Eisteddfod season ready for launch

THE Royal South Street Society kicks off its 2025 eisteddfod season with an official launch event at the Ballarat Mining Exchange next week.

It will take place from 5pm on Wednesday 19 February and will run for two hours.

Guest artists will be past winners Jason Wasley (tenor vocal), Chloe Taylor (vocal), Harriet Larkins (vocal), Chloe McMillan (dance), William Hinde (saxophone) and Hayley Every (drama).

Meanwhile, a new event being introduced this year is the Crash Course – Introduction to Comedy Workshop, the first instalment of which will take place on Saturday at the Ballarat Performing Arts Community home in Neill Street, Soldiers Hill, with support from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and its Class Clowns program.

The workshop, at 2.30pm, is for any young person from year 7 to 12 who wants to give comedy a try.

It will be facilitated by stand-up comedian, actor, musical theatre performer, writer and host of Triple J’s Weekend Breakfast program, Jordan Barr.

Young local comedians Erin Almeida and Naomi Ross, who have both enjoyed success with Class Clowns and the comedy festival, will also be present to share their experience.

Workshop participants will have a chance to secure future performance opportunities offered by Class Clowns in Melbourne next month, along with new comedy sections in the Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod – Speech, Drama and Comedy discipline in August.

“Comedians are everywhere now,” society executive officer Judy-Ann Quilliam said.

“Developing skills in comedy is a critical performing art that takes practice and lots of performance experience.”

The 2025 Royal South Street Society Eisteddfod will take place on various dates throughout the year. Visit royalsouthstreet.com.au.