GWB McFarlane Theatres Announces Management Contract Of Queen's Theatre In Adelaide

GWB McFarlane Theatres is pleased to announce that Arts South Australia has awarded it the management contract for the Queen's Theatre in Adelaide. GWB McFarlane Theatres has also secured the return of the Unsound Adelaide event to the venue.

The Queen's Theatre, at the corner of Gilles Arcade and Playhouse Lane in Adelaide's West End, is the oldest purpose-built theatre in mainland Australia.

Built by the Solomon brothers, the theatre opened in 1841 with a production of Othello and originally had seating for 1,000 patrons. In 1850 it was remodeled with a new Georgian facade to re-open in December of that year as the Royal Victoria Theatre. Today the shell of the original theatre remains with the 1850s façade of the Royal Victoria Theatre. Since 1996, the Queen's has again been home to a variety of performances from the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe along with all manner of local South Australian companies.

GWB McFarlane is a specialist theatre management company established by producers Tim McFarlane, Torben and Richelle Brookman, Paul Warwick Griffin and Gareth Hewitt Williams.

Tim McFarlane, Executive Chairman of GWB McFarlane Theatres said: "To take on the management of the oldest theatre on mainland Australia, in the CBD of Adelaide, is a fantastic opportunity. This largely undiscovered 1840s gem, can become an integral part of Adelaide's strong, vibrant and eclectic arts scene."

Arts South Australia's Director of Cultural Heritage Hannah Schultz said: "With strong local South Australian roots, coupled with national and international venue management and production experience, GWB McFarlane is uniquely positioned to deliver strongest possible management for the Queen's Theatre."

After four years in the Adelaide Festival program, and last year's successful 2017 event as a standalone festival, Unsound Adelaide returns to the Queen's Theatre in 2018. The State Government, through Events South Australia and the Music Development Office, is a major partner of Unsound Adelaide. Unsound will be held from 14-16 December over two nights offering live music, sound installations and exclusive shows to Australia.

Unsound is a festival focused on presenting avant-garde electronic music and art that began in Krakow, Poland in 2003. Now in its fifteenth year, Unsound has grown to be one of the world's most adventurous music festivals - with Adelaide being its only event in the Southern Hemisphere.

This year's Unsound Adelaide sees the return of the late-night club shows - to be held at Sugar on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 December. The successful Discourse Program presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre, UniSA will continue to be a vital part of the weekend offering a chance for the audience to interact with the artists.

Co-Artistic Director of Unsound Adelaide David Sefton said: "The Queens Theatre was where it all began for Unsound Adelaide and was always our favourite location - and I know from speaking with hundreds of Unsound fans over the years that the audience agrees. It's great to be back!".

Richelle Brookman, Director of GWB McFarlane Theatres said: "We're excited by the prospect of working with the State and local government along with the local industry to enhance the capacity and usability of Queen's Theatre as well as the atmosphere and aesthetic of the surrounding area."

Torben Brookman, Director of GWB McFarlane Theatres said: "We're thrilled that Unsound will be returning to the Queen's Theatre in 2018. The Queen's is the perfect cross-genre venue that provides an incredibly evocative location for all manner of performing and visual arts projects, and Unsound showcases this diversity."

Full passes will be on sale for Unsound Adelaide on 6 September. For further announcements please visit www.unsoundadelaide.com and subscribe now for access to presale tickets and program updates. The full program will be announced on 24 September.

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