Welcome to The Noosa Longweekend Festival, a 10 day festival of theatre, literature, music, dance, film, visual arts, cuisine and barrier-breaking forums – in one of Australia’s most enviable destinations: Noosa Heads, Queensland.
Now recognised as one of Australia’s foremost regional cultural events, The Noosa Longweekend festival was launched in 2002 by a local group of creative visionaries wanting to blend their passions with the beautiful environment that is Noosa. The festival’s founding members include prominent Australian playwright David Williamson, author Kristin Williamson, internationally renowned violinist Brett Dean, environmental activist Dr Michael Gloster, restaurateur Leonie Palmer-Fischer together with Rick Clayton and Ros McCauley.
The Noosa Longweekend festival presents a diverse program of events which in its nine years has attracted some of the best Australian and international performers, writers, film-makers, musicians, artists, chefs, environmentalists and commentators.
Not for profit association
The Noosa Longweekend Inc. is an incorporated association and is registered as a not for profit organisation, governed by a voluntary Management Committee. The Festival would not exist without the generosity of these volunteers, and the many other volunteers who commit their time to the success of the Festival. Just as important are the many sponsors who provide financial and in kind assistance to the Festival. Our Patrons, Friends and Business Friends provide financial and staunch support to the Festival. The Management Committee thanks all of our supporters for their loyalty and generosity. To make a contribution to the Noosa Longweekend festival please click "be involved".
A David Williamson play has been the cornerstone of many festivals and since its inception, The Noosa Longweekend has consistently hosted a dazzling list of luminaries, including: Authors Clive James, Tariq Ali, Peter Carey, Thomas Keneally, Tim Winton and Li Cunxin; Journalists John Pilger, George Megalogenis and Barrie Cassidy; Actors Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, Drew Forsyth and John Bell; Film directors Bruce Beresford and Rolf De Heer; The famed Goldner String Quartet; Academy Award winning cinematographer Russell Boyd; Singers Marina Prior, Caroline O'Connor and Opera Australia soloists; Artists Michael Leunig, Mirka Mora, Bill Leak and Ken Done; Musicians Piers Lane, Kate Miller-Heidke, Karin Schaupp and Jane Rutter; Comedians Max Gillies, Jean Kittson and Wendy Harmer; Commentators Campbell McComas, Margaret Pomeranz, David Stratton, Tim Flannery and Alison Broinowsky; Presenters Maxine McKew, Peter Thompson, Geraldine Doogue and Kerry O’Brien.
Noosa’s unique natural environment and village-style atmosphere provide the inspiring backdrop for this festival that offers visitors beautiful beaches and national parks, fabulous food, cultural stimulus and community events – an experience for the body, mind and soul.
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Festival history
When David and Kristin Williamsons came to Noosa in 1996, the town’s credentials as an outstanding blend of built and natural environment, preserved by visionary town planning and courageous political will, was already well established.
Noosa’s rain forested headlands, golden wave washed bays and pristine river were to become the backdrop for a cultural event that until The Noosa Longweekend had been limited and largely self-generated. David, Kristin and a band of dedicated friends, including violist and composer Brett Dean and restaurateur Leonie Palmer, set about turning Noosa into a destination of cultural excellence.
“Noosa is not just a tourist destination, it's a real community, and unless you contribute to that community, you do get the feeling that you're just perpetual tourists,’’ David said.
Previous festivals
2010
The 2010 Festival presented the world-premiere-preview of David Williamson's latest play Rhinestone Rex and Miss Monica starring Georgie Parker; two, exclusive, Australian performances entitled International Stars of Ballet as performed by members of the San Francisco Ballet; forums featuring Ita Buttrose, ABC TV's The Insiders; literary and celebrity events with high profile journalists and authors such as Paul Kelly, Mike Colman, Dr Anne Summers, Underbelly authors John Silvester and Andrew Rule and animal behavioural specialist Dr Paul McGreevy; a special sports program and children’s program including a full day children’s festival and the world premiere of a new children’s play presented by the Queensland Theatre Company.
2009
In a world financially constrained the colour, light and creativity of the 2009 Noosa Longweekend Festival was a welcome distraction and was hailed as one of the best yet. Once again the Festival featured a quality and diverse artistic and cultural program with 2009’s program featuring 70 events. The 2009 Festival program included; internationally acclaimed guitarists, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan; original contemporary dance presented by SCADA and the Queensland National Ballet Company and rock sensation Kevin Borich. The relationship with one of the Festival founders and one of Australia’s most renowned playwrights David Williamson, continued with a rehearsed play reading by Queensland Theatre Company of his new play ‘Let the Sunshine’. The audience was captivated by a unique cabaret/dinner performance with Paul Capsis in ‘A Capsis Experience’ and ABC television presenter Peter Thompson hosted an informative and edgy forum with Paul Bailey (Think of an Elephant) and Robert Dessaix literary luncheon at Coconut Grove Bar Bistro. The return of Festival gourmet favourites namely the Duck Waddle and Crab Crawl were an instant sell out. Pushing new ideas the Noosa Longweekend Festival introduced a Festival supper club featuring food and cabaret at two superb restaurants starting after the curtains closed around 9.15pm. Another first was the Festival book shop at primary venue, ‘The J’ bringing together all of the authors featured in the Festival program and providing a smorgasbord of literary treats to devour throughout the 10 days.
2008
Bursting at the seams with 73 events and 245 performances, 2008 featured the inimitable impersonator and satirist Max Gillies; darling of the stage, Amanda Muggleton in Roger Hall’s The Book club; a capella singing sensation The Idea of North; Queensland’s internationally acclaimed physical theatre company, Circa and the award winning Brisbane Cabaret Festival production Tom Waits For No Man. ABC’s television presenter, Peter Thompson hosted sold-out conversations with top journalists Leigh Sales and Hedley Thomas while media luminary Geraldine Doogue moderated an expert panel on Happiness. Extremely popular were cooking guru Maggie Beer; comedian Kazz Cooke; eclectic music band Monsieur Camembert; twitcher Sean Dooley; social commentator Hugh Mackay and ABC political host Barrie Cassidy. Noosa Regional Gallery assembled the sensational Noosa Art Trail of Indigenous art throughout the area. A first in 2008 was a massive school holiday program, Major Minors and Finders Keepers, with some 20 creative and fun events for kids, teens and families.
2007
The 2007 program maintained the festival's hallmarks of quality and diversity. The newly opened venue, The J, was the festival's central venue for the programs great range of performances, authors and commentators. Musical theatre star, Caroline O'Connor and flautist, Jane Rutter both captivated audiences. John Bell's one man show, ‘Moby Dick’ presented a theatre experience not easily forgotten. ABC television presenters Kerry O'Brien and Peter Thompson hosted conversations with celebrity Clive James and the most erudite Tariq Ali. Also extremely popular were adventurer Lincoln Hall, designer Jenny Kee and artist Chris O'Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa) And that was just a small fraction of the festival’s 66 highly successful events. The festival’s food related events were recognised as a Finalist in the Best Food Experience category of The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards 2007.
2006
In response to community feedback about accessible and affordable events, in 2006 The Noosa Longweekend created a marquee venue in Noosa Woods. The program hosted an even greater range of artists, authors and musicians and included cartoonist Bill Leak, satirist Richard Neville, authors Nick Earls, Tara Moss and Li Cunxin. Marina Prior, returned by popular demand and David Williamson’s world premiere of Strings Under My Fingers provided an unforgettable night of Australian theatre. New Zealand’s most prolific and successful playwright Roger Hall drew capacity crowds to Noosa Arts Theatre for a play reading of his comedy Take a Chance on Me. ABC presenter Peter Thompson hosted a packed-to-capacity forum about the loss of Freedom of Expression in Australia. Prolific artist Ken Done and the head of the Australian Conservation Foundation Professor Ian Lowe were similarly great draw-cards.
2005
Leunig was back again in 2005 with prolific author Bryce Courtenay, comedian Wendy Harmer and the Godparents to all Australian film buffs, Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton. David Williamson’s play Operator again packed out the Noosa Arts Theatre. Respected environmentalist Tim Flannery and ABC current affairs presenter Maxine McKew were amongst the impressive line up of talent. The ReelMad 24-hour film-makers competition and festival was also launched as a fringe event.
2004
2004 brought another 60% jump in box office growth on top of an impressive music program led by Brett Dean, Karin Schaupp and a presentation of Beethoven’s ninth symphony. David Williamson’s Birthrights packed houses and proved again The Noosa Longweekend’s case for a larger performing arts space which in 2007 became a reality with the completion of the 320 seat auditorium at The J, Noosa’s newly built Community Centre. Author Tim Winton and cartoonist Michael Leunig proved powerful drawcards. 2004 also saw the introduction of the short film festival.
2003
In 2003, box office increased 39% on the back of an expanded program that included David Williamson’s premiere comedy Flatfoot starring Drew Forsyth plus an extraordinarily strong literary turnout which included Australia’s two Booker Prize winning authors Peter Carey and Thomas Kenneally. Controversial expatriate journalist John Pilger packed the venue to capacity.
2002
In 2002, both David and Kristin took roles in Charitable Intent, reminiscent of their earliest ventures on stage, in the 1970s at Melbourne’s La Mama, where they first met. Authors Robert Drewe and Nick Earls drew their legions of fans in their appearance at the inaugural festival while veteran Australian actor Bryan Brown and wife Rachel Ward provided the glamour. Guitarist Karin Schaupp made her first appearance and set off a chain of events that would eventually lead to David Williamson writing a play about her inspirational grandmother, Lotte’s amazing life in Nazi Germany. Strings UnderMy Fingers opened to capacity houses at The Noosa Longweekend in 2006.
Committee and staff
The Noosa Longweekend festival is managed by a voluntary committee who plan, program, obtain funding, adhere to corporate governance and are passionate about the ongoing success of the Festival.
Since 2005 the Management Committee has appointed a Festival Director to oversee the general running of administration and ensure the growth of the festival.
The festival has strong community support and benefits from the generosity of many volunteers who contribute in the lead up and during the festival.
Committee
President – Simon Gamble
Accountant – Karen Mitchell
Secretary – Marie Lewis
Treasurer - Maree Thomson
Member – Jim Fagan
Member – Geoff Hart
Member – Frank Wilkie
Member - Dean Banks
Staff
Festival Director - Ian Mackellar
Administrator - Amanda Powell
