The West Was Won: Queensland Fringe Celebrates Incredible Success Following Inaugral Event
After starting the journey in Charleville, travelling through Augathella and Roma, a total of 1,472km before arriving at The Empire in Toowoomba, the inaugural Queensland Fringe has wrapped up with more than 4,350 people attending across a two-day hub of live entertainment from August 6-7.
Presented in partnership with The Empire from the team behind the iconic Wynnum Fringe, Queensland Fringe saw the doors of the theatre thrown open from 5pm- 11pm both nights of the festival, with visitors making a statement on the 10m long purple carpet, and enjoying the six bars operating throughout the precinct, live entertainment in the foyers and Laneway by Lushhh Drag, Pole Angels, and local musician Micah Walmsley, four dedicated performance spaces operating simultaneously and 13 stage performances featuring more than 55 artists and 350-400 budding filmmakers supported by 63 arts workers.
A program packed with comedy, music, film, visual art and theatre, The Empire's program featured multiple sold out shows including international comedian Jim Jefferies, supported by Suraj Kolarkar and Mel Buttle, powerhouse musicians Vanessa Amorosi, Dami Im and Queensland Fringe Ambassador Wes Carr as well as performances including MOCKINGBIRD starring ARIA -nominated and APRA Award-winning musician Mark Sholtez and celebrated vocalist Luke Kennedy, the launch of acclaimed singer-songwriter Sue Ray's latest single 'Before The Rain' and a heartfelt cabaret in Songs My Aunties Taught by Heru Pinkasova.
Close to home talent was celebrated with a deep dive behind scenes of the acclaimed film Don't Tell by producers Stephen Roche and Scott Corfield, a screening of the top ten films in the seven-day short film challenge Shine Shootout, a hypnotic one man show in David Fenton's Twelve Days of Stillness, an Auslan interpreted collection of short theatrical works in From Page to Stage, a stunning performance by newly discovered folk duo, The Fern Sisters and Queensland Fringe Artist in Residence Phoebe Paradise’s stunning piece, Where the Wildflowers Are projected on the Empire Theatre façade for the entire week before the festival.
The Empire CEO, Giuliana Bonel said the precinct came alive for the two-day finale of Queensland Fringe, with music, film, comedy, theatre and live entertainment filling every venue and the spaces in between.
"Queensland Fringe gave us an opportunity to use The Empire in a completely different way, with audiences moving throughout the precinct, discovering something unexpected and experiencing an extraordinary mix of artists and performances,” Ms Bonel said.
Throughout the festival, internationally recognised acts shared our stages with local performers, established artists returned home to share their work, and audiences discovered new talent along the way. That’s exactly what Fringe is all about.
The Empire CEO, Giuliana Bonel
"The response to the inaugural festival has demonstrated the appetite for ambitious arts experiences in regional Queensland. We were thrilled to partner with Queensland Fringe for their inaugural year and look forward to supporting this unmissable event in our region’s cultural calendar for many years to come.”
Festival Founder and Artistic Director Tom Oliver said the inaugural event demonstrated the appetite for major cultural experiences outside the capital.
The response to Queensland Fringe from the Toowoomba arts community, the business community and the audience was incredible and inspiring.
Queensland Fringe Founder and Artistic Director, Tom Oliver
“Each night was a full house and the artists that live here are world class. Queensland Fringe is about creating a festival where you can jump in the car, travel through Queensland, stay overnight, discover a new town, eat at a local restaurant, meet local artists and then see an internationally recognised performer on a regional stage. That is a really powerful tourism proposition for Queensland.”
The inaugural festival was made possible through the support of government, tourism, business, arts and community partners. Presented in partnership with The Empire, alongside major partners Toowoomba Regional Council, Enterprise Legal, Newlands Group, Oztix, ALE, Bartons, Jayco Brisbane Camperland, Port of Brisbane and Subfracture.
Sponsors included Bunker Insurance, Hutchison Builders, Murweh Shire Council, Tilly's, Toowoomba Grammar School, Western Queensland Spirit The Distilling Co and Liquidity Marketing, with additional support from ABC Radio, Queensland Country Tourism, Triple M Darling Downs, Tom Oliver Productions, University of Southern Queensland and Queensland Government
#What’s New
The Empire's hit school holiday event, THRIVE Festival returns from September 24-27, this year taking audiences on an out-of-this-world intergalactic adventure celebrating the marvels of space.
As the award-winning Wynnum Fringe draws to a close on Sunday, the team are taking the show on the road for the first Queensland Fringe, kicking off in Charleville and making its way through Augathella and Roma before its final stop at The Empire in Toowoomba from August 6-7.
The Matilda Award-winning production, Your Song, is set to dazzle at The Empire on Wednesday 8 July, bringing together a star-studded cast, a talented group of local singers and the unforgettable music of Elton John for a one-night-only celebration
From outback skies to theatre stages and township main streets, Queensland Fringe is hitting the road for its inaugural year, bringing live music, comedy and cabaret to communities across regional Queensland.
The Empire faces the future with a clear vision and renewed direction following the appointment of a new Chair and four additional Directors to its Board.
The Empire celebrates a million-dollar milestone this month, with the Friends of The Empire having donated more than $1M to the theatre since the group’s formation in 1997.
