Starting Sunday March 23rd, we will be opening the doors of our beautiful chapel.
Feel free to wander in, enjoy the space, sit and reflect, or have a cup of tea and a chat.
All are welcome.

For further information, please email us: info@bpacballarat.org.

Free.
Drinks available to purchase.

Please join us for our official launch event – a spectacular showcase of BPAC’s member companies (and special guests) in our beautiful chapel.

We can’t wait for you to experience the 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.

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TICKETS:

Tickets on sale now via Humantix.
Don’t delay – this event will absolutely sell out.

General admission: $60
VIP Gala Supper Package $100

All proceeds from this event go towards the purchase of the Neill Street property, and a sustainable future for BPAC in its mission of supporting the performing arts in Ballarat.

Tired of being turned into a monster, a myth in the mouth becomes a chorus.
“I opened my mouth and a flaming sword fell out.”
(from the poem, ‘Tooth’ by Izzy Roberts-Orr)

‘Medusa is a Modern Woman’ is the new work in progress by Seedpod residency artist Izzy Roberts Orr, where Medusa is reimagined as a contemporary figure – and she’s requesting your help with the task. Through her Seedpod residency, Izzy seeks to reclaim Medusa’s voice and explore how myth and memory shape survival through gathering, looping and rearranging of poetic patterns.

Izzy Roberts-Orr is a poet, writer, and performance maker based on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country in Regional Victoria. Her debut poetry collection, Raw Salt (Vagabond Press, 2024), was shortlisted for the Colorado Prize for Poetry. A recipient of the BR Whiting Residency (Rome, 2026), ASAL Fellowship (2025) and Varuna’s Pitch Me! Fellowship (2024), she also works as Creative Producer at Red Room Poetry. 

Sessions: Friday May 2^nd – 6pm, Sunday May 4^th – 2pm & 4pm

Address: BPAC Main Hall, 501 – 503 Neill St, Soldiers Hill, Ballarat.
Bookings: Places are free but very limited. We recommend booking.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our venue partner, Ballarat Performing Arts Community, for Izzy Roberts-Orr’s Seedpod residency.

Queer Goldfields – A Celebration of Hidden Histories

Step into the hidden history of Victoria’s queer past at the official launch of Queer Goldfields (queergoldfields.au), a groundbreaking project uncovering the lives of LGBTIQA+ figures from the 19th century. As part of the Ballarat Heritage Festival, this lively variety night will feature performances, music, and storytelling inspired by historical figures who lived boldly and defiantly.

Meet Captain Moonlite, the infamous bushranger whose love for fellow outlaw James Nesbitt was legendary; Edward De Lacey Evans, a trans man who challenged gender norms in colonial Australia; and Miss Goddard, a fearless performer who played Hamlet and Romeo on stage while later donating a wing to the Ballarat Base Hospital. Discover the dramatic lives of sculptor Dora Ohlfsen, queer icon Lola Montez, and notorious bushranger Kitty Morgan, once labeled one of the world’s ‘most wicked females.’

The night will also shine a light on lesser-known figures like poet and bisexual activist Lesbia Harford, trans man and cook Fredrick Wilson, and young trans woman Joey Hanslow. Weaving together over 300 historical newspaper articles, Queer Goldfields celebrates the resilience, passion, and rich legacy of Ballarat’s queer history. Join us for a night of entertainment, insight, and celebration of our shared past.

Queer Goldfields is presented by the City of Ballarat and Federation University.

This is a free event, but registration is essential.

FILLING FAST! Don’t Delay!

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.

This exhibition will be open daily from 11am to 4pm.

Entry is via a gold coin or paywave donation, which will support the work of BPAC in supporting local performing arts.

Entry by donation.

Drinks and light refreshments available to purchase.

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 via gold coin or paywave donation.

Take a seat and prepare to be entertained, educated, and enthralled by Dr. Robert Reid, one of Ballarat’s very own freelance theatre directors, game designers, and academics.

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.

With wit, insight, and a dash of irreverence, this is no ordinary history lesson—it’s a theatrical event in itself.

Perfect for history buffs, theatre lovers, or anyone who enjoys a good story told with flair, step into the past and discover how the show truly went on in Ballarat!

We can’t wait to host more events and shows – and we’ll let you know when they’re on – sign up to the mailing list and/or join as a member to be the first to know!