Brisbane to host a World of Theatre

This February, the Brisbane Powerhouse will bring the world to Brisbane with exciting independent performers from around the globe descending on the city to engage audiences in The World Theatre Festival.

The 2013 program is all about showcasing contemporary, engaging and challenging theatre from Ireland, Malaysia, Iran, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium and of course Australia.

An intensive week of performances and master-classes begins on 13 February with Ireland’s Pan Pan Theatre’s reinvigorated Ibsen classic A Doll House. The Economist, (opening night) is a response to the massacre on Utoya Island in Norway written by Melbourne’s MKA: Theatre of New Writing.

Also on the 13th, from Malaysia’s Instant Cafe Theatre Company, Parah explores Malaysia’s ‘racial gap’ through the vandalised readings of school children. White Rabbit Red Rabbit premiering on the 14th of February introduces us to a generation born during the Iran-Iraq war and the hardships endured by the fallout. While Iran Nassim Soleimanpour is the writer and dramaturge of White Rabbit Red Rabbit, the performers are different each night due to travel restrictions imposed on Iran natives. Nassim however (after recently being granted a passport) will appear in person at the festival for Q&A sessions and as part of the conversation panel for “Is Writing the New Black”.

From 20 to 24 February, The Gob Squad from Germany recreate Andy Warhol’s kitchen in Gob Squad’s Kitchen, I Heart Alice Heart I from Irelands Hotfortheatre tells of the ‘coming out’ of lovers Alice and Alice and The Last Supper by Belgium’s Reckless Theatre, who invites the audience to join in a dinner party to end all dinner parties. Described as a cross between theatre and installation art that creates ‘marvellously bizarre scenarios’ the Anglo-Belgium company are internationally acclaimed for their originality.

Orbiting the main festival program there are also film, music and conversation schedules and the Scratch Series of works in progress by Australian performers.

For more information on the festival which runs from 13 to 24 February, visit www.worldtheatrefestival.com.au or pick up a hard copy of the program from the Powerhouse.