December 9th, 2024New era at Her Majesty’s Theatre
The stage is set for a new and more inclusive era for patrons and performers at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat.
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison represented Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney at Resurgence, the City of Ballarat’s official reopening event held at the theatre.
This is just the beginning for the nearly 150-year-old theatre, with major acts Marcia Hines, Daryl Braithwaite, and the illusionist Consentino among the performances coming to the newly revamped theatre over the holiday period.
Her Majesty’s Theatre, or ‘Her Maj’ as it is known to locals, has undergone major upgrade works in recent years. Her Maj, which is Australia’s oldest continually used performance space, has been transformed into a building that beautifully marries the old and the new.
The venue honours the rich goldfields-era history of the theatre while offering a modern, accessible and fit-for-purpose space for artists and audiences.
A jewel in Ballarat’s artistic crown, the theatre is a key pillar of live entertainment in regional Victoria and one of the most significant 19th century theatres remaining in Australia.
The theatre receives $95,000 per annum via Creative Victoria’s Regional Partnerships Program to support the venue’s programming. Ballarat City Council also receives funding through the program to support Art Gallery of Ballarat.
The reopened theatre will continue to support high quality arts and entertainment events, while ensuring that more people of all abilities have a chance to showcase their talents, tell their stories on the stage, and experience live entertainment.
Recent works, which supported 21 jobs during construction, have installed new lifts to support people of all abilities to access the stage and auditorium, improved fire safety standards in the building, and installed a new box office to make it easier to purchase tickets and stay up to date with future performances and events.
Earlier upgrades included the installation of steel structural support beams and external brick works and were completed as part of the first two stages of the redevelopment. These works were supported by more than $5 million from the City of Ballarat and $2 million from Heritage Victoria.
Words: Donna Kelly. Image: Supplied
