Season 2026

Wow. This is my sixth season at The Q! Can you believe that? I honestly can’t decide if that makes me feel proud… or just a little bit old. Either way, here I am, six seasons in, and still standing! 

It has been, let’s be honest, an interesting few years to be alive. And an even more interesting time to be working in the performing arts. We’ve had a global pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, and a world full of distractions all competing for people’s attention. (I mean, how do you compete with Netflix, TikTok, and Uber Eats?!) 

Trying to figure out what audiences want these days sometimes feels like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark. But here’s what I have learned: since the dawn of man, no matter what’s going on in our world, from stories around the fire, the ancient Greeks, Shakespeare to the latest blockbuster musical, people have always and will always love stories. We crave connection. We want to feel something – to laugh, to cry, to see ourselves (or our complete opposites) up there on stage. 

And look, I get it – time is precious. More than money, time is the thing we’re all most protective of. We’re busy, we’re tired, and the couch is so comfortable after a long week. I know how wonderful it is to sit back with the remote and a bowl of crisps at home, but there really is something special about live performance, isn’t there? Whether it’s a tribute band, a comedian, a dance show, or a big, dramatic piece, there’s just a kind of magic that happens. That show you’re watching? You’re the only person who saw it exactly like that, on that night, from that seat. No camera angles, no editors, no filters. Just you, the performers, and the moment. And the best shows, the really special ones, they stick with you. They pop up in your memory years later and you can still feel them. It doesn’t matter how many shows I see, I still get a shiver of excitement as the lights go down and the show begins. 

This season, our mission is simple: to give you absolute confidence that your time with us will be time well spent. Whether you want to laugh until your cheeks hurt, be swept away by a great story, or sit on the edge of your seat – we’ve got you. 

So, thank you; for showing up, for supporting live performance, and for choosing to spend your precious time with us. Here’s to Season 2026 – may it be full of laughter, surprises, and prove that no matter what’s happening in the world, coming together to share a story is still one of the most powerful things we can do. 

Jordan Best

Artistic Director & Arts Centre Manager
Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre