Despite the fact that I’ve been in Brisbane for approximately more than 2 years, I have never had much of an impression towards the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
The only times that I have been there? Probably my graduation ceremony for my undergraduate degree in 2013… but seriously, that’s about it.
Thanks to receiving a voucher for the Lion King at QPAC recently, it was with great pleasure that once again, I’ve had the pleasure to visit QPAC to catch one of the world’s most famous musicals!
While I would love to wax lyrical poetry about the Lion King, I’m pretty sure the other 2 bloggers from the International Students Blog have covered it well. So, let me talk about QPAC instead! As I’ve mentioned earlier, I’ve never really given much thought to QPAC despite its proximity to the city and to my old work place in Southbank. On the day of the Lion King however, it gave me an opportunity to visit QPAC, and boy, was I in for a treat!
Situated beside the Cultural Centre, right by the beautiful Brisbane river, the QPAC is home to many of Brisbane’s performing arts group, such as the QPAC choir, the Australian Ballet, and many more. Right beside the grand building, there is also a Queensland Museum and a State Library, which is worth exploring if you have time before or after a show. I particularly liked the Museum as they were having a couple of free exhibitions at the moment.
“Each year QPAC hosts around 1000 performances across its four theatres and outdoor spaces. The centre’s versatile venues accommodate a wide variety of performance including dance, musicals, theatre, opera, comedy and contemporary and classical music concerts featuring leading Queensland, Australian and international actors, dancers, musicians, artists and companies. In addition, QPAC co-produces and invests in some of Australia’s most innovative and successful shows and free outdoor programs.” – QPAC official website
What is worth noting that with Brisbane being hailed as Australia’s new world city in recent years, more and more talented young artists are moving to Brisbane to unleash their creativity.
Things worth watching?
Apart from the Lion King of course, I also highly recommend the Queensland Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty and the upcoming Wicked!
Apart from the shows, what is also worth mentioning is the various little cafes that are situated around QPAC. Should you have a free afternoon in the city, why not pop by QPAC to indulge in one of Brisbane’s most popular arts scene?
