QPAC Commemorates 100 Years Since World War 1 With Unique Theatrical Performance

On Sunday 11 November 2018, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is collaborating with artists and communities to present a unique theatrical performance marking 100 years of Australian wartime and peacekeeping service since the armistice that ended World War I.

The free performance in QPAC's Playhouse, Armistice, will reflect on Australia's wartime and peacekeeping history combining song, music, dance, spoken word and archival footage and imagery.

Presented by QPAC and supported by the Australia Government's ANZAC Centenary Arts and Culture Fund, Armistice will be a powerful theatrical event reflecting veterans' stories and artists' responses to one hundred years of Australia's involvement in war, the impact on those who served, on their families at home, and on the nation.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said that as the state's performing arts centre it was important to play a part in giving a voice to this significant milestone.

"Armistice is not a concert, a play or a documentary. It is all of those elements and more. With an extraordinary creative team and impressive line-up of talented artists, it promises to be a visual and moving performance featuring true stories about service men and women, and about their loved ones who supported them back home.

"QPAC is committed to providing opportunities for Queensland artists to create new theatrical works that tell meaningful stories of our rich culture and history. Through creating, participating in and viewing art, lives can be enriched and communities become more connected.

"In this spirit, we are calling for Queensland War Veterans to contact us if they are interested in being part of this event by sharing their story, which potentially could be projected on a screen during the performance," said Mr Kotzas.

"I would like to acknowledge the Australian Government for its support, enabling us to develop and present this new work Armistice, a nationally significant performance event, in Queensland.

"I am proud that an important outcome of this project will be to leave a legacy, with a series of short films and three new music commissions created to last beyond the 11 November," said Mr Kotzas.

Featuring an extraordinary collection of material from The Australian War Memorial, Armistice will portray artwork from Official War Artists Ben Quilty, George Lambert, Will Longstaff and Ivor Hele. It also includes images, videos, letters and diary entries spanning the 100 years of conflicts, helping to bring the history to life for audiences.

Armistice will feature the Australian premiere of three new music commissions by revered composers Michael Askill, Ross Edwards, Elena Kats-Chernin and Andrew Schultz.

The high profile line-up of Australian artists bringing their talents to the stage for this special production includes singers John Schumann*, (I was only 19) and Brisbane's own Tom Oliver, Bryan Probets and Naomi Price, internationally acclaimed choral ensemble, The Australian Voices, conducted by Gordon Hamilton, and leading music ensemble Brisbane-based Topology.

The talented creative team brought together by QPAC to deliver Armistice is Bill Haycock, David Bell, Darrin Verhagen, Simon Woods, David Walters, Natalie Weir and Chris Latham.

Armistice will be presented on Sunday 11 November 2018 in QPAC's Playhouse with performances at 2.00pm (preview) and 6.00pm. Tickets will be available from Tuesday 16 October at 9.00am. Tickets are free, but bookings are essential. To book go to qpac.com.au or phone 136-246.

For more information on contributing to Armistice as a War Veteran please contact Alex Rozynski at alex.rozynski@qpac.com.au by Friday 12 October 2018.