The Whitlams is winding its way down the coast with the soundtrack to summer they started playing up and down the coast in the mid 90s.

Friday 12 January | 8pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Starting in Kingscliff on New Year’s Day and winding down to Wonthaggi two weeks later, the legendarily high-spirited live band will make one inland detour to play the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon. The band will be in top form after a sold out national capitals tour in October 2023.

The Whitlams four piece is joined by Scott Owen from The Living End to recreate the rollicking energy of its first three albums. Who better to rip through the double bass classics from ’93 to ’97 than the human powerhouse who has driven The Living End’s famous rhythm section.

The distinctive slapping catgut of the double bass propelled The Whitlams onto the airwaves

through the mid 90s, with their debut “Gough” in 1993, and crossover hit “I Make

Hamburgers” in 1995. Together they will perform the best of “Introducing The Whitlams”, “Undeniably The Whitlams” and “Eternal Nightcap”. After “No Aphrodisiac” which starts with double bass and switches to electric bass in the middle, Ian Peres will take over on bass and bring the night home with more recent  hits like “Blow Up the Pokies”

The Whitlams are Tim Freedman on piano and vocals, Jak Housden on guitar, Terepai Richmond on drums, and newest member, Ian Peres, on Hammond organ and electric bass.

A showcase of talent from around the Latrobe Valley and wider Gippsland area. A perfect opportunity for young and old alike to experience a wonderful night of entertainment!

Thursday 28 Sept | 7:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

This family-friendly concert will have a musical theatre theme with our returning stars performing a mix of solos, small groups and ensembles. They will be accompanied in some ensembles by younger, up and coming, talented local performers who will also showcase their abilities alone. We will also be entertained by two local, highly talented dancers. 

Our performers are originally from the surrounding area, have gone through school, dance training, local eisteddfods and theatre companies, to then move on to study their chosen area of performance. They have had experience and success in both Australia and overseas but have never forgotten their roots in the Latrobe Valley and surrounds. 

Everyone involved in this concert hopes that all who attend will enjoy the wonderful talent and skills on offer and particularly that the children and young people who are present will look at those on stage and realise that the possibilities are enormous if they work hard, get experience and use their latent talent to the best possible degree. 

Artists involved:

• Alison Jones
• Nathan Lay
• Kerryn Lockhart
• Mary Mirtschin
• Ryan Marshall
• Brice Sedgwick
• Cecily de Gooyer
• Hollie Gibson
• Jayla Balcombe

Lior makes his Melbourne Chamber Orchestra debut with a new song cycle, celebrating musical traditions across centuries.  

Friday 24 November | 7.30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

For as long as there have been people, there has been song. Song is at the heart of rich musical traditions that bind people together, and attest to the spirit of time and place.   

 

Eliding ideas of East and West, high and low, past and present, the music of renowned singer-songwriter Lior embodies a unique sensibility that feels urgent and relevant.    

 

For the creation of a major new song cycle for the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra, Lior again pairs with regular collaborator Ade Vincent, an adventurous composer who works across classical, folk, electronic, pop, and the space between.  

 

Embracing Lior’s vision, Sophie Rowell has chosen iconic music by Grieg, da Falla, and Rebecca Clarke, echoing musical traditions across centuries.   

Repertoire Statement:

Edvard Grieg  

Holberg Suite  

Rebecca Clarke  

Passacaglia (arr viola & string orchestra)  

Manuel da Falla  

Seven Spanish Folk Songs  

Lior/Ade Vincent  

New song cycle*  

 

*MCO premiere commission

Artist Statement: (picture in order below)

Sophie Rowell 

DIRECTOR  

Merewyn Bramble 

VIOLA 

Lior 

VOICE

Melbourne Chamber Orchestra  

"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek..." 

Friday 25 August -  Saturday 2 September | GPAC Main Theatre

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears. 

"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek..." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek. 

Shrek presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all) and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre. 

In support of their new album, Boy & Bear are setting out on their first Australian regional tour in years!

Thursday 14 September | 8pm | GPAC Main Theatre

In support of their new album announcement and release, Boy & Bear have announced a run of Australian Regional dates. Their first regional tour they have done in years.

Boy & Bear’s previous four albums have all gone top 10 on the ARIA charts, with two of them taking out the number 1 slot (Harlequin Dream, Limit of Love), their debut album Moonfire coming in at number 2, and Suck On Light coming in at number 7.

In 2022, off the back of the ‘State of Flight’ single, Boy & Bear performed their first Australian headline tour in almost 3 years. They sold over 14,000 tickets. This was followed by second single ‘Just To Be Kind’ and performances to tens of thousands of people with Crowded House as well as being involved in a high-profile whisky campaign alongside Matthew McConaughey.

Australian music has never been more ready for Boy & Bear; there hasn’t been a more perfect time for their charismatic and uniquely warm and enveloping presence to return.

It's the show that has been packing venues all over town and just keeps rolling on as Jeff Duff presents his unique interpretation of the songs of David Bowie.

Sunday 23 July | 4.30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

So much more than just a tribute show, Jeff's unique and powerful take on the David Bowie songbook has fans returning night after night.   

Rock historian Glenn A Baker’s much heralded Duffo quote says it all! “I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say that, had Jeff Duff hailed from a country in the top half of the world, he could now be as acknowledged and acclaimed as David Bowie or Lou Reed or Iggy Pop.” 

Of course it doesn’t carry quite the impact of the famous Andy Warhol utterance: “Sinatra, Presley, Jagger, and now Duffo.” 

On the other hand, Bowie’s memorable final quote in 2016, just prior to his passing: “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise it won’t be boring”, proved sadly prophetic. 

Bowies words, may prove to be true; but none of us mere mortals will ever know until we join him in the afterlife! 

Jeff Duff, although very much alive is taking a lead from Bowies quote… Duffo has long been acknowledged as the closest thing to the real Bowie that Australian audiences will ever get to experience. 

Together with his brilliant band, Jeff will add his unique voice to all of his post pandemic 2021 Bowie shows, not only in Australia but also around the world. 

Jeff’s personal connection to Bowie is well documented. Bowie frequented Duffo’s own shows when he was performing in London in the late 70’s and early 80’s. 

Ironically, when Jeff returned to Australia in the late eighties, Bowie tracked him down when he discovered they were living next door to one another in Elizabeth Bay in Sydney…a perfect example of serendipity! 

Bowie’s official website ‘Bowie Net’ has supported Duffo’s career with glowing album reviews and the promotion of his Australian shows. 

In Bowie’s absence…if you really want to experience the next best thing to the ’thin white duke', don’t miss Jeff’s upcoming shows with his all-star band. 

“Jeff doesn’t try to impersonate Bowie, he simply does his own spectacular thing with the thin white duke's songs. [...] If you closed your eyes, you could believe it was Bowie on stage” – Faster Louder Magazine 

From Chopin to Gershwin, the Eiffel Tower to the Moulin Rouge, this is your morning melody adventure through Paris.

Tuesday 10 October | 11am | GPAC Main Theatre 

Renowned and award-winning concert pianist, William Schmidt and international soprano, Alison Jones transport you to Paris, France in a show brimming with famous music inspired by the most magical city in the world.

From Chopin to Gershwin, the Eiffel Tower to the Moulin Rouge, compere Christopher McKenna will guide you through a romantic, dramatic and fun musical vacation.  

With hits from Les Miserables, An American In Paris to the rousing sounds of a French Can Can, this new show from Promac will delight all lovers of theatre and fine music, all performed in front of beautiful slides depicting the true French lifestyle and incredible music. 

Folk heroes, and fully independent trailblazers, are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their breakthrough album

Friday 9 June | 7.30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Australia’s The Waifs - folk heroes, and fully independent trailblazers, are celebrating the 20th Anniversary of their breakthrough album Up All Night with a massive tour of Australia, heading to every corner and crevice of this big land!

The Waifs have continued to forge an independent path over their 30-year career and show no sign of slowing down.

On this special night the band will play the full album from beginning to end and then share other fan favourites.

They will celebrate this tour with the limited edition, signed release of Up All Night on vinyl, which can be purchased as part of a VIP package with bonus signed poster and concert lanyard (to be collected from Box Office on the evening of the performance).

The Acoustic, Audience & Anthems Australian Tour

Friday 11 August | 8pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Saturday 12 August | 8pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Due to popular demand Australia’s homegrown heroes and Hall of Fame inductees, Human Nature are doing a select encore run of their hit “People Get Ready AAA show”.   

Human Nature return to their roots, bringing together their 30-year history in one show. 

Get ready for a night of the best songs ever written, including their original hits, Motown classics and more - all performed with vocals upfront in an acoustic mode.

See them stripped back,  hear the stories behind the music, how they have become internationally renowned vocalists and so much more. This is an up close and personal night with four of the entertainment industry's most popular and beloved singers. 

Including hit songs:

Telling Everybody

Wishes

When You Say You Love Me

Reach Out I’ll Be There

Will You Love Me Tomorrow

and many more.    

A night not to be missed by music lovers of all generations. 

The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes centre stage in one of the world's best-loved, award-winning musicals. Presented by Lavalla Catholic College.

Thursday 27 July | 7pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Friday 28 July | 7pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Saturday 29 July | 1pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

Saturday 29 July | 7pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Annie JR  features everyone’s favourite little redhead in her very first adventure. 

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. 

Annie JR  is full of classic songs likes “It’s the Hard-Knock Life”, “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here” and “Tomorrow”, and is sure to have audiences leaving the theatre singing them for days!