Celebrating 40 years of QPAC
A party will mark decades of brilliant performances that lit up the River City. Plus: more misogyny on talk radio and the TV news.
I’ve spent a good chunk of my life at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
Visits have become less frequent lately, but for the period between 1989 and 2007 (with a short break in 1996-7), I was there on a regular basis.
Sometimes I was at the centre — or “complex” as it was back in the day, before they decided that sounded too much like a medical condition — several times a week, so I could write or talk about its vast variety of performances on media platforms.
My interviews and observations were published in newspapers including The Sun, Sunday Sun, Sunday Telegraph, Brisbane News and the Sunday Mail and heard on radio stations including ABC Brisbane, 4EB and 4BC.
Oh, the shows I’ve seen — many, many hundreds (maybe approaching a thousand?) — and the people I’ve met. It’s been a great privilege.
And, while I’m still not a huge fan of the actual building — Brutalism isn’t my thing — I am thankful for the foresight shown many decades ago by the State Government to ensure that Brisbane had facilities to host performances of the greatest range and highest calibre.
QPAC was officially opened on April 20, 1985, meaning this month it celebrates its 40th anniversary.
It would be impossible for me to list everything I’ve seen there or even make a note of my favourite shows and performers. I did try, but I gave up because I knew I’d never forgive myself for having forgotten some of the brilliance.
So, because I don’t want to disrespect anyone, I won’t be naming names.
I will, however, urge you to consider attending QPAC’s birthday celebrations on Saturday, April 12. Details are here. You might even win a “golden ticket” to see some of the best shows coming up this year.
Mister Brisbane remains free to read, but if you appreciate what I’m doing here, and/or
at The Wrinkle, you can buy me a coffee. The choice is yours because I’ll keep doing it anyway.
Misogyny rules, not OK
I’ve written a lot lately about misogyny on the airwaves. And that has prompted an anonymous reader to share this audio, from the Mike Jeffreys overnight show on 4BC and 2GB in July last year.
My informant notes: “In other words, I should have had my ‘babies’ straight out of school and tried to [start a career] in my late 20s and ‘rule the world’ — a man’s world at that.”
There is some positive news, though, with the revelation that “Ranger Nick”, who made an offensive remark about domestic violence on Step Outside with Paul Burt is no longer welcome on the airwaves.
On the downside, another reader sent me some social media footage from an old Seven Gold Coast News bulletin with Paul Burt making a remark about his cameraman watching beach volleyball players.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the media has a lot of work to do. In particular, some presenters need to think hard about their values and the way they express them.
Disclosure: Brett Debritz used to work as a producer at 4BC