Brisbane Arts Theatre's 2015 Season

Amateur theatre is soaring in Brisbane. The Brisbane Arts Theatre launched season 2015 to rapturous applause from a packed house.

John Boyce, Artistic Director of Brisbane’s busiest theatre (in terms of productions — adult and children’s), announced very strong revenue increases for 2014, all-new upholstery, new air-conditioning – and BAT’s impending 1,000th production! Hip hip! So here we go...

'The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare' kickstarts the season, January-1 March. But it’s Shakespeare as The Bard never intended. A bold, speedy, irreverent romp through all 37 of Shakespeare's plays but without the language barriers or the period hurdles – sometimes even the actors don’t know what to expect. With a lot of pop culture and audience participation, this one is sure to be a side-splitting roller-coaster ride.

The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare

Into March and 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' sees six young people in the throes of puberty put alongside six adults – who barely managed to escape childhood themselves – all vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime and you have the unlikeliest of hit musicals about the most improbable of heroes. Throw in a quirky yet charming cast of outsiders for whom the spelling bee is the one place they can stand out and fit in at the same time. You might be a contestant yourself in this production, 21 March-19 April.

The premiere season of 'ANZAC Bikkies' pays tribute to Australia as we celebrate 100 years since the landings at Gallipoli. A play by iconic Brisbane writer and performer, Paul Sherman 'ANZAC Bikkies' examines the stories of the people who had their lives turned upside down by this tragic yet symbolic battle. 21-25 April.

ANZAC Bikkies

A side-splitting comedy as Alfred Hitchcock meets mayhem, 'The 39 Steps' is based on the 1939 Hitchcock thriller. With just 4 actors playing more than 100 characters in the heart racing adventures of a handsome hero chased by international spies, this one’s a rip- roaring night out for the whole family. This fast, frothy exercise is throwaway theatre at its finest, 2 May-20 June

The 39 Steps

'Noises Off' is a comic masterpiece that reveals the goings-on as a Z-list touring theatre company attempts to mount the somewhat dire bedroom farce, 'Nothing On'. Will two separate love triangles, a dipsomaniac, and lost contact lenses prevent the show from going on? In fact, with this cast of misfits, will the curtains even open? This classic British bedroom farce will make you wonder how any show gets on stage. 4 July-15 August.

Noises Off

Death comes to us all, but when he came to Mort, he offered him a job. From the legendary Discworld author Sir Terry Pratchett comes the story of 'Mort', a young man chosen as Death's apprentice. Receiving board and lodging, free use of the company horse and doesn't even need time off for his grandmother's funeral, Mort's trouble comes when he is left in charge for an evening – leaving his heart to rule his head. 25 August-3 October.

Mort

To wrap the season up – 17 October- 19 December – 'Avenue Q' is back by popular demand. Fresh out of college, Princeton is seeksto make his mark on the world, but can only afford an apartment on Avenue Q. While it may lack basic amenities, it does have an abundance of furry, colourful tenants. Princeton learns more from the avenue about relationships, money, sexuality, consequences and the internet than from any B.A. in English.

Avenue Q