Curtain raised on theatre company’s new home

SUPPORTERS of Arena Theatre came together last week to celebrate the opening of the company’s new venue.

The youth-focused theatre group can now be found in MacGillivray Hall at the old School of Mines building on Bendigo TAFE’s McCrae Street campus.

A special guest at the event was Arena founder Naomi Nicholson, who travelled from her home in Melbourne to cut the ribbon.

Ms Nicholson founded the company in 1966 with two other mothers after her experience with post-natal depression led her to community theatre as an outlet.

“At the time we started it was starting all over the world, this theatre in education,” she said. “It was needed and we loved it.

“The four of us who started it we were the board and we didn’t get paid or anything but we visited the company every week and gave them notes.”

Ms Nicholson said she was pleased to see the development of the company and to be present for opening of the venue.

Arena has come a long way from its beginnings is now not only recognised locally as a home for youth theatre but is making an impact on the global stage as well.

Notable recent productions include Robot Song, which is booked to tour in Canada later this year, and BAII – a blended production of song, dance and storytelling with an accompanying film.

Arena Theatre’s artistic director Christian Leavesley said the company is now part of an global conversation about theatre and its role in connecting communities through storytelling.

“It’s really empowering for the children of Central Victoria or Bendigo or anywhere really to know that what’s being made there for them is part of a conversation that is important nationally,” he said.

The company has plans to make full use of their new space with the continuation of a residency program and productions performances.