Queensland Theatre Company to farewell Artistic Director Wesley Enoch
Queensland Theatre Company is set to wave a very loving farewell to
Artistic Director Wesley Enoch following his appointment as Festival
Director of the Sydney Festival.
A leading voice for theatre, the arts and particularly indigenous arts
in Australia, Enoch’s Sydney Festival appointment is another major
coup for Queensland talent.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Wesley Enoch advocated a spirit of
collaboration that would leave a legacy in Queensland. “Wesley Enoch
started his theatre career in his home state of Queensland and is a
passionate leader and arts advocate whose vision has inspired a
generation of theatre artists and practitioners,” the Premier said.
“His many highlights for Queensland Theatre Company include Black
Diggers, which toured throughout Australia in 2014-15, and was, in
fact, a successful co-production with the Sydney Festival.
“I thank Wesley for his outstanding achievements and look forward to
new artistic partnerships between Queensland companies and Sydney
Festival as Wesley takes on his new role,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Executive Director of Queensland Theatre Company Sue Donnelly said the
company was excited for Wesley as he left the artistic family he has
so strongly led for southern shores.
“Wesley will remain one of the great Artistic Directors to lead QTC.
His vision, his sense of social justice, his bravery, his ability to
empower and enthuse is admired throughout our ranks. From the stage to
behind the scenes, he is a man of the arts through and through, and we
all wish him the absolute best,” she said.
“That he will take Sydney Festival to new heights, we have no doubt,”
she said.
“In 2010 Wesley Enoch became the Queensland Theatre Company’s sixth
artistic director and the first Indigenous head of an Australian state
theatre company. He is a renowned playwright and director, and is
comfortable breaking new artistic ground wherever he steps. He leaves
QTC with flagship new programs, an artistic calendar that is full and
a vision that will remain for years to come.”
Ms Donnelly said a global search for the company’s new Artistic
Director was already underway, with an announcement to come later this
year.
