111 Gippsland Performing Arts Centre – Set to be a showstopper

GIPPSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

The heart-pounding moment before the curtains lift, as the house lights dim, and the audience stirs in anticipation – it’s what performers live for. On this occasion, the house itself is waiting in the wings to make a spectacular debut, as an entire community prepares to applaud Gippsland Performing Arts Centre’s opening act.

After years of planning and almost 24 months of pandemic-plagued construction, Latrobe City’s GPAC is ready for lights, camera, action in March 2022. And Mayor Kellie O’Callaghan will be front and centre on opening night.

“I’m a little bit too excited about this one I’m afraid,” Kellie gushed. “The biggest risk is that I’ll be there for every single event, every step of the way and they may have to move me on!”

While Latrobe City holds a soft spot for its beloved Little Theatre, the region’s thirst for bigger productions and a venue to match has grown in recent years. It prompted a call for a modern, state-of-the-art facility, capable of attracting a wider range of performances and increased grassroots opportunities.

“It’s really important to us that the GPAC is a community venue and I know that’s something that’s in the hearts and minds of the community that advocated so passionately to have this space created,” Kellie said.

While the mammoth, $40 million dollar facility is the true headline act, the original Little Theatre remains just a stone’s throw away and will still retain a place in local arts. The pair of venues are a theatrical entwining of old and new in the one precinct.

“I think one of the tricks is giving an appropriate nod to the history people have with these buildings,” said Kellie. “Certainly, the early consultation focused around - what this will look like? Where the Little Theatre fits in the precinct and what role it would have. “There have been some changes to the precinct’s green space so we could keep the Little Theatre and the Town Hall for educational and smaller scale productions so there is plenty of community access.”

Built with funding support from the state and federal governments, along with council contributions, GPAC has the capacity to attract major productions and touring shows the Little Theatre wasn’t quite big enough to host.

“We’ve got a 750-seat theatre at GPAC, which is a huge step up from the 227 seats that we have in the Little Theatre,” Latrobe City Director Creative Arts Bec Cole said.

“What’s really great about the venue as well is that we’ve got a full-sized fly tower. So, what that means is that we can present the kinds of productions that need a full scale, fullsized production."

“A fly allows a backdrop to come in and out, and without a full fly you get really limited with what you can bring into the space. So, it opens up the opportunity for people across Gippsland to see a range of programs a bit closer to home, without having to travel to Melbourne.”

The new centre also houses meeting rooms, an indoor/outdoor café and two open air event spaces, including an amphitheatre. The highly anticipated 3 March opening is billed as a four-day immersive experience for locals and visitors to sample a taste of what their new star attraction can offer.

“We’ve got some really amazing acts lined up to christen the stage in style,” Bec explained. “Client Liaison will rock the house with their partypop vibes – a huge musical act fresh off playing at the Australian Open.

SET TO BE

A SHOWSTOPPER WORDS BY ANITA BUTTERWORTH

"We’ve got a barrel of laughs rolling out with some familiar faces in store for the Saturday night comedy show. Across the weekend we’ve got a host of family activities from workshops, 10-minute dance parties, to arts and crafts activities so there will be plenty for families and kids to come and experience at the venue.”

The opening couldn’t come at a better time for the wider arts community, as well as Gippsland’s performers, who’ve been living in limbo for two years. Bec said while some larger productions would need time to get back on the road, there would still be entertainment headed Gippsland’s way in the short-term.

“What we’re seeing is that live music and comedy can stand up pretty quickly.” Said Bec. “In the first six to 12 months we’ll probably lean quite heavily into those genres, but we’ll be working with different community groups and producers to bring some local theatre to the venue so that’s really exciting for us too.”

In line with the community-first push, ticket prices will be capped at $40 for the regular program, with $25 ‘Access’ tickets also available – without the need for any form of concession. Patrons can choose which price they wish to pay, depending on what they can afford at the time – in a bid to make theatre, live music and comedy accessible for everyone.

Kellie said the collaborative approach to GPAC – from its inception through to its construction - meant the community would feel a sense of ownership, and hopefully throw their support behind their newest arts precinct.

“It’s something that’s been built from a grassroots idea and an underpinning philosophy has been to deliver something the community can engage with at a variety of levels,” she said.

“It comes from a really solid grounding in terms of the local arts and creative community. They know the benefits of what the arts can bring to the table beyond just shows and performance. It’s about connection, wellbeing and having an opportunity to come together as one and celebrate a shared passion.”

All that’s left is to raise the curtain, cue the spotlight and let GPAC shine.

Gippsland Performing Arts Centre’s full program is available at www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/gpac