2026 Heralds a Fresh Approach at Queensland Theatre.

By Lilian Harrington

Company: Queensland Theatre 

Artistic Director: Dan Evans and Creatives.

Location: Billie Brown Studio, 78 Montague Rd. West End.

Season: 2026, 8 New Shows plus Regional Tours 

Season Bookings and Information: queenslandtheatre.com.au

Ticketing:1800355528/ (07)30107600

The Queensland Theatre’s audience has become use to expecting something different on stage in recent times; Now under the new leadership and vision of the recently appointed local, Artistic Director Dan Evans the inaugural 2026 Program Launch of “All Feeling No Filter”, along with [LH1] messages from the Queensland Governor and the State Minister for the Arts, began with a flourish!

Opening to the sounds of the didgeridoo, a welcome to country from Tribal Experiences, Shannon Ruska and team, free welcome drinks, plus music from the Little Red All Stars Band, the audience were treated to speeches and interviews from celebrity artists, overheads and key program images and scenes, from some of the talented writers, directors and actors, as well as explanations from the program coordinators; it was an evening not to be missed. Along with the main house programs to be mounted at the Billie Brown Studio, the Door 3 Program, and Youth Development Programs will continue and experimental and developing groups will be given the opportunity to mount and present their works under the guidance of Queensland Theatre.

Dan Evans sees theatre as something that brings the audience to the edge of their seats and wants to plan for programs that deal with works that cover all divides in the community, examining curiosity and wonder. He sees audiences as experiencing theatre from the heart, having an experience that spills over, showing audiences how it is, how it hurts and how it heals. So, he has included new works by writer, Ben Law in “Torch this Place” and Suzie Miller’s “Strong Is the New Pretty” a look at women’s football.

The awesome and diverse program chosen for 2026 has been pre-cast and Creatives and Actors are now locked in. New directions include collaborating and working with other companies such as local “Shake and Stir” to mount The Great Gatsby, adapted by Dan Evans and Nelle Lee. It stars Meg Fraser and Ryan Hodson, to be directed by Dan Evans and Nick Scubij; it dwells on the story of two star-crossed lovers and covers the past and present and the American Dream, which leaves its lovers unrequited.

The Indigenous program under the guidance of Isaac Dandic and Elder in- Residence, Aunty Roxanne McDonald will mount “The Sapphires” under the direction of Wesley Enoch; it will look at the four Indigenous women who blazed a trail as an indigenous singing group, to sing to the troops in Vietnam and perform for the US. /Aus. /NZ. soldiers; they belted out Motown hits, which later became very popular recordings.

Later in the year of special interest, is the production “Do Not Go Gentle” written by the award- winning Patricia Cornelius. It marries the history and legacy, as well as the experiences of the Scott Expedition with an elderly group who all suffer from Dementia. It will be directed by Heather Fairbairn and it will feature Jennifer Flowers and Andrew Buchanan.

Further, there is to be a collaboration with the end of year production between Opera Queensland, Griffith University and Queensland Theatre, in the presentation of “Into the Woods”. A classical musical by Stephen Sondheim, to be directed by Patrick Nolan and staged at the Glasshouse Theatre QPAC.

This new program for Queensland Theatre brings together other important companies in the state and it has broadened the whole 2026 program perspective