Red Chair is an independent Queensland performing arts company based on Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi country in the Sunshine Coast region. Our company’s work and artistic practice is based on our vision for an independent arts community that is sustainable, valued, and connected.

Sparrows of Kabul tells a Queensland story that people need to hear. Fred Smith served in Uruzgan province alongside soldiers from Townsville based 1 RAR and Enoggera based 6RAR/2CER. As the mission collapsed with the evacuation of Kabul, he worked with soldiers from Townsville to get thousands of desperate Afghans out of the country. Some of the songs are about Queensland based soldiers, including Dust of Uruzgan which was covered by Lee Kernaghan. Many Australians feel their story has not been properly told. Fred Smith was there and saw it all and has written this remarkable song cycle.

We have a full suite of marketing collateral for the show including marketing copy, printed materials, press releases digital assets, images, promotional footage, poster designs, MP3s of songs, music videos, a teachers resource pack and two books written by Fred about his experiences in Afghanistan.

The back story is so rich and authentic and directly relates to the work done by Queensland based solders in Afghanistan. So getting media attention is generally easy.

Band members are all Queensland based and have their own networks.

We offer a teacher’s resource pack and the following workshops/presentations (for an additional $350) suitable for schools (Year 10, 11 and 12), lectures in RSLs and libraries:

Australia in Afghanistan
Part lecture, part concert, this workshop discusses the Australian involvement in Afghanistan from its origins in post-9/11 global politics to the fall of Kabul in August 2021. It looks at important questions like why were Australian soldiers and diplomats working in Afghanistan, how did we come to be in Uruzgan Province, what we trying to achieve there, what were the challenges, why did the Afghan state disintegrate, why are things the way they are in Afghanistan, what did we achieve there, was it worth it, and what lessons can be learned for Australian society?

Writing and arranging Australian contemporary songs
Looking at the great Australian narrative song writing tradition from Lawson to Kev Carmody to Paul Kelly, this workshop teaches students how to build songs that tell stories dealing with issues in their own communities. Uniquely Australian, this style of storytelling song writing is rarely taught and will provide participants with a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from a master of the art form.