An Important Queensland Play Is Coming To Beaudesert

In April 2009, 19-year-old Toowoomba teenager Kristian Terauds died due to complications from illicit drug use. His father wrote an account of his son’s death, calling it April’s Fool.

Inspired by this, the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba commissioned award-winning playwright, David Burton to bring his son’s story to the stage and now the play of the same name, April’s Fool, is touring the state.

It promises to be a thought-provoking and ultimately optimistic reflection on how we all live our lives. It explores a number of themes relevant to adolescents, parenting, health and drug use and above all, decision-making.

Using the words of Kristjan’s friends and family interviewed over many months, the result is a powerful mix of sadness, loss, and love, but unexpectedly it is laced with humour.

Young people, parents, teachers, youth workers and theatre critics have universally praised April’s Fool for its ability to engage them in the story, gently sharing the sad tale with its audience but at no time seeking to lecture or preach.

The result is a theatre experience that reflects Kristjan himself – loving, warm, generous, open, honourable, gentle, complex and provocative.

This production is directed by Lewis Jones with a very talented cast of five. They are Sam Clark, Jessica Harm, Allen Laverty, Barbara Lowring and Belinda Raisin. It runs for 80 minutes with a Q&A session after each performance with the cast and crew.

Scipts will be available for purchase through The Centre at a special tour price of $20 per script. This would be a great resource for teachers and schools to compliment the teachers’ notes and lesson plans for pre and post performance study.

This touring production visits Beaudesert on Wednesday 2 May with two shows – one at 10am and the other at 1.15pm. As there are drug references and it contains mild coarse language, it is recommended only for students 12 years and older.

This project been made possible through financial assistance through Arts Queensland’s Development and Presentation Program and the Regional Stages – a joint initiative of Arts Queensland and Australia Council for the Arts.

The Australian Government is also proud to be associated with this tour through the national performing arts touring program, Playing Australia, which gives Australians across the country the opportunity to see some of the best performing arts. The tour is managed and coordinated by arTour – a business unit of Queensland Arts Council.