A shipwreck sets in motion a wild and whimsical tale of mistaken identities, separated twins, rebellious servants, unrequited love and a pair of ridiculous yellow stockings. After the twelfth night, the land of Illyria will never be the same.

Washed ashore and separated from her twin brother, the plucky Viola must learn to survive alone in an exotic foreign country. Disguising herself as a man, she quickly becomes entangled in a web of amorous pursuits gone awry. As Cupid’s arrows send dukes and countesses running in disastrous directions, a wacky entourage of servants and drunken freeloaders watch on in amusement. All the while, Viola must fight to ensure nothing blows her cover.

Shakespeare’s hilarious and lovable characters are brought to life through all new songs by legendary composer Tim Finn (Ladies in Black, Split Enz, Crowded House) and a cast of comedic greats including Jason Klarwein, Christen O’Leary and Jessica Tovey.

Twelfth Night
28 Apr to 19 May 2018
QPAC, Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au

Sydney, the late 1950s: the city swelters in stuffy repression, longing for the cool, glorious liberation just around the corner. Bright-eyed, bookish school leaver Lisa takes a summer job in the most prestigious department store in town, and has no plans to become a housewife or secretary, despite what her father insists.

Among the racks and fitting rooms, she meets the exotic Magda and the ladies of the cocktail frocks department, who open this young ingénue’s eyes to a world of cosmopolitan possibilities.

Fresh from touring the nation, don’t miss this return season of the Helpmann Award winning hit musical by Tim Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) and director Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Musical; Love Never Dies; Dream Lover). It’s the hottest ticket in town.

Book by Carolyn Burns
Music and lyrics by Tim Finn
Based on Madeleine St John’s novel, The Women in Black

Ladies in Black
28 January – 19 February 2017
QPAC, Brisbane
www.qpac.com.au