The CreateX finale has been in ongoing creative development since 2014, it has seen many different shapes and forms until the realisation you see today. One major influence on the development was seen In March/April 2015 when Mathilde Lopez and John Norton from the National Theatre of Wales came to Brisbane as guests of QUT, and as part of an Arts Queensland grant. Their approach to “located performance” has greatly influenced director Sean Mee’s approach to this performance.
National Theatre Wales is a non-building based theatre company that makes work that is site-located (e.g. on beaches, in forests, in village halls, on mountains and across whole towns, but sometimes in theatres too!), that is digitally innovative, including live-streaming and gaming, and alongside an online community of more than 5,700 members, with internationally-renowned artists and companies (e.g. Michael Sheen, Gruff Rhys, Frantic Assembly) and always with – not just for - communities (esp. through TEAM, our 600-strong network of individuals with a passion for the arts).
The finale you see today is a culmination of ongoing work of staff at QUT to ensure that this building is porous with the surrounds and the creatives inside work hand in hand with the Kelvin Grove local community. It's such a diverse community - from QUT staff and students to local schools, residents, shop owners and employees from our urban village.
The history of the land has also informed the ‘making of’ for this finale spectacular - the director Sean Mee has spent hours talking, interviewing and consulting with the locals, indigenous elders, military, QUT staff and students and the people of this place.