21 May 2021
Published 17 February 2021
If you’re a culture vulture who’s been deprived of artistic stimulation since theatres were forced to close, Council’s bringing a creative solution to your door in May.
The ‘Anywhere Festival’ promotes the idea that performance arts shouldn’t be constrained by a theatre or limited to a stage, instead performances are hosted by local businesses and even in private homes.
Mayor Peter Flannery said today’s unanimous vote means the inaugural launch for Moreton Bay Region will come in just three months’ time
“This initiative is literally the perfect COVID solution by taking traditional storytelling out of theatre buildings and back to where life really takes place – in the community,” Mayor Flannery said.
“It means we can observe social distancing while providing dynamic and contemporary entertainment for locals and supporting artists, and inject some post-COVID vibrancy back into our communities.
“I certainly think we all deserve a street party after 2020!
“So you might see improv dance in Dayboro, comedy in Cashmere, opera in Ocean View, acrobatics in Arana Hills, poetry in Petrie or maybe a walking tour along Woorim Beach.
“Anything is possible in the Anywhere Festival as long as you’re prepared for fascinating shows in unusual places like hairdressing salons, elevators, cars and even lounge rooms.”
Anywhere Festival is a not-for-profit Queensland company established in Brisbane in 2011 by Paul Osuch and Alex McTavish.
“I could see people wanted exciting theatre that didn’t have to happen in a theatre,” he said.
“I found the most fascinating exciting and fun performance weren’t happening in custom-made spaces, rather they were happening in the nooks and crannies where performers could try new things and audiences could experience a more intimate and up-close performance.
“Theatre’s been turned into this big thing with a huge infrastructure around it instead of it being something that people feel they can pop along to in their own neighbourhood or do themselves.
“Ultimately, the Anywhere Festival is about entertainment and theatre but it is also about encouraging businesses to engage with their community in a new way.”
Mayor Flannery said it was critically important to provide artists with work opportunities right now.
“Performance, concerts, and theatre were all but obliterated by COVID, to the extent that many performers will never be able to afford to return to their chosen field because they’ve had to go elsewhere to survive,” he said.
“We’re working to stop the ‘brain drain’ our region used to experience by building our very own university campus here, now we’re welcoming all opportunities to keep our creatives living and working in our region.
“This festival supports artists to create incredible work without all the financial burdens and overheads associated with presenting independently.
“I sincerely hope locals embrace the Anywhere Festival – it will be presented in every corner of our region across a range of community spaces, outdoor places and even local businesses.”
The Anywhere Festival will run from 6-23 May 2021.
All the details will soon be launched at: http://www.anywhere.is/
Image credit: Ariadne by BYTES Theatre Company in the Bellingham Maze, Tanawha (2019). Photography by Travis Macfarlane.