Cirrus@Austlit

'The year is 1999 and Shannon has a secret

'Shannon Molloy is a year 9 student at an all-boys rugby-mad Catholic school in regional Queensland, with a secret that no one can ever find out. Shannon is gay.

'Based on the best-selling memoir by award-winning journalist Shannon Molloy, Fourteen is the inspirational true story of growing up gay in central Queensland, transformed into a powerful must-see theatre production by nationally acclaimed shake & stir theatre co.

'Set to a nostalgic mixtape of 90s bangers from all your faves, from Shania Twain to The Spice Girls, Fourteen addresses the trials and tribulations of growing up with honesty, humour and heart. Equal parts uplifting and heart-wrenching, we follow Shannon in a year of self-discovery set amidst a backdrop of torment, bullying and betrayal – not just at the hands of his peers, but by the adults who were meant to protect him.

'This moving coming-of-age memoir about adversity and tragedy is also a story of resilience, hope and hilarity – thanks to the love of a group of close-knit friends, a fiercely protective family, an extraordinary mother and... S Club 7. So press play on your discman, lose yourself in a pumping 90s pop remix and take a technicoloured trip back to your teens. This is Fourteen.' (Production summary)

'Love is a dirty word.

'Brontë's gothic masterpiece storms into QPAC in a new adaptation from the company behind the critically acclaimed productions of George Orwell's Animal Farm and 1984.

'When Heathcliff, a mysterious boy is rescued from the street and brought to Wuthering Heights, he develops a passionate bond with Cathy Earnshaw and a repulsive distrust of her brother Hindley. As time passes, Heathcliff and Cathy's relationship deepens to the point of dangerous obsession, until one day, Cathy marries another man. Overcome with jealousy, Heathcliff flees the Heights only to return, years later, ready to exact revenge on those he believed ruined his one chance at happiness.

'Featuring a breathtaking design and a stellar cast including Australian star of stage and screen Gerry Connolly, shake & stir invites you to drop by the Heights and settle in for this classic story, retold.' (Publication summary)

'Big Brother is back.

'The sold-out production that stunned audiences in 2012 returns in 2014 following a five-month national tour. Strap yourself in for this terrifically frightening theatrical event directed by Michael Futcher set against a towering wall of plasma screens.

'Oceania; a Nation perpetually at war, where cameras watch every move and Thought Police roam the streets. A place Winston Smith calls home. By day, Winston is an editor at the Ministry of Truth, rewriting history to align the past with the current political agenda of the ruling party and its illusive leader, Big Brother. By night, Winston pursues a forbidden love affair with a mysterious woman in an attempt to rebel against Big Brother's oppressive regime and maintain some control over his otherwise totally controlled life.

'When Winston and his love are discovered, they are violently separated, detained and prepared for reintegration back into society. But can human nature truly be changed?

'From the team that brought you Animal Farm, this new adaptation brings George Orwell's final novel screaming into the present. ' (Production summary)

'In August 2011, Animal Farm, one of the most controversial and studied political commentaries arrives in Brisbane in a brand new physical theatre production. Playing at the Cremorne Theatre for a strictly limited season, George Orwell's simple yet intensely powerful fairy tale illustrates how greed and absolute power corrupts absolutely and, with devastating consequences, can change the course of history.

Revolution has taken place at Manor Farm. The pigs have assumed control and under the principles of 'Animalism' a better life free from human service is promised to all. Guided by a simple set of rules and an unrelenting respect for authority, it is not long until the rules that promised freedom become the chains that bind the animals once again. Directed by Michael Futcher and brought to life by shake & stir theatre co and a cast of Queensland's most dynamic actors, Animal Farm promises to be one of the most shocking, exciting, relevant and wickedly funny theatre events of 2011.' (Source: http://www.shakeandstir.com.au/animalfarm.html)