Historic stage comp to shine

ROYAL South Street returns next month as the oldest eisteddfod in Australia, and one which allows performers to learn and flourish.

The competition will officially begin on Saturday 15 June with calisthenics solo auditions and run until October at a range of venues around Ballarat.

Disciplines on offer include singing, speech and drama, dance, debating and more.

This year marks 100 years of two competitions: The Herald Sun Aria and the Couture Costume Dancewear Graceful Solo.

Royal South Street Society business and marketing manager, Judy-Ann Quilliam, said it is the heritage of the competition that makes it so special.

“It’s the longest running eisteddfod in Australia which has closed only twice in that time; once for the war and once for COVID,” she said.

“Beyond that it’s also the large number of performing artists that have started on the stage over the years.

“So many people have a connection or a story of their formative years of performing in the Royal South Street competitions.”

With the Her Majesty’s Theatre renovations ongoing, the competitions will be held at other locations including Founders Theatre, ACU, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute.

“There is no doubt we are disappointed not to be in there especially for the calisthenics final but on a positive side we’ve used a lot of venues throughout Ballarat,” said Ms Quilliam.

“Some of those venues have been proving really lovely spaces to be in and we have been in contact with the City of Ballarat and the Her Majesty’s Theatre staff for the whole year so it’s not a surprise.

“We hope that when it reopens it has all the safety changes that are needed for it to reopen for our future.”

The organisation is looking for volunteers to help run the events and interested parties and invited to enquire on the Royal South Street website.