The beating heart of Ballarat's creative and artistic life will soon throw its doors open to the public once again. Anticipation is building at Her Majesty's Theatre Ballarat, with the finishing touches being made inside the venue.
The Stage 3 works carried out by local construction firm Nicholson Construction are coming to a conclusion and the venue will soon be back in the hands of the City of Ballarat to become fully operational.
The external hoarding has now been removed, revealing the refreshed Her Majesty's Theatre Ballarat's branding and logo on the front windows to the building.
Development of the refreshed brand captures the rich history of the theatre and provides a contemporary language and imagery for both our loyal audiences and new ones yet to arrive. However, you will have to wait a little longer until you can see inside the building for yourself.
The grand re-opening, scheduled for November 2024, will unveil an upgraded venue that respects the theatre's rich history, incorporates state-of-the-art amenities and ensures the venue has improved accessibility for patrons, staff and performers.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson and fellow City of Ballarat Councillors joined Minister for Regional Development, the Honourable Gayle Tierney and Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison for a tour of the facility on Wednesday.
The $16.3 million project is supported by $10 million from the State Government's Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.
"Community access to Her Majesty's Theatre has been extremely limited in recent years, with the vital redevelopment works commencing not long after the pandemic," Cr Hudson said.
"There is so much excitement in the air around the theatre reopening and after getting a sneak preview inside, I can promise people will not be disappointed."
"This redevelopment not only preserves an iconic piece of our city's history but also ensures that it remains a vibrant, functional space for future generations to enjoy."
Minister for Regional Development, Gayle Tierney said, "We're preserving the legacy of Her Majesty's Theatre while modernising the space so that people of all abilities can be part of the arts."
"By upgrading this cherished theatre, we're encouraging more people to visit and stay in Ballarat - boosting local jobs and businesses."
Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison said, "The Allan Labor Government is proud to have invested more than $10 million to ensure that future generations of locals and visitors can experience live performances, recitals, eisteddfods at Her Majesty's Theatre."
"The restoration and accessibility upgrades will ensure even more performers and patrons will enjoy all the grand theatre has to offer."
The latest works at Her Majesty's began in February 2023 and have been the most significant to date. Substantial accessibility improvements have been made, including the installation of two new elevators providing direct access to the stage for artists and performers and access for patrons to all levels of the auditorium. Other noticeable upgrades include an improved front-of-house area, new toilet facilities, a new administration area and improved back of house artist amenities.
A number of shows have already been announced at Her Majesty's for late-2024, including three-time Grammy award winning artist St. Vincent and Australia's legendary musical treasure Marcia Hines, with many more to be announced to ensure the venue becomes an ongoing hive of activity once the doors are reopened to the public.
The venue will also celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2025, with plans well under way to mark the significant milestone in collaboration with the community.
