Queensland Performing Arts Centre

"QPAC" redirects here. For the university of that nickname, see Quinnipiac University.

View of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre from the Cultural Centre Busway Station

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (also known as QPAC) is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct.

QPAC was designed by local architect Robin Gibson in the mid-1970s, after State Cabinet formally recognised in 1972 the need for a new Queensland Art Gallery and a new major Performing Arts Complex, in addition to a new location for the Queensland Museum and State Library. It was opened by HRH The Duke of Kent in 1985.

Historical background

Queensland Performing Arts Centre, South Bank, Brisbane

QPAC was constructed in 1985, however the location had been culturally significant for some time before this due to the presence of the Cremorne Theatre.

Originally an open-air structure with seating for about 1,800, the Cremorne Theatre was located on Stanley Street, South Brisbane, between Peel and Melbourne Streets, close to the point where the Victoria Bridge crossed the Brisbane River from the city.

It opened on 5 August 1911 with a light program of music and sketches under the title "The Dandies." The newspaper, The Brisbane Courier, reported:

"...the goodly number of patrons present noted with satisfaction this well arranged auditorium, the whole place, upon which the title of 'Cremorne' has been bestowed, wearing an air of neatness, brightness and comfort."

Brisbane's subtropical climate meant that the theatre's use was frequently interrupted by rainfall and it was closed temporarily in 1917 while weatherproof awnings were erected.

The theatre was first leased and then owned and operated by John Neil McCallum, the father of Australian actor, John McCallum. During those first ten years it was used mostly for vaudeville and variety shows, and for occasional drama productions with limited success.

In 1926, the theatre was leased by Greater Brisbane Amusements and a new ceiling and seating was installed in July of that year. It continued to prosper on and off; but by 1929 it was closed, being used only for meetings and the occasional amateur theatre production. During the early 1930s, the Brisbane Arts Theatre, the Brisbane Comic Opera and the Brisbane Repertory Theatre Society used it either as rehearsal space or for the staging of their productions.

In 1934 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer converted the building into a cinema by installing a new proscenium, a screen, a new sound system, and by reducing the size of the auditorium down to 1,300. This use continued until 1940 when it returned to the presentation of vaudeville, becoming the regular venue for Brisbane appearances by artists touring Australia for Tivoli Circuit, a national entertainment entrepreneur.

Then in 1943, the lease was taken over by Will Mahoney and his wife, American entertainer Evie Hayes, together with American businessman Bob Geraghty. During World War II the Cremorne became a popular entertainment venue for Australian and American servicemen on leave. Mahoney and Hayes appeared on stage regularly along with leading artists like comedian Roy Rene^[1], actor and comedian George Wallace^[2], actor, stuntman and circus performer Jim Gerald^[3], singer Olga Vernon, comedian Buster Fiddess^[4], vaudevillian Peggy Mortimer, actor and entertainer Morry Barling, Ron and Iris Shand both actors and versatile stage performers, and chatting cartoonist "Inky" Williams. The Cremorne Ballet, a female dance group who presented a slightly 'naughty' act, commanded a good following both with local and visiting men.

After the War, the Cremorne's role faded despite occasional professional use. From 1949 onwards, local groups used it for productions. In particular, The Brisbane Opera Society and the Theatre Guild of Queensland appeared there regularly.

By mid-1952 the building had been converted for use as offices and storage facilities for film distribution companies. It burnt down in 1954 and was never rebuilt.

Performance spaces

QPAC Concert Hall.

• The Lyric Theatre is a proscenium theatre and is the largest venue in QPAC, with a seating capacity of approximately 2,000. It is Brisbane's main venue for musicals, operas and ballets. The premiere production at the Lyric Theatre was La belle Hélène. Opera Queensland is the resident organisation of the Lyric Theatre.

• The Concert Hall is the second largest venue in QPAC, with a seating capacity of approximately 1,600 (1,800 if the choir balcony seats are used). It is Brisbane's main venue for orchestral performances although it is also used for comedy performances, graduation ceremonies and awards presentations. The venue features a 6,566 pipe Klaisorgan which was built in 1986. The Queensland Symphony Orchestra is the resident organisation of the Concert Hall.

• The Playhouse is a proscenium theatre and is the third largest venue in QPAC, with a seating capacity of approximately 850. The venue was constructed in 1997 and its premiere production was The Marriage of Figaro in September 1998. The Queensland Ballet is the resident organisation of the Playhouse.

• The Cremorne Theatre is the fourth largest venue in QPAC with a capacity of 200 to 300 depending on its configuration. It is a reconfigurable performance space with six configurations (proscenium, theatre-in-the-round, concert, cabaret, cinema or flat floor). The Queensland Theatre Company is the resident organisation of the Cremorne Theatre.

Name	Capacity	Resident Organisation	Main Performances
Lyric Theatre	2,000	Opera Queensland	Musical Opera Ballet
Concert Hall	1,600–1,800	Queensland Symphony Orchestra	Orchesta
Playhouse	850	Queensland Ballet	Theatre Ballet
Cremorne Theatre	200–300	Queensland Theatre Company	Theatre Comedy Cabaret

Associated organisations

View of the western face of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Groups which have programs at QPAC include:

• Opera Queensland,
• The Queensland Symphony Orchestra
• The Queensland Ballet,
• The Queensland Theatre Company
• The Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra
• The Queensland Pops Orchestra
• The Australian Ballet
• The Australian Chamber Orchestra
• The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra
• The Brisbane Chorale,
• The Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra
• The QPAC Choir

External links

• QPAC official website
• qtix – QPAC Ticketing website
• QPAC panorama photos
• QPAC photos and sound
• QPAC information
• QPAC Museum – Australian Museums and Galleries Online
• Lyric Theatre at QPAC – performances at the theatre (incomplete listing)
• Cremorne Theatre at QPAC – performances at the theatre (incomplete listing)
• Playhouse at QPAC – performances at the theatre (incomplete listing)
• Cultural Centre Busway Station map – includes showing position of QPAC