When Wynnum Fringe chief government Tom Oliver’s dad and mom stumbled throughout a disused spiegeltent in outback Queensland, and Tom was in a position to purchase it for his pageant, he might hardly consider his luck.
However after simply two years on Bay Terrace, Wynnum Fringe has to maneuver, as sponsors BMD Group take again their website for growth.
And meaning the Augathella Spiegeltent will relocate from the bayside to New Farm to hitch the Brisbane Powerhouse precinct.
The tent takes over the positioning of the previous Dendy Powerhouse Outside Cinema from October. Development has already commenced.
Brisbane Powerhouse chief government Louise Bezzina stated the Augathella Spiegeltent would welcome its first audiences in its new house through the Brisbane Writers’ Pageant from October 8-11.
“To have one other venue that offers us the power to do totally different sorts of performances is great,” Bezzina stated.
“It’s a extremely good instance of arts organisations working collectively for a mutually useful end result.”
Wynnum Fringe’s Oliver stated the price of energy was “the kicker”, and meant the venue had solely been in a position to function six weeks a 12 months in Wynnum.
“A performing arts venue nearly as good because the Augathella Spiegeltent needs to be welcoming artists and audiences each week of the 12 months,” he stated.
“The venue will 1789517062 have a everlasting connection to mains energy, dressing rooms and bathrooms – a significant logistical win – and it will likely be co-programmed by Brisbane Powerhouse and Tom Oliver Productions.
“Corporations trying to play in Brisbane can e book the venue by way of the Powerhouse, and I’ll curate and produce numerous exhibits all year long.”
He stated the transfer dovetailed together with his ambitions for the broader Queensland Fringe to have venues in Brisbane, Wynnum and regional Queensland.
“With Brisbane 2032 simply over 5 years away, it appears like the fitting subsequent chapter for the Augie.
“A part of me is gloomy, and a part of me is extremely happy with what we’ve achieved there and the place we’re headed.”
The tent was in-built Belgium in 2008 for Queensland’s a hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebrations and initially named the Q150 Shed.
Nonetheless, it lay largely deserted in Augathella till delivered to Wynnum by way of a crowdfunding enchantment.
On the similar time, Wynnum Fringe moved from George Clayton Park to the positioning at 166 Bay Terrace, the place the 300-seat tent was the pageant’s coronary heart in 2025 and 2026, welcoming round 40,000 patrons.
In 2026 it hosted performances by comedians Arj Barker, Matt Okine and Mel Buttle, and musicians akin to James Blundell, Mahalia Barnes and Wes Carr.
Oliver paid tribute to civil development agency BMD Group and its house owners the Energy household for his or her help.
“If we weren’t in a position to sit on their website at 166 Bay Terrace for so long as we’ve, lease free, then we’d not have the ability to suppose this large, and step into this subsequent chapter,” he stated.
Oliver stated he was trying into various venues for the 2027 Wynnum Fringe.
BMD chief government officer Scott Energy stated the Bay Terrace website was earmarked for the event of BMD’s future headquarters.
“BMD is proud to have supported Tom Oliver, Wynnum Fringe, the Augathella Spiegeltent and the various artists who’ve introduced the pageant to life in Wynnum over latest years,” he stated.
The Spiegeltent joins one other tent, the Pleasuredome, which has occupied the Powerhouse precinct’s Efficiency Garden since 2022.
The Pleasuredome was designed by set designer Bruce McKinven, who can also be revamping the look of the Augathella Spiegeltent.
It will likely be redesigned with a gloss black façade and illuminated signage set towards the present rustic corrugated iron shell.
Inside shall be wearing crimson velvet with new black vinyl flooring and black marine carpet within the lobby.
The Dendy Cinema’s former sweet bar could be repurposed to be used with the Spiegeltent.
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Nick Dent is a Tradition Reporter at Brisbane Instances, overlaying arts, leisure and issues to do within the metropolis.Join through e-mail.