Ballarat’s prestigious Royal South Street Competition is searching for new venues after ongoing renovations at Her Majesty’s Theatre threw their 2018 timetable into jeopardy.
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The 144-year-old theatre is undergoing “deterioration prevention works, fire safety upgrades, a stormwater system upgrade... internal plaster and paint conservation works… waterproofing, drainage, and structural repairs,” according to a January interview with City of Ballarat development and planning director Angelique Lush.
South Street’s CEO Brett Macdonald says the competition fully supports the work on the theatre, but is worried the unavailability of the venue will damage the prestige of Ballarat’s 127th eisteddfod.
“We use seven different venues, but Her Majesty’s is the main venue for choral, aria, dance, instrumental and calisthenics,” Mr Macdonald told The Courier.
“Not having the theatre available, the board is worried it will definitely affect our prestige.”
Mr Macdonald said he already had a few enquiries from competitors regarding the venues for this year’s competition.
“They are worried that the competition will not have the same allure without Her Majesty’s,” said Mr Macdonald.
“They are wondering if it is worth coming, and that affects us. If our competitor numbers drop, obviously our audiences will be down as well, and our bottom line too.
We are talking about this at board level. It would be great if a venue like, say, Civic Hall were ready and available.”
Mr Macdonald told The Courier he was confident in finding a replacement venue in short time, in order to ensure the 2018 timetable could be implemented.
“Don’t worry, the show will go on,” he said.
The Wendouree Performing Arts Centre is not viable as it’s booked well ahead with commercial shows, and Loreto College’s Mary’s Mount Centre would only be available on a limited basis, he said.
Mr Macdonald says he is speaking with another performance space in Ballarat, but was reluctant to name it until it had been secured.
“It’s one thing to have a chat, to agree verbally and say what a good outcome it might be,” said Mr Macdonald.
“It’s another thing entirely to sign off on the paperwork and start planning how to move the equipment in.”
