This concert showcases the talent and the new work of celebrated, ARIA-nominated, award-winning Indigenous singer and songwriter Emma Donovan. 

Friday 2 August | 7.30pm | GPAC Little Theatre

The concert with Emma and her accompaniment will include songs off her highly anticipated new album ‘Til My Song is Done'.  

This will be an opportunity for the winner of the Australia Council for the Arts 2022 First Nations Arts and Culture Fellowship to share her new music with regional and remote audiences. The project will reconnect Emma with existing fans & help her build new audiences in locations where professional music of this standard is rarely performed. She will also share stories, providing her audiences with an understanding of Country & community.  

Joining Emma (vocals/ukulele) will be Steve Magnusson (guitar) & Samuel Anning (double bass).  

“I am very proud to introduce new words and share languages with audiences and fans. It’s so important to preserve this part of our history, family and country. For me to write my solo album, I needed to go back into my own family musical archives to rediscover the country music I was raised on and that I performed. My solo work will be richly influenced by my family and memories of touring with The Donovans performing country and gospel music. My family’s musical history is known but not yet world renowned. This project will shine a light on Indigenous music culture, sharing stories and preserving language in song. I want to share my story with Australia and the world, and I want audiences to hear my songs and languages to enhance their knowledge of our expansive history of this country". Emma Donovan 

Since then, Emma has toured & recorded with the best in the Australian music scene including Paul Kelly, The Teskey Brothers, Paul Grabowsky, Spinifex Gum and the late Uncle Archie Roach and Aunty Ruby Hunter. 

Emma is also well known for her work with the highly regarded Melbourne rhythm combo The Putbacks & the extraordinary Black Arm Band project. Her collaboration with The Putbacks has won multiple awards including best Soul/RnB album 2021 (Crossover) and 2022 (Under These Streets) at the AIR Awards and Best Soul, Funk R&B or Gospel Act, Best Group and Best Album for ‘Crossover’ at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards. 

This exciting new album 'Til My Song is Done'  follows Emma’s recent, hugely successful national tour with legendary US country star Charley Crockett, where they kicked off in Tamworth and traversing the nation with performances in Queensland, Canberra, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

“Emma’s voice is everything you’d want in a soul singer. She’s the real deal.” – Wax Poetics 

"Donovan can front a well-oiled soul band in her sleep” – Rolling Stone 

A heartfelt tribute to centenarian Judy Hall OAM’s enduring impact on Gippsland’s music community.

Sunday 21 April 2024 | 2pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear Judy once again take to the stage along with her friends and students, and celebrate the legacy of a true musical icon.

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon filled with solo piano performances by Judy's talented students Ali Shlaibeq, Oscar Wilkins, Georgia Jack, and Thomas de Vries. Prepare to be captivated by the world-renowned pianist Timothy Young and the remarkable centenarian herself, Judy, as she takes the stage alongside musical friends, including the captivating vocalist Mary Mirtschin.

Experience the magic as the stage comes alive with the mesmerizing melodies of the Latrobe Orchestra and the Latrobe Orchestra Chamber Players, paying homage to Judy's profound influence on community music making throughout the years. Don't miss this extraordinary celebration of music, friendship, and the enduring legacy of Judy's teaching. 

The Mother of all Singalongs is coming to Gippsland Performing Arts Centre – on Mother’s Day!

Sunday 12 May | 5:30pm | GPAC Foyer

An early evening of revelry and fun hosted by the brilliant and awesomely talented Vicky Jacobs (Associate Musical Director of Come From Away, Moulin Rouge and Hairspray). 

Bring your mum, bring a friend, bring the whole family. Glee Club is the singalong that everyone can join in with. Our host Vicky Jacobs makes it easy and fun for everyone to belt out their favourite Beatles songs. All music and backing tracks are provided. The foyer bar will be open and the good vibes, flowing. It does not matter if your voice is fit, rusty, high, low, or never-brought-out-in-public-before. There are no solos at Glee Club - just a sing along of the songs we know and love!

Vicky Jacobs has an ability to get anyone singing at their best. As well as being the founding director of Glee Club, Melbourne's original singalong choir, she has been Associate Musical Director on some of this country's biggest musicals including ‘Hairspray’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Come From Away’, ‘Beautiful: The Carole King Musical’, ‘Jersey Boys’, ‘Xanadu’ and ‘Singin’ in the Rain'. She is currently Associate Musical Director on ‘Grease’ for Xroads Live. 

Wendy Matthews & Grace Knight are two of the most iconic and beloved singers in Australian music.

Thursday 11 April | 7.30pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

They’re both multi-award winning artists with a swag of appearances on Countdown as well as multiple MTV & ARIA awards and a bundle of platinum albums under their belts. 

In their first show together, and for a limited time, these legends of Aussie music present the songs of one of the world’s greatest living songwriters. Paul Simon has written some of the best known and acclaimed songs in popular music, ranging from gems like Sounds Of Silence, The Boxer, Homeward Bound and Bridge Over Troubled Water, to his solo classics like, You Can Call Me Al, Late In The Evening, Still Crazy After All These Years and Graceland. His albums, Bridge Over Troubled Water and Graceland feature among the highest selling albums of all time. 

Along with an all-star band Wendy & Grace will take you on an unforgettable journey across the hits and crowd favorites. Friends for many years, Grace and Wendy have been looking for a break in their hectic performing schedules so they could join forces and do a show together. ‘We’re Going To Graceland – The Songs of Paul Simon’ showcases the vocal talents of these two music industry giants and they will thrill audiences with their interpretations of an iconic collection of songs. 

How to Catch a Star

Wednesday 12 June | 10:30am and 12pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Once there was a boy and the boy loved stars very much. 

Every night he watched the stars from his window and wished he had one of his own. 

One day, he decided he would try to catch a star… but first he had to think of a plan… 

Based on the book by international best-selling author Oliver Jeffers, How to Catch a Star is brand new ACO Families production which will take you on a journey from awe and wonder, through perseverance to triumph. 

In a stunning adaptation by Sandra Eldridge, Jeffers’ magical tale about reaching for dreams will be brought to life on stage through storytelling and exquisite new music by Elena Kats-Chernin performed by an ACO string quartet. This enchanting performance will leave audiences of all ages filled with hope and optimism. 

"The music was fabulous, the set was perfect, the script was terrific and the actor was marvellous. I couldn't speak more highly of the whole experience..." (ACO Audience Member) 

Bjorn Again! The Waterloo Anniversary Tour Celebrating 50 Years of ABBA's Triumph

Saturday 15 June 2024 | 8:00pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Get ready to celebrate the golden jubilee of ABBA's historic Eurovision Song Contest victory in 1974 with 'Waterloo' – a moment that changed music history forever and catapulted ABBA into the hearts and minds of music lovers across the globe!

Join Bjorn Again on their Waterloo Anniversary Tour in 2024, as they celebrate this iconic milestone, bringing the timeless magic of ABBA to fans all over the world.

Get ready to experience the ultimate ABBA tribute like never before. This electrifying tour will have you dancing in the aisles, singing your heart out, and reliving the magic of the one and only ABBA.

Australia’s own Bjorn Again is a globally recognised show and has performed in over 120 countries to critical acclaim. Endorsed by the original members of ABBA, they're hailed as the most successful tribute show of all time.

Prepare to be transported to the golden era of disco, where platforms were high, and the music was even higher. This is your chance to become a "Dancing Queen" or a "Super Trouper" for a night of pure nostalgia and non-stop fun.

Rolling Stone Magazine, USA hails them as "Fabulously flawless," and Time Out Magazine New York raves, "One of the most entertaining live shows in the world today." But this isn't just hype – it's the truth!

The stage will come alive with dazzling lights, iconic costumes, and an infectious energy that will have you grooving from the first beat. You won't just hear the music; you'll feel the spirit of ABBA in every note.

Sing along to timeless hits like “WATERLOO”, "Mamma Mia," "Take a Chance on Me," “Dancing Queen” and more! So dust off your disco attire, gather your friends, and get ready for a night you'll never forget. It's the perfect opportunity to celebrate 50 years since ABBA’s Eurovision Song Contest triumph and the beloved music of ABBA in the most spectacular way.

Don't miss out on Bjorn Again - The Waterloo Anniversary Tour when it comes to Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Saturday 15 June.

Missy Higgins is unveiling ‘an anniversary tour with a difference’ to celebrate 20 years since her trailblazing debut, The Sound Of White.

Saturday 18 May | 7.30pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

The Second Act Tour will see Missy touring theatres nationally next autumn in a special two act show. The first set each evening will include some brand-new songs, plus a few fan favourites from early in her career, all played in stripped back, acoustic mode. After an intermission Missy will then return with her full band to perform The Sound Of White in its entirety plus some of her other hits.

The Sound Of White is one of the biggest and most influential albums in Australian music history. The intensely introspective collection of yearning songs yielded bona fide classics like “Scar”, “Ten Days” and “The Special Two”. It has sold a million copies and received 6 ARIA Awards. Over the last 20 years The Sound Of White has also inspired dozens of young Australian women – including major artists like Amy Shark, Gretta Ray, Gordi and Angie McMahon - to follow in Missy’s footsteps and sing their own songs in their own ways.

Don’t miss the special return of Missy Higgins.

IMPORTANT SHOW INFORMATION

Missy Higgins will be on stage at 7.30pm sharp!

There is no support/opening act

Please take your seat early to avoid disappointment.

Late comers will need to wait for admission during a break in the show.

SHOW TIMES:

External Doors: 6.30pm
Theatre Doors: 7.00pm
MISSY HIGGINS: 7.30pm
Approx finish: 10:00pm

An Evening with Vika & Linda

Friday 10 May | 8.00pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

Vika & Linda are the most loved vocal duo of their generation – admired and respected by fans and fellow artists, they’ve been singing together their entire lives. It all began in a church and from church to the charts Vika & Linda have enjoyed a remarkable musical journey. 

After three classic albums with the Black Sorrows, Vika & Linda have released seven studio albums, two live albums and a chart-topping anthology. They have sung on number one albums by Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers and John Farnham, done gigs for the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and the King of Tonga, and been nominated for four ARIA Awards. 

Vika & Linda present a very special show, accompanied by their close collaborator and producer Cameron Bruce on grand piano, in a concert that will truly showcase the rich beauty of their voices together.

“Vika and Linda Bull have enchanted Australian music fans for the past three decades with their effervescent performance and effortless harmonies.” 

— Daily Telegraph 

Hope is an all-new concert by 3-time Grammy®-winning Soweto Gospel Choir - celebrating songs and anthems from the Freedom movement of Nelson Mandela’s South Africa, back to the Civil Rights Movement of Martin Luther King’s 1950's America. 

Tuesday 13 February 2024 | 7.30 pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Hope opens with a rousing program of South African freedom songs, before the repertoire echoes down through time to the USA, with beautiful renditions of the protest music of the Civil Rights Movement, including works by legendary artists James Brown, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder and the one-and-only Aretha Franklin. 

Formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music, Soweto Gospel Choir draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. The choir is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world and has received critical acclaim and audience adoration for their powerful renditions of African American spirituals, gospel and folk music. 

Hope is a concert that will sing forever in your hearts!

Following a sell out 2022 Australia tour - The World of Musicals in Concert returns to Australia in 2024 featuring an all new show!

Saturday 1 June 2024 | 7.30pm  | GPAC Main Theatre

It has graced stages across the globe and features a world-class ensemble of multi-talented artists who exquisitely perform classic hits, fused with emotive ballads, big-screen anthems and iconic show tunes. 

 

From the best of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ and ‘Les Miserables’ to ‘Guys & Dolls’ and ‘South Pacific’ and many, many more, the World of Musicals delivers a stirring musical concert theatre experience that will leave you spellbound – from the opening song to the final medley of classics. 

 

‘ALL THE HIT SONGS IN ONE SHOW’ that is the quintessential takeaway from this musical concert gala. 

 

The World of the Musicals In Concert is a show that is tailored for the entire family, so get ready to be enthralled and sing along to all your to all your favourite and much-loved songs from the world of Musical Theatre in one unforgettable evening. Secure your seats today to a show inspired by many but unlike any other.