Queensland Theatre Company calls for tomorrow’s talent, today!

Find and foster’ at the heart of new development program.

Following the launch of Season 2012 on the weekend, Queensland Theatre Company is calling for tomorrow’s talent, today, with the announcement of the inaugural QTC Youth Ensemble Program and a call for auditions.

The QTC Youth Ensemble is a year-long program, created by QTC Artistic Director Wesley Enoch, to find and foster Queensland’s stage stars of the future, focusing on nurturing the talents of Queensland’s high school students.

Audition applications close on January 8, 2012, with only 40 students to be selected for the program, one which will parallel QTC’s mainstage program, and will result in two productions during the year, to be staged as part of the GreenHouse program.

“Queensland is a fertile land for artistic talent…we have wonderful musicians, poets, writers, dancers and actors all over our state, some already celebrated and working across the globe but the vast majority are sitting in classrooms dreaming of their futures.” Wesley said.

“The QTC Youth Ensemble is our way to find and foster the future of Queensland’s acting talent. It’s unique as it supports actors from a young age and sets them up for their future and ours.” Wesley Said.

As well as receiving invaluable guidance from some of Australia’s most respected theatre professionals, the young people chosen will perform in two productions in July and again in September– staged as part of the QTC’s GreenHouse Program for 2012.

Next year the Bille Brown Studio will morph into The GreenHouse – an incubator of art, ideas and exploration representing the next stage of QTC’s 2011 Studio Season. “The GreenHouse will spring to life in May, July and October with performances, forums, workshops and creative developments, and will be home to an artists’ lounge, giving audiences and performers the chance to meet, talk and hear live music,” said Wesley. “It will also be the home of the QTC Youth Ensemble.”

Audition applications close on January 8, 2012 with the program being run after school and on weekends so not to disturb high school curriculums. Cost will be $400 per term for juniors (grades 9 and 10) and $500 for seniors (grades 11 and 12) with scholarships for the entire year available to applicants who excel in their auditions and interviews. Ensemble members will also receive a QTC Season 2012 Ticket.

Auditions will be held 16-22 January 2012 at Queensland Theatre Company, 78 Montague Rd South Brisbane. For more information go to www.queenslandtheatre.com.au or call Julia-Rose Lewis,Youth Program Officer on 07 3010 7606 or email [email protected]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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