Queen Street Studio - a non-profit creative development and rehearsal facility run by artists for artists

Branch Nebula
PARADISE CITY

A skater, a break-dancer, a BMX rider, an acrobat, a dancer and a fallen diva carve out a pleasure ground from a stark urban space in this spectacular fusion of street-style and dance.

Welcome to Paradise City, the show that turned Sydney Opera House into a skate park. See world champions with truly spectacular skills, choreographed in a breathtaking display that sweeps between poetry in motion and the sheer raw energy of a jam. Hear the diva sing against a live score of sumptuous Bach, driving beats, and the crunch of skateboard wheels on concrete. Watch Australia’s finest urban artists, in a battle to reclaim the city with body, board and bike.

Paradise City was originally commissioned by Sydney Opera House, and is toured by Performing Lines for Mobile States: Touring Contemporary Performance Australia. Mobile States is a national touring initiative of the Theatre Board of the Australia Council. It has received support from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and through the national performing arts touring program, Playing Australia.

“An intensely absorbing, lyrical,
nightlife street culture fantasia . . .”
RealTime

CO-CREATOR/DIRECTOR Lee Wilson CO-CREATOR/DESIGNER Mirabelle Wouters COMPOSERS Bob Scott & Inga Liljeström PERFORMERS Alexandra Harrison, Anthony “Lamaroc” Lawang, Inga Liljeström, Simon O’Brien, Kathryn Puie, Petera Hona CREATIVE CONSULTANT Kate Champion

Opening: Wednesday 28 May 8.00pm
Season dates: 28 May - 7 June, Wed-Sat 8pm
Sat 31 May & 7 June 5pm, Tues 3 June 11.30am

Bookings: HERE or Phone: 1300 723 038

RATE INCREASE as of June 1st, 2008

Dear Members and Supporters of Queen Street Studio . . .

It’s inevitable in this big city that eventually capitalism will catch up to you. We all are aware that Sydney’s rents are out of control – and its debatable whether this is the real cost of living in Australia’s biggest city or hideous gratuitous greed . . . but regardless, it is always felt hardest by those who can’t afford it.

Over the last month our landlords have issued Queen Street Studio with a Rent Review as part of our commercial lease. The agreement allows for the rent to be modified against the Current Market Value. This happens only once in a four-year lease. To our horror – a 66% increase was suggested . . . and in real terms, it would mean that Queen Street Studio would need to find an additional $20K per year – just to meet rent.

But due to our landlord’s continued support for the activities of Queen Street Studio (we are truly blessed to have ace landlords) they agreed to just a $10K increase per year – phew! But this means we now need to increase our rates of hire for the studio (for the first time in 2 years) . . . Lest we close shop forever.

At last weekend’s meeting of the Board, our team poured over a new rate scale that tried to protect the most cash-strapped of our members (unfunded solo and groups) with as minimal increase as possible.

So, here are the new rates (effective June 1):

Unfunded solo: $14 per hour
Unfunded group: $20 per hour
Funded group: $28 per hour
Commercial: $36 per hour

Queen Street Studio trust that you understand this increase was inevitable. This increase gives our organisation nothing but the ability to meet our rent – and even more so now – we are reliant on our community to continue to use our facility for their rehearsal and creative development needs and we thank you for your continued support.

SO BOOK QUEEN STREET STUDIO NOW!

Members who book Queen Street Studio prior to the 1st June increase are still eligible for the pre-rate rise rate. So get out your diary . . . Log-in to the calendar and book your space now. The bookings calendar has space available ’til the end of this year and we will not invoice you for payment until your booking comes around.

AUSDANCE NSW ANNOUNCES DANCE SPACE RESIDENCY PROGRAM 2008

The Australian Dance Council – Ausdance NSW has announced the recipients of the inaugural Dance Space Residency Program 2008.

This new Ausdance NSW initiative is funded through the City of Sydney Cultural Grants and Sponsorship program and offers Dance Space Residencies for seven of Sydney’s independent dance artists over a 13 week period at Queen Street Studio.

Click here for information on 2008 ‘Artists in Residence’

See the media release for more information.

Media enquiries:
Director of Ausdance NSW, Cathy Murdoch
Email: director@dance.net.au
Phone: 02 9256 4805

AUDITIONS

Legs on the Wall, seeks performers for a high-profile international gig from June to August 2008 (dates tbc).

We are looking for professional performers with exceptional skills in dance, acrobalance and/or acrobatics. Aerial and choreographic skills would be an advantage although are not essential. We are specifically seeking performers who are comfortable in both dance and acrobatics.

Whilst we recognise the value of enthusiasm, unfortunately it is not enough! It is essential that you have extensive professional experience and also experience in self-devised and collaborative work.

Auditions will be held on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th January at Sydney Dance Company studios. You will be required to perform a 2 minute prepared piece which displays your skills. The audition will include individual and group improvisational exercises. We anticipate running morning and afternoon audition sessions lasting approximately 2 – 3 hours.

Please send your resume to simone@legsonthewall.com.au

Successful applicants will be called in the week commencing 21 January at which time we will schedule your audition session.

Please call Simone O’Brien, Artistic Associate on (02) 9560 9479 for further information.

Brand-new Tarquette Dance Floor

Thanks to the tireless efforts of Queen Street Studio co-founder – Sam Chester – and the success of the spaceAID auction/fundraiser, all our members will now be working on the brand-new tarquette dance floor which was installed on Saturday the 8th of July, 2007.

Much appreciation goes to the owners of Standex and also Ashley, for their efforts in helping to lift the 500kgs of flooring up to the 2nd floor.

ENJOY, EVERYONE!

Look for the “Q”

Look out for the red and white “Q” at about eye level standing out on the dark grey Standex building on Queen Street, Chippendale.

Queen Street Studio gets FUNDING!

Queen Street Studio would like to thank the City of Sydney for recent funding received to assist in upgrading the studio floor and to facilitate opportunities for local artists to network through the Chippendale Artist Network Project . . .

Stay tuned for more information on this event.

Inaugural Queen Street Annual Report

Brand X Productions Inc. – trading as Queen Street Studio – in conjunction with long-time collaborator, Righteye Creative, is about to release its first Annual Report for 2005–2006. We’ll post it on the website as soon as it is completed. Stay tuned!

Online Membership Application form

We’ve been working hard to keep this website as current and functional as possible. Our latest project was to make it easier for new members to join or for current members to renew, so we have produced an Online Membership Application form on the “Become a member” page. Help us and our artists by telling all your friends to join up!

No more cheques, no more postage, no more waiting – it’s instant! Simply fill out the online form and submit – an invoice will be emailed to you with EFT payment options allowing for immediate access to our member benefits. And we have also included a “supporter” category for all you philanthropists out there!

NEW WEBSITE DEVELOPMENTS
– Stage 2 complete

Queen Street Studio is pleased to announce the launch of its new ONLINE CALENDAR . . . a first of its kind for the independent performing arts sector in Sydney.

This calendar allows artists to check availability of Queen Street Studio and request a booking 24/7.

Stage two of a three-part roll-out of the organisation’s new website functionality has been initiated. Members of Queen St now have access to a MEMBER’S AREA where they can view a detailed calendar, update their profile, book studio space and manage their account.

This new online booking application was developed by Melissa Cooper at misscooper.com and Emma Yench – Master of Interactive Media students of the University of Technology Sydney.

Queen Street Studio has a new
Workshops and Classes page!

Click here for Current Queen St. Workshops.

Special thanks goes out to all those who have made this studio possible…

Peter and the two Jack’s for the initial faith and cash; Rhys for website and graphic art; Brian for sound; Alex for bench and fridge; Gav for mirrors; Megan for business advice; Melissa, Rosie and Pav for scrubbing and assembling; Jess for listening and encouragement; Megan, Michelle and Erin for management; Nancy for furniture; Rosie, Maureen, Tracey and all at Arts Law for legal advice; Performance Space and One Extra for tarquette; Brenna at Bangarra for the replacement tarquette; Ilan for brokering the property; the Mallicks and the staff at Standex for taking the risk on a bunch of artists taking over the top floor of their building; …oh yeah, and beer!

“Hi guys, thanks so much for the hire of the studio, it was just what we needed.

And we were both so impressed by the studio itself, wow,
what a beautiful space . . .

We are living in Berlin at the moment, and there is nothing like it over there.”

– Pen Dale

“I have been rehearsing/training in Queen St. Studio with two different groups and it is a beautiful space to work in.

James and Sam’s attention to detail in fitting out the space has made it the perfect balance between a welcoming, relaxed meeting place and a clear, no-nonsense space for work.

The two, interlocking spaces in the studio mean that you can clearly separate your work on the floor with any helloing, goodbyeing, talking, city-gazeing and tea-sipping that needs to be done.

Really, the space is exquisite and I recommend it to anyone who needs to be in a funky, practical and clear space to make work.”
– Alice Osborne

“Polished floor boards, privacy, tea, biscuits, a beautiful view, friendly owners, affordable, clean and lovely! Queen St. Studio ... what more could a writing group on zero budget want?

Thanks James and Sam for helping us to make it happen ... the future is looking sparkly.”
– The QUT writers

www.oneextra.org.au

“Queen St. rocks our dancing shoes.”
– Pip Dennis, Onextra

www.urbanturbantribe.com

UrbanTurban – Tribal Style Bellydance classes
Mondays 6pm-7pm beginners, 7pm-8pm intermediate

“I love this space and when I see the look on everyone’s face when they first come in, it says the same thing too.

So much room, great equipment and a beautiful atmosphere.

I’m really impressed with the effort made to put together a decent, low-cost teaching and rehearsal space in a convient central location.”
– Hilary, Instructor and Director – UrbanTurban

www.migrantproject.com.au

“The space at Queen St. Studio appeared out of the darkness to us like a friendly angel. It is large, conveniently located, affordable and more importantly, run by artists dedicated to many of the ideas and matters (such as a sense of community with the space) that mattered to us as well.

Curious Works is glad to be part of its beginnings and has thus far had a very relaxed, easy relationship with James and Sam who run the space.”
– Shakthi, Curious Works

Image: Heidrun Lohr

Click here to fill in the Online Membership Application Form to become a member of Queen Street Studio now.

Join our growing list of members and enjoy the benefits of membership.

To become a member simply print out the Membership Application Form and complete all fields. Attach cheque or money order and post to the address provided on the form.
Membership is active from the receipt of your payment.

Please note:
You must have an active email account
to hold membership.

Membership is governed by the
Studio’s Terms and Conditions.