Get your calendars out: here's the best-goings-on for the month of June at the brilliant Geelong Arts Centre.
It’s shaping to be a magnificent year for theatre and stage lovers alike in regional Victoria thanks to our friends at the Geelong Arts Centre.
With a plethora of entertainment once again adorning our favourite regional theatre, from iconic stories to dance workshops, theatre, comedy, and even a world-premiere, this is your cue to get ready for a huge June of entertainment in Geelong.
Here are the shows not to miss at the Geelong Arts Centre this month.
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here.
Our Top Pick for June: Mountain (World Premiere)
When: Tuesday, June 21 to Saturday, June 25. The 7:30pm performance on Friday 24 June includes a post-show Q&A with the show’s cast and creatives.
Where: Studio 4
Making a very special world premiere debut this June as part of Geelong Arts Centre’s Our Season 2022, Mountain is the story of a man in pieces, created by Kit Brookman and Geelong local, André Jewson.
Commissioned and co-produced by Geelong Arts Centre, and presented in association with Sweet Reason and Performing Lines, Mountain is a 60-minute hymn to the transformative power of grief, to the wonder of the unknown.
Running from Tuesday 21 June to Saturday 25 June in Geelong Arts Centre’s state of the art Studio 4, this incredible performance stars Jewson, who is adrift in grief and becomes fixated on the idea of hiking up a mountain. But even on the simplest of journeys, it can be difficult to find the way back… The man’s journey up the mountain opens precipitously outward, to encompass not just his own voice, but the voice of the mountain, the wind, of a planet crying out for what it’s losing and what it’s already lost.
Shifting perspectives from the deeply personal to the epic, this new solo work by writer/director Kit Brookman and performer André Jewson is a determined search for hope amidst utter devastation.
Tickets here.
Creative Engine Community Fuel
When: Thursday, June 9 from 5:30pm
Where: Geelong Arts Centre
Want to warm up this winter and contribute to Geelong’s thriving creative scene? Add your financial fuel to our region’s creative fire with Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine ‘Community Fuel’, where local creatives pitch their ideas to arts-loving members of the Geelong community.
For just $10 a ticket, members of the region are encouraged to come and support Bella Kent, Judy Rankin, Jessica Leaming and Ellen Fox as they battle it out for the title of inaugural winner.
You will vote for your favourite pitch on the night, and the winner will walk away with all money raised from tickets sold, plus matched funding from Geelong Arts Centre.
Put simply, the more tickets sold, the more cash taken home to “fuel” the winner’s creative idea.
Your ticket also includes live music from Geelong-based indie-pop artist Rach Brennan, hot soup and bread roll, a chance to vote. Bar will be open, but drinks are not included in ticket price.
Find out more here.
Leaving Jackson – The Johnny Cash and June Carter Show
When: Thursday, June 16 at 7:30pm
Where: Costa Hall
Fall into the ring of fire in this unforgettable concert dedicated to the music, love, and the lives of Johnny Cash and June Carter.
For more than 40 years Johnny Cash and June Carter enthralled audiences around the world with their songs of life, love, and heartache. Their love story was played out through some of the greatest songs ever written.
This 2-hour live concert event Leaving Jackson – The Johnny Cash & June Carter Show will have you singing, laughing, and crying for more.
Fair warning, this performance contains the use of smoke.
Tickets here.
30 Something – Dinner & Show at Provenance Wines
When: Friday, June 17 at 6:30pm
Where: Provenance Wines
Blow your wig and top up your giggle juice. You’re gonna party like it’s 1939 with this fabulous dinner and a show at the stunning Provenance Wines!
It’s New Year’s Eve, Bohemia Kings Cross. She’s been wowing Hollywood! He’s been touring Queanbeyan. But on the last night of the decade, Phil and Catherine reunite to count you down to the end of a very dramatic era. Politics, Great Depression, booze…and that’s just in the dressing room!
Caught somewhere between Casablanca and The Cotton Club, join award-winning maestro of mischief Phil Scott and powerhouse canary Catherine Alcorn for a thrilling joyride back to their 18 karat lounge act, where you’ll soon see she’s 30 something and he’s…not.
Tickets to the event include a two-course dinner and a show while the dress code for the evening is ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz!’ If you’re gonna party like it’s 1939, it’s only fair to dress for the occasion! Two of the spiffiest dressed dolls or fellas will be awarded a twin-pack of wine for best dressed on the night – kindly donated by Provenance Wines.
You’ll also receive a complimentary glass of beer, sparkling or wine on arrival with additional drinks at bar prices.
Tickets here.
Hidden Gems – Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
When: Friday, June 17 at 7:30pm.
Where: Costa Hall
In a very special event for the Geelong region, the MSO is joined by conductor and early music specialist Benjamin Bayl for a sparkling program of classical and classically-minded works, including:
Rameau’s Zoroastre follows the story of a Persian priest who lived during sixth-century BCE. The opera was not initially a hit with audiences, but a rewritten version that premiered in 1756 was a great success. Critics praised Rameau’s elegant orchestration and richly detailed instrumental voicings.
Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante remains the only example of the genre composed over a prolific career. A sinfonia concertante shares characteristics with a concerto, but incorporates multiple soloists – here drawn from MSO musicians – into the orchestral texture. Haydn deftly contrasts the high and low sonorities of a violin, cello, oboe and bassoon in a characteristically bright and animated work.
Louise Farrenc broke many barriers in her lifetime: she was the first woman professor of piano at the Paris Conservatoire, a role she held for thirty years. The concert overture was a popular genre in the nineteenth century, inspired by the drama and spectacle of Grand Opera in Paris.
Schubert’s Third Symphony was written when the composer was only eighteen and working full time as a teacher. The lively rhythms and spirited melodies reveal a clear debt to Mozart, Haydn and Rossini.
Tickets here.
The King Of Rock & The Prince Of Pop
When: Saturday, June 18 at 8pm
Where: Costa Hall
They were the biggest rock stars on the planet; Elvis the King! Cliff Richard was knighted and became the Prince.
Marty Rhone as Cliff, Mark Andrew as Elvis; a night of mega hits swathed in gold.
For more than a generation, they were the two biggest rock stars on the planet.
Today, generations later, they remain two of the biggest recording stars in music history with a combined total of over 60 hits. This unique event pays tribute to a man who was, and still is, so big he is referred to as the King!
From the other side of the planet came a young, equally good looker who idolized the King and was inspired to follow in his footsteps. He became known as the Prince of Pop and was fittingly knighted by the Queen to become Sir Cliff Richard. England’s answer to Elvis, but the King had been crowned, so he became the Prince.
There is none better than Australian music legend Marty Rhone at singing Cliff and world-renowned Mark Andrew as Elvis to bring you this night of musical magic. Every song performed is a mega-hit swathed in gold; a non-stop, mind-blowing visual experience.
Both have performed all over the world and Mark as Elvis counts Priscilla, Lisa Marie and members of Elvis’s old team as personal friends.
Nowhere have these two legends and their music been presented on the same stage together – until now, and yours is a front-row seat for a musical event you will never forget.
You’ll hear Suspicious Minds, Viva Las Vegas, Jailhouse Rock, Devil Woman, Wired for Sound, Young Ones, oh, and a couple of bonus tracks called Denim & Lace and a Mean Pair of Jeans.
So, my Lords, ladies and gentleman, we present the King of Rock and the Prince of Pop.
Tickets here.
Jimmy Rees – Meanwhile in Australia
When: Thursday, June 23 at 8:30pm
Where: Costa Hall
Social media sensation Jimmy Rees is bringing his first ever live comedy tour ‘Meanwhile In Australia’ to Geelong this year after an already stellar run of shows around the country.
Rees, whose COVID-related videos went viral during the pandemic, has sold out 15 shows across Australia (after originally announcing merely six dates) and after adding even more dates to his run, including another Melbourne show, Darwin, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Canberra, Sydney and Hobart, the funnyman has now announced Geelong will be getting a visit on Thursday, June 23.
Leaving the comforts, or is that confines, of COVID life at home, Rees has spent more than a decade as an Australian household name, having entertained the masses as a beloved television and radio personality, comedian, performer and now a viral internet success.
Bringing his daily antics to the world wide web throughout the pandemic, Rees’ now-iconic skits transcend the experiences of parenthood and have become a source of hilarity for people of all ages – thanks to his refreshing authenticity and relatability – reaching a monthly digital audience of more than nine million people.
Taking to Costa Hall this June, the show will “star” all our favourite characters, including the Ladies of Brighton and the Guy Who Decides as well as Meanwhile in Australia LIVE!, a magpie, an earthquake and maybe the poop inspector…CORNN!!
Tickets here.
Les Miserables
When: Friday, June 3 to Saturday, June 11 at various times
Where: Costa Hall
In a big win for the region, Les Misérables is heading to Geelong thanks to the team at CentreStage.
The epic tale of broken dreams, passion, and redemption is set against a nation in the throes of revolution.
Winner of over 100 international awards and seen by over 65 million people worldwide, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. This true modern classic is based on Victor Hugo’s novel and features one of the most memorable scores of all time.
In nineteenth-century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a lifelong struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe that Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean’s adopted daughter. His worldview is shattered, Javert commits suicide, and Valjean finally attains the peace that he has sought for so long.
Epic, grand and uplifting, Les Misérables packs an emotional wallop that has thrilled audiences all over the world.
Tickets here.
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50 Years On Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
When: Saturday, July 2 at 8pm
Where: Costa Hall
On the back of the successful Bohemian Rhapsody movie, comes the most popular and successful Queen tribute show starring internationally acclaimed Freddie Mercury, Thomas Crane.
Thomas with his all-star band Bohemian Rhapsody bring back to life all the visual excitement, sound and stage energy of a Queen concert.
Renowned for his flamboyant stage persona and extensive vocal range, lesser-known was Freddie Mercury’s innate gift for piano and guitar. Not only does Thomas Crane’s charisma and stage presence mimic the energy of the late, great Mercury, he’s got the piano and guitar skills to boot, and he’ll be showing them off LIVE during this incredible show!
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody will perform all the great hits including We Will Rock You, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Are The Champions, Radio Ga Ga, A Kind of Magic, I Want To Break Free, Another One Bites the Dust and Bohemian Rhapsody.
The show will work its way through the decades, showcasing Queen’s hits from the 70s through to the 90s.
Come and celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Supergroup Queen!
Tickets here.
The Australian Ballet Dance Workshops
When: Tuesday, July 5 to Thursday, July 7
Where: Studio 4
Ready to dance? Join The Australian Ballet Education & Outreach team in Geelong for a fun and creative dance workshop for all levels.
There are four workshops that you can choose from – one for each age group. There’s Dancing Story for 3-5 year olds, Dance workshop for 6-8 year olds, Dance workshops for 9-12 year olds, and Teens Dance students for ages 13-16.
These workshops are great for supporting confidence, resilience and teamwork skills; supporting individual needs and skill levels; they’re accessible to all children regardless of learning styles or physical abilities; and the best part is no previous ballet experience is required. You just need a water bottle, comfortable clothing for moving and dance shoes (or you can go bare feet!).
As part of these workshops, everyone is invited to watch a performance of The Story of Pomi & Gobba for FREE!
More info here.
Geelong Arts Centre is supported by The Victorian Government through Creative Victoria, Major Artistic Partner Deakin University and Innovation Partner Costa Asset Management.
