Theatrical traditions: stage and screen in Bendigo

Theatrical traditions:
stage & screen in
Bendigo
Western theatrical traditions came
to Bendigo with fortune seekers in
the 1850s. 1 The growing population
and prosperity of the goldfields was
attractive to touring artists, companies
and theatrical entrepreneurs ensuring
that even amongst the dust of the
fledgling settlement, there was no
shortage of entertainment. Since then,
everything from amateur to professional,
Shakespeare, opera, music, vaudeville,
drama and comedy have graced the
many stages in Bendigo. The beginning
of the 20th century heralded the dawn of
motion pictures, which quickly became
the most popular form of entertainment.
Existing theatres promptly adapted and
numerous purpose built picture theatres
were constructed.
Despite the dominating popularity of
‘the pictures’, live theatre has remained
a constant in the evolving story of the
performing arts in Bendigo. Amateur
theatre companies, formed in the early
days of the city have paved the way
for contemporary community theatre,
which has continued to be a strong
creative force in the city with several
local companies operating for decades.
The new state-of-the-art, Ulumbarra
Theatre is the latest addition to the
city’s vibrant cultural scene, testament
to the continuing celebration of
theatrical traditions in Bendigo.
Endeavoring to cover nearly 165 years
of the theatrical history of a city like
Bendigo is quite a task. Needless to
say, in a short essay, it is not possible
to highlight every individual who
has contributed to this history nor
is it possible to go into detail about
the countless films screened or live
performances held at the numerous
venues across the city. For expediency,
this essay focuses on key moments,
places and people, attempting to briefly
chart the ebb and flow of the theatrical
landscape of Bendigo.
EARLY DAYS
One need only glance at the front
pages of the Bendigo Advertiser from
the early years of settlement to note the
rich diversity of the cities cultural life.
Appealing to a wide audience regardless
of affluence, live theatre was a popular
form of entertainment. In the early
days such entertainment took place in
tents. However, less than a decade after
gold was discovered in Bendigo, there
was a variety of establishments offering
everything from bawdy concert hall acts
to theatrical performances comparable
to those being performed on the stages
of London. 2
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