Stage

STAGE 2 & 16 DEC, 6 & 20 JAN, 3 & 17 FEB STAGE LITTLE GIGS IN FUNNY PLACES

WITH MEGAN & AMIE

Poet Megan J Riedl & songstress Amie Brulee are taking their creative camaraderie all around Ballarat this Summer. In this series of six short outdoor concerts, they’ll sing great songs, read great poems, tell interesting tales, ask creative questions and have fun with you in some unconventional surroundings. Can you find them? Tix: trybooking.com/BVLQO

4 - 11 DEC STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Presented by Ballarat National Theatre

Steel Magnolias is a beautiful comedy stage play set in a hair salon in North Louisiana in the early 1980s. It follows the lives of six women over a life-changing 18-months. Each has their own story and some of their friendships seem unlikely, but their hearts are as big as their hair. The heart warming dramatic play that inspired the award winning movie. Tix: hermaj.com

Mt Rowan Secondary College Theatre

453-457 Forest St, Wendouree 6 - 12 DEC 1:30pm

SHELTERING FROM THE RAIN

An art gallery is so much more than a place to shelter from the rain. That’s what Veronica discovers in Nude in decline, a short play by local writer Ann Chadwick. Coming into the Gallery out of the rain, Veronica strikes up a casual conversation with Leo, which takes her to unexpected places. Follow the play with a short tour of three works in the Gallery collection and finish with afternoon tea. FREE, bookings essential: artgalleryofballarat.com.au Art Gallery of Ballarat 40 Lydiard St Nth THU 9 DEC 7:30pm

COSENTINO – DECEPTION

Join Cosentino as he performs death-defying escapes that will thrill your senses, mindboggling stage illusions and cutting-edge street magic that twists your view of reality. His trademark blend of dance and magic with a touch of hilarious audience participation will take you on a journey that will captivate fans, new and old, until the very last mind-bending moment. Tix: hermaj.com Her Majesty's 17 Lydiard St Sth 10 - 12 DEC 10:30am & 1:30pm

WANDA'S MONSTER

This warm-hearted musical tells the story of an imaginative little girl named Wanda and her unexpected bond with a fuzzy monster as she learns acceptance and friendship. With beautiful songs and a very clever puppet show on film, this charming live musical shares a story of friendship as Wanda discovers how to embrace fear to discover a beautiful new friendship. Tix: creswicktheatre.com.au

Creswick Courthouse Theatre

2 Raglan St, Creswick TUE 14 DEC 7:30pm

THE 2 OF US: MARINA PRIOR & DAVID HOBSON

Us in up close and personal mode. Brand new songs, back-stage and life stories, including classics from their vast repertoire spanning 35 years. Accompanied by pianist David Cameron, Marina & David will perform classics from productions such as Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, Les Miserables,West Side Story, Guys & Dolls, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and La Boheme, as well as favourites from their awardwinning albums. Tix: wcpa.com.au WCPA 1220 Howitt St, Wendouree 26 - 27 DEC 6:30pm

ROMEO & JULIET

Two star-crossed lovers, Romeo & Juliet, chart their own course for the future at a time where hatred and self-interest are tearing the world apart. In a city of secrets, Romeo & Juliet meet, and a brief love, cut short by death, is born. Shunning the hate of warring factions, in defiance of their families and in secrecy from their closest friends, the young couple risk all they have to be together, and pay a terrible price for their folly. OZACT’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic is high-spirited, packed with excitement and comedy, romance and raw emotion, and promises to be an event to remember! Dust off the folding chairs and join us for some Shakespeare in the Great Outdoors this season. Tix: ozact.com

Kirks Reservoir Park

255 Daylesford Rd, Gong Gong 7 - 8 JAN 5pm

PICTURE HER

Performed and written by Marg Dobson, Picture Her returns to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale as a full-length show featuring Australian women photographers and one of Ballarat’s first, Daisy Harriett Llewelyn. Join in the search for Ms Daisy and be captivated by Dobson’s innovative storytelling, featuring projections, music & song. Dobson and director Glynis Angell bring a lifetime of skill and experience in crafting this theatrical gem, featuring a film noir flavour & a comic Detective in this true Ballarat story. Tix: ballaratfoto.org

Black Box Theatre

Lydiard St - Laneway next to Post Office Gallery TUE 15 FEB 2pm or 7:30pm

MONO: A THREE-PERSON ONE-MAN SHOW

A comedy tour de farce from three of Australia’s best loved performers. Noeline Brown (The Naked Vicar Show), Max Gillies (The Gillies Report) and John Wood (Blue Heelers) are the entire cast of Mono; the brand new classic comedy by Angus FitzSimons (Senior Moments). In the tradition of Joyce Grenfell, Alan Bennett and Bob Newhart comes Mono; with nine brilliant comic characters brought to life through hysterical monologues in 90 minutes of wit, fun and laughter. Tix: hermaj.com Civic Hall 300 Mair St

18 FEB - 5 MAR WE WILL ROCK YOU

Presented by Ballarat Lyric Theatre

Over 16 million theatregoers in 19 countries have been thrilled by this awe-inspiring production, based on the songs of Queen with a book by Ben Elton. In a post-apocalyptic future, the world is controlled by a mighty corporation….rock music and all musical instruments are banned. It’s up to two revolutionaries, Galileo and Scaramouche, to break free, restore individuality and bring back the power of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Tix: hermaj.com Her Majesty's 17 Lydiard St Sth