Windfire Fires Up October
Geelong’s annual Windfire Festival, based on St Mary’s Basilica and organised by a committee led by the Basilica’s artistic director and organist Frank De Rosso with Geelong Chorale soprano Jane Bashiruddin, will run from October 2 to 11 with eleven events, five of them free. The concerts range from aa group from the Australian Boys Choir singing Sweet and Low, a voyage from Skye to Venice from the Evergreen Ensemble to soprano Lee Abrahmsen singing about Legends, Lovers and Lieder. Performing at the Festival’s free events will be Geelong Symphony Orchestra’s lead violinist Olivier Bonnici, harpist Liz Monument, Angie Smaled with her zither – and Lucy Ridditt on piano accordian. Find full details, venues and seat prices on our DIARY HERE
Chuck Berry Rocks BAC
Drop Of A Hat’s next Morning Showtime in the Bellarine Arts Centre is titled The Chuck Berry Story. It’s a a tribute to, and biography of, the who invited Beethoven to Roll Over and inspired a whole generation of Rock & Rollers.. That was when he wasn’t upsetting the 1950s American redneck authorities by being that most outlandish of people, – a successful, rich black man. But the show isn’t just a biography – researched and narrated by Colin Mockett – it’s also a tribute with the Peninsula’s favourite Rock & Roll group All Shook Up providing a rich selection of Chuck’s cheeky, sexy, but always rocking music to accompany the story. The Chuck Berry Story is 10.30am Tuesday November 10 in the Potato Shed Theatre at The Bellarine Arts Centre. All seats are at concession rate $22, include interval refreshments from Bakers Delight. Book them at tickets.geelongaustralia.com.au
Medimime’s Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid is Medimime’s fundraising pantomime for 2026.
Directed by Scott Bradley, the production is not the Disney version, nor the classic fairy tale.
It’s the Medimime pantomime version featuring Geelong’s medicos on stage with lots of local references and blatant sponsor plugs. But it will be great fun and all profits will benefit Geelong’s Hospital.
Medimime’s Little Mermaid is 7.00pm (1.30pm matinee) in the Arts Centre’s Story House. Tickets $45.00, $40.00, from Geelong Arts Centre
Frozen – plain, relaxed or swing
CentreStage Geelong will present the Broadway version of Disney’s musical Frozen next March, which the tickets on sale now. The company plans a three-week run, from March 5 – 20, 2027, with some performances designated ‘Relaxed’ while others are ‘Swing’. Relaxed performances are designed to appeal to people with sensory difficulties. They will have reduced intensity of lighting and sound effects, the house lights will stay on at a low level and the theatre doors remain open allowing freedom to move in and out as well as a designated quiet space for breaks. The ‘swing’ performances will allow main parts to be played by understudies. Performance times will be at 7.30pm, 1.30pm matinees and 5.00pm early evenings. Tickets cost $59.90, $55.90 (concession) $49.90 (child) at Geelong Arts Centre
Reefer Madness in Belmont
Geelong’s Theatre Of The Damned has announced the production team for its marijuana-themed musical Reefer Madness to be staged in Belmont April 2027.
The big, bright 1930s musical will be directed by Scott Bradley, with Liam Jose his musical director and Madeleine Hoogstra his choreographer. The team will be conducting auditions with dates announced through #theatreofthedamned.
True to Theatre of the Damned’s tradition, this production will be the first staged in Geelong. It’s another company tradition to introduce new talented young people in production roles – and that’s happening with both Liam and Madeleine.
The big show itself is based on a 1936 musical film and is promoted thus… ‘The addictive, clever musical numbers range from big Broadway-style showstoppers to swing tunes like “Down at the Ol’ Five and Dime” and the Vegas-style “Listen to Jesus, Jimmy,” featuring J.C. himself leading a chorus of showgirl angels. Reefer Madness is a highly stylised and satirical political commentary that will leave you wanting more…’
The Theatre Of The Damned version opens April 2 and runs until April 10 in the company’s Belmont High School PAC home. Tickets at $38.50 are on sale now through try booking.com
Want to join our Awkwardstra?
Geelong’s newest musical entity is designed for those who love to play instruments together in a group – but without the rigours and discipline of a formal band or orchestra. You don’t need to audition to join, and the Geelong Awkwardstra meets weekly to play together in whatever configuration the group’s individual instruments make up. That puts a little pressure on the Awkwardstra conductor/arranger Ian Crowther, but it’s a challenge he relishes. The Geelong Awkwardstra’s repertoire is suitably eclectic, ranging from pop to classics -so if your interest is piqued, simply roll up with your instrument 7.15pm on a Monday evening at the Vines Rd Community Centre in Hamlyn Heights.
Read the Awkwardstra’s latest concert review HERE
entertainmentgeelong.oam
This website’s editor, webmaster and principal critic, Colin Mockett, was awarded the Order Of Australia Medal in 2023 for services to the Arts and Local History in Geelong.
Central to the award committee’s thinking would have been this website, which was set up specifically to support local arts, theatre and music communities by publishing news and details of upcoming plays, concerts and events free of charge – and then reviewing local productions.
Colin says he sees the site – and the award – as a tribute to the quantity and high quality of the arts scene in Geelong.
We can all count ourselves winners!
