logo

QPAC

Accessibility Tools
  • What's On
    • All Events
    • Accessible Performances
    • Clancestry
    • First Nations
    • Digital Stage
    • For Schools
    • Backstage Tours
    • Festivals & Seasons
    • Gift Ideas
  • Visit
    • Eat & Drink
    • Getting Here
    • Accessibility
    • Our Theatres & Spaces
    • Traffic Updates & Notices
  • Engage
    • First Nations Art
    • For Schools
    • Projects & Events
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Community Support Program
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Philanthropy
    • Supporters
    • Partnerships
    • Gifts in Wills
    • Membership
  • Secondary Links
    • My Account
    • Gift Certificates
    • Newsroom
    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • About Us
    • Venue Hire
    • Functions
    • Working with Us
Stay up to date with QPAC news. Subscribe to QPAC emails.
QPAC logo
Queensland Government emblem

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations, both First Nations and non-First Nations peoples, towards creating a better Queensland.

  • …
  • Engage
  • Behind the Scenes
  • Five Minutes with ... Isabella Swietlicki
Queensland Ballet's The Nutcracker

Five Minutes with ... Isabella Swietlicki

QPAC’s Playhouse is hosting the 10th annual season of the festive favourite, Queensland Ballet's The Nutcracker. 

Adapted by renowned choreographer Ben Stevenson OBE from the original 19th century Russian classic, this cherished holiday tale welcomes audiences into the world of Clara and the array of fascinating characters she meets along the way. 

We chatted with Queensland Ballet Company Dancer Isabella Swietlicki about her most treasured festive memories, and her connection to dancing in the role of Clara, and what she loves most about Christmas.  

Who or what inspires you? c There are so many amazing dancers that inspire me, I can’t choose just one! I get inspiration and motivation daily from the dancers at Queensland Ballet.

What’s your favourite childhood memory?
I remember when I was three years old, I used to watch Riverdance on VHS six times a day! I used to dance right in front of the TV with the Irish dancers. My favourite was Michael Flatley’s solo; I must thank him for my dance career as my mum sent me to dance lessons after seeing how obsessed I was with dancing.


Queensland Ballet's Isabella Swietlicki preparing for her role as Clara in The Nutcracker. 

Describe yourself in five words.
Determined, organised, stubborn, loyal, dog mum (okay, six words!). 

What’s your favourite thing about the festive season?
My favourite thing about this season is probably going home to Scotland to spend time with family, and you can’t beat Christmas in a cold climate, having a real Christmas tree that smells of pine and having a fire in the fireplace! 

What does it mean to you to play Clara in The Nutcracker?
It’s very special to me, I first played Clara when I was 11 at my first dance school in Scotland before I moved to London at 16. We toured all over Scotland with The Nutcracker, and to me, between the ages of 11 and 13 it was the most magical time, it was a mix of professionals and students in the production.

I danced Clara for years and would have done so many shows – I feel connected to Clara even now, dancing the role as an adult. 

You may also like

  • Jonathan Biggins as Paul KeatingPhotographer: Brett Boardman

    Five Minutes with ... Jonathan Biggins

    We spent five minutes with Jonathan Biggins who starred in The Gospel According to Paul he’s pure PJK with his wit, intellect and ego.

  • Five Minutes with ... Noni Hazlehurst

    We spent five minutes with Noni Hazlehurst who is one of Australia’s best known, and most well-loved actors. In a career spanning decades Noni is a household name.

  • Laser Beak ManArtist: Tim Sharp, Picture: Dylan Evans

    Five Minutes with ... Laser Beak Man

    We spent five minutes with Laser Beak Man who was created by Tim in 1999 at aged 11. Since then Tim and Laser Beak Man have won fans all over the world.

  • Suzi Quattro

    Five Minutes with ... Suzi Quatro

    We spent five minutes with Suzi Quatro who is a singer, songwriter, actor, activist, glam rock legend and role model. With 50 million albums sold, she continues to delight in creating music.

  • John Cameron MitchellPhoto: Matthew Placek

    Five Minutes with ... John Cameron Mitchell

    We spent five minutes with John Cameron Mitchell who is a writer, director and actor that we’ve seen on stages and screens from infamous New York City night clubs and Broadway theatres.

  • Cyndi LauperPhoto: Jenny Anderson

    Five Minutes with ... Cyndi Lauper

    We spent five minutes with Cyndi Lauper who won a Tony Award for her score for the Broadway musical Kinky Boots making her the first woman to ever win solo in that category.

  • Sarah McLeodPhoto: Dylan Evans

    Five Minutes with ... Sarah McLeod

    We spent five minutes with Sarah McLeod who is an Australian singer-songwriter known both for her solo work and as the singer/guitarist of rock band The Superjesus.

  • Five Minutes with … Jimeoin

    We spent five minutes with Jimeoin, the English-born Irish stand-up comedian and actor, who is well known not only for his live gigs, but also for his television shows.

  • Eddie Perfect

    Five Minutes with … Eddie Perfect

    We spent five minutes with Eddie Perfect who is a singer-songwriter, pianist, comedian, writer and actor.

  • Photo: Tania Jovanovic

    Five Minutes with ... Vika and Linda Bull

    We spent five minutes with Vika and Linda Bull, an Australian vocal duo who came to prominence after singing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The Black Sorrows from 1988.

  • Five Minutes with ... Reuben Kaye

    We spent five minutes with Reuben Kaye, acclaimed comedian and cabaret icon who is described as “the evil love child of Liza Minnelli and Jim Carrey” (British Theatre Guide).

  • Five Minutes with ... Robert Grubb

    We spent five minutes with acclaimed actor Robert Grubb who played the dual roles of Admiral Boom and Chairman of the Bank in Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins.

  • Photo by Sharyn Swanepoel

    Five Minutes with ... Damien Leith

    We spent five minutes with Damien Leith whose career skyrocketed after winning Australian Idol in 2006, Since then, he’s been a singer, playwright and tv/radio host personality, sometimes all at once.

  • Five Minutes with ... SOLCHLD

    We spent five minutes with SOLCHLD to chat about her inspirations, what makes her laugh, and how the BlakBeats program has helped her as a musician.  

  • Five Minutes with ... Sami Afuni

    We spent five minutes with Brisbane-born performer Sami Afuni who thrilled audiences in HAMILTON, performing in the dual role of Hercules Mulligan/James Madison.

  • Five Minutes with ... Peter Cook

    We spent five minutes with Brisbane playwright and actor Peter Cook who returned to his hometown in February 2023 with his compelling and uplifting one-man play, Breaking the Castle.

  • Sarah Krndija. Photo by Sam Bisso. 

    Five Minutes with ... Sarah Krndija

    We chatted with Sarah about the character of Sophie, her favourite song to perform in the show, and what she enjoys most about Brisbane audiences. 

  • Five Minutes with ... A.C Grayling

    Eminent philosopher and author and Professor A.C Grayling offers answers to eternal questions in his exclusive to Brisbane event.

  • Behind the scenes at The RabbitsPhoto: Darren Thomas

    Behind the Scenes

    Our Behind the Scenes series takes you on an exclusive journey into the heart of QPAC, where the magic of the stage comes to life.

  • The People's Day Playlist

    Stephen Anderson, who plays Willy Wonka, and Lucy Maunder, who plays Mrs Bucket, pick their favourite childhood songs and tell us what makes them special.

  • Philip’s Playlist

    See what songs are on musical theatre star Philip Quast's playlist.

  • The Ultimate Musical Playlist

    Listen to the ultimate musical playlist as chosen by three of musical theatres leading ladies.

  • World Violin Day Playlist

    We asked the talented violinists of Camerata to share their favourite music featuring the violin and why.

  • Alexandra Flood’s Playlist

    Find out what music makes the top ten play list for an internationally acclaimed coloratura soprano.

  • Introducing Kids to the Orchestra

    Children will be introduced to all of the orchestral instrument families: string, woodwind, brass and percussion by QSO horn player Vivienne Collier-Vickers.

  • Get creative in Roma

    QPAC brought Creative Fusions to Roma; a five-day music-making program for musicians aged 10 to 100 years.

  • Ishmael first day

    Take a peek behind the scenes at the first day of rehearsals for Dead Puppet Society’s much anticipated world premiere production, Ishmael.

  • An Interview with Gideon Mzembe

    Actor Gideon Mzembe talks about his life and his career while he was at QPAC, performing in shake & stir theatre co’s sold-out return season of Animal Farm.

  • The Role of the Staging Director

    An Interview with An American in Paris Australian Staging Director Hannah Ryan, during the Australian premiere season at QPAC.

  • A yarn about Frozen costumes

    Read the interview with Frozen’s Costume Designer and Wigs associate Janet Hine who oversaw the creation of costumes for the Australian production of Frozen.

  • 75 years of QSO

    In their anniversary year, we review the life of the orchestra powered by music and inspired by the state it calls home.

  • Fanfare Competition 2021 Finalists

    The 2021 Artology Fanfare competition saw over 100 young Australian composers submit their very own attention-grabbing composition.

  • Our Ultimate Listening Guide

    Tune into the music picks of these three superstar Australian performers who come together for an evening filled with opera arias and Broadway show tunes.

  • An Acrobat’s Warm Up

    Circa Contemporary Circus calls QPAC’s Playhouse home for a season each year. Here’s a glimpse of the company warming up for its five-star show Humans.

  • An Evening with Anthony Warlow

    Gather insight into Anthony’s life and his decades-long internationally acclaimed career. 

  • Tony GouldPhotographer: Kathryn Lindgren

    Remembering a True Giant of the Arts

    Dr Tony Gould AM was QPAC's founding Director. QPAC's Chief Executive, John Kotzas, sat down with Rebecca Levingston on ABC Radio Brisbane to remember him.

  • Mother by Noni Hazlehurst

    An artist, educator and activist, Noni Hazlehurst considers ideas of madness from her role in Mother and as an individual of our society today.

  • From Broadway with Love

    The Australian musical theatre legend and internationally acclaimed star of Broadway and The West End talks about her new solo show.

  • Shear Brilliance Comes to QPAC

    Internationally acclaimed Brisbane-based Circa has joined forces with animation studio Aardman to create a new circus-theatre production.

  • How to inspire creativity in children

    Regularly flexing creative muscle as children and adults builds arts literacy – the ability to identify, interpret & assess in varying arts forms and contexts.

  • Paul Keating Moves to QPAC's Upper House

    We caught up with Biggins about the return season of The Gospel According to Paul.

  • How to be creative

    QPAC asked a musical theatre star, an artistic director, a lighting designer and a professor of the arts for their tips on how to be creative.

  • Fanfare Competition

    The Fanfare competition invited young composers aged 12 to 21 years to submit their own short 30 second attention-grabbing composition.

  • The Role of Early Music Today

    Tembembe Ensamble member Leopoldo Novoa talks about his experience playing with early music superstar Jordi Savall.

Stay up to date with QPAC news. Subscribe to QPAC emails.
  • 136 246
  • Contact Us
  • Help
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement
QPAC logo
Queensland Government emblem

Principal Partner

© 2025 Queensland Performing Arts Trust. All rights reserved.