"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek..." 

Friday 25 August -  Saturday 2 September | GPAC Main Theatre

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears. 

"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek..." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek. 

Shrek presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all) and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre. 

A high energy interactive show for kids aged 3 - 5 years.

SOLD OUT!

Thursday 6 July | 10.30am | GPAC Town Hall

Fun energetic and engaging circus show for young people aged 3 -5 years.  A mix of juggling, acrobatic and unicycling performance with hands on activities including a silly warm up, juggling challenges, and plate spinning.

Children will be engaged and laughing from start to finish! The show includes moments of quiet focus, eruptions of noise and excitement, moving and grooving. 

Circus Workshop for kids aged 6 - 12 years

Thursday 6 July | 1.30pm | GPAC Town Hall

SOLD OUT!

This is a fun and structured workshop that gives children aged 6 - 12 years a taster of a variety of circus skills. 

The instructor led workshop will have the children, laughing, being silly and making plenty of noise.  Everyone is guaranteed to achieve something, and everyone is guaranteed to be challenged. 

Participants will have the opportunity to learn skills including, juggling, diabolo, devil-sticks and spinning plates, plus a bonus unicycle demonstration!

Workshop accompanying adults attend for free.

Please contact Box Office on 03 5176 3333 if you're having trouble with workshop ticket purchases online.

Barry the Bunyip is a smelly fellow and all the bush creatures don’t let him forget it!

Saturday 24 June | 7.30pm | GPAC Little Theatre

The Fairy Queen has decreed that Barry the Bunyip has to leave his home, and he’s not happy about it!  

Bush Tale Bunyip is developed over the span of five months by a group of 30 young stars aged between 8 - 16, and will premier in the GPAC Little Theatre this June.

The Gippsland Youth Drama Workshop produces an original show with every group, based on the participant’s ideas for characters, plot and themes that are important to them. 

The audience will meet fairies, pixies, witches, brownies and of course a bunyip in a story that focuses on differences and acceptance and not judging books by their covers (or others by their smell)! 

The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes centre stage in one of the world's best-loved, award-winning musicals. Presented by Lavalla Catholic College.

Thursday 27 July | 7pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Friday 28 July | 7pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Saturday 29 July | 1pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

Saturday 29 July | 7pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

Based on the popular comic strip and adapted from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Annie JR  features everyone’s favourite little redhead in her very first adventure. 

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. 

Annie JR  is full of classic songs likes “It’s the Hard-Knock Life”, “I Think I’m Gonna Like It Here” and “Tomorrow”, and is sure to have audiences leaving the theatre singing them for days!  

This live edutainment extravaganza is jam-packed with all your favourite Pevan & Sarah  bangers.

Thursday 12 October | 10.30am | GPAC Main Theatre

Pevan & Sarah are on the road again bringing the joy of their music to delight audiences in theatres across the country. Audiences will sing, learn and laugh their way through a 50 minute adventure and have their little minds blown as they witness this dynamic duo come to life on stage.

This interactive performance will weave its way through many points of the literacy and numeracy curriculum as well as highlighting key early years experiences such as teamwork, social skills and managing emotions.

Together, the big friendly tiger and his pocket rocket bestie will rock the house with a performance that’s equal parts musical, educational, hilarious and downright FUN! Prepare your little ones for a show like no other and one they’ll never forget. So don your tiger ears, brush up on your favourite lyrics and get ready to rock because

Pevan & Sarah can’t wait to see you all!

Class Act Productions is back with Oliver! JR. A 60-minute version of the beloved classic Broadway musical, adored by generations.  Featuring a cast full of Gippsland’s most talented youth, this musical will have audiences begging for “more!” 

Thursday 13 July | 7:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Friday 14 July | 7:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Saturday 15 July | 3:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Saturday 15 July | 7:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Sunday 16 July | 1:30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

Consider yourself at home with Oliver! JR., the Broadway Junior version of Lionel Bart's classic musical based on Charles Dickens' novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike. 

The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin.

When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family. 

Oliver! JR. is full of classic songs like "Consider Yourself", "Food Glorious Food", and "Oom-Pah-Pah", and is sure to have audiences leaving the theatre with them stuck in their head for days! 

Delightful production, based on the poignant picture book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas, weaves together captivating storytelling with mesmerising music in an immersive and theatrical performance. 

Tuesday 13 June | 10.30AM | GPAC Main Theatre

Tuesday 13 June | 12.00PM | GPAC Main Theatre

There was once a small boy called Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and his house was next door to an old people’s home. He knew all the people who lived there, but his favourite person of all was Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. When Wilfrid finds out that Nancy has lost her memory, he sets out to find out what a memory is...

This delightful production, based on the poignant picture book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas, adapted and directed by Sandra Eldridge, weaves together captivating storytelling with mesmerising music in an immersive theatrical performance. Featuring a new score by award-winning composer Paul Stanhope performed by a string quartet from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is the perfect introduction to live classical music, guaranteed to enchant audiences both young and old.

“Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge appeals to adults and children at several levels, emotional and intellectual. It teaches and entertains, drawing on themes of friendship and caring across generations.” Limelight Magazine, 2021

“Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge captures the imaginations of young audiences igniting what will hopefully become a lifelong appreciation of the performing arts.” Limelight Magazine, 2021

“This is not just a show for the children, this is a family excursion. So grab something warm, something from long ago, something to make you cry and laugh because the time spent with Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge and the ACO will be as precious as gold.”  Reviews by Judith, 2021 

Credits:

Based on the book by Mem Fox & Julie Vivas

Script & Direction by Sandra Eldridge

Original Music by Paul Stanhope

Original Production Design by Kelsey Lee

Illustration by Julie Vivas

David Walliams’ award-winning book comes to life on stage for children 6-12… and their adults!

Tuesday 4 April | 12pm | GPAC Main Theatre 

"Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well…”

It all starts when Chloe, just about the loneliest girl in the world, makes friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp. Sure he smells a bit, but he’s the only person who’s ever been nice to her. So, when Mr Stink needs a place to stay, Chloe decides to hide him in the garden shed.

Now Chloe's got to make sure no one finds out her secret, but she’s about to learn that some secrets have a way of leading to disaster. And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye… or the nose……

The team behind The Midnight Gang and The 13- 26-, 52-, 78- and 91-Storey Treehouses Live on Stage

return with this touching, twisted and hilarious, and very smelly tale… hold on to your nose!

“boisterous fun…the young audience…thoroughly enjoy[ed] this quality production.” The Daily Telegraph

“Children’s theatre at its most engaging” Stage Whispers

“enchanting” About Last Week

“a heart-warming story that stands up for the underdog” Broadway World

A CDP Kids production

a play by Maryam Master

Based on the book by David Walliams

A free summer festival created by the Youth, for the Youth.

Saturday 17 December | 11am - 9pm | Outdoor Theatre

Join us for a day of fun and celebration with activities, interactive entertainment, food trucks, live music and more!

Watch this space as we announce the full day program.

Artists, Food trucks & entertainment:

•Teenage Dads

•Darcy Fox

•Timothy Wolf

•Wacky Wombat Entertainment

•Miss Hannah’s Facepaint

•Melbourne Silent Disco

•Danceworks 114

•Gratitude Cookies (supported by Youth Council)

•PollyannaR (supported by Youth Council)

•Slinky Spuds

•Grab & Go Kebabs & Fish n Chips

•L&M Espresso Lab

Celebrating 15 years direct from a sell-out Broadway season, Cirque Mother Africa is returning to Australia in 2023.

Wednesday 3 May | 7.30pm | GPAC Main Theatre

The heartbeat of Africa pulsates throughout this jaw-dropping show as the musicians and artists transport audience members to the breath-taking continent of Africa. 

“Mother Africa is exuberant, high-energy entertainment” - New York Times

This 90-minute entertainment extravaganza combines the very best talent from nine African countries including Ethiopia, South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania to provide the wonder, suspense and joy that is Cirque Mother Africa.

"Pure spectacle, colourful costumes, immense physicality, powerfully rhythmic music, song, dance, cirque acts and comedy, something for everybody" - Glam Adelaide

Seen by more than 2 million people worldwide, Cirque Mother Africa is guaranteed to captivate audiences young and old. Combining the best of contortion, acrobatics, traditional dance, live music, pan spinning, hand balancing and so much more.                     

This brand new show features the amazing hand to hand balancing act as seen on Australia's Got Talent and performed by the Ramadhani Brothers.         

"It’s Cirque Du Soleil with an abundant African flavour"  - Australian Stage