Curtain World is a real world
Curtain World is an art and event production house in Meanjin/Brisbane. It is the interface between artist and market. It is a fantasy vehicle that delivers the art from creation to sharing entirely within the spirit of joyful, emotional, expressive work from which it was born. Curtain World curates live performance and workshop environments that welcome, that move, that meditate, that joke. Always in the energy of high-art playfulness and strange-making, Curtain World is a movement towards more ambitious, fantastical, irreverent, and loving displays of performance in our lives.
Curtain World began officially in 2021 as an effort on the part of founder Esther Dougherty to consolidate and evidence the labour of production as seperate from their art works, and as a way to ‘business-ify’ without sacrificing any of the artistic spirit. What emerged was a production house that loves itself and its artists truly, that works for them. It is the production house of artist Esther Dougherty, producing their original plays and events, as well as offering production support to other artists. Esther exists across many company roles, and also contracts out to other artists and arts workers for projects. Though formalised in 2021, Esther has been making theatre professionally since 2015. Esther grew up and studied in Magandjin (Brisbane) where they have a strong connection and make and share much of their work - but has worked in Tandanya (Adelaide), Katherine, Naarm (Melbourne) and nipaluna (Hobart) as well.
Curtain World is a queer company, proudly! It is invested in platforming queer and trans artists, actors and writers, and is committed always to the LGBTQIA+ community of South East QLD and beyond. Working queerly permeates all facets of this company and its associates, and the joyful spirit of free loving selfhood and expression is what underpins Curtain World’s unique make of theatre.
Curtain World has produced independent seasons of theatre, interstate tours, durational performance installations, workshops, poetry reading events, costumes, and videos. It has presented the original work of 5 artists and contracted work from over 50. It has sold over 708 independent tickets (from adding up on the ticket site) and a further 300+ through fringe festivals, and won its first award - the 2022 Local Legends award from Wynnum Fringe Festival for Esther Dougherty’s play Slippery. In 2023 Curtain World participated in the Dead Puppet Society Academy, presenting a development showing of new play Fitzgerald Sunbeam by Esther Dougherty at The Princess Theatre. In 2024 Curtain World received an Adelaide Fringe Fund grant for $4000 to take play Slippery to Adelaide Fringe, where it played 8 nights at My Lover Cindi in the CBD, and 1 night each regionally in Auburn and Clayton Bay.
Curtain World strange-makes to truth-tell, likes laughing, calling out, cheering, dreaming, making, playing nicely, theatre, and love.
Curtain World would love to meet you, work with you, and see you at a show!
Contact us if you would like to get in touch with any of the artists, if you would like to exhibit an installation, a video, or a costume, if you want to commission an artist, host a play, or for any questions you may have. Email erfdougherty@gmail.com.
You can also stay connected via social media. Clink the links below to find us on your favourite app.
Curtain World lives and works on sovereign Jagerra and Turrbal country, in a place called Magandjin. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging. Always was and always will be Aboriginal Land. Curtain World stands in solidarity with First Nations people in the struggle against the illegal occupation of their lands in the colony of Australia.