Big Brother is back (1984 by shake & stir theatre co at QPAC from tomorrow until September 1) ? and sold out Please may there be a return season. This is a most amazing piece of theatre bringing together traditional theatre, some mind blowing performances and multimedia in a production that will hit you much like Orwell?s book. It slaps you in the face, makes you question how much you are being controlled and how much your thoughts are your own and what it would take to make you betray those around you.
It will stick with you. Oceania; a Nation perpetually at war, where cameras watch every move and Thought Police roam the streets. A place Winston Smith calls home. By day, Winston is an editor at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history to align the past with the radical political agenda of the ruling party and its illusive leader, Big Brother. By night, Winston pursues a forbidden love affair with the mysterious Julia in an attempt to rebel against the oppressive regime set down by the party and maintain some control over his otherwise totally controlled life. When Winston and Julia are discovered, they are violently separated, detained and prepared for conversion. Locked in the Ministry of Love and interrogated by the quietly terrifying O'Brien, Winston is beaten, manipulated and subjected to sickening torture in an attempt to make him reject dreams of liberation and understand that free thought and logic is the only true enemy. From the team that brought you the sold out season of Animal Farm, this new stage adaptation brings George Orwell's final novel screaming into the present. Strap yourself in for this terrifically frightening theatrical event featuring a cast of some of Queensland's most acclaimed artists, set against a dynamic digital backdrop. This production is sure to stun as it contemplates the ultimate crime against humanity - the total destruction of truth, freedom and individuality in favor of surveillance, obedience and conformity.The Harbinger by The Dead Puppet Society until September 1 at La Boite Theatre If Tim Burton was to do theatre it would probably look exactly like Dead Puppet?s Society?s production of The Harbinger. This is a dark, modern fairy tale that is Grimm in the original sense of the word. It?s for adults but the puppetry will appeal to big kids as well. La Boite Rating Low-level, infrequent coarse language; Low-level violence ; Scenes that may frighten young audiences The Harbinger is suitable for Years 8 - 12 Drama and English students, including those studying collage drama, Australian theatre, and mixed-media performance. It will also be of interest to students studying design and visual art. An old man hides away in a dusty old bookshop, forgotten and alone with only a handful of beautiful memories as comfort. Gone are the days of magnificent apple orchards, rowboats on crystal streams and picnics under the moon. Gone is the woman he loves. Throughout the long years of his life, the old man has watched the magic in the world disappear, his crowded city sink into misery, and his nightmares come to life and stalk the streets. Haunted by painful memories of a much happier time and place, he toils away long days to forget. But when a young girl arrives, desperate for protection, the old man is forced to relive the pain and pleasures of his own past and uncovers a chance to change the city forever? It is wonderful to see a rebirth of the art of puppetry in this fantastically staged production
This week
Gamelan Wayang Kulit ? a free Japanese puppet drama at the Conservatorium tomorrow night at 6.30pm
A striking performance of the ancient art of Javanese shadow puppet drama accompanied by a full Gamelan ensemble, with story derived from great Indian and Javanese epics. The subtle interplay of sung and spoken text (with English narration), intricate shadows cast by the puppets and the beautiful music from the gamelan create an atmospheric and memorable experience. The Dhalang (master of the puppets) directs the performance, becomes the voices of the characters and manipulates the puppets with consummate skill. Wayang Kulit has been declared ?a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity? by UNESCO.
Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit this Friday and Saturday at Redlands Performing Arts Centre
Celebrate the 110th Anniversary of Beatrix Potters beloved classic with Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit, a mischievous musical about the world?s most loveable bunny. Published in 1902 by Frederick Warne, The Tale of Peter Rabbit has transported countless children to Mr McGregors veggie patch for over a century; its set to reach a new generation with this classic stage production that kids will love! Adapted by Australian writer and award-winning producer Garry Ginivan (Possum Magic, Wombat Stew, My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch) and with an original score by Mark Jones, Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit seamlessly interweaves the tales of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny and Mr Tod and is designed to delight children and adults alike. With Beatrix Potter as the Narrator/Storyteller and Peter Rabbit, Cousin Benjamin Bunny, Old Mr Bunny, Tommy Brock, Mr Tod and (a three-metre high!) Mr McGregor Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit will be the highlight of children?s theatre in 2012. Showing on Friday the 24th of August at 6.30pm & Saturday the 25th of August at 10.30am & 1pm Adults $16Seniors/Pensioners & Children (14 years & under) $16, Family (2 adults, 2 children) $56
Free environmental family fun day at the Lowlands Festival at Osprey House Environment Centre on Dohles Rocks Road Griffin on Sunday, The environmental family fun day has something for everyone to enjoy, as you experience the beauty of our fantastic environmentally-sensitive wetlands area. Moreton Bay Regional Council and the centres community volunteers have put together an array of exciting entertainment which includes music, wildlife shows, face painting, nature walks and talks, bird box building and so much more! Build a Bird Box Build a bird box to take home to create homes for wildlife in your own backyard. Geckoes Wildlife Show /Ocean Life Education/ Radical Reptiles Get up close and see the array of native fauna species at shows from Radical Reptiles, Geckoes Wildlife Presentations and Ocean Life Education wildlife which will run during the day. Crazy Candles and Crazy Crafts Let your artistic talents shine through by making your own creations to take home at the Crazy Candles and Crazy Crafts stands at the festival. Entertainment for the Kids Play the ?fishing game? and let the little one?s enjoy the jumping castle, face painting and learn to create habitat for wildlife in your own backyard. Environmental Displays.
Wild Thing an exhibition for kids at the Ipswich Art Gallery until October 7
Wild Thing is a playful experience for children and families, featuring fantastic sculptures, art-making fun and a wild new interactive playscape. Explore the textures, sights and sounds of this interactive space. Create your own wild thing mask to wear and team it with a wild tail for the day. Use kooky colourful craft materials to make your own mini wild thing to take home or leave on the wilderness wall. For children under three years, explore the baby and toddler play space filled with stimulating toys, wild shapes and padded forms. Wild Thing is supported by a program of fun-filled activities and workshops designed to bring out the creative wild thing in everyone! Wild Thing opened 23 June and runs until 7 October 2012.
Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb at the Queensland Museum Featuring more than 100 ancient objects, including four exceptionally preserved mummies from the British Museum's internationally renowned Egyptian collection, Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb explores the rituals of life, death and the after-life in Ancient Egypt. This is fascinating but not for little ones ? they will be bored. To make the most of the exhibition you have to read a great deal. I?ve discovered ? you can prebook (probably a good idea at busy times but it?s more expensive) . If Monday?s experience is anything to go by I have discovered that the first session in the morning at 9.30 is quiet because the school groups aren?t there yet Tickets: Adults $21.45 Concession $19.25 Children (4-15 Years) $12.65. Family tickets 2 Adults/Concession + 2 Children (4-15 Years) $59
OVO, a new family production by Cirque du Soleil, in Brisbane until September 2 It is not a case of seen one, seen them all. The new Cirque du Soleil production to hit Brisbane is one of the most beautiful and certainly most family friendly shows by the franchise. When it comes to circus nothing really rivals the mesmerising acts and incredible staging of Cirque. Your jaw will drop in disbelief again and again (if you have time to pick it back up again after the first time). The theme of insects in this one is cute and playful and very easy for kids to take in and love. The cast of OVO is comprised of 54 performing artists from 16 countries specializing in many acrobatic acts. One highlight of OVO is the stunning flying trapeze act, in which six flyers soar 40 feet in the air, making this the biggest act of its kind to ever be presented under a big top by Cirque du Soleil. It combines many circus disciplines, including banquine, Russian swing and swinging chair. The finale features 20 artists running, jumping and leaping up a 24-foot vertical wall. But while there is no inappropriate content little ones may get bored and an 8pm start means that the matinee is definitely the best option for most families (especially if the car park problems on opening night are not resolved). It is expensive (cheapest tickets $84 adults and $64 for kids but family tickets are available) but you can certainly see where the money went and if you can afford it you will not be disappointed.
The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stephenson at Brisbane Arts Theatre until September 8 Scotland, in the late 1800s. Edinburgh Medical College is at the forefront of anatomical research. But free market forces also apply, particularly when the demand for cadavers outstrips supply. And as the wind bites and nights grow colder, who?s going to miss a few ladies of the night anyway?
Mind your language
What would be a ?moderate? amount of swearing? Apparently f bombs in one episode of a mini series fits the bill. There was a bit of chatter on social media about the level of swearing in Howzat Now I think the show was awesome and I am not suggesting for a minute that the content be toned down if that is how Packer spoke but it should be classified appropriately. There seems to be a real issue in television program classification where the system relies on self regulation without reference to an outside body For instance The Slap was M when it appeared on TV, MA when it came out on video and had to be classified. And the bar is moving really quickly considering that it was 1975 that Graham Kennedy made a crow sound disguising a bad word People are clearly much more tolerant but viewers have a right to know with more certainty what the content of the program is.
Regrets I?ve had a few
More than three quarters of parents have at least one thing they regret doing, or not doing, during their child?s first few years, according to a new survey of parents released this week The survey came up with a list of 20 things parents wish they had done differently in their child?s early years. 1. Working too much 2. Worrying about the little things 3. Not playing with them more 4. Not going on more holidays 5. Not taking enough photos 6. Spending too much time away 7. Not filming enough events or milestones in their lives 8. Not taking them on 'big' holidays such as Disneyland 9. Not encouraging them to take up a/more hobbies 10. Not having a shared hobby 11. Not reading enough to them at bedtime 12. Spending too much time worrying about housework 13. Not taking them swimming more 14. Not letting them take part in messy activities more often 15. Not teaching them to swim earlier 16. Not being at some of the milestones in their life 17. Not making enough of Christmas/birthdays with them 18. Being too over-protective 19. Always waiting for the next milestone instead of enjoying the current one 20. Not enjoying days out more
You have to laugh
The University of London has launched a global research project into what makes babies laugh. Parents with children under the age of two are invited to take part in the online survey to find out about early evidence if laughter. They want to find out what made baby laugh and who was present. They believe it will provide insight into how babies? brain work and how early they are able to get the joke. They are also collecting videos of laughing babies which will be shared on a blog. Details are at http://babylaughter.net/survey/ [Non-ABC website. ABC takes no responsibility for content found on this website].
Gramping
First there was camping, then its glamorous cousin glamping now we have gramping. More than a third of families rely on grandparents to look after youngsters during school holidays, according to a study released in the UK this week. More than one in four take their grandchildren away on holiday, according to the survey. Camping and caravaning is proving to be a popular holiday activity for grandparents and kids to do together.
Susan?s scary statistic
More kids are drinking artificially-sweetened beverages, new research suggests. The US federal nutrition survey revealed 12.5 percent of children consumed artificially-sweetened beverages over a 24-period, double the percentage of children from data collected less than a decade before. Researchers say they are concerned because there are no studies that have looked at the long-term health effects of artificial sweeteners in growing children." It is possible that children who consume artificially-sweetened beverages may experience weight gain or other health problems.
Source: http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2012/08/family-affairs-with-susan-hetherington.html
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