QPAC

A new creative development has been taking flight at QPAC. Titled So Near So Far, the concept has seen foyers in our theatre turned into makeshift airport spaces.

It was a case of so near, so far, when writer and director Emma Che Raethke first had an idea for the show 10 years ago. And while a lot has changed since then, including COVID and a long period of international travel restrictions, it has been these things that have been the focus of the interactive performance, which looks at our changing relationship to air travel.

Like the rest of the world, the team overcame issues of working from home, with Emma and co-writer Daniel Flood collaborating on the script online.

“We began writing first. Then we began unpacking, and thinking about what media we might explore,” Emma said.

"Then we brought in actors to read, with dramaturgy, before going back to writing."

“It was a very different process to how I usually work. It’s been a good challenge.”

Daniel said they’ve adapted the way they’ve brought together the work, which has also brought about discussion on how the world will move forward.

Dramaturg Julie Robson said this was definitely a piece for these times. “What choices are we making?”

It’s a question that can be asked of many things, from climate change to a personal level. “How will we do things differently?” Emma said.

So Near So Far is still in development, but Emma said test audiences had found it a refreshing experience. It's a flexible work that could be experienced in theatre foyer spaces and airport spaces, but she’d also love to tour it to festivals.

The project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and by QPAC through the In Your Hands program, enabling local artists and community organisations to activate our spaces, big and small.