A boatload full of writers, artists, actors, musicians, producers, curators and our own MP Sandy Bolton merrily wound its way up the Noosa River on a perfect Saturday afternoon. Speeches, songs, performances and many familiar friendly faces. This was the launch of the 2018 ANYWHERE THEATRE FESTIVAL and this year more Noosarians are taking part. Nycole Pryse and Toni Wills are directors for the Sunshine Coast Festival and we are in for a treat. The anywhere festival motto is ‘Arts for everyone, right where they live’ creating unusual, memorable and unique cultural experiences.
In Nycole and Toni’s own words:
It’s performance … but not as you know it.
We are thrilled once again to present the Sunshine Coast and Noosa contribution to the Anywhere Theatre Festival program. In only its second year on the Coast, you only need to look at the size, diversity and quality of new works to know this region and its performers have fully embraced the challenge of presenting in non-traditional spaces.
We dare you to dip your toes in the water of this year’s program and be prepared to splash around to truly experience performance where you least expect it.
Twice the size of its inaugural year, we’ve got shows that will make you laugh, make you cry and make you feel better about the world. We’ll take you out of your comfort zone and into a forest, onto a river ferry, into a cave, beside a lake, near a railway station, in a barber shop, into a swimming pool or a backyard.
We’ll have you commit murder of the mysterious kind, watch books come to life, hear instruments you never thought possible, listen to poetry to warm your heart, walk the streets in search of songs and adventurous women, bring a cushion for some Shakespeare, watch local stories on a deck overlooking the ocean, share live art or rock out to a 13 piece mixtape in a car park. There IS something for everyone.
Explore, be adventurous and you will be richly rewarded this May.
Women stepping up anywhere
The launch was such a buzz. Looking around the assembled ferry passengers it particularly thriled me how the number of capable, resourceful women stepping up to leadership roles is steadily growing. Things are getting so much more balanced. Our first female MP Sandy Bolton spoke beautifully, so did anywhere theatre Sunshine Coast directors Toni Wills and Nycole Prowse. We heard short pitches from Robyn Hewitt curating the marvellous comedy lounge and the Flamenco Fiesta, Sue Davis’ ‘Wildflowering women who changed the world through art‘ and many others. Exciting times. Check out the program guide here.
Thank you Noosa Council for supporting anywhere theatre. It looks like it will be a great success.
Treat yourself to some anywhere theatre tickets today.
