 2015 - QUEENSLAND THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

4th June 2015 - SYDNEY FESTIVAL TO WELCOME WESLEY ENOCH AS DIRECTOR FROM 2017

15th January 2013 - QUEENSLAND THEATRE COMPANY REBUILDS AFTER THE JANUARY 2011 FLOODS

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