At the beginning of the year, Queensland Theatre unveiled the DOOR 3 initiative, a new program where the company would help support creatives across Queensland by providing the space, support and mentorship to bring their vision to life – including space in the Diane Cilento Studio. You can hear more about the program from Associate Artistic Director Daniel Evans, HERE.
Featuring as a complement to Queensland Theatre’s ongoing 2024 season, the first three local productions – selected out of more than 80 entries – to receive support as part of DOOR 3’s inaugural year have been confirmed. These works are: The Norman Mailer Anecdote, Scenes from a Yellow Peril and Wanderings.
The Norman Mailer Anecdote, directed by Julian Curtis of Big Scary Animal’s, is set to start things off next month. This contemporary drama unfolds in a single room over the course of one night, focusing on a family shaken by a past accusation against the father, Marshall. This was a finalist of the Queensland Premier’s Drama Award in 2022, and it is nice to see that Queensland Theatre can support this work two years later.
In August, the stage will feature Scenes from a Yellow Peril, a thought-provoking piece by award-winning Chinese-New Zealand writer Nathan Joe. This production, a collaboration between The Reaction Theory and BIPOC Arts Australia, is co-directed by Chelsea August and Egan Sun-Bin. It challenges audiences with its uncomfortable yet playful approach to racism and privilege, engaging in a meta-analysis of Asian identity.
Closing the DOOR 3 program for 2024 will be Wanderings by The Nest Ensemble. Under the direction of Leah Mercer, this production aims to take patrons on a journey of heart-opening opportunities, challenges and demands, with shifting identities and changing family dynamics through the eyes of a transgender adult (Kidd) and his mother (Stella), who is transitioning through dementia.
Each of the DOOR 3 companies will be provided with six weeks of access to Queensland Theatre’s spaces, access to the company’s furniture, prop and wardrobe store, support by their expert team, a $5,000 cash contribution to fund their productions upfront and 100% of Box Office takings.
Commenting on the successful applicants, Daniel Evens, Queensland Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director added:
Queensland has a rich history of seeding and supporting brilliant independent theatre and we were absolutely blown away by the calibre of work that we received. The depth and breadth of the body of work meant we could’ve programmed DOOR 3 three times over. The successful productions were chosen because of their readiness and their rigour – and we think local artists and audiences are going to rally behind these diverse, divisive, and daring stories
We know that this is a very special program and the entirety of Queensland Theatre is excited to see more local artists onstage in this up-close (and very) personal venue. The storytelling is going to be immediate and electric, funny and moving, exquisite and powerful.
Furthermore, Criena Gehrke, Executive Director of Queensland Theatre also shared her pride in the DOOR 3 Initiative being underway:
Queensland Theatre is committed to finding a way to really support the next generation of Australian theatre and open the door to provide real opportunities. All of it was made possible thanks to The Jelley Family Foundation who have supported this initiative.
It’s fantastic to be able to offer this opportunity to local theatre makers and we look forward to seeing their stories on stage in the months ahead.
