The first milestone of the Victorian Government’s once in a generation Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation Project will be delivered 6 months ahead of schedule and everyone is invited to celebrate, with 18,000 free tickets on offer to mark the reopening of Arts Centre Melbourne’s Ian Potter State Theatre.
Housewarming, a weekend of free events from 9-12 October will showcase some of the state’s most exciting artists and companies and welcoming Victorians back to the theatre which is home to the largest stage in the Southern Hemisphere.
Refurbishment of the heritage-listed Ian Potter State Theatre has improved accessibility, upgraded the lighting and sound systems, improved heating and cooling, installed new seating, and restored the much-loved interiors to create a truly 21st century theatre experience while preserving and honouring the theatre’s heritage.
The free Housewarming program will take over Arts Centre Melbourne including specially commissioned 50-minute performances featuring The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, Melbourne Theatre Company, Circus Oz, the Victorian College of the Arts, musicians Emma Donovan and Eliza Hull, children’s performers The Listies, and more.
There will be free guided tours, DJ sets, food trucks, roaming performances and a new exhibition at AMPA at Hamer Hall, exploring the history of the performing arts in Australia. By night, a laser light show will take over the iconic Spire. The celebrations will continue on Monday 12 October with free performances for schools.
With the finishing touches now underway inside the theatre, works are continuing on the multifaceted Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation, including further work to revitalise and expand the Arts Centre Melbourne Theatres Building.
Work is also underway on The Fox: NGV Contemporary, Australia’s largest gallery of contemporary art and design, and Laak Boorndap, a new 18,000 square metre urban garden which will span the precinct, providing green space and a destination for art and performance. More than 11,000 jobs will be created across the life of the project.
For more information about the reopening program and to register for free tickets to Housewarming performances visit artscentremelbourne.com.au.