Brisbane Arts Theatre
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The Brisbane Arts Theatre is a theatre in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Though an amateur theatre, it has showcased notable Australian performers in the past including Carol Burns, Michael Caton, Barry Otto , Judith McGrath , Bunny Brooke and Jennifer Flowers.
The theatre is currently under the Artistic Directorship of Lynne Wright. Ms. Wright has attempted a range of plays during her tenure. She believes a balance between traditional and more recent plays is the best course of action for the theatre.
As a rule the Brisbane Arts Theatre programmes include productions which have been tried and tested over many years, eg. the obligatory Shakespeare, farce or Williamson, it has in recent times, however, been making some effort at producing more exploratory works.
Comedy plays performed in the Brisbane Arts Theatre include: "Habeas Corpus" by Allen Bennett, and "Pass the Butler" by Eric Idle, and also "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", as well as "What the Butler Saw" by Joe Orton. It has also had success in trying more recent and modern productions.
Many children's plays are also performed there, with most of them being musicals or pantomimes. Usually, the children's shows perform on Tuesdays-Saturdays on various holidays (Easter break, Christmas, etc.) throughout the year, as well as every Saturday on normal weeks. These shows usually sell out quickly. An added feature of the children's performances is that of children meeting the characters after the show, which has become a tradition of Arts Theatre children shows. Currently, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is being performed.
The theatre itself, at 210 Petrie Terrace, seats 151 people in the stalls and gallery combined.Jean Trundle founded the theatre along with her husband Vic Hardgraves. The park opposite the theatre, overlooking the city centre is named for him. The company was established in 1936, making it one of the oldest in Queensland. The theatre has a courtyard and a bar called 'Masks' which is open an hour before all adult productions. The theatre foyer, auditorium and courtyard are actually part of a small complex consisting of a two other rehearsal spaces. 222 Petrie Terrace or Hardgraves House is a tall, two story building. The lower floor is used for rehearsing shows whereas the upper floor is where most of the theatre's costumes are kept. On the other side of the auditorium is a smaller rehearsal space, 'The Cottage'.
The theatre is believed by some to be haunted by the ghost of Miss Trundle. The legend being that she makes an appearance on the opening night of a show by way of giving it her blessing. Also the theatre workshop is said to haunted by the malevolent spirit of a previous tenant before the theatre's time.
