QPAC breaks million barrier

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has celebrated a major milestone with more than a million people attending the venue in 2011-2012.

Queensland Arts Minister Ros Bates announced the milestone this morning (14th August) on the 12th anniversary of the opening of QPAC's Playhouse Theatre in 1998, revealing that said QPAC sold 1,016,991 tickets for the year - an increase of 19% on the previous year.

Minister Bates stated "Queenslanders and visitors to Brisbane embraced the diverse range of quality live performances at QPAC, including popular musical theatre, drama, opera, music and dance together with frequent performances by nationally and internationally acclaimed artists.

"To crack the one million mark is a solid contribution to the long term sustainability of Queensland's performing arts industry and helps grow Brisbane's reputation as a destination where locals and visitors alike can have innovative and exciting cultural experiences."

Minister Bates said when free events were included it bumped QPAC attendance figures for the financial year 2011-2012 up to 1,053,178 figure.

The Minister added "a total of 1427 performances took place at QPAC in this period. Highlights included Mary Poppins and Annie, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, an Opera Australia season and QPAC's Out of The Box Festival for Children.

"I am pleased to say 2012-2013 is also shaping up well and Jersey Boys - The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons is a smash hit, while coming attractions include A Chorus Line, Driving Miss Daisy and The

Queensland Ballet's Sleeping Beauty, presented with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

"Later this month the Hamburg Season, featuring the Hamburg State Opera, the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hamburg Ballet is on between 23 August and 5 September 2012.

"It will see QPAC reaching out to new audiences with a live simulcast in Brisbane in the Cultural Centre Forecourt on Friday 24 August, as well as to venues in Bundaberg, Cairns, Mackay, Mt Isa, Toowoomba and

Townsville of Gustav Mahler's epic Symphony No 2, Resurrection, performed by the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra in the QPAC Concert Hall.

"This is a great complement to other attractions at the Cultural Precinct over winter, including the Portrait of Spain: Masterpieces from the Prado exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery and Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb at the Queensland Museum."

25th May 2012 - OPERA AUSTRALIA MAKES RARE QUEENSLAND VISIT

30th September 2011 - INTERNATIONAL ARTS PERFORMANCES PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON BRISBANE

2nd February 2010 - APPLAUDING 25 YEARS FOR QPAC

19th March 2009 - QPAC THEATRES REOPEN