Much Ado About Nothing (QTC Brisbane) [Poster]


QTC The Queensland Theatre Company

Much Ado About Nothing
The Queensland Theatre Company

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare at the Albert Park Amphitheatre, Brisbane from 13 August to 1 September, 1983 for the Queensland Theatre Company.

Directed by Alan Edwards; Choreography by Deborah Wray; Composed by Alan Lawrence; Designed by James Ridewood; Lighting Design by James Henson; Assistant Directed by Gregory Gesch; Stage Managed by David Spiller; Deputy Stage Managed by Toby Simkin; Assistant Stage Managers Louise CullinanBarry Melville and Ferret Scout Car Mark 2 driven by Lt. Col. K.J. Fletcher of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.

Starring Bille Brown (Benedick) and Carol Burns (Beatrice, niece of Leonarto) with Peter Barley (Antonio, Leonarto’s brother), John Bayliss (Count Claudio), Chris Betts (Don John, bastard brother of the Prince of Arragon), Alexandra Black (Ursula, housekeeper to Leonarto), Stu Cochrane (Member of the Watch), Ross Daniels (Conrade), Sue Dwyer (Hero, daughter of Leonarto), Russell Heading (Borachio), Kevin Hides (Friar / Sexton), Laurence Hodge (Leonarto, Governor of Messina), Geoff Metcalf (Chauffeur), Maggie Nevins (Margaret, maid to Leonarto), Peter Noble (Messenger / Member of the Watch), John Rush (Balthasar, Don Pedro’s batman), Barry Searle (The Boy, son of Antonio / Member of the Watch), Darien Sticklen (Verges), Stewart Stubbs (Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon), Leo Wockner (Dogberry) and Deborah Wray (Woman).

Servants, choir and band played by members of the cast.

Understudies included Geoff Metcalf and Deborah Wray.

And for the Queensland Theatre Company:
(collectively over my tenure)

Executive Staff: Alan Edwards, AM MBE (Founding Artistic Director); Joe MacColum / John Krummel OAM / Gregory Gesch (Resident Director); Peter Duncan* (Assistant Director); Arthur Frame AM (Production Manager); Gillian Coar (Executive Officer); Christine WalshKen Kennett OAM (Public Relations & Publicity Officer); June Craw OAM (Finance and Business Officer); Lewis Savage (Ticketing & Subscriptions Officer); Helen Mayes (Clerical Assistant); Lloyd Nickson (Director, Theatre in Education); Richard Magnus (Fundraising Chairman); Diane Leith (Administration) and Susan BonningJennie Lewis (Receptionist).

Production Staff: Graham MacleanJames Ridewood (Resident Designer); Bill ShannonBeverley Hill (Design Assistant); Caroline Gyucha (Scenic Artist); James Henson (Lighting Designer); David Lees (Electrician); Michael WormaldGary CameronPaul ParkinsonDavid Palm (Properties); Howard Steele (Head Carpenter); Des Dougan / Peter Vosiliunas (Carpenter); Cornelis Boogaart* (Apprentice Carpenter); Marie Perry-WatsonLexi WrightJay Mansfield-Askew / Cynthia Bowen (Wardrobe Supervisor); Ken Bushby / Thelma CopeMeredith Fogg / Margaret ReevesDanny Healy / Arlie McGill / Anne Long / Kerry Yates (Wardrobe); Ellen Kennedy / David McCrudden / Kit Oldfield / Patrick Whelan / Kristin Reuter / Jan Levi / Victor Ashelford / Colin Wilson / Barry Melville / Toby Simkin / Brian Barnes / Vito Arena / Peter Reeve± / Sussanne Humphries / Julianne White (Stage Management); Vicki BirchYvette (Capt) O’Brien (Production Secretary); Dawn Grieg (Wardrobe Hire) and Ivan/Gloria Pierce, Gregory Gesch & Derrick George (Photographers).

Representation: Yolande BirdDiana Franklin (London Representative); Michael Menzies / Stuart Thompson (New York Representative) and John Krummel OAM (Sydney Casting & Repertoire Consultant).

S.G.I.O. Theatre Staff: Jim Wright (Manager); Alban RileyDon Fergusson (Assistant Manager); Peter PetrovichRay Calcutt (Head Mechanist); Patrick (Paddy) Teuma / David Malacari (Head Electrician) and Dallas Black / Kay Fifas (Booking Office)

Albert Park Theatre Staff: Wayne McKenna (House Manager); Margo Morris (Box Office)

Associate Artists: Bille Brown AM; Carol Burns; Reginald Cameron OAMIvar Kants; Joe MacColum; Warren Mitchell; James Ridewood, Cliff Simcox; Babette Stephens AM MBE and Geraldine Turner OAM.

QTC Guild: Magda Wollner (Coordinator); Alice BeacroftJoan Chamberlain, Bobbie Glyn Evans, Maureen Fallon, Sonja FarmerBeryl Foote, Neil FulwoodDolores Garland, Elaine Heath, Edna HeathwoodMargaret Hill, Ena Huppert, June Jamieson, Eva Klug, Irene Lefman, Patrick Mellick, Hillary MostenMaureen Mortensen, Barbara Nielsen, Joyce Nixon Smith, Gloria Phillips, Vivienne Reddy, Marea Reed, Melina Reed, Margaret Robinson, Grace Reynolds, June Sheedy, Ann Shevill, Toby SimkinSybil Simpson, Elaine SkinnerAnne Smith and Jess Yeowart (Volunteers)

* Salaries were assisted by a special grant from the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, a statutory body of the Commonwealth Government.
± Services were provided by the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
^ Services were provided courtesy of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra

The Queensland Theatre Company acknowledged the financial assistance of the Queensland State Government and the Commonwealth Government through the Theatre Board of the Australia Council without which the continued operation of the Company would not have been possible. The Queensland Theatre Company was a founding member of CAPPA (Confederation of Australia Professional Performing Arts)

More Information

DID YOU KNOW?

During a night-time performance, in the Albert Park Amphitheatre, of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, which had been reset in Italy during World War II, an airliner flew over the amphitheatre. Bille Brown, who was alone on stage at the time in the character of Benedick, stopped his soliloquy in mid-sentence and walked to the edge of the stage and looked up at the airliner. He then looked directly at the audience and said “reassuringly”: “It’s okay, it’s one of ours – Alitalia!“.

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing (QTC Brisbane) [Flyer] a pre-World War 2 version of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare opened at the Albert Park Amphitheatre in Brisbane on August 13 and ran until September 1, 1983 for the Queensland Theatre Company. Directed by Alan Edwards, Designed by James Ridewood, Choreographed by Deborah Wray, Composed by Alan Lawrence, Lighting Design by James Henson, Assistant Directed by Gregory Gesch, Stage Managed by David Spiller, Deputy Stage Managed by Toby Simkin, Assistant Stage Managed by Louise Cullinan and Barry Melville Starring Bille Brown (Benedick) and Carol Burns (Beatrice) Much Ado About Nothing QTC Brisbane Photo tankMUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] Cover MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] Alan Edwards Letter MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] Cast List MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] bios Stars MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] bios Company MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] bios Company 2 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [program] Staff List QTC Show MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [press] Feature Alan Lawrence QTC Show MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [press] Feature Carol Burns QTC Show MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [press] Review Courier Mail QTC Show MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (1983 QTC) [press] Article DonkeysMuch Ado About Nothing QTC Brisbane ProgramQTC Behind the Scenes (Design) MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (QTC) Costume Rendering by designer James Ridewood(QTC Brisbane) [1983 Season) (QTC Brisbane) [1983 Season) [Poster]

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