A new performing arts venue is slated to open in Melbourne’s East on 13 October. Situated in Nunawading, The Round is set to be a “contemporary hub of art and culture for the local community and beyond”, welcoming a series of professional performing art programs.
The venue will house a proscenium theatre with a capacity of 600, as well as a 200-seat studio theatre, two rehearsal studios and function spaces. It also features a soundshell, designed for festivals and outdoor events.
The Round’s 600-seat proscenium theatre. Photo supplied
Developed by the Whitehorse City Council, the venue is the product of redevelopment work undertaken on the former Whitehorse Centre. The Round will retain legacy pieces from the previous venue, including a Bicentenary Leadlight Mural created in 1988 and two time capsules.
Its architecture includes “world-class” sound and lighting systems, as well as a hearing augmentation system.
“Whitehorse City Council is incredibly excited to present The Round and unveil the new, world-class venue which we hope will become the cultural heart of Melbourne’s East,” said Mark Lane, Mayor of the Whitehorse City Council.
“The Round has been designed to broaden the opportunities for our community to connect with the arts, as well as with one another, and be enjoyed for generations to come.”
A digital rendering of The Round. Photo supplied
For its opening night, The Round will present a concert by Lucy Durack and Gary Pinto with a post-concert cocktail party.
A small run of events also precedes the opening night across late September. Hearth Theatre will stage Death of a Salesman, starring Paul English; Jodee Mundy’s multimedia performance work, Personal, will be presented, along with The Listies’ iteration of Hamlet for children.
Across the rest of the year, it will host a series of music, dance, cabaret and comedy, including performances by Daryl Braithewaite, Anh Do, alongside NOVA Music Theatre’s Cinderella, The Little Red Company’s Christmas Actually and a Lyster Opera production of Flotow’s Martha.
The venue will also host The Round Midsumma residency, which invites local LGBTQIA+ artists to develop a work over up to four weeks in the venue. Applications close on 24 September.
More information about The Round can be found here.
Details for The Round Midsumma residency program can be found here.
