Queensland Theatre Company Director Michael Gow
With the recent announcement of Queensland Theatre Company's 2009 season, we thought we’d catch up with Michael Gow between rehearsals to get an insight into how he puts together the plays each year.
How early did you start thinking about the 2009 season?
I started thinking about the season in mid-2007. A rough draft of the nine plays was formed in February 2008, but it changed many times before we arrived at the final version in July.
Do you have a rough approximation of how many scripts you’d read before deciding on which one’s you’ll produce?
I read about 40 scripts before making my decision.
Do you have a vision of what themes/feelings you want the overall season to evoke or do you take it on a play-by-play basis?
I take it on a play-by-play basis, but with a sense of the overall journey through the year.
Where do you find the plays you end up considering?
My bookshelf, my memory, the international press and my own theatre going. I keep abreast with what new plays are doing well in Europe and the United States as well.
What made you choose these plays for 2009?
They’re all fantastic, individual tales on life.
What do you have to take into consideration?
If we produced everything ourselves, we’d have a season of three or four plays. We need partners to think big, which we have definitely done next year.
How does the process of choosing a season feel?
Fraught, intense, thrilling, frustrating, hilarious.
What was the first season you had to choose for a professional company and what have you learnt since then?
The first was Queensland Theatre Company’s 2000 season. I’ve learnt that what starts and finishes a season are particularly important, as is what is on when we launch the following season.
What do you think the audience will take from season 2009?
Season 2009 is one of beauty, truth and courage. Bold decisions have been made. In some cases we’re bucking current trends in theatre and hopefully the audience will get the same sense of satisfaction in that as we do, knowing their state theatre company is prepared to think big and take a risk to deliver the best theatre in the country.
Season tickets for Queensland Theatre Company's 2009 season are on sale now. See QTC's website for more information.
