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BNT at Ballarat Heritage Festival

15 May 2025

We’re part of several wonderful theatre events throughout the Ballarat Heritage Festival with the Ballarat Performing Arts Community (BPAC). There will be history about theatre in the city to learn, performances to see and a new performing arts hub to officially launch.

What is BPAC? Ballarat’s performing arts organisations, companies and artists have formed a new association to establish and manage a dedicated performing arts facility. Together, we have several community events and fundraisers during the Ballarat Heritage Festival.

Quick list of events

See below for more details and booking links

8 – 25 May, 11am-4pm
Ballarat Performing Arts History Exhibition
Sunday 18 May, 7pm – 8:30pm
An Unforgivably Brief History of Theatre in Ballarat with Dr Rob
Tuesday 20 May, 4pm – 5:30pm
An Unforgivably Brief History of Theatre in Ballarat with Dr Rob
Friday 23rd May, 7pm
BPAC Gala Concert 2025
Sunday 25 May, 10am – 4pm
BPAC Community Fair

BPAC. 501 – 503 Neill St, Soldiers Hill

Event details

Ballarat Performing Arts History Exhibition

Venue: BPAC. 501 – 503 Neill St, Soldiers Hill

8 – 25 May, 11am-4pm

Entry by donation

Discover the heritage of Ballarat’s community performing arts organisations through this exhibition. Visitors can view historical documents, photos, programs and costumes from BPAC’s member companies, including Royal South Street, Lyric, BLOC, and Ballarat National Theatre. We’ve provided some lovely artefacts for this exhibition!

As part of the exhibition there will be two opportunities for a talk on the topic

Read more on BPAC website

An Unforgivably Brief History of Theatre in Ballarat with Dr Rob

Venue: BPAC. 501 – 503 Neill St, Soldiers Hill

Sunday 18 May, 7pm – 8:30pm
Tuesday 20 May, 4pm – 5:30pm

Tickets from $5

In this cabaret-style lecture, Dr. Reid takes you on a whirlwind journey through the rich and colourful history of theatre in Ballarat.

From the early Goldfields performances under gaslights to the grand stages of Her Majesty’s Theatre and beyond, uncover the stories of how Ballarat became a cultural beacon for the performing arts.

Read more on BPAC website

BPAC Gala Concert 2025

Venue: BPAC. 501 – 503 Neill St, Soldiers Hill

Friday 23rd May, 7pm

Fundraiser tickets from $60

Then the tail end of the week you can catch BNT members performing alongside our fellow performing arts community groups as part of the launch event for BPAC

A spectacular showcase of BPAC’s member companies (and special guests) in the beautiful BPAC chapel.

You'll get to experience the venue's stunning acoustics and share in the excitement of this new incredible venue for Ballarat’s performing artists.

Why not treat yourself to a VIP Gala Supper package, which includes premium seats and access to the post-show supper where you can meet the performers.

Read more on BPAC website

BPAC Community Fair

Venue: BPAC. 501 – 503 Neill St, Soldiers Hill

Sunday 25 May, 10am – 4pm

Free entry; however tickets are required for some additional areas like the petting zoo or sideshow alley.

Finally the Ballarat Performing Arts Community groups will be running a fundraising day!

BPAC welcomes the community to enjoy this new performing arts hub and enjoy a family-friendly day out.

This fair will feature live performances, market stalls, traditional games and nostalgic fair fare such as Devonshire tea.

Entry to some elements (such as performances) will be ticketed, and tickets may be purchased on the day, or pre-purchased on the BPAC website.

Special activities:

  • Side Show Alley – 10am-12pm session, 12pm-2pm session, 2pm-4pm session.
  • Petting Zoo – open from 10am to 4pm
Read more on BPAC website

Other activities

We've spotted BNT history or BNT members also in these activities as part of Ballarat Heritage Festival

Centre Stage: The Making of Ballarat’s Theatre Culture

Eureka Centre, 102 Stawell St South
Thursday 22 May 6pm
Free entry

Another talk during the week at the Eureka Centre, not part of the BPAC series of events, but including BNT members Dr Mary-Rose McLaren and Dr Rob Reid on the panel.

The discussion will focus on the evolution of Ballarat’s theatre scene during a fascinating period of social change from the 20th century to today. This was a time when companies were formed to both cultivate local talent and bring entertainment to the community. The first branch of the National Theatre movement outside of a metropolitan area was founded in Ballarat in 1938. BLOC Music Theatre debuted in 1957 with the operetta, ‘In Waltz Time’, and Lyric Theatre emerged in 1963 in response to the enormous popularity of the American musical. It will also explore Ballarat’s rich history of performing arts education.

Chair: Bryce Ives. Panel: Vicky Jacobs, Dr Mary-Rose McLaren, Dr Robert Reid

See the Heritage Festival event info

The Lydiard Street Soapbox, with The Ballarat Poetess

Footpath, Lydiard Street, Ballarat Central VIC 3350
24 & 25 May, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Free

In an impossible collaboration spanning 175 years, Megan J Riedl (BNT member and past President) steps into her power – and onto her soapbox – as the voice of the city. This award-winning spoken word poet will showcase how impactful moments of social change can be marked by the carefully crafted voice of The Ballarat Poetess.

The performance will feature the embodiment of her predecessor Ellen Young’s written poems about gold-rush era Ballarat and original spoken word poetry by Megan J Riedl.

Writing at the heart of the political upheaval in Ballarat in the 1880s, Ellen Young’s works were “controversial, political, feminist and questioning the status quo”. Megan’s writing combines the personal with the political, and she leads by example in standing up, showing up and speaking up, sharing the messy, human experiences that often go unspoken.

See the Heritage Festival event info
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