Queensland Theatre: 2020 Season

The world premiere of Boy Swallows Universe has been postponed until Brisbane Festival 2021.

Queensland Theatre is reaching out to all ticket holders and waitlist members with this information.

Adapted for the stage by Tim McGarry
Directed by Sam Strong
Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival Premiere

The blockbuster Australian novel bursts onto the stage

Eli Bell’s childhood in the outer Brisbane suburbs is far from the idyllic 1980s haze some kids would remember. His alcoholic dad has shot through, his ex-druggie mum is in jail, his stepfather’s dealing heroin, his brother Gus is a mute who swirls cryptic messages in the air with his finger, and his babysitter Slim is a convicted killer and infamous escapee from Boggo Road Gaol. Beset by chaos on all sides, a run-in with the local crime king and his henchman sets the 13 year old with the old soul on a journey to find out what kind of a man he is going to be.

Boy Swallows Universe is adapted from the smash hit novel loosely based on Brisbane author Trent Dalton’s own childhood. It’s an exhilarating story of magic and madness, of beauty and brutality, of joy and heartbreak, and of the power of love to triumph over the darkest of circumstances.

Designer Renée Mulder
Lighting Designer Ben Hughes
Composer/Sound Designer Steve Francis
Video Designer Craig Wilkinson
Movement Director Nerida Matthaei

  • WARNING:

    Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe, adapted for the stage by Tim McGarry contains adult themes including violence and drug use. High level frequent coarse language.

  • Connecting safely at QPAC

    See our safety measures.
    Please provide contact details of all attendees, where prompted.
    Theatre seating for this event will be updated in line with COVID-19 physical distancing as required.

  • The Safest Way to Buy!

    QTIX is the official ticketing service for QPAC and Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe. Selected packages are sold through authorised resellers only. Any tickets purchased through unauthorised sales channels may be seized or cancelled without refund or exchange and the bearer of the ticket may be denied admission. Unauthorised sales channels include Viagogo, eBay and Gumtree. Read more about purchasing tickets online.

Presented by Queensland Theatre and Brisbane Festival

Pricing Guide

Sat 7:30pm Premium Adult $92 Senior^ $88 Concession^^ $81 A-Reserve Adult $87 Senior^ $83 Concession^^ $76 Youth^^^ $35
Mon to Fri Evenings Premium Adult $90 Senior^ $85 Concession^^ $79 A-Reserve Adult $85 Senior^ $80 Concession^^ $74 Youth^^^ $35
Wed 1pm & Sat 2pm Premium Adult $80 Senior^ $73 Concession^^ $67 A-Reserve Adult $75 Senior^ $68 Concession^^ $62 Youth^^^ $35
Preview Performances i Adult $61 Senior^ $61 Concession^^ $61 Youth^^^ $35
Sat 7:30pm i Premium & A-Reserve $81
Mon to Fri Evenings i Premium & A-Reserve $79
Wed 1pm & Sat 2pm i Premium & A-Reserve $67
MAKE A GROUP BOOKING
ALL PERFORMANCES i ADMISSION $30 1 TEACHER FREE PER 10 STUDENTS
MAKE A SCHOOL GROUP BOOKING

^Queensland Seniors Card, Commonwealth Seniors Card

^^Pension card and healthcare card holders, unwaged, Veterans Affairs card holders

^^^Under 35 years of age at the time of booking, ID required

A transaction fee of $7.20 applies per transaction. Selected ticket delivery methods may incur an additional charge. The minimum price listed may be available for selected performances only. Please see the event calendar when booking for the available date(s) and time(s) of this performance.