From contemporary and classical dance to theatre, live music, cabaret and dance, these world-class Victorian theatres are breathtaking in every way.
We’re pretty lucky here in Australia, a bunch of our live entertainment venues have been around for many years, and have interiors that are mind-blowingly stunning. Today we’re taking a look around the regional Victorian scene at some of the most beautiful theatres and music venues.
Ulumbarra Theatre
To kick off the list, we’re heading to the Ulumbarra Theatre, one of Bendigo’s most popular spots for gigs, musicals, and dance concerts. The theatre’s history goes back to around 1863, when it was first an old timey gaol. The beautiful red brick exterior makes it feel like you’ve moved back in time, and all the old jail rooms have been changed into theatre spaces, it’s truly an experience heading to a show here.
Where: 10 Gaol Rd, Bendigo
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Her Majesty’s Ballarat
Much alike its namesake in Melbourne city, Her Majesty’s Theatre in Ballarat is one of the most ornate spots to go and get all your live music needs. First opened all the way back in 1857, the venue still holds a lot of the same original architecture, it’s sure to be a stunning accompaniment for whatever gig you are at. In the next few months, Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat has performances from artists like the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Jimmy Carr, to name a few. Head here for all the info.
Where: 17 Lydiard St S, Ballarat Central
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The Pig & Whistle Shed Theatre
Now for a journey down to the Mornington Peninsula, The Shed is quickly becoming one of the most popular haunts for live music, theatre, and entertainment. No matter what type of stuff you are into, there’s no doubt that The Shed probably has an event for it.
As the name suggests, it’s an actual shed, with laid back seating and intimate staging, it definitely makes for a worthy contender for most instagrammable live music space. Check for all the latest events here.
Where: 365 Purves Road, Main Ridge
Geelong Arts Centre
Being in Regional Victoria, we’re used to the best / most beautiful spots being old school or heritage listed, but the Geelong Arts Centre is one of the most new and modern spots in the region. The modern façade and trendy interior truly gives Little Malop St a cool vibe, you’ll feel like you’re in a Melbourne hipster suburb when you give this spot a visit. If you needed anymore convincing, the Geelong Arts Centre is in the midst transforming into a serious must-visit cultural and dining precinct, all thanks to a $140m redevelopment, due to be completed by 2023. The new facility will include a 500-seat theatre that expands to an 800-person capacity in live gig mode, as well as a hybrid theatre with more than 250 seats connected to the Little Malop St plaza. Until then, keep up with the latest shows here.
Where: 81 Ryrie St, Geelong
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Rex Theatre
It mightn’t be the most familiar sounding suburb, but the Rex Theatre can be found in Charlton, which is about 130km from Horsham. The Rex Theatre has been a staple of the Charlton space for a number of years, and the old school but vintage exterior keeps Charlton with the country town vibe. You can catch the best in New Releases at the Rex Theatre.
Where: 30-34 High St, Charlton
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Lighthouse Theatre
Another modern theatre comes to us from Warrnambool, the Lighthouse Theatre is one of the nicest spots to go and catch a theatre show. The exterior is a bit unassuming, it looks like an office building, but once you head in, the cool foyer and box office feels like you’ve walked into a high-end hotel, truly makes the most of your night out at the theatre, makes it worth getting dressed up. Head here for more.
Where: 185 Timor St, Warrnambool
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West Gippsland Arts Centre
Servicing the Gippsland region, the West Gippsland Arts Centre has a grand feeling about it. Maybe due to the stunning entrance, it feels like you are walking into somewhere really special. With some massive shows coming up, there’s almost no question why this is the case; Guy Sebastian, The Black Sorrows, Lano and Woodley, and Marina Prior all have gigs in this spot over the next few months. There’s way too many more on the horizon, so you can see the rest of their stacked show roster over on their website here.
Where: Corner of Smith and Albert Streets, 1 Civic Pl, Warragul
Bluestone Theatre
Found in Kyneton, the Bluestone Theatre is one the region’s oldest spots. Nowadays, it’s used for theatre performances, the stunning interior giving an energy to the performers on stage. The exterior looks like a classic church, a photo out the front of the Bluestone Theatre is bound to get a bunch of likes over on the Gram. More info about the Bluestone Theatre can be found here.
Where: 28 Hutton St, Kyneton
Costa Hall
It can’t be a list of the most beautiful theatres without a mention of the Costa Hall. Located in the Deakin University Geelong Campus, the venue is the epitome of less is more. The low-key interior really helps you immerse yourself in the great performances that often grace the stage. There’s some cool performances on the horizon at the Costa Hall, you can check that out here.
Where: Deakin University, 1 Gheringhap St, Geelong
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Red Rock Regional Theatre
The Red Rock Theatre is one of the smallest theatres on this list, but one of the most beautiful. The exterior looks like a classic style house, straight out of a storybook or painting. Inside, you can catch some stunning art pieces in the gallery, performances in the intimate theatre, and many showings of some hit films.
Where: 520 Corangamite Lake Rd, Cororooke
