Mauboy wowed by redeveloped Geelong Arts Centre

THE curtain is about to go up on the redeveloped Geelong Arts Centre, and some of the talent who will be among the first to tread its boards had a sneak peek today (Friday, August 18).

The $140 million upgrade of the Little Malop Street side of the centre will have its grand opening gala tonight, ahead of the debut sold-out performances  of the new spaces tomorrow (Saturday, August 19).

Australian singer Jessica Mauboy (who will perform in The Story House tomorrow) and comedians Dilruk Jayasinha and Dave Thornton (two of the three comedians who will perform in The Play House tomorrow) were among those at today’s media event, alongside Geelong Arts Centre chief executive officer and creative director Joel McGuinness, Australian actress Rachel Griffiths (who is hosting tonight’s grand opening gala), Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos, Geelong MP Christine Couzens, South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman and Bellarine MP Alison Marchant.

Mauboy was highly impressed by her tour of the centre, which was co-designed by Geelong Arts Centre, ARM Architecture, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the wider First Nations community.

“My first impressions were I started to talk to the space. I think that’s what it is, learning they both come from forest, land, water and sky, I immediately connected with having that conversation… I instantly felt like I was at home and on Country,” she said.

“I’m already buzzing, I can feel the space and the energy, and taking that and absorbing that will me a lot more power to want to bring a show.

“No-one’s played in there, and that gives me goosebumps! I have the honour to be the first one to play it, and to leave my energy, and for that to carry on for emerging and other artists.”

McGuinness said he was incredibly proud and excited to see the finished redevelopment.

“For us, to have Jessica Mauboy, there was never a question that the first artist that was going to play this space was Jessica Mauboy – it was really important for us, for our community, for the First Nations community here.

“And to have our young First Nations artists that were here in that space, for Tarryn Love, who’s done that artwork, she was saying ‘I can’t believe Jessica Mauboy is going to be in here!’ and I said to her ‘Do you know what? You’re going to wrap your arms around Jess just as much’ and that was really special for her.

“The space has come a long way, but what is the same is that it’s always been a space for storytelling and community, and that has not changed.”

The Little Malop Street redevelopment has created Australia’s largest dedicated regional performing arts centre and established a new landmark for Geelong.

Construction created about 600 jobs and the project includes two new theatres alongside new bars and event spaces and the Tutti restaurant/cafe.

The grand opening festival over the next four weeks includes Sunday’s community open day, backstage tours, a concert by Missy Higgins, Opera Australia’s The Barber of Seville, a performance from ’80s hitmakers Pseudo Echo and Windmill Theatre Company’s new musical puppet show for children and families HICCUP.