Food Of Love: A Shakespeare Cabaret
If music be the food of love, play on.
- Orsino, Twelfth Night
Feel the pulse of the forest, let it lead you through the mist and join the celebration. On its return to Roma Street Parkland, QSE explores the darkness, succumbs to the music, and gives you Food Of Love, a Shakespeare cabaret.
Following the overwhelming success of Twelfth Night, Food Of Love invites its audiences into the musical world of William Shakespeare. Seamlessly integrating an atmospheric score freshly composed by QSE Artistic Director Rob Pensalfini and Gavin Edwards, this highly innovative production incorporates text and characters from some of Shakespeare's most loved works, including Hamlet, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, The Tempest, Othello, and Troilus and Cressida. "The cabaret format is a great way to showcase these works alongside what QSE does best," says director Cienda McNamara.
Creator and co-composer Pensalfini points to Food of Love's appeal to contemporary audiences, saying that "this is an opportunity to see a side of Shakespeare that is often neglected today: Shakespeare the music man! Music can transform the suffering of the soul into something that breathes, lives, and celebrates life. Music in its presence holds hope for the future as it heals the pain of the past." This unique production has something for everyone - the excitement of cabaret combined with the great drama of Shakespeare, performed in QSE's trademark accessible and playful style.
All the world's a stage, life is a cabaret... so play on!
Patrons are encouraged to bring their picnic blankets and enjoy the festive atmosphere under the stars in the beautiful parkland setting (chair seating also available). Come early and enjoy 45 minutes of live music prior to show. Picnic hampers from Deli-Oz can be ordered through OzTix with ticket purchase.
Show Details
Venue: Harry Oakman Pavilion, Roma Street Parkland (click here for the official Roma Street Parkland map - patrons are advised to enter via Gate 7; or here for a Google Map to the venue)
Dates: 7th - 10th, 14th - 17th May
Times: 8pm Thursdays - Saturdays (except for 8:30pm on Saturday the 16th), 6pm Sundays
Tickets: $25 full / $15 concession and groups 10+
Book online via the OzTix website or phone: 1300 762 545
Reviews
- Stagediary.com review by Brett Barfoot
How To Get There
By Train
The Roma Street train station is located directly beside Roma Street Parkland. All suburban trains stop here providing easy access to the Parkland by using Platform 10 exit.
By Bus
Brisbane City Council buses stop at several locations near Roma Street Parkland. Visit the TransInfo website for more information.
By Car
There are two main road entrances:
- Roma Street entrance - driving towards the City on Roma Street, past the Transit Centre and Holiday Inn, and turn left.
- Wickham Terrace - Gregory Terrace - College Road intersection - driving out of the City along Wickham Terrace, take a left hand turn before the intersection lights straight into the Parkland and drive down Parkland Boulevard.
There are 200 car parks within the Roma Street Parkland grounds and a further 2,000 in close proximity. A 4-hour limit applies to bays on Parkland Boulevard from 6am-8pm.
Disability Parking
Disability parking bays are located near The Lookout, at College Close carpark, on Parkland Boulevard near Melange Café and on the lower level opposite Queensland Railway Platform 10. There are a small number of Disability Parking bays located near the Amphitheatre. No fees apply for Disability Parking at any time.
Suncorp Stadium Events
Major events at Suncorp Stadium may reduce the amount of available carparks in the area, and interfere with the timeliness of public transport to and from the Parklands. The major events at the Stadium during the Food Of Love season are:
- Friday 8 May (times TBC): Rugby League Test - Australia vs. New Zealand
- Sunday 10 May (gates open 12:30pm, main game kickoff 3pm): NRL Round 9 - Brisbane vs. Manly
- Friday 15 May (main game kickoff 7:30pm): NRL Round 10 - Brisbane vs. Gold Coast
- Saturday 16 May (gates open 5:15pm, main game kickoff 7:40pm): Rugby Union - Queensland vs. Hurricanes