*Due to adverse weather conditions, this event has been postponed until later in the year
As part of our relationship with Major Partner QGC, over the past few years we've produced a theatrical event as our contribution to the wonderful community event that is Drama At The Gasfields, QGC's award-winning community festival which attracts growing numbers of people to the grounds of Windibri Homestead near Chinchilla, west of Brisbane.
2009's DRAMA AT THE GASFIELDS attracted about 2,500 people to the grounds of Windibri Homestead near Chinchilla, and this year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever. As part of this year's event, La Boite will premiere new work THE SPIRIT OF THE LAND, written by former Artistic Director Sean Mee (Oodgeroo: Bloodline to Country).
This premiere production, directed by Ian Lawson (The Pineapple Queen), features Leon Cain (The Wishing Well), Dan Crestani (The Wishing Well), Barb Fordham (Still Standing), Ron Kelly (Kitchen Diva), Gary Nunn (Still Standing), Helen Russell (Still Standing) and Ross Smith (Still Standing).
Drama At The Gasfields has become a must-see annual celebration. 2009's event attracted about 2,500 people, more than double 2008's crowd of 1,200 and drawing five times as many people as the inaugural event in 2006.
The event on Saturday 21 March 2009, celebrated the rise of singer-songwriter Pete Murray from his Chinchilla boyhood to international acclaim. As crowds sat down to enjoy the festivities, La Boite premiered its spirited new musical, Opportunity, based on Murray's life.
To the delight of the audience as well as his family and friends, the former Chinchilla boy arrived from Adelaide where he had played to a crowd of 30,000 at the Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar series the previous night.
"The show was fantastic, great," Pete said. "It's weird sitting there in front of a story about yourself, but it actually took me through my life - a shortened version of it, anyway.
"The characters were great - they had a real likeness to who those people were, my friends, my family and even myself.
"Putting these performances on is great for the community because it lets the community know that this organisation is not about being selfish, you want to give back to the community as well because you're in their environment, you're working here now. I think they're pretty appreciative of that. The turnout you've had here today reflects pretty positively on that."
Under the shade of gum trees, families gathered to enjoy the show, free children's rides and live entertainment. The event also draws a range of community groups, which take the opportunity to run cake, food and drink stalls.
The popular success of the festival has been complemented by official honours, with state and national awards from the Australia Business Arts Foundation in 2006 and 2008.
