WeLcOMe This level of innovation and growth is due MeSSaGe to many people who have contributed their time and their talent during the past 10 OUr PreSeNtING years. There are too many to mention, but SPONSOr those who stand out are David and Kristen Williamson, John Fell, Karen Mitchell, You would expect Rowland Hill, Earle Bailey and Simon the opening Gamble all of whom we have considered remarks to friends and whose friendship and an event that commitment we have valued immensely. Macquarie has Separately, I would especially like to sponsored for acknowledge the special talent and 10 years would dedication of our Festival Director, Ian start something MacKellar, who for the past three years like: “Macquarie has added a level of professionalism and is proud to be creative talent that guarantees our Noosa associated with the Noosa Longweekend Longweekend Festival its place among which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Australia’s best. this year.” We have spent 10 years marvelling at this These words might accurately describe festival and believing that each year could Macquarie’s relationship with one of not be topped – only to come back the next Australia’s best cultural festivals, but year to find ourselves once again amazed somehow it falls short of expressing just at the quality and the breadth. how important the Noosa Longweekend is to us. I wish you all a wonderful 10th Anniversary and I know this year will be the best ever. For the past decade we have watched this pre-eminent cultural festival grow, each year it attracts bigger and more talented artists, it is innovative in the breadth of its genres and it takes calculated risks with the acts it has experimented with, yet it Peter Maher also maintains a strong link to the local Group Head, Macquarie Banking and community. Financial Services Group at the same time, as David, along with WeLcOMe Kristen, were the Founders of this Festival and have been intimately involved in its PreSIDeNt’S ongoing success. MeSSaGe I would also like to acknowledge the support of Macquarie Bank as our Having been associated both directly and presenting sponsor, Tourism Noosa and indirectly with the Noosa Longweekend all our other sponsors for their continued Festival since its inception I am very proud support and encouragement. to be involved in the celebration of its tenth Anniversary. The many accommodation houses in Noosa provide us with terrific support I am particularly proud that we are also every year and this year has proved to able to celebrate the 40th Anniversary be an exceptional one in this regard of David Williamson’s playwriting career particularly given the lean economic times being experienced in our community. Thanks must also go to our patrons who have once again provided their support to the Festival and that is much appreciated. This year’s program again has many highlights, headlined by the UK’s top professional ‘a capella’ group the Magnets and I am sure that many will derive enjoyment and interest in the variety and quality of all the events that are offered. SIMON GaMBLe President, The Noosa Longweekend Festival Management Committee MeSSaGeS aND INDeX MeSSaGe to many of them. Booker Prize winners Peter QUICK INDEX Carey and Tom Keneally FrOM DaVID aND waded in the shallows KrIStIN WILLIaMSON on Noosa beach with MUSIC 5 – 13 their trousers rolled DANCE 14 Between us, up, chatting to other THEATRE 15 – 17 we have been paddlers. A sceptical directly involved local audience confronted VISUAL ARTS 19 in creating international journalist LITERATURE 20 – 27 and running John Pilger but after his four Noosa talk most of them queued CELEBRITY LUNCHEONS 28 – 29 Longweekend up to buy his books and FORUMS 31 – 33 Festivals and of shake his hand. And who FOOD 34 – 36 course have been could forget the opening actively involved in night when fireworks FREE EVENTS 37 all nine to date. Each festival has left us with exploded from barges out SUPPER CLUBS 38 – 39 to sea and lit up the whole many wonderful memories. WORKSHOPS 40 – 41 The first festival started in 2002 with a small of Noosa beach, after group of friends in Noosa who became the which hundreds of people CHILDRENS EVENTS 37 foundation committee. Queenslander Brett of three generations COMMUNITY EVENTS 37, 42 Dean, who had spent 16 years as a violist danced in the sand to with the Berlin Philharmonic, had just the performance of that timeless band, The Whilst all events listed as part of The Noosa Longweekend Festival program are returned to live in Noosa and he became a correct at the time of publication, events and featured guests are subject to change driving force behind the idea of starting a Delltones. without notice due to circumstances outside the control of Festival organisers. local arts festival. He also agreed to procure If we couldn’t find enough classical musicians cheaply. Leonie Palmer, free hotel accommodation for our actors, In addition to those already mentioned who ran the very popular Ricky Ricardos musicians and artists we asked local people guests have included (in no particular restaurant was our culinary expert and to lend them a house. Michael Leunig and order) Clive James, Tariq Ali, Tim Winton, became the first president. Michael Gloster his family stayed for a week in a luxury Nick Earls, Li Cunxin, George Megalogenis, volunteered to enthuse guests about the house and managed to blow up the spa, but Barrie Cassidy, Jack Thompson, Bruce local environment, David was responsible he generously donated so many paintings to Petty, Drew Forsyth, John Bell, Bruce for theatre, Kristin for literature and we the festival that we didn’t even mention it. Beresford, Rolf de Heer, the Goldner shared film. The five of us each put in $2000 String Quartet, Russell Boyd, Marina Prior, and the festival was launched. When we Caroline O’Connor, Caroline Nin, Tom look back now, reflecting on our naivety Burlinson, Band of Brothers, Toni Lamond, with this venture you could hardly say it was The first Carita Farrer, Mirka Mora, Bill Leak, Don youthful enthusiasm! festival Watson, Tim Ferguson, Ken Done, Piers We have indelible memories of ticketing Lane, Gerard Willems, Kate Miller-Heidke, in 2002. The box office was run from the started in Karin Schaupp, Jane Rutter, Max Gillies, kitchen table of two friends, Ros McCauley Robert Connolly, Jean Kittson, Wendy and Rick Clayton (who also contributed 2002 with a Harmer, Campbell McComas, Tim Flannery, $2000), but because they were obliged to Alison Broinowski, Maxine McKew, Paul move house in the middle of the booking small group Kelly, Julianne Schultz, Andrew Rule, John period, chaos reigned and breaths were held. Silvester, Peter Thompson, Geraldine But everyone got their tickets. Now we laugh of friends in Doogue, Kerry O’Brien, Ita Buttrose, Hugh at the memory, but it wasn’t funny then. Mackay, Robyn Nevin, the International Stars of Ballet (seven principals from the In 2002, we took roles in ‘Charitable Intent’. Noosa... San Francisco Ballet), Robert Drewe, Anne It was reminiscent of our earliest ventures String quartets rehearsed in our living Summers, Hilary McPhee, Bryce Courtenay, on stage, in the 1970s at little theatres like Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer and many others. Melbourne’s La Mama. We missed cues, room and committee meetings were held muffed lines (David more than Kristin!) but on a long table on our veranda. Volunteers Now it is a great honour to be Patrons of the audiences didn’t mind and the season drove the artists to their venues, took them The Noosa Longweekend Festival and to was extended. We were amazed. sightseeing in their boats on the Noosa watch as it continues to evolve. River and cleaned up after the parties. In the first few years performers were not We are proud that the festival is 10 years There were no paid staff and the event had offered any payment, just an airfare and a strong and wish the committee every no office. But by the end of the first, ten day few nights free accommodation at Noosa. success and its patrons great enjoyment, for Noosa Longweekend Festival we realised For this they were expected not just to many more Noosa Longweekend Festivals we’d have to keep going. The people had perform but to mingle with the locals and to come. embraced it and were asking for more. become part of the scene. Bryan Brown DaVID WILLIaMSON Since those humble beginnings we have came down offstage and shared anecdotes President 2003 with the audience over a few beers, and seen some of the most talented Australian then disappeared into the surf for days with and international performers become part KrIStIN WILLIaMSON his newfound friends. Film critics Margaret of the festival. All have helped to build the President 2004,2005 Pomeranz and David Stratton judged short recognition and reputation it enjoys today. films screened on a wild, stormy night in Over the past nine years, The Noosa a huge tent that was packed with excited Longweekend Festival has hosted a dazzling young film-makers and became mentors list of local and international talent. NETANYA 75 HASTINGS STREET HOW NOOSA’S DONE 1800 072 072 netanyanoosa.com MUSIc the Noosa Longweekend in association with Netanya Noosa resort present... edinburgh evening News Slick, entertaining, with infectious groove Dates Friday, June 17 and Saturday, June 18 They are the singing secret that the stars have kept to themselves, Time 7.30pm the vocal group with a word-of-mouth reputation for spicing up the parties of supermodels, heads of state and billionaires with Price $125 – aaa reserve/ VIP Soiree their original blend of glorious harmonies and jaw dropping Mingle with the ‘Stars’ at the VIP after Show Soiree beatboxing.