Macbeth is ready to rock the Park

Audiences will be sitting on the edge of their picnic blankets during the University of Southern Queensland's annual Shakespeare in Queens Park (SiQP) Festival from Thursday 1 March to Sunday 10 March 2007.

Now in its fourth year the annual event is shaping up to be the most spectacular festival to date and audiences are encouraged to make the most of this unique theatre experience.

Nightly shows commence at 7.00pm and theatre goers are invited to bring along a picnic blanket, bottle of wine and some nibbles to enjoy throughout the evening.

For those less inclined to pack a picnic there a number of fantastic show and hospitality packages to tempt even the most discerning palette.

This year the Festival organisers have teamed up with a number of local and regional organisations to create gourmet hampers and accommodation and travel deals.

Hospitality packages range from individual gourmet picnic hampers with piccolo of wine, show program and entry to Macbeth for $50, to premium packages with extras including fully catered pre-show and interval functions and premium seating for $75.

Allan Wynn from local catering company Etiquette 24/7 said the hampers were a convenient hassle free way to enjoy gourmet goodies at the festival.

'This year we will be vendors at the festival, so people can pick hampers up at the gates or pre-order them and collect them on the night at the show.

'We are also licensed so guests can purchase wine at the festival.

'We try to use all local produce. I make all the pâtés and gourmet pies myself using local meat. The produce is always very good up here.'

There are also a number of travel packages available for out of town visitors this year, ranging from coach deals to accommodation packages.

Travel packages start at $88.50 per person twin share and include one night's accommodation and entry to an evening performance of Macbeth.

Coach travel deals are also available through Festival sponsor Greyhound Australia. All passengers attending the festival will receive 20 percent of coach fares, along with 20 percent off their Festival entry.

Along with Etiquette 24/7, gourmet tea and coffee merchants, The Floating Lotus, will also be operating a stall within the Festival site for those wishing to arrange dinner and drinks on the night.

Regardless of the option Shakespeare patrons choose, they are assured of an unforgettable night of theatre set underneath a beautiful Toowoomba night sky.

Macbeth Director, Scott Alderdice, said this year's festival will be unlike any other SiQP.

'Macbeth is a story drenched in power, and madness and apocalypse.

We are capturing the wildness and sensuality of the Medieval pagan world, and fusing it with the music, images and technology of today. We're gonna rock the park.'

All show and hospitality packages are available through the USQ Box Office on 07 4631 1111 or boxoffice@usq.edu.au

Contact Southern Queensland Tourism 07 3856 4319 or www.southernqueensland.com.au  for details about the show and accommodation packages available.

For more information please visit www.usq.edu.au/shakespeare

Media Contact: Connie-Louise Alexander USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977