Theatre under the stars

Shakespeare In The Park

Overnight weekend tour to Toowoomba (from Brisbane)

Sat 13th & Sun 14 October 2012

2012 Shakespeare Festival Overnight Tour

Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 October 2012

“Welcome Aboard” Stonestreets Coaches for our Shakespeare Alfresco Weekend!
Experience the magic of live performance in Toowoomba's premiere green-space at the University of Southern Queensland's annual Shakespeare in the Park Festival. The Festival returns with its ninth annual season to present a Spring production of Shakespeare's dramatic The Tragedy of King Richard III.
Our tour will also showcase springtime in Toowoomba, a wonderful time to visit our city just a couple of weeks after the famous Carnival of Flowers.

Saturday 13 Oct

Depart at 10.30am Travelling by coach from Brisbane Roma Street Transit Centre via the Lockyer Valley and climb the Great Dividing Range to the temperate ‘Garden City’ of Toowoomba enjoying a fine buffet lunch at Weis Restaurant. Followed by two hours of touring our city sights. Take in the views from Picnic Point and stroll the tranquil paths through the University’s amazing and extensive Japanese Gardens.

Following check-in at the Riviera on Ruthven there is time to freshen up before we transfer to the University grounds. At the University of Southern Queensland front oval we’ll be met at the entrance by a representative from USQ Artworx. We’ll enter backstage and meet the performers. We’ll also receive our dinner hampers and programmes. We’ll take our seats (they’ll be in place for us) and tuck into dinner as the gates open to the other show goers.

Enjoy the evening’s USQ Shakespeare in the Park Festival performance of The Tragedy of King Richard III . Performance continues towards 10.00pm. We’ll transfer you back to the Riviera after the event.

In the statistically unlikely case of bad weather, the organizers will make a decision at 6.30pm – they don’t cancel this event readily. We will look at wet-weather alternatives closer to the occasion.  In 2011 the weather on Saturday morning was abysmal and caused several of our participants to cancel but it cleared around lunchtime as we arrived into Toowoomba and we enjoyed delightful weather. A shower passed over some parts of the town at 6pm but the venue stayed dry. We suggest approaching this weekend with a positive attitude and an open-mind! The tour will run regardless.

Sunday 14 Oct

At 8.00am enjoy breakfast at the Riviera on Ruthven prior to check out. Reboard the coach for more touring of the Garden City. Explore the acclaimed Cobb and Co Museum. You can join a 30 minute guided tour followed by morning tea.

Follow this with som free time to explore the shops of Margaret Street and Grand Central shopping complex. Lunch is your choice as you browse the town.  The coach will drop off and pick up outside Garden Town Shopping Centre in Margaret St near the junction of Victoria St and the railway crossing.

At 1.30pm  the coach leaves for the journey back to Brisbane.
3.15pm Coach arrives Brisbane Roma Street.

DEPARTS: Brisbane Roma Street (10.30am)
RETURNS: Brisbane Roma St (3.15pm)