Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre will offer audiences glimpses into worlds of love, power, politics and hope for 2022.
The theatre company will present four mainstage productions throughout the year: ‘Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner’, ‘The Last Five Years’, ‘An Ideal Husband’ and ‘Tiddas’.
La Boite CEO and Executive Director Zohar Spatz says the season will continue to develop passionate artists and engaged audiences in its powerful theatre offerings.
“It’s deeply important that Season 2022 sits in a place of optimism,” Zohar says. “For audiences, we welcome them back into our theatre to escape into a season that celebrates friendship, love, identity, power and hope.”
“The theatre we are presenting in 2022 is sharp, entertaining and often deeply funny. A combination of new and existing works that reflect the world around us, as well as the diversity of people and contemporary stories that connect us.”
'Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner'
Outgoing Creative Director Sanja Simić adds, “the season strikes a balance between offering highly theatrical work with mass appeal and the risky, politically pertinent story-telling that La Boite is known for nationally.”
First up is ‘Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner’, a political and provocative two-woman play from Jamine Lee-Jones and directed by Shari Sebbens. Kylie claims she is the youngest self-made billionaire. Cleo is enraged by this, taking to Twitter to vent and send death threats. Her URL beef sparks IRL tension with best friend, Kara. It’s presented by Darlinghurst Theatre Company and Green Door Theatre Company.
‘The Last Five Years’ has been developed by the newly-established La Boite Artist Company, directed by Darren Yap and written by Jason Robert Brown. It’s an emotionally powerful and intimate musical about a couple in their 20s, falling in and out of love across five years.
'The Last Five Years'
“A lot of things are going on in their relationship that they weren’t clear or sure of in the beginning,” Darren says. “I think it’s something audiences will genuinely and strongly relate to. I’ve had to learn the hard way that the person you love can’t necessarily make you happy – only you find true happiness in yourself.”
Award-winning playwright Lewis Treston adapts Oscar Wilde’s ‘An Ideal Husband’ – an effervescent society drama about insider trading, political corruption, hypocrisy, blackmail and hot gossip. This queer reimagining is set in the cold-blooded political heartland of 1996 Canberra.
Things come to a close with the Artist Company-developed ‘Tiddas’, directed by Nadine McDonald-Dowd.
This adaptation of Anita Heiss’ award-winning novel of the same name introduces Brisbane audiences to Izzy, Veronica, Xanthe, Nadine and Ellen – five best friends who meet once a month to discuss books, life, love and everything in between.
'An Ideal Husband'
“This new First Nations work has been in development for nearly three years,” Nadine says. “As part of La Boite’s Artist-in-Residence programme, we can take the time needed to develop important works for contemporary audiences looking for deeply-crafted theatre that explores authentic human experiences, from a First Nations perspective.”
Alongside these four mainstage shows, La Boite will continue to develop a slate of new work by local theatre-makers in the Artist Development Program. This includes new commissions from Merlynn Tong, Ellen van Neerven, David Burton, Dead Puppet Society, Lewis Treston, and the Aha Ensemble.
Tickets are on sale now.
La Boite’s 2022 season begins with ‘Seven Methods Of Killing Kylie Jenner’.
