We spent a lovely Sunday afternoon on our first trip to Brisbane Arts Theatre today. It was a last moment thing, a spur of the moment purchase as so many good things are.
Summer of the Aliens by Louis Nowra was the play de jour. Not one that any of us had heard of prior to finding it on the theatre’s website which described it as follows:
The year is 1962, and the world is worrying about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Meanwhile Lewis, a youth on the cusp of manhood living in a Melbourne housing commission, is preoccupied with flying saucers
The performance was directed by Susan O’Toole Cridland by arrangement with HLA Management.
Firstly, the theatre was a lovely intimate space, like having the actors perform in your front room. Indeed, not being someone who regularly attends the theatre, I found myself feeling curiously self conscious….this is how it would feel if your TV was two-way and the newsreaders, chat show hosts and actors could see you draped in your armchair. Anyhoo, I soon overcame this strange feeling and fell into the play.
I’m not going to talk about the constant of the play, or give any spoilers, but I wanted to write this peace to say that there were some wonderful performances on show from some clearly talented and passionate actors….Bravo!
We shall be returning to this theatre again this year as they have an excellent 2012 Season with something for everyone. If you live in Brisbane and you haven’t been to the Brisbane Arts Theatre, do yourself and the theatre a favor and do so ASAP.
JRB Says 
Sounds terrific! I wonder whether the play will come to Melbourne…it sounds interesting – nice and quirky, just how I like them.
Those intimate theatres can be a little intimdating, especially when the actors are on the same level as the audience…right in your face so to speak – it takes time to adjust to the lack of distance. Is that how it was?
It was a good way to spend an afternoon.
Yes, the intimate space made it seem that the actors and audience were both the viewed and the viewers. Quite unnerving until one settles into it.