MEDIA RELEASE • 10 DECEMBER 2020
Geelong Arts Centre is delighted to announce that tickets to the highly anticipated event will go on sale to general public December 16.
Supported by Major Artistic Partner, Deakin University and the Victorian Government, The Summer Sessions will showcase an array of dazzling performances and creative events as live arts makes its long-awaited return on February 5 2021.
“Deakin University has a long-held commitment to lifelong learning and innovative thinking, so much of which is provided through the arts. We are proud to support Geelong Arts Centre in providing essential artistic experiences for our region through The Summer Sessions”.
Deakin University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Iain Martin
With a focus on accessibility and safety, Geelong Arts Centre will host performances and events outside, beneath the canopy of theatre’s iconic Big Top.
A variety of artistic and creative industries networking events will also take place in the recently redeveloped Ryrie Street building.
Hosting acts from country to classics, right through to comedy, and a range of creative industries networking events, the dynamic Summer Sessions program will have you covered no matter your taste.
The stellar line up includes some of Australian comedy’s biggest names - Tommy Little, Cal Wilson, Claire Hooper, Dave Thornton and Dilruk Jaysinha; a plethora of musical artists across multiple genres - ARIA Award-winner Clare Bowditch, post-post-modern diva Meow Meow, jazz crooners The Syncopators, cabaret queen Dolly Diamond and theatrical Silvie Paladino; and an assortment of fantastical family acts – One Fell Swoop Circus, Dummies Corp. and The Musical Sprouts.
“At Geelong Arts Centre we are firm believers that communities united by the ideals of creativity are extremely powerful, and as such take pride in strengthening our community by welcoming live performances with audiences back to our region in February 2021 for an unforgettable summer of live entertainment!”
Geelong Arts Centre CEO, Joel McGuinness
Tickets for all evening acts under The Big Top will include free pre-show entertainment from local artists including JOTHI, Connor Morel, Lash 78, Hassall, Loud N Deadly and more to be enjoyed while sipping a drink from The Big Top bar.
Assured to be a unique experience, patrons are invited to indulge in the intimate luxury of drinks and a show under The Big Top by purchasing exclusive AA reserve (2-seater) or A reserve (4-seater) cabaret table seating.
Cabaret seating includes table service and tickets are strictly limited. Individually ticketed tiered seating is also available.
Tickets will be available to the general public from 10:00am Wednesday 16 December.
Bookings can be made via the website, or by phoning 1300 251 200.
The Details
Group table for 2 - AA reserve ticket prices range from $86 to $144.
Group table for 4 - A reserve ticket prices range from $136 to $216.
(Ticket price is for full table and cannot be split into individual tickets).
Individually ticketed tiered seating is also available (B reserve), and ticket prices range from $29 to $49.
Face masks must be worn at all times unless eating and/or drinking.
Subscriptions
Geelong Arts Centre will offer a flexi-package subscription with discounts available if purchasing across multiple performances - 2+ shows to save 5% or 4+ shows to save 10%.
Tickets to events taking placing in the Ryrie Street building are not included in the flexi-package.
To keep up to date with what’s on during Geelong Arts Centre’s Summer Sessions visit geelongartscentre.org.au and sign up to our e-newsletter.
The Performances
I’LL SEE MYSELF OUT | TOMMY LITTLE
With preshow entertainment by JOTHI
5:30PM & 8:00PM PRESHOW JOTHI
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER TOMMY LITTLE
FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY
Tommy Little is Australia’s premier d***head. Which is lucky for everyone else as d***head decisions make for big laughs! Nothing is off limits at a Tommy Little live show – his real-life antics and setbacks are foolish, funny as hell and definitely his own fault.
TRASH TEST DUMMIES | DUMMIES CORP.
10:30AM & 1:00PM
SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY
Winners of the Best Children’s Presentation at the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2016 and 2015, and runners up for Children’s Choice Award 2016, the Trash Test Dummies are as full of laughs as their bins are full of surprises.
CLARE BOWDITCH
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER CLARE BOWDITCH
SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY
A musician, broadcaster, sometimes actor, speaker, entrepreneur, and author - somewhat of a slashie you might say – Clare has won the coveted ARIA Award for Best Female for her music, the Rolling Stone Woman of the Year Award for her contribution to Australian culture, and has toured and performed at every festival, venue and truck-stop Australia has to offer.
OUR STORIES: CONNECTION, COUNTRY AND CULTURE
1:30PM
SUNDAY 7 FEBRUARY
You are invited to spend an afternoon yarning with First Nation artists, Norm Stanley, Edith Wright and Tarryn Love, as they share stories of connection to country and place, through their personal and artistic journeys. Supported by the Deakin University Office of Indigenous Strategies and Innovation, and facilitated by Geelong-based Gunditjmara theatre actor, director and playwright, Tom Molyneux, this is an opportunity for non-Aboriginal people to join the conversation, ask questions and walk together.
SHIRALEE HOOD & KEVIN KROPINYERI - LIVE
With preshow entertainment by Tim Hulsman
5:30PM PRESHOW TIM HULSMAN
6:30PM HEADLINER SHIRALEE HOOD & KEVIN KROPINYERI
SUNDAY 7 FEBRUARY
Laugh along with two of Australia's top Indigenous comedians! Shiralee Hood is Australia’s premiere Indigenous female comedian, having blown away audiences throughout Australia with hilarious stories and an outrageously funny take on life. Kevin is one of Australia’s most established and popular Aboriginal comedians, and his engaging brand of comedy warmly invites both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal audiences to share his journey, his culture, his life.
CAL WILSON & CLAIRE HOOPER – LIVE
With preshow entertainment by Levi Anderson
5:30PM & 8:00PM PRESHOW LEVI ANDERSON
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER CAL WILSON & CLAIRE HOOPER
WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY
Two of Australia’s funniest are heading to Geelong! Cal Wilson and Claire Hooper are in red-hot form and ready to bring the funny back to the stage! Cal Wilson is as engaging as she is hilarious, her playfulness and storytelling prowess has her selling out shows across Australia. Claire Hooper is a master of captivating audiences, touring brilliant shows across the country to critical acclaim.
I HAVE A FACE | JUDE PERL
With preshow entertainment by Oxygen College
5:30PM & 8:00PM PRESHOW OXYGEN COLLEGE
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER JUDE PERL
THURSDAY 11 FEBRUARY
Jude Perl’s insight into her personal and relatable mental health struggles of being an adult, will make you want to sing along, cry and laugh all at once. Sometimes labels are super useful, particularly when you’re washing your fave jumper. But at other times, labels can halt your growth and supress your very existence.
MEOW MEOW IN CONCERT | MEOW MEOW
With preshow entertainment by Lionel Baker
5:30PM & 8:00PM PRESHOW LIONEL BAKER
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER MEOW MEOW
FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Post-post-modern diva Meow Meow has hypnotised, inspired, and terrified audiences globally with unique creations and sell-out seasons from New York’s Lincoln Center and Berlin’s Bar Jeder Vernunft to London’s West End and the Sydney Opera House. Named one of the “Top Performers of the Year” by The New Yorker, the spectacular artist has been called “sensational” (The Times, UK), a “diva of the highest order” (New York Post), “The Queen of Chanson” (Berliner Zeitung), and “a phenomenon” by the Australian press.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOU! | THE MUSICAL SPROUTS
10:30AM & 1:00PM
SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY
A Day In The Life Of You follows three friends, Yella, Reddy and Blueno, as they help each other navigate the challenges little children face daily including going to the toilet without falling in, brushing teeth correctly, figuring out what to wear depending on the weather and cleaning up. The show is funny, joyful and at times poignant with a series of clever songs that mark all these occasions for kids to sing along to.
THE SONGS OF EVA CASSIDY | SILVIE PALADINO
With preshow entertainment by Paul Rettke
5:30PM & 8:00PM PRESHOW PAUL RETTKE
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER SILVIE PALADINO
SATURDAY 13 FEBRUARY
The Songs of Eva Cassidy is a celebration of one of the great voices of the 20th century, and who better to pay tribute to this genius than Australia’s own Silvie Paladino. The show features her inspired re-imaginings of such classic tunes as Over the Rainbow, Fields of Gold, Autumn Leaves, Time After Time, Ain’t No Sunshine, Bridge Over Troubled Water, What a Wonderful World and, of course, Songbird.
A TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND ELLA FITZGERALD | THE SYNCOPATORS WITH SPECIAL GUEST YVETTE JOHANSSON
With preshow entertainment by Imogen Brough
12.30PM & 3:00PM PRESHOW IMOGEN BROUGH
1:30 PM & 4:00PM HEADLINER THE SYNCOPATORS
SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY
Featuring special guest, Yvette Johansson, be dazzled as The Syncopators saunter through Armstrong's big band era of the 30s to his famous vocal duets with America’s First Lady of Song for a Valentine's Day you won't forget. No strangers to the Geelong Arts Centre, having delivered highly acclaimed shows including Tribute to Bing Crosby and Best of British, this delightful program that is sure to be both entertaining and exhilarating.
DAVE THORNTON & DILRUK JAYASINHA – LIVE
With preshow entertainment by LASH78
5:30PM & 8:00PM PRESHOW LASH78
6:30 PM & 9:00PM HEADLINER DAVE THORNTON & DILRUK JAYASINHA
WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY
Enjoy a night of nonstop laughs from two of Australia’s comedy powerhouses! Dave Thornton has built a global reputation for his honest, engaging, whip-smart and damn funny comedy. Dilruk Jayasinha is one of the most in demand comedians in Australia known for his positive, upbeat brand of stand-up.
PARTON ME | DOLLY DIAMOND
6:30PM & 9:00PM THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY
9:00PM SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY
5:30PM & 8:00PM THURSDAY PRESHOW RACH BRENNAN
8:00PM | SATURDAY PRESHOW HASSALL
Australia’s Queen of Cabaret meets the Queen of Country Music. After selling out her previous shows across the nation, the multi award-winning Dolly Diamond is thrilled to pay tribute to the most honoured female country performer of all time - the one and only Dolly Parton.
BY A THREAD | ONE FELL SWOOP CIRCUS
6:30PM & 9:00PM FRIDAY 19 FEBRUARY
3:30PM & 6:30PM SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY
5:30PM & 8:00PM FRIDAY PRESHOW LOUD N DEADLY
2:30PM & 5:30PM SATURDAY PRESHOW HASSALL
One Fell Swoop uncover the intrinsic metaphor within circus to create stark yet beautiful audience experiences. The company combines ambitious concepts with visceral physicality, bringing audiences the invigorating mix of joy and risk inherent to group acrobatics.
FRESH CIRCUS WORKSHOP | CREATIVE FRESH ENTERTAINMENT
10:00AM & 12:30PM
SATURDAY 20 FEBRUARY
Have you ever wanted to run away and join the circus? This fun family friendly workshop is a perfect mix of expression, creativity and exercise. At Fresh we are passionate and have ridiculously high standards for the work we produce. Our elite team of performers and stylists are just as invested in the final result as we are. Led by industry professionals, you will have the chance to learn circus skills from the best!