Description:
Date of event 14 May 2021 Participate in a suffragette rally and learn the art of suffrajitsu, then, explore Ballarat’s rich heritage of ghostly rituals and hoaxes. Two historical shows with a short interval. Suffrajitsu – See a suffragette rally and a Victorian Women’s self defence display of suffrajitsu, the noble art of self defence for women. Playing the Ghost – Explore Ballarat’s rich heritage of ghostly rituals, beliefs and hoaxes. Suffrajitsu See a suffragette rally and a Victorian Women’s self defence display of suffrajitsu, the noble art of self defense for women. In the late 19th century there was a craze for the Japanese martial art of Jiu Jitsu among women campaigning for suffrage, This was both for self defense from ruffians when door knocking, protesting and gaining signatures and also as part of a campaign for women’s safety at night. Led by Edith Garrud this movement argued that as women were exposed to violence and intimidation in their pursuit of suffrage they should campaign to break free of reliance on men for their protection. Playing the Ghost Come with us to explore Ballarat’s rich heritage of ghostly rituals, beliefs and hoaxes through the winding alleys of Camp and Lydiard st this Heritage weekend. Guisers who created spectres to scare away ill fortune and evil spirits, the wassailing rituals to protect against misfortune and the hoaxers who challenged the authority of the scientific anti-superstitious crusade by ‘playing the ghost’ in elaborate hoaxes. Also see the steps taken by 19th century police, clergy and vigilantes to stamp out what was known as the “ghost nuisance”. Featuring Fauvel the Australian Mari Lwyd, a traditional spectral ‘Grey Mare’, come on a guided theatrical tour of activations and Victorian artworks through Camp and Lydiard street to revisit Ballarat’s subversive and spectral past. https://ballaratmi.org.au/event/sptg/ Media Coverage https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/7248189/pioneer-women-took-up-the-fight-for-votes-with-martial-arts-training/ Images: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/vfys6lu32sry8uh/AACq983MpyYfLjZ2MlbKkAP6a?dl=0
Description:
Date of event 21 May and 10th July 2021 2 hour live performance The Witching Hour Have you found anything usual while renovating your house? Join Historian Dr David Waldron and Historian/Magician Dr Jo Clyne as they present the findings in a part Victorian era style lecture, part magic show. A Night Of Spiritualism Ballarat séances and spiritualists were well known enough internationally to be discussed by no less than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, avowed spiritualist and the creator of the detective Sherlock Holmes. Join us in a magical exploration of Ballarat’s Spiritualist past featuring many of the sleight of hand tricks and illusions that were the staple of Victorian mediums.
Description:
Performed 11th September-15th September 2019 By William Shakespeare Presented by the Third Year Acting Company Farce: a comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterisation and ludicrously improbable situations. Yep that’s it. Two sets of twins, a wife a sister and a dad condemned to death and heaps of mistaken identity. A ‘comedy’ that speaks to us today about gender, power and the patriarchy. Director: James Pratt Venue: Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Camp Street Campus
Description:
Performed 17th October-21st October 2019 By Polly Teale Presented by the Second Year Acting Company In 1845 Branwell Brontë returns home in disgrace, plagued by his addictions. As he descends into alcoholism and insanity, bringing chaos to the household, his sister write.... Polly Teale’s extraordinary play evokes the real and imagined worlds of the Brontës, as their fictional characters come to haunt their creators. Director: Ross Hall Venue: Post Office Box Theatre, Camp St Campus
Description:
3rd October-12th October 2019 Book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe Based on the film written by Daniel Waters By arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. Presented by the Third Year Music Theatre Company Heathers The Musical is the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and kiss Heather’s aerobicised ass - but J.D. has another plan for that bullet. Director: Alister Smith Musical Director: Martine Wengrow Venue: Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Camp Street Campus
Description:
Performed 24th October-28th October 2019 Book by Carolyn Burns Music and lyrics by Tim Finn Based on the novel The Woman in Black by Madeleine St John Presented by the Second Year Music Theatre Company A scrumptious coming of age musical set in the 1950's. Teenager Lisa joins the staff of a fashionable department store while she waits for her exam results. Over a summer that changes her life, she befriends the colourful characters of the women's clothing department. Each is on the precipice of change - facing independence, working for a living and what it means to be a woman. Director: Tamara Searle Musical Director: Ana Mitsikas Venue: Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Camp Street Campus
Description:
Performed 25th October-29th October 2019 Book, lyrics and music by Eddie Perfect Presented by the Second Year Music Theatre Company Shane Warne: The Musical is a musical comedy by Eddie Perfect based on the life of Australian cricketer Shane Warne. A wild, funny and outrageous musical romp through the life and times of one of the world's greatest cricketers.The show spins us through the bowler's controversy-laden career and roller-coaster personal life set to soul, rock, opera and gospel music. Director: Casey Gould Musical Director: Luke Di Somma Venue: Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Camp St Campus
Description:
Performed 7th-9th November 2018, Post Office Box Theatre, Ballarat, Australia. Presented by the Third Year Acting and Music Theatre Companies Artistic team: Teresa Colantuono, Anthony Crowley, Kim Durban Our performance programs are among the most creative and productive performing arts training programs in Australia. Our SHOWCASE2019 series celebrates the creative leaders of tomorrow.
Description:
Performed 18th September-22nd September 2019 By Richard Brome Presented by the Third Year Acting Company The Northern Lass by Richard Brome, a play written and first staged in 1638, is a boisterous comedy with music that focuses on the wooing and marriage of four women: Mistress Fitchow, a rich and domineering widow; Constance, the innocent Northern Lass of the title, freshly arrived in the city; Trainwell, who acts as her governess ;and Camitha Holdup, a cunning courtesan who impersonates the Northern Lass. They are wooed by Triedwell, Squelch, Nonsense, Widgeon and Luckless… as these names suggest, there is a little gentle satire about love, and more confusion here than an episode of MAFS. Director: Kim Durban Venue: Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Camp Street Campus
Description:
Performed 18th October-22nd October 2019. By Reginald Rose Adapted by Sherman L. Sergel Presented by the Second Year Acting Company A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. Twelve jurors are taken into the bleak jury room. It looks like an open-and-shut case - until one of the jurors begins opening the others' eyes to the facts. Director: Peta Hanrahan Venue: Post Office Box Theatre, Camp Street Campus
Description:
26th April-5th May 2018. Experience the Ballarat premiere of Shakespeare's most feminist play. Written to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death (2016), Margaret of Anjou could change the way we see Shakespeare. As Margaret matures from feisty princess to scheming queen, we see a female role that is an ‘Everest’ on a par with King Lear.
Description:
Performed 8th-10th November 2018, Post Office Box Theatre, Ballarat, Australia; 15th-16th November 2018, The Lawler, Southbank Theatre, MTC, Melbourne, Australia. Our performance programs are among the most creative and productive performing arts training programs in Australia. A performance season across Ballarat and Melbourne, our #SHOWCASE2018 series celebrates the creative leaders of tomorrow. This is your chance to witness the talent of young artists on the verge of their professional careers.
Description:
Performed 26 May 2022 The nineteenth century saw many miraculous advancements in the field of medicine. Unfortunately with them came hordes of quacks and charlatans eager to take your money at the expense of your health. Come with us as we explore the wild world of quackery that was the Victorian era in a hybrid lecture magic show. In partnership with Federation University Future Regions Research Centre and supported by the Eureka Centre Ballarat. Image sourced from Tales from Rat City. Venue: Eureka Centre Ballarat
Description:
Performance of 'Garden City Weeded' at the Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Federation University of Australia, 6th-13th April 2017. Directed by Kim Durban.
Description:
Performance of 'Garden City Weeded' at the Helen Macpherson Smith Theatre, Federation University of Australia, 6th-13th April 2017. Directed by Kim Durban.
Description:
My Favorite Year Book by Joseph Dougherty Music by Stephen Flaherty Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia. The Second Year Music Theatre Company at FedUni's Arts Academy presents My Favorite Year. Director Sara Grenfell Musical Direction by Alistair Smith Witness the future of Australian musical theatre tackle this tuneful Broadway score by the Tony Award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and a snappy book by Joseph Dougherty. My Favorite Year is a classic musical comedy with a heart of gold. It’s 1954, and Benjy Stone, freshman writer on TV’s King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade, is assigned the daunting task of baby-sitting veteran Hollywood swashbuckler Alan Swann while he's doing a live guest appearance on the show. The effort to keep the reckless Swann off the booze and out of the papers during the rehearsal week nearly drives Benjy to the brink. But when he's given an unexpected glimpse into Swann's broken heart, Benjy begins to discover a thing or two about life and love. In addition to Benjy Stone and Alan Swann, the show is filled with juicy roles for comic actors, from the overbearing Belle Carroca (played in both the original film and in the Lincoln Center production by Lainie Kazan) to the acerbic comedy writer Alice Miller, the role which garnered Andrea Martin a Tony Award. Based on the motion picture of the same name that first premiered in 1982, the original movie starred Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker and Jessica Harper. The studio season at the Arts Academy allows audiences to experience lesser-known and surprising theatre works and to witness our Arts Academy training in progress.
Description:
Peformed 7th-11th November 2017, Post Office Box Theatre, Ballarat, Australia; 15th-16th November 2017, MTC Southbank Theartre, Melbourne, Australia. Directed by Kim Durban (Acting) and Sara Grenfell (Music Theatre), Musical Direction by Robyn Womersley, Choreography by Christina D'Agostino. Passionate and contemporary, SHOWCASE 2017 celebrates FedUni’s Arts Academy and the graduating students of the Acting and Music Theatre Companies. The season will demonstrate the breadth of talent at the Arts Academy and provide the opportunity for audiences to witness young artists on the verge of their professional careers, as they emerge to enliven Australia's cultural landscape.
Description:
The Chekhov Project The Second Year Acting Company will investigate and interrogate Anton Chekhov, presenting a season of his short stories at the Arts Academy as part of the Ballarat Writers Festival. Canonised and celebrated as a playwright, Chekhov is a pivotal figure who transformed contemporary theatre practice through his landmark plays. Perhaps lesser known as a prolific short story writer, Chekhov is celebrated as having changed the genre itself with his spare, impressionistic depictions of Russian life and the human condition. Under the watchful guidance of Arts Academy acting lecturer Ross Hall, the Second Year Acting Company will delve into the evocative and transcendent short stories of Chekhov, to present a poetic performative mosaic of his writing. The studio season at the Arts Academy allows audiences to experience lesser-known and surprising performance work, and to witness our Arts Academy training in progress. The season is presented in conjunction with the Ballarat Writers Festival 2017 at the Arts Academy.
Description:
Musical Director, Rainer Pollard A New Australian Work. A group of Irish girls sail on a boat around the wide belly of the world to a young country whose name they can barely pronounce – Australia. Each has a story to tell; one will. Set against a backdrop of the Irish potato famine, Ebbingtide is a story chronicling the capacity of the human spirit to endure, survive and remember.
Description:
Peformed 6-8 November, 2014 Post Office Box Theatre, Ballarat, Australia 12-13 November, 2014 MTC Southbank Theatre, Melbourne, Australia Music Theatre directed by Sara Grenfell Staging/Choreography by David Wynen Musically Directed by Robyn Womersley
Description:
Peformed 6-8 November, 2014 Post Office Box Theatre, Ballarat, Australia 12-13 November, 2014 MTC Southbank Theatre, Melbourne, Australia Music Theatre directed by Sara Grenfell Staging/Choreography by David Wynen Musically Directed by Robyn Womersley