Brisbane - Australia 2004 - page 250

the Brisbane Powerhouse, Lamington Street, New Farm. Here you'll find much to
tempt your palate, brought into the city fresh that morning by farmers from
around the south east of the state. There's everything from fresh fruit and vegeta-
bles to homemade chutneys, quail, fresh seafood, free-range eggs, and patés. Food-
ies will find themselves in heaven.
9 Brisbane After Dark
You can find out about other festivals, concerts and events, and book tickets,
through Ticketek ( & 13 19 31 in Queensland or 07/3404 6700 outside Queens-
land; www.ticketek.com). You can book in person at Ticketek agencies, the most
convenient of which are on Level E at the Myer Centre at 91 Queen Street Mall,
in the Roma Street Transit Centre, and in the Visitor Information Centre at South
Bank Parklands. Or try Ticketmaster ( & 13 16 00; www.ticketmaster7.com).
QTIX ( & 13 62 46 in Australia) is a major booking agent for performing arts
and classical music, including all events at the Queensland Performing Arts
Complex (QPAC). There is a A$6.60 (US$4.30) fee per booking, not per ticket.
You can also inquire and book in person at the box office at QPAC between
8:30am and 9pm Monday through Saturday, and at its outlet at the South Bank
Parklands Visitor Information Centre.
The free, color weekly newspaper Brisbane News lists performing arts; jazz and
classical music performances; art exhibitions; rock concerts; and public events.
The free weekly TimeOff, which comes out Wednesdays and can be found in bars
and cafes, is a good guide to live music, as is Thursday's Courier-Mail newspaper.
THE PERFORMING ARTS
Many of Brisbane's performing-arts events are held at the Queensland Per-
forming Arts Centre (QPAC) in the Queensland Cultural Centre (see “Explor-
ing Brisbane,” earlier in this chapter), but the city also has a lively independent
theater scene, with smaller companies making an increasing impact on cultural
life. To find out what's playing and to book tickets, call QTIX (see above) or visit
www.qtix.com.au.
Queensland Theatre Company , the state theater company, offers eight or
nine productions a year, from the classics to new Australian works, attracting
some of the country's best actors and directors. Most performances are at either
the Optus Playhouse or Cremorne Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts
Centre (QPAC), South Bank. Call & 07/3840 7000 for administration and
information, or check out www.qldtheatreco.com.au. Tickets cost A$17 (if you
are age 24 or under) to A$50 (US$11-US$33).
La Boite Theatre ( www.laboite.com.au ) is a well-established innovative
company, which performs contemporary all-Australian plays in the round. In late
2003, La Boite moved to a new 400-seat theater in the new Cultural Industries
Precinct that's being constructed at Kelvin Grove. Check the website for address
and phone details. Tickets for the 2003 season were around A$30 (US$20), pre-
views A$25 (US$16).
Brisbane Powerhouse-Centre for the Live Arts, 119 Lamington St., New
Farm ( & 07/3358 8600 ), is a venue for innovative (some might say fringe) con-
temporary works. A former electricity powerhouse, this massive brick factory is
now a dynamic new art space for exhibitions, contemporary performance, and
live art. The building retains its unique character, an industrial mix of metal,
glass, and stark surfaces etched with 20 years of graffiti. It's a short walk from
the New Farm ferry terminal along the riverfront through New Farm Park.