Toowoomba’s Empire Theatre to host Queensland Theatre Company’s Pride and Prejudice

The Queensland Theatre Company is bringing a major show to Toowoomba for the first time in its history with its production of Pride and Prejudice. Here’s the story behind the coup.

It started with Giuliana Bonel posing a simple question to the head of Queensland’s largest theatre company — why can’t Toowoomba host a QPAC-calibre production?

“It was the brainchild between (Queensland Theatre artistic director) Daniel Evans and myself,” the Empire Theatre’s general manager said ahead of Pride and Prejudice’s launch next week.

“It was borne out of Queensland Theatre’s roundtable they had a year ago (that) brought together a number of regional arts venues and asked ‘what can we do better?’.

“Daniel and I had a conversation there, and there was a moment where we went, ‘this show would work perfectly at the Empire Theatre, let’s make it happen’.”

Andrew Hearle and Maddison Burridge will star as the leads in the Queensland Theatre Company's production of Pride and Prejudice, which kicks off at Toowoomba's Empire Theatre on February 13.

One of Australia’s best regional theatres will host a QT production for the first time in its history when Jane Austen’s classic story hits the Empire for two performances on February 13.

The adaptation will feature some of Queensland’s top stage actors, including leads Andrew Hearle and Maddison Burridge.

The joint-production, which also doubles as Queensland Theatre’s 2025 season launch, will then head to Brisbane for 19 performances at The Playhouse across February and March.

Like with last year’s The Woman In Black, Ms Bonel said the Empire Theatre would serve as a chance for the team to stage full dress rehearsals, complete technical runs and secure promotional material before hitting the road.

“I’m very passionate about seeking opportunities for Toowoomba audiences to see great productions first, so that was the pitch – come here, do your rehearsals, your technical runs, but you have to open it here first,” she said.

“I want Toowoomba to be the first to see a Queensland Theatre production opening in this state and that’s exceptional. It’s very much a partnership, so we are equal partners in this and we are 50-50 sharing the expenses and the profits – it is a partnership.”

The Empire Theatre's general manager Giuliana Bonel talks to media as The Woman in Black, the second longest running play in West End history, premieres at The Empire Theatre before touring nationally, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Ms Bonel, who has shaken up the Empire Theatre’s schedule since taking over in 2023, said she was angling to secure even more ambitious projects for the company in coming 12 months.

“It is quite a groundbreaking relationship in that sense and it’s really exciting that our state theatre company is doing this with us first and I hope other state theatre companies follow, because this is exciting,” she said.

“Something I’m incredibly passionate about is bringing art and experiences to the regions, and this is a step in that direction.

“We’ve had a preview with that in The Woman In Black and now Queensland Theatre’s Pride and Prejudice, and it is about connecting the state together.

“That is exposing our audiences to high-quality work that they don’t have to travel for.

“It’s a historic moment for Toowoomba and Queensland Theatre and we’re incredibly proud to host their 2025 season opener, and I can’t wait to see what the next production might look like.”

Ms Bonel said tickets were likely to sell out for both the matinee and evening shows.

Following Pride and Prejudice, the Empire will focus on delivering its next major in-house musical production in Come From Away.

It follows the massive success of Cinderella last year, which injected hundreds of thousands into Toowoomba’s economy and involved collaborations with dozens of local businesses.