What: The Wiggles

When: Thursday, April 17 at 10am and 12.30pm

Where: Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts

Tickets: $32.50

Bookings: wcpa.com.au

AS WELL as sporting a new red skivvy, Simon Pryce brings another new element to The Wiggles.

With opera singers as grandparents, the performer is the first Wiggle to have come with opera experience, having performed in the Australian production of The Phantom of the Opera.

With a long career in musical theatre, Simon came to The Wiggles after a decade-long involvement with the children's entertainers.

"Over the years I'd done a lot of recording on their CDs and had been around the perimeter for a while," he said.

The Wiggles will head to Ballarat next week as part of their national Apples and Bananas tour.

The concert will feature songs from the group's new Apples and Bananas CD and DVD as well as some new and classic favourites including Do the Propeller, Simon Says, Hot Potato and Rock a Bye Your Bear.

Simon said seeing the children's reactions at each concert kept The Wiggles strong amidst a gruelling tour schedule.

"The audience is so engaging and the children are amazing to perform to," he said.

"They keep everything new and fresh and you never get sick of it because of the enjoyment you get out of it."