Award winning directors inspire USQ actors

Director Lucas Stibbard (centre) gets serious with the seriously funny cast of All Sortz

University of Southern Queensland theatre graduate and 2011 Helpmann Award nominee, Lucas Stibbard has returned to Toowoomba to co-direct an all-new variety show.

'It's been great being back at USQ and wonderful to be able to combine two of my great passions; teaching and playing with new artists and facilitating collaboratively devised work,' said Mr Stibbard.

Devised under the direction of Mr Stibbard and fellow theatre professionals, Neridah Waters and Leon Cain, All Sortz is billed as a silly, sweet and sometimes sublime assortment of titbits.

The creative collaboration will showcase the second-year actors, singers and musicians of USQ’s School of Creative Arts.
Together, the three directors bring with them a wealth of knowledge.

'Leon is not only one of the best dramatic actors of his generation but also an exceptionally gifted (and internationally trained) clown,' said Mr Stibbard.

'Neridah is a brilliant comic entertainer, choreographer, physical performer and one of the people at the pointy end of Australia's new variety/performance/burlesque movements.

'Leon and I have worked together on shows and comedy projects - the most memorable being He Died With A Felafel In His Hand; and Neridah and I have worked on boy girl wall, Attack of The Attacking Attackers!, Revenge of the Revenging Revengers!, Elephant Gun and Neridah Waters Is Dodgy.'

With the very best of acting, clowning and dancing advice, the students’ scenes offer a vaudeville-esq romp which runs the gamut from entertaining and engaging to fun and frenetic.

The fast-paced show will combine a selection of comic scenes and songs with music, movement and magic and a dash of parody and puppetry.

'It’s over-the-top and a little bit outrageous – but a whole lot of fun!'

Since graduating from USQ in 2000, the hard-working actor has performed with the Bell Shakespeare Company, Windmill Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company and the Brisbane Powerhouse; started his own theatre company – The Escapists; and devised numerous plays.

'Two weeks after All Sortz, I open a return season of boy girl wall at La Boite Theatre as part of the Brisbane Festival; start devising a new version of Elephant Gun for Brisbane Powerhouse's World Theatre Festival 2012; start creative development on a festival piece called Two Chairs Stereo; and go into rehearsals for Fractions at Queensland Theatre Company - then it's December and I have a holiday!'

All Sortz will be presented on 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 September at 7.30pm in the USQ Arts Theatre.

Tickets are $18 adult, $15 concession, $13 student and can be purchased through the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111 or at the door.
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Contact Details:

Michelle Fox, USQ Artsworx, +61 7 4631 1114 or 0439 911 623