Queensland Theatre Company

Queensland Theatre Company is the state's flagship professional theatre company, headed up by multi-award winning playwright and director Michael Gow. Each year Queensland Theatre Company presents a season of nine plays – comedies, classic drama and new Australian work. The company receives an annual grant from the Queensland government as well as generating box office from ticket sales, largely subscriptions.

The Company helps young people develop their interest in theatre by giving them opportunities to connect with the professional performing arts community through its Youth and Education program. It aims to encourage artistic development across the state and do this through its Emerging Artist, Writing and Regional Partnerships Programs.

Queensland Theatre Company was originally called the Royal Queensland Theatre Company (RQTC). It is the state theatre company of Queensland. It is also the oldest continuous professional theatre company in Queensland.

RQTC productions have been held at the Albert Park Amphitheatre (now part of the Roma Street Parklands), as well as at the Suncorp Theatre (SGIO). RQTC has also held performances at the Lyric Theatre, Cremorne Theatre, and Playhouse, at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre at South Bank, among other Brisbane venues. The RQTC have also performed interstate.

Actors who began their career with the Royal Queensland Theatre Company include Geoffrey Rush , Bille Brown , Kate Foy - current Chair of the Board of the Queensland Theatre Company and Associate Professor of Drama at the University of Southern Queensland , Carol Burns , Babette Stephens , Diane Cilento and many others.

The foundation Artistic Director was Dr. Alan Edwards AM MBE. He was succeeded in the position by Aubrey Mellor, Chris Johnson , Robyn Nevin and the current Artistic Director and playwright Michael Gow. Gale Edwards, Joe McCallum , Murray Foy and David Berthold have also directed for the company over the years.

In 2002 the Company moved to new premises in South Brisbane.

In 2003 the word "Royal" was removed by the Queensland Labor Party government.

In 2007, the original home of the Queensland Theatre Company was demolished in what many believe was an act of gross vandalism.

External links

* [http://www.qldtheatreco.com.au Queensland Theatre Company] - official website
* [http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_org_id=83&f_event_id=31689 Royal Queensland Theatre Company] (plays presented until 2001) - Australian Performing Arts (list incomplete)
* [http://www.ausstage.edu.au/indexdrilldown.jsp?xcid=59&f_org_id=2047&f_event_id=25302 Queensland Theatre Company] - (plays presented from 2001) - Australian Performing Arts (list incomplete)