Iconic theatre show returns to Queens Gardens

TheatreiNQ’s Shakespeare Under the Stars returns with “As You Like It,” featuring alumni actors and showcasing the success of their Bridge Project in nurturing talent and creating a theatrical family.

Former TheatreiNQ Bridge Project students Harlee Timms, Elyse Phelan, Megan Heferen and Jacob McCarthy have returned to Townsville for Shakeshear Under the Sars in As You Like It at Queens Gardens in September. Picture: Evan Morgan

TheatreiNQ’s annual popular pilgrimage to Queens Gardens for Shakespeare Under the Stars is just around the corner promising a belly full of laughs for one the Bard’s greatest comedy’s.

The production is directed by the company’s artistic director Terri Brabon and features a stellar ensemble cast including four former Bridge Project alumni who jumped, skipped and hopped their way back to Townsville to be part of the cast.

Elyse Phelan is cast as Rosalind, Jacob McCarthy as Orlando, Megan Heferen as Celia and Harlee Timms as Touchstone and they will be joining on stage TeahtreiNQ stalwarts including Brendan O’Connor as Jaques.

All four alumni are thrilled to back working together and it did not take long for them to rekindle their acting relationships in rehearsals.

Heferen said this bond was forever forged from their time as students.

“You develop this really close knit relationship as like a working team because you get to help with the production elements of the show, get to help put the costumes together and the props and you learn what it actually takes to put a show together from the behind the scenes,” she said.

TheatreiNQ: Top from Left - George Abednego, Emma Smith, Harlee Timms, Alyssandra Higgins, Megan Heferen, Michael Doris. Front - Elyse Phelan & Jacob McCarthy. Photo: Chrissy Maguire

“So you become this really tight unit that can work quickly and communicate well.

“It’s so exciting. And it’s such a privilege already having this shared language and this kind of like shared experience so that when we come back and work together again after four years, it’s still so easy.

“We know the same rules. We know the same people we know the same processes. So now it’s just developing upon that knowledge.”

The Bridge Project started in 2012 with the aim to give professional training to emerging talent and provide regional artists with employment opportunities and Timms said Brabon now had an enthusiastic pool of talent she could tap into and bring back to Townsville for different productions.

“I’ve been very lucky that this is the second year in a row that I’ve been able to come back and the idea never crossed my mind that I would be able to be invited back so soon, because there are so many wonderful actors that Terri has, and getting to so it was an absolutely complete shock to be able to come back and do it all again.

“I was floored. But talking to other people in the company of it’s not an autonomy system. It’s not one you know -you’re not coming back just for a favour.

“It’s always the people who she thinks is going to be best for the show and she has people all around the country that she’s worked with before and they are always on her mind.

“So when you get that call, you know that not it’s not just getting a job, it’s that someone is absolutely believing in you and believing that you are the person for this role out of every one that they could choose.

“It’s really get to the heart of when you get that call. It’s like someone telling you that they believe in you, which is really incredible.”

By fostering, mentoring and encouraging emerging talent ThreatreiNQ has created a theatre family around the country with Townsville at its heart.

Former TheatreiNQ Bridge Project students , Elyse Phelan, Megan Heferen, Jacob McCarthy and Harlee Timms have returned to Townsville for Shakeshear Under the Sars in As You Like It at Queens Gardens in September. Picture: Evan Morgan

Heferen said at the heart of TheatreiNq was Brabon.

“Terri is our biggest fan from the start and she knows more about us and what we’re all doing than any of us do.

“I call her every now and then she’s like did you hear that? Rachel is doing this?

“She’s literally running one of the most amazing theatre companies in Queensland, and she’s doing four shows a year, she’s writing her own material. She’s producing all these plays, and she’s keeping

up with all these people who she’s like given so much time and mentorship.

“It’s amazing. So when you get a call saying can you come home for a show. You’ve been waiting for that call. Begging.”

All of the alumni has gone on the study theatre at higher institutions but McCarthy said he began to master his trade from the lessons first learnt from TheatreiNQ.

“I’ve got a accredited qualification from one training Institute, but I definitely feel like most of my training as an actor came from the bridge project.”

Heferen agreed and said she drank from the pool of theatrical knowledge while with the company.

“One of the greatest benefits of the Bridge Project is that you also have this incredible ensemble of senior actors who have been acting for us, some of them upwards of 30 years more.

“So you have these people who are so disciplined and so well trained and just such generous wealth of knowledge that as a ‘bridge kid’, you can go to and say, ‘can I have some advice’ and you’ve got 20 actors, they’re just waiting, willing and so happy to sit and talk with you.”

Phelen said she would not have become an actor had it not been for that support.

“For me, not necessarily being like a drama kid or having like going to plays at all as a teenager I don’t think I would have been an actor without them, without their support, and their encouragement.

“They’re our number one biggest fans. And that just fills you with all the sort of encouragement and strong headspace you need to survive in this rather tough industry.”

Timms said Townsville audiences would be in for a rollicking treat when the lights came up for As You Like it at Queens Gardens in September.

“It’s really great because you do have this ensemble of company actors who know the Townsville audience so well, especially with these comedies - they know what’s going to make them laugh, they know what they’re coming to enjoy.

“You have these guest professionals coming in with new ideas and new things to bring back to the company and then you have such a really great ensemble of regulars.

“The current ones training (Bridge Project students) that have just come off of doing their own show this year for Punk Rock and showing just how strong they are as young performers.

“All of that together. Just makes an really incredible production.”

Heferen said they were bringing one of Shakespeare’s best comedy’s to the stage.

“As You Like It is just ridiculously fun comedy and it’s like being in an onstage rom-com. It is so much fun.”

As You Like It runs at Queens Gardens, transformed into the magical ‘Forest of Arden’, from September 6 to 22 and to book theatreinq.com/as-you-like-it-2024

Originally published as Iconic theatre show returns to Queens Gardens