A Unique Cultural Complex
Brian and Marjorie Johnstone were not content with just operating their gallery. They truly wanted to establish a unique suburban artistic precinct in Brisbane. With this in mind they planned as early as 1966 to form a committee to establish a theatre on part of the ground the gallery occupied. This would later become the place for the building of the current Twelfth Night Theatre. Prior to the commencement of the building of the theatre, a production of Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas was staged in a tent on the site of the future theatre. Building work began in 1969. The theatre opened in February 1971 at the Bowen Hills site under the direction of Joan Whalley with two productions, A Flea in Her Ear by Georges Feydeau and The Rose and the Ring by William Makepeace Thackeray. The Johnstones were delighted, as Brian wrote to Sidney Nolan:
- "...with the new half-million dollar theatre next door, the establishment is now nicely rounded off, so perhaps one of these days Marjorie and I will be able to play ladies and gentlemen of the art world!"
The theatre is still functioning today under the directorship of Gail Wiltshire.
Read more about this topic: Johnstone Gallery, More Than Just A Gallery
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