IPSWICH has once again taken centre stage on Queensland’s cultural map, with the world premiere of the acclaimed new Australian play Goodbye, Eli Anderson at the Ipswich Civic Centre last week.
The production, directed by award-winning theatre-maker Timothy Wynn, secured Arts Queensland funding and was presented with the support of the Civic Centre’s Hatchery: On Stage program – a major coup for Wynn, his company THAT Production Company, and the city itself.
Written by celebrated emerging playwright Grace Wilson, Goodbye, Eli Anderson is already one of the most highly awarded unproduced Australian plays of its generation.
Goodbye, Eli Anderson was the winner of the Queensland Theatre’s Young Playwrights’ Award for 2022 and was a finalist for the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award, Griffin Award, Queensland Writers Centre’s Stageable and Premier’s Drama Award in 2023/4.
Until now, however, it had never seen the stage and given the space it deserves, resulting in the world premiere marking a significant step forward for contemporary theatre outside traditional metropolitan centres and signals a growing confidence in the city’s cultural future.
A four-person, two-hour work, the play follows two young men on a road trip across Australia, blending humour, heartbreak, long-buried secrets and 1970s rock music as they grapple with identity, love, and the stories we tell ourselves about how our lives will end.
For Wynn, Artistic Director of THAT Production Company, the production represents both a professional milestone and a clear statement of intent.
“Grace’s play had received so much recognition across the sector, but it still hadn’t found its way home to a full production,” Wynn said.
“It’s such a beautiful story, and I’m incredibly excited for it to finally stand in front of an audience.”
Having led THAT Production Company for nearly two decades, Wynn saw the world premiere as a defining moment in the company’s evolution.
“Producing the world premiere of Goodbye, Eli Anderson feels like an exciting step forward for us. We’re committed to producing new Australian work right here in our own backyard,” he said.
“As cities expand, places like Ipswich need to maintain a strong sense of identity and community.
“Cultural organisations play a huge role in that, and Ipswich is absolutely ready for work of this scale.”
Playwright Grace Wilson said seeing her play reach the stage as a world premiere was validating and transformative.
“It shows that I’m capable of being funded, but also that my work has worth and regional appeal,” she said.
“The arts are how we tackle some of the hardest conversations of our time.”
Beyond its artistic impact, Wilson believes productions like Goodbye, Eli Anderson bring tangible benefits to regional cities.
“When I travel, the first thing I do is see what’s on at the local theatre,” she said. “Theatre people travel for good theatre, and there’s no reason that can’t happen in regional areas.”
