Once in Royal David's City — Queensland Theatre

Overview

If one of your loved ones was about to die, how would you react? It's a grim prospect that no one wants to think about, but it's the basic concept behind Queensland Theatre's Once in Royal David's City. Theatre director Will finds out that his recently-widowed mother is ill, sits by her bedside, and asks himself the important questions: who are we, what are we doing here, what's the point, why does anything happen and all that.

Written by playwright and former Queensland Theatre artistic director Michael Gow, it might come as a surprise that the end result isn't bleak and brooding — it's life-affirming. That's just one of the many contrasts that sit at the centre of the production, which marks Queensland Theatre directorial debut of new artistic director Sam Strong.

As for the others, expect a play that jumps right through from the 1950s to the present, spends time in West Berlin and in Byron Bay, and spans broad themes and intimate encounters. After getting rave reviews in Perth, the production comes home for a hefty run between April 22 and March 14.