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Recent Test Drive Offers
Already in the short few months since the Test Drive program was launched in late 2007 more than 1,100 Queenslanders have received tickets to Test Drive valued at over $40,000.
All of the tickets to the offers below have been snapped up. Thank you to all our Test Drivers who are helping to make this program a success.
And now Test Drive is bigger and better than ever for 2008 - with new venues and companies, more performances and more choice for you.
So what are you waiting for? You can browse the recent offers below, or take a look at the current Brisbane shows on offer via Test Drive the Arts.
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Opera
The Barber of Seville
Opera Queensland - A bold interpretation of Rossini’s masterpiece boasts a kaleidoscopic world inspired by the art deco designs of famed Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi.
Theatre
Attack of the Attacking Attackers!
LaBoite Theatre Company - Spawned from the fertile minds of Brisbane’s finest young theatre-makers comes this warped love letter to Sci-Fi, Horror and the War on Terror.
Wild Dogs Under My Skirt
Brisbane Powerhouse - The hot new solo show that brings the Pacific, quietly salivating for human flesh, to Brisbane.
Vula
Brisbane Powerhouse - Magic and illusion combined with traditional song and dance create a captivating piece of Pacific Island visual theatre.
New World Order
Judith Wright Centre - New World Order is Ryan J-W Smith’s latest and most politically daring work, written entirely in rhyming iambic verse.
The Wishing Well
LaBoite Theatre Company - A thrilling blast of theatre that sweeps through three decades, cascading with the sights and smells of post-war Australia.
The Narcissist
LaBoite Theatre Company - A riotous and politically incorrect comedy of manners infused with the joy of popular culture.
Shirley Valentine
Logan Entertainment Centre - A classic story about a bored Liverpool housewife who gets a new lease on life.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Harvest Rain Theatre Company - Finally Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedy will be elaborately re-imagined at Harvest Rain, infused with pomp, revelry and a pinch of fairy dust.
Woyzeck on the Highveld
Brisbane Powerhouse - Life-size puppets play out Georg Buchner's famed tragedy of jealousy, murder and the struggle of an individual against a society that ultimately destroys him.
Kitchen Diva
La Boite Theatre Company - A three course feast of cooking, music and mayhem.
The Prisoner of Second Avenue
Queensland Theatre Company -
Neil Simon's hilarious, snappy play starring husband and wife team Jacki Weaver and Sean Taylor.
Shirley Valentine
QUT Gardens Theatre - Willy Russell (Educating Rita) wrote this classic story about a bored housewife who gets a new lease on life after a trip to the beach.
Bombshells
QUT Gardens Theatre -
the tale of six larger than life women who are each at the crossroads in their lives.
The Mikado
Logan Entertainment Centre - the highly adored stage classic.
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
La Boite Theatre Company - an Australian classic depicting the fortunes of cane cutters Barney and Roo.
The Danger Age
La Boite Theatre Company - a playful parable for our time by one of Australia's hottest young playwrights, Kate Mulvany.
The Club
QUT Gardens Theatre - John Wood returns for an encore season of this classic play by David Williamson.
Summer Wonderland
La Boite Theatre Company - a wonderful Christmas comedy about fake snow, fairy lights and the great Australian dream.
Post Office Rose
Roundhouse Theatre -a rough and poetic play about lost youth, betrayal and the ties that bind us together then tear us apart.
Whispers of this Wik Woman
Kooemba Jdarra - a true story of a proud woman’s life in remote Western Cape York.
The Government Inspector
QPAC - two of Australia's finest actors in a classic comedy of Russian theatre.
The Club
Logan Entertainment Centre - a touring production of David Williamson's The Club, a classic play about footy.
Walking by Apple Tree Creek
La Boite Theatre Company - a funny, truthful and moving journey that follows two grey nomads in their Winnebago.
Educating Rita
QUT Gardens Theatre - an innately charming comedy about happiness versus success.
Jane Eyre
Harvest Rain Theatre Company - A lonely orphan girl finds love and passion in the face of hardship, but in the attic lies a dark secret.
A Slightly Sondheim Wedding
Judith Wright Centre - An exploration of love, life and laughter through the extraordinary work of one of the world’s great music theatre composers.
Dance
Sydney Dance Company in Sid's Waltzing Masquerade
QPAC - The world premiere of a new work by Aszure Barton. Barton's choreography has been described as intensely musical, emotionally moving and structurally astonishing.
Underground
Brisbane Powerhouse - Dance theatre at its explosive best.
On Thin Ice
Judith Wright Centre - A compelling, visually rich and physically exciting dance work.
Paradise City
Brisbane Powerhouse - See world champions with truly spectacular skills, choreographed in a breathtaking display.
Berlin - Sydney Dance Company
QPAC - the Sydney Dance Company's production of Berlin: an enigmatic contemporary dance work.
roadkill
Brisbane Powerhouse - an electrifying piece of dance theatre set in outback Australia.
The Nutcracker
Queensland Ballet - a traditional Christmas Nutcracker with lavish sets, beautiful costumes and spectacular dancing.
Concert
Peace During War Time
Logan Entertainment Centre - On this Remembrance Day, a show that recaptures the nostalgia of all your favourite musical styles.
TaikOz
Ipswich Civic Hall - A unique fusion of Japanese ritual drumming and western percussion music.
TaikOz – The Gathering
Brisbane Powerhouse - The Japanese artform of taiko is given a uniquely Australian interpretation with muscular choreography, hypnotic compositions and delicate musicality.
Women in Docs
Judith Wright Centre - Women In Docs continue to surprise audiences with their lively stage show, humour and fabulous harmonies.
Tete
Judith Wright Centre - Influenced by the Delta Blues, Lenny Kravitz, The Beatles and Bob Dylan, this African-born, French-raised alternative singer-songwriter started out playing his guitar in bars and cafés.
Zulya and The Children of the Underground
Judith Wright Centre - Exquisitely arranged original music inspired by Zulya’s Tatar and Russian roots.
Jerusalem Quartet
Musica Viva - One of the most dynamic and exciting young string quartets currently performing.
Tujiko Noriko and Guests
Judith Wright Centre - See a swag of astounding new recordings that situate Tujiko Noriko at the very apex of contemporary avant-electropop from Japan.
Purbayan Chatterjee's Shastriya Syndicate (Light)
Judith Wright Centre - The Syndicate’s compositions maintain the purity of Indian heritage, fusing traditions from India’s north and south, presenting them in fresh and inspiring forms.
Tell Heaven
Judith Wright Centre - Every year seven esteemed and eclectic musicians with ‘form’ put down their weary loads and join in that musical conversation.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University - A musical setting to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream that captures and enhances the plays joyfulness and good nature.
Emma Dean album launch
Judith Wright Centre -
Musician Emma Dean is proud to present her debut album with performances from loads of special guests.
Broad
QPAC - four unique musicians and songwriters join Deborah Conway in Broad 2008.
In the Pink
Judith Wright Centre - In the pink takes queer arts out of the ghetto and into the spotlight of wellbeing and happiness.
The Manfreds and The Spencer Davis Group
Ipswich Civic Hall - The Manfreds present the golden age of British popular music singing their greatest hits.
The Aaron Goldberg Trio
Judith Wright Centre - The Aaron Goldberg Trio is one of jazz's most delectable trios, a superlative group.
Eggner Trio
Musica Viva - suave Austrian brothers, who combine individual virtuosity with impassioned ensemble playing.
Cheryl Barker, Peter Coleman-Wright and Piers Lane
Musica Viva - a program of operatic solos and duets.
Pekka Kuusisto & Simon Crawford-Phillips
Musica Viva -
a devilishly talented duo exploring major works by Schubert, Sibelius and Corigliano, which will be used as starting points for further exploration.
Takács Quartet
Musica Viva -
one of the world's premiere string quartets.
Ninehoursnorth
Judith Wright Centre - traveling to Australia for the first time, Brisbane can prepare to float away with the pyjama pop stylings of Lullatone live in concert.
Best of James Bond
The Queensland Orchestra - Experience the thrill of the chase live when the Queensland Orchestra takes on the music of Bond.
The Gospel According to Elvis
QUT Gardens Theatre - a theatrical, musical biography of the untold story of the man and his music.
John Williams and John Etheridge - Together and Solo
QPAC - two internationally acclaimed masters of the classical guitar weave a spellbinding journey across music traditions.
Megan Washington and Paul Grabowsky
Judith Wright Centre - an exciting new musical collaboration is born.
deep blue
QPAC -
an evolution in contemporary music making, creating an orchestra that is accessible to everyone.
The Music of the Night
Logan Entertainment Centre -
Danielle Everett and Dale Burridge present an interactive concert journey.
Two Horsemen
Judith Wright Centre -
accompanying traditional Tibetan musician and vocalist, Tenzin Choegyal, is Mongolian throat singing and morin huur master, Baatar Sukh.
Terika
Judith Wright Centre -
an Australia-based trio combining Tibetan folk, smoky saxophone and mellow cello to create a truly unique and mystical musical experience.
Emma Dean and Tara Simmons
Judith Wright Centre - Two of Brisbane’s hugely talented singer-songwriter-musicians share the bill for this all-girl blast.
The Necks
Judith Wright Centre - these three musicians are among the most respected and in-demand in Australia.
They're Playing Your Tune
The Queensland Orchestra - your favourite bits of all the classics in a 90-minute program.
Fabulous POPS Favourites
Logan Entertainment Centre - Lachlan Baker and Liza Beamish performing the world's most loved Pops favourites.
Show & Tell: Australian Army Band Brisbane
Logan Entertainment Centre - The Australian Army Band Brisbane's 'show and tell' variety concert.
Barney McAll Septet featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel
Brisbane Powerhouse - expatriate jazz pianist Barney McAll and American jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, direct from New York.
Doch Gypsy Orchestra
Brisbane Powerhouse - brass, winds and strings romance, howl and serenade as a 27-piece orchestra deliver Balkan gypsy rhythms.
Barb Jungr
The Judith Wright Centre - the leading chanteuse, song stylist and driving force in cabaret for the last decade.
2 Dogs Soundsystem
The Judith Wright Centre - an audio-visual trip to hip hop with 2 Dogs Soundsystem.
Gyan & Leunig perform live: Billy The Rabbit
The Judith Wright Centre - an evening of music, visual art and poetry.
Jerusalem Quartet
Musica Viva - one of the most dynamic and exciting young quartets currently performing.
Marches, Musicals & Mayhem!
Logan Entertainment Centre - A 30 piece Australian Army Band, Brisbane, under the baton of Major Peter Thomas.
JazzJam
The Queensland Youth Choir - Join all of the Queensland Youth Choir ensembles accompanied by a mighty Big Band sound as they jam their way through the era of jazz.
Taken
Brisbane Powerhouse - In a heartfelt account of his collaboration with Spinifex Elders cellist Iain Grandage will perform Inma Kutju (First Song).
Paprika Balkanicus
Brisbane Powerhouse - Paprika Balkanicus plays a fiery blend of Balkan, Eastern European and Gypsy music.
Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University - As part of the annual 4MBS Festival of Classics, we are proud to present this concert of two “Great Eighth” symphonies, by Beethoven and Bruckner.
Dream, spill, fear, percussion
Judith Wright Centre - Dream, Spill, Fear, Percussion is a spellbinding concert of new works combining percussion and optical art.
Merry Melodies: Fabulous Showbiz Favourites
Logan Entertainment Centre - This extravaganza features beautiful renditions from My Fair Lady, South Pacific, and Oklahoma.
Comedy
The Carpenters from Kempsey
QUT Gardens Theatre -
the story and music of the Carpenters, by a pair of hilarious country hicks who share the same name.
Tarnished
Judith Wright Centre - after spectacular sell out seasons across the country, Brisbane’s own La La Parlour return with their award winning showgirl satire.
Looooooping Live
Judith Wright Centre - Professor Squealy Deetbum is the world's leading researcher in Cycology (the art of playing the bicycle).
c90 by Daniel Kitson
Brisbane Powerhouse - the latest Edinburgh Festival hit from comedian Daniel Kitson.
Family
Chroma
Judith Wright Centre - In Chroma, Circa delves into the world of colour, using Kandinsky’s colour symbolism as a framework.
Spectacular China
Logan Entertainment Centre - a dynamic and potent combination of dance, acrobatics, kung fu, music and song.
New Circus Now
Circa - a circus experience like never before.
The Arrival
QUT Gardens Theatre - an exquisite puppetry and digital animation show for all the family.
Flipside Circus: Now I'm 10
Brisbane Powerhouse - brisbane's much loved kids’ circus, Flipside, celebrates its tenth birthday with a show for the whole family.
Musicals
Menopause the Musical
Logan Entertainment Centre - this hilarious show is a one act laugh-a-thon seen by over half a million woman!
Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Logan Entertainment Centre - the happiest, most colourful and energetic musical ever.
Hot Shoe Shuffle
Harvest Rain - an exhilarating and energetic tap-dancing spectacular.
Cabaret
Ghostboy with Golden Virtues
Judith Wright Centre - Ghostboy with Golden Virtues is the Dr Jekyll & Mistress Hyde of Australian cabaret performance art.
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