From page to stage: inclusive theatre showcase brings local stories to life
April 1, 2026
Two lively animal tales, one about a singing dog, the other a brave little bird, will make their first steps from page to stage this
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Queensland’s regional theatre sector is set for a new wave of growth, with free statewide advisory support delivered by Cairns-based JUTE Theatre Company through the
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JUTE Theatre Company, in partnership with Belloo Creative (Brisbane), will launch a brand-new script development model when it presents 4 on the Floor, with a
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Leaping from 17th-century Italy to today’s urban art scene in a fast, funny and thought-provoking mash-up of history, humour and imagination, new dark comedy Genius
@ jute_theatre . Jul 29
Dr Katrina Pring shares how the history of a remarkable 1778 Dalinger violin shaped the music of Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time, developed with Kirtley Walker-Halstead.
See the work in development at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre this Friday 31 July, 6pm.
Tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
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@ jute_theatre . Jul 29
We’re farewelling the wonderful Jess Lamb as she steps away from JUTE to focus on her creative practice.
As Jess concludes her work as Regional Arts Advisor and Creative Producer of our DARTS program, we’re seeking a part-time Regional Arts Advisor to continue supporting theatre artists, arts workers and organisations across regional Queensland.
Working within the Regional Arts Services Network, the role provides practical advice and support in areas including career development, grant writing, mentoring, industry connections, arts marketing and audience development.
This is a fixed-term, 0.4 FTE position through to 31 December 2027, with flexible working arrangements available.
Learn more and apply:
https://jute.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-Regional-Arts-Advisor-Part-Time-2.pdf
The position description can also be accessed via the JUTE homepage.
We’re incredibly grateful to Jess for everything she has contributed to JUTE and the regional arts community.
Read her personal note here:
https://tinyurl.com/jess-update
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@ jute_theatre . Jul 27
Kirtley Walker-Halstead doesn’t just play the Dalinger violin, she is bringing its story to the stage. Crafted in 1778 by Sebastian Dalinger, the rare violin has travelled through European ballrooms, colonial Australia, wartime battlefields and generations of musicians before finding its way to Far North Queensland.
Rhapsody is a new chamber music-theatre work written and performed by Kirtley, inspired by the real history of the instrument in her safekeeping. At this intimate showcase, audiences will hear live excerpts and learn how a violin can become the narrator of its own extraordinary journey.
Kirtley is a professional international classical violinist and chamber musician, with extensive experience performing across Europe, America, Asia and Australia. She is the owner and performer of the 250-year-old violin, The Dalinger, which forms the heart of this project. As playwright and Leader, Kirtley will oversee the artistic direction, narrative development, and performance aspects of the work, bringing both historical insight and musical mastery to the project.
Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time
Fri 31 July, 6pm
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. Rhapsody is also supported by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, JUTE Theatre Company and Arts Nexus.
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@ jute_theatre . Jul 23
Kirtley Walker-Halstead shares how the remarkable history of a 1778 Dalinger violin inspired Rhapsody: a violin’s journey through time, developed and performed with Dr Katrina Pring.
See the work in development at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on Friday 31 July, 6pm. Tickets at https://events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
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@ jute_theatre . Jul 19
The star of Rhapsody has a history!
Rhapsody is a new chamber music-theatre work inspired by the true story of the Dalinger, a rare violin crafted in Vienna in 1778 by master luthier Sebastian Dalinger.
Made from even rarer Italian timbers, the Dalinger’s remarkable journey has taken it from European ballrooms to colonial Australia, to wartime battlefields, through the hands of generations of musicians, and ultimately to Far North Queensland.
The work traces the lives, places and turning points woven into the violin’s survival, including its connection to Queensland violinist Harold Fleischmann, who played the Dalinger on the Western Front during the First World War before returning home to lead the Ipswich Symphony Orchestra.
Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time
Friday 31 July, 6pm
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
Image 1: Violinist and Queenslander Harold Fleischmann on duty with the Dalinger, WWI Western Front, Belgium/France.
Image 2: Violinist Franz Bauer, who took the Dalinger from Europe to Melbourne to perform at the grand gala opening of Melbourne Theatre Royal.
Image 3: The Dalinger label, 1778.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. Rhapsody is also supported by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, JUTE Theatre Company and Arts Nexus.
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@ jute_theatre . Jul 16
Dr Katrina Pring is helping give a 250-year-old violin its newest voice.
For Rhapsody, Katrina is composing original music for violin and piano, created in close collaboration with violinist and playwright Kirtley Walker-Halstead. Together, they’re exploring how music can carry memory, movement and history, from Vienna in 1778 to Far North Queensland today. This work-in-progress showcase gives audiences a first look at the music, storytelling and creative process behind a new chamber music-theatre work inspired by the true journey of the Dalinger violin.
Dr Katrina Pring is a Cairns-based composer and pianist, holding a PhD in Composition from the University of Newcastle (NSW), 2007. Katrina’s compositional practice combines innovative approaches to chamber music with sensitivity to narrative and performance context. For this project, she will create the original score for violin and piano, working closely with Kirtley to ensure the music reflects both historical authenticity, violinistic artistry, and emotional storytelling in an innovative and engaging format. Katrina will also perform as pianist in the work-in-progress presentation, bringing her technical excellence and interpretive insight to the live performance.
Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time
Fri 31 July, 6pm
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. Rhapsody is also supported by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, JUTE Theatre Company and Arts Nexus.
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Acknowledgement of Country
JUTE wishes to pay its respects to Elders, past and present, of the lands where we work, live and perform. JUTE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land as well as the many regional areas we visit, tour and produce work. We recognise that these lands have always been places of art and story-telling.
JUTE Theatre Company
Dr Katrina Pring shares how the history of a remarkable 1778 Dalinger violin shaped the music of Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time, developed with Kirtley Walker-Halstead. See the work in development at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre this Friday 31 July, 6pm. Tickets at events.humanitix.com/rhapsody ... See MoreSee Less
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We’re farewelling the wonderful Jess Lamb as she steps away from JUTE to focus on her creative practice.
As Jess concludes her work as Regional Arts Advisor and Creative Producer of our DARTS program, we’re seeking a part-time Regional Arts Advisor to continue supporting theatre artists, arts workers and organisations across regional Queensland.
Working within the Regional Arts Services Network, the role provides practical advice and support in areas including career development, grant writing, mentoring, industry connections, arts marketing and audience development.
This is a fixed-term, 0.4 FTE position through to 31 December 2027, with flexible working arrangements available.
Learn more and apply:
jute.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2025-Regional-Arts-Advisor-Part-Time-2.pdf
The position description can also be accessed via the JUTE homepage.
We’re incredibly grateful to Jess for everything she has contributed to JUTE and the regional arts community.
Read her personal note here:
tinyurl.com/jess-update ... See MoreSee Less
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Kirtley Walker-Halstead doesn’t just play the Dalinger violin, she is bringing its story to the stage. Crafted in 1778 by Sebastian Dalinger, the rare violin has travelled through European ballrooms, colonial Australia, wartime battlefields and generations of musicians before finding its way to Far North Queensland.
Rhapsody is a new chamber music-theatre work written and performed by Kirtley, inspired by the real history of the instrument in her safekeeping, with compositions by Dr Katrina Pring. At this intimate showcase, audiences will hear live excerpts and learn how a violin can become the narrator of its own extraordinary journey.
Kirtley is a professional international classical violinist and chamber musician, with
extensive experience performing across Europe, America, Asia and Australia. She is the owner and performer of the 250-year-old violin, The Dalinger, which forms the heart of this project. As playwright and Leader, Kirtley will oversee the artistic direction, narrative development, and performance aspects of the work, bringing both historical insight and musical mastery to the project.
Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time
Fri 31 July, 6pm
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre
Tickets: events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. Rhapsody is also supported by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, JUTE Theatre Company and Arts Nexus. ... See MoreSee Less
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JUTE Theatre Company is proud to announce that Three Dresses has received major funding through Creative Australia’s Creative Futures Fund.
The Fund supports ambitious Australian projects with the scale, partnerships and creative vision to reach new and more diverse audiences across Australia and internationally.
Three Dresses is a First Nations-led stage adaptation of Wanda Gibson’s award-winning children’s book, bringing a deeply local story to life through theatre, song, puppetry and visual storytelling.
We are incredibly proud to be included in such outstanding company. The 2026–27 recipients represent an extraordinary list of artists, organisations and ambitious creative projects from across Australia.
Thank you to Creative Australia for investing in bold Australian work.
Explore the full list of recipients at creative.gov.au/creative-futures-fund and to read more about Three Dresses: www.jute.com.au/three-dresses ... See MoreSee Less
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Kirtley Walker-Halstead shares how the remarkable history of a 1778 Dalinger violin inspired Rhapsody: a violin’s journey through time, developed and performed with Dr Katrina Pring.
See the work in development at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre on Friday 31 July, 6pm. Tickets at events.humanitix.com/rhapsody ... See MoreSee Less
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
The star of Rhapsody has a history!
Rhapsody is a new chamber music-theatre work inspired by the true story of the Dalinger, a rare violin crafted in Vienna in 1778 by master luthier Sebastian Dalinger.
Made from even rarer Italian timbers, the Dalinger’s remarkable journey has taken it from European ballrooms to colonial Australia, to wartime battlefields, through the hands of generations of musicians, and ultimately to Far North Queensland.
The work traces the lives, places and turning points woven into the violin’s survival, including its connection to Queensland violinist Harold Fleischmann, who played the Dalinger on the Western Front during the First World War before returning home to lead the Ipswich Symphony Orchestra.
Rhapsody - a violin’s journey through time
Friday 31 July, 6pm
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre
Tickets: events.humanitix.com/rhapsody
Image 1: Violinist and Queenslander Harold Fleischmann on duty with the Dalinger, WWI Western Front, Belgium/France.
Image 2: Violinist Franz Bauer, who took the Dalinger from Europe to Melbourne to perform at the grand gala opening of Melbourne Theatre Royal.
Image 3: The Dalinger label, 1778.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. This project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, provided through Regional Arts Australia, administered in Queensland by Flying Arts Alliance. Rhapsody is also supported by the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, JUTE Theatre Company and Arts Nexus. ... See MoreSee Less
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