Full Program Announcement
Tickets on Sale NOW
CULTURE STATEMENT
At first, we were a beach…Australia’s finest, in an environment we carefully guarded. Then, seventeen years ago, we became a community that recognised we could be so much more than a picture postcard.
We embraced the arts. We enticed the world’s finest performers to this special part of the world. We welcomed the dancers, the actors, the musicians, the writers And now they can’t wait to join us every July, at NOOSA alive!
It’s these gifted entertainers, who enrich our lives, make us think, laugh and sometimes take us out of our comfort zone.
It’s these same people, who unselfishly give their time and talent to our budding young artists, encouraging them, helping them, showing them the pathway to success.
NOOSA alive! It’s a community success story we can all be proud of.
Without it, we’d still have the beach but the coast would be a lot less lively and we’d have a lot less to celebrate.
This year’s NOOSA alive! is undoubtedly the most stunning program of events ever presented in Noosa! Over ten magical days and nights of supreme culture and entertainment, visiting and local artists and audiences will revel together for a very special experience soaking up this unique festival atmosphere of inspiration, intimacy, relaxed glamour and fun.
NOOSA alive! (formerly the Noosa Long Weekend Festival), Australia’s premier regional performing arts and culture festival, this year enters its 17th year and will take place in and around Noosa from July 20-29, 2018. Tickets are on sale from MARCH 16, 2018. The countdown has commenced - 137 sleeps until blast off! But don’t let this lull you into a false sense of security….
Famed for consistently bringing the best of Australian and International talent to Noosa’s doorstep for 17 years, NOOSA alive! has earned the reputation of longest running and most highly acclaimed regional performing arts & culture festival in the country and certainly the most enduring of Noosa’s own festivals.
And why is this year’s NOOSA alive! so special?
‘We make an effort every single year to keep raising the bar on delivering the best of culture to community. We believe in supreme quality of experience on every level and we aim for at least 1 first every year, something new and exciting to sustain our edge!’ said Ian Mackellar, NOOSA alive! Festival Director in his 10th Year.
This year is exceptional; the lineup of talent both local and visiting is STELLAR with 3 World Premiere performances, 6 Australian premiere/preview performances and 5 Queensland premiere performances …. this is a once-only opportunity to engage in real quality of life experience. And that’s just for starters!.....
THE J Theatre Series
One of the most appealing factors about NOOSA alive! is the intimacy of experience on offer with performances that take place at The J theatre, the perfect venue to stage quality events with comfortable seating in an intimate setting, where everyone is close to the action and the acoustics are world class.
It’s not an everyday occurrence to witness the best of talent up-close and personal like this, a privileged experience for both audiences and performers alike.
For example, witnessing young music theatre sensation, Blake Bowden in a world premiere event, starring in a brand new show, in the intimacy of a 400 seat theatre is a very different experience to seeing the same at the State Theatre Victoria or Sydney Opera House.
NOOSA alive! is proud to welcome back BLAKE BOWDEN in the world premiere of STRAIGHT FROM THE HART coinciding with the release of his album for two performances only at The J on July 28. Audiences are guaranteed to walk away from these exclusive performances feeling a close part of something very exciting indeed!
Some of the other premium events taking place at The J during the festival include: 3 Queensland premiere performances of MARJORIE PRIME, starring theatre legend, Maggie Dence, IDA GIRLS, the most glamorous and talented young opera sensations currently travelling the world in their exclusive Australian performance; 2 Australian premiere performances of OLE! Direct from sold-out performances in 37 countries entertaining audiences with a modern mix of flamenco, pop, swing, blues, rock and jazz as they combine music, comedy, and audience interaction.
Back to thrill is the QUEENSLAND BALLET presenting the world premiere of a new contemporary work choreographed by Rani Luther, and excerpts from their classical ballet repertoire, including divertissements from Don Quixote. Performed by Queensland Ballet’s Jette Parker Young Artists and Company Artists, each program will conclude with a Q&A session with some of the talented creatives involved in bringing the production to life, giving audiences an insight into the inner workings of the Company.
Acclaimed quartet-cum-quintet, Australia’s multi-ARIA award winning contemporary vocal group, IDEA OF NORTH, present Groove Sessions, a Queensland exclusive premiere performance. And the piece de resistance, multi-platinum selling and four-time ARIA award-winning singer and songwriter Katie Noonan brings to NOOSA alive! Queensland’s Premiere Concert of her trio Elixir, with string quartet and Australia’s ‘poet laureate’ Michael Leunig.
‘ This has been a deal 3 years in the making, and a great coup for Noosa and NOOSA alive! I’m thrilled and very proud! ’ exclaimed Ian Mackellar
‘Dangerous Song’ is an exquisite journey through music and film, that will transport you for an hour of your busy day, into a world where the voices of endangered animals speak directly to the heart in a way that words never can. They are joined by a lone human voice, a voice of empathy that uses no words but converses and intertwines with the calls of the animals. This is a song for the planet and the animals are singing for their lives! If their calls don’t affect you, nothing will. Words can’t describe the beauty of this show. You have to be at ‘The J’ and see it for yourself and with wonder, you will be reminded what a magnificent planet it is that we belong to.
Also appearing at THE J, a festival favourite for the 12th consecutive year is Barrie Cassidy and INSIDERS followed by an optional forum lunch to continue discussion and debate at RACV Noosa Resort. Joining Barrie will be Lenore Taylor – Editor, The Guardian Australia, Phil Coorey – The Australian Financial Review, Katharine Murphy – The Guardian Australia & The Age and Dennis Atkins – Courier Mail.
Noosa Arts Theatre Series
We move now from The J Theatre to Noosa’s own Noosa Arts Theatre, and following in the tradition of presenting world-class Cabaret, NOOSA alive! this year presents a world-class Cabaret trifecta with the return of Helpmann Award winner, MICHAEL GRIFFITHS who joins the Legendary CARLOTTA Queen of the Cross, for one show only at the Noosa Arts Theatre.
Also starring Helpmann Award winner Michael Griffiths and acclaimed Cabaret darling, Amelia Ryan, is the entertaining LIVVY & PETE, which tells the story through popular song and dance of two of Australia’s greats, Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen, their wonderful friendship and professional associations.
The trifecta is completed by legendary Australian actor, and star of stage and screen STEPHEN CURRY in an evening of Food, Music and Wine at Noosa’s renowned ‘hatted’ restaurant, Noosa Waterfront, with a superb menu directed by owner and Chef, Andrea Ravanezzi.
NOOSA alive! in association with Mad About Theatre (A Chorus Line, Chicago) presents an Australian Preview season, exclusive to NOOSA alive! of DISENCHANTED, the hilarious hit musical. After sold-out engagements across America and Off Broadway in NYC of DISENCHANTED, Mad About Theatre is proud to present the Australian Preview right here at NOOSA alive!
What about the 41-year celebration of the National One Act Playwriting Competition, which sees the stage premiere of the three finalists’ plays from nearly 70 entries from across Australia, New Zealand, USA and PNG. 3 short, sharp, entertaining pays are presented over 2 evenings at Noosa Arts Theatre. With $8,000 in prize money, including the $5,000 Eleanor Nimmo Prize for Best Play plus the Nancy Cato Audience Choice Award, the awards presentation after the final performance on Saturday afternoon is always eagerly awaited.
Food & Culture Events
The coveted NOOSA alive! food and culture events always sell out quickly so get online to book! Already mentioned and completing the Cabaret Trifecta, is Stephen Curry in an evening of food, music and wine at the Noosa Waterfront.
Additional Noosa Waterfront food shows feature, the legendary Carlotta, Queen of the Cross and acclaimed singer/songwriter, Mike McClellan on respective dates.
Three additional food events include: NOOSA alive! Asian infusion Embassy XO @Sunshine Beach, the famous Duck Waddle on Hastings – progressive dining at Noosa Beach House, Rococo and Sails, and SNAPPED – 50 years through the lens of press photographer, Bruce Postle, including lunch and presentation with Bruce at Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort. Our stunning slow food and film event this year showcases the iconic film - Paris Can’t Wait, with an inspired menu by Chefs Aden Moriarty from Noosa Springs, Glen Barratt from Wild Canary and Matt Golinski featuring a three-course feast destined to be as enjoyable as the featured movie.
Festival of Literature & Forum
Don’t miss Dorothy Johnston, twice shortlisted novelist for the prestigious Miles Franklin award talking about her latest novel – The Swan Island Connection. Other authors speaking this year are Diana Thompson about her novel Unbridled Passion and Sara Dowse about her fabulous book As the Lonely Fly. Head to the website for details!
Thought forums include Whither Australia’s Energy Future – hear from some of Australia’s leading experts and commentators as they investigate the truth of Australia’s energy future with Panellists: Judith Sloan, Contributing Economics Editor at The Australian, Simon Breheny, Director of Policy at the Institute of Public Affairs, Ms Lana Assaf, Senior Manager / Environment / RPS Australia and Paul Gleeson from Aurecon Group.
Another unmissable thought forum event will be Paul Barclay in conversation with Peter Greste, a foreign correspondent who has reported from some of the world’s most dangerous and troubled places. But it was he himself who become news when he was incarcerated on terrorism charges in Egypt in 2013.
We have the wonderful NOOSA Orchestra presenting a glorious program of musical favourites, Conducted by Antoni Bonetti and featuring special guest, celebrated Australian Pianist Simon Teseschi as special guest performing Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ with full Orchestra! – a simply stunning musical event! Simon is well known through his recordings as a Gershwin specialist and our NOOSA alive! audience will delight in this rare moment to enjoy an exciting and iconic piece performed by Noosa’s own orchestra, and led by a master!
The fun continues with A Vaudeville Affair at the Pomona Majestic theatre, a celebration of love and creative inspiration. Enjoy a fun-filled night of sensational performances, a totally engrossing and engaging experience.
As always, our NOOSA alive! focus is on Community, from which we draw our inspiration in the first instance! This year we present Arts in Situ: INTERACT curated by Sunshine Coast Artist, Nina Shadforth, a series of live, pop-up art happenings in and around Noosa, which visually respond to Noosa’s urban, natural and submerged environments. These will be fun and interactive experience, with live art created by Chris McKenzie, Alison Mooney and Pete Goodlet, pop-up interactive installations created by Mic’s Lab (aka Mic Black), and projection art responses by Mobius (aka Brian Keayes)
We have the return of highly anticipated outdoor community mega-event - Hot 91.1 FIRE IN THE SKY, showcasing local talent, designers and production over hours of family fun, and culminating in the most impressive fireworks display of all time.
The incomparable Noosa’s Beachfront Company, led by ROCOCO Noosa’s Richard Pace partners with NOOSA alive! and other iconic brands again this year with plans to produce some wonderful community and party events for locals and visitors alike. Please stay posted to our website and social media for all updates regarding details of a party, and vibrant, inclusive community events to surpass the unsurpassable ROCOCO Beach Marquee, which delighted and enthralled all those lucky enough to get a ticket at last year’s NOOSA alive! festival!
‘In my 5th and final year as President of NOOSA alive! I would like to express my gratitude to our small but dedicated team in producing our most spectacular festival yet! I look forward to sharing this wonderful experience with our partners and audiences in July and invite community and visitors alike to jump on board and to engage and support so we can continue delivering this calibre of culture to community ongoing!’ Johanne Wright, NOOSA alive! Festival President
Get online and book those tickets for the best ever NOOSA alive! Engage with us and let us know what you want! It’s all about delivering the best quality performing arts and cultural experience to our community. Let’s work together in continuing to make this happen!
NOOSA alive!, a community success story we can all be proud of!
Check out www.noosaalive.com.au and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with our best festival EVER!
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