Stages

Benjamin MacEllen

Ben MacEllen is an author, public speaker, performer, and activist. He writes and speaks extensively about his experience as a transgender man. Ben’s most recent project as playwright and actor was in his original one-man show ‘Transmansplaining’ which premiered in 2019 to critical acclaim.

“The Engine Room is very special to me. It’s where I first performed on stage as an actor after a 25-year hiatus. It’s a wonderfully intimate space which allows performers to really connect and engage with the audience.” 

Punctum

Jude Anderson is an artistic director, devisor, and dramaturg of contemporary performance. After living and directing overseas for many years she returned to central Victoria and founded live arts company – Punctum. Punctum is nationally renowned for its live arts productions and residencies which are participatory, unexpected, compelling, and regionally grown.

“The Engine Room is one of those magical places you step into and straight away know that exciting work is possible, and an adventure is about to begin. It was where I first held rehearsals. It’s at the same time a creative siren calling on the hill and a home of possibility.”  

Bendigo Theatre Company

Stania Tresize is well known to everyone at Bendigo Theatre Company. A member for almost twenty years, Stania's passion is welcoming new people into the fold, and making sure they feel part of the family. 

"We always try to select the perfect venue to suit each show. The Engine Room is a low-risk space that fits a good size audience and it’s adaptable to many different uses. Our youth arm, Tribe presented Blood Brothers in The Engine Room. It’s a quirky space with an arty feel. Actors and audience enjoy it because it has such a good vibe." 

Bendigo Comedy Festival

Jim Hallawell is a comedian who regularly appears in stand-up gigs in and around Bendigo, including the landmark Bendigo Comedy Festival. This event regularly highlights the best stand-up comedy in the Bendigo region, partnered with acts of national acclaim.

"The Engine Room's given so many of us a taste of the big stage. It’s inspiring, and a great place to see and even feel the audience laugh"

DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation)

DJAARA is a Traditional Owner Group Entity under the Recognition and Settlement Agreement 2013. It is the recognised Registered Aboriginal Party for Central Victoria, proudly representing Dja Dja Wurrung People in their continued rights of recognition as Traditional Owners.  

"Ceremony is a celebration of our Martinga kuli (Ancestors) who walked this landscape long before us, imprinting their marks on Djandak (Country). As the landscape has changed, the places we practice our songs and dances have too. We continue our cultural practices of song, dance, and language in our contemporary ceremonies. We are here, and we thrive because of our Martinga kuli." 

CreateA

Kyle Waddington is an actor with a passion for comedic roles. His inspirations include John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson and Michael Crawford. He is a member of the Saturday ensemble of performers with CreateA who provide opportunities for people with disability to engage with contemporary arts practice and performance.

“I enjoy being around people with a good sense of humour. I want to use Drama to make more friends.”

Kashmir Belly Dancers

Alica Darcy is the owner of Kashmir Belly Dancers, a group who enjoy getting together to dance and celebrate life and being a woman.

"We already had a successful performance in the Engine Room and had planned for our Halloween Kasbar to be held there too, but had to cancel due to the pandemic".

Multicultural Arts Victoria

Po Tu Tu is a Karen man, born in Burma, who grew up in a refugee camp. He is a visual artist, actor and story teller, currently working with MAV in Bendigo as a cultural facilitator.

"I performed in the Engine Room (in the TerryandTheCuz production of) Sk!n. I love performing to a live audience, particularly mixing the Karen language and English."

BucketofWork

Luke Morris has been producing comedy as BucketOfWork for decades. With newspaper articles in the State Library and website text online for eternity, he’s now creating live events.

"In rising from basement gigs to a professional stage, the Engine Room has been an ideal launching pad. It’s really given confidence in shows and helped catapult some acts into the media and festivals."

Arena Theatre Co.

Chrisian Leavesley is Artistic Director of Arena Theatre Company, a professional theatre company specialising in works for children and young people. Arena was resident in the Old Fire Station for nearly four years during which time they cultivated many new, original works.

"We have done so many great workshops and rehearsals in the studio - with artists, teachers and children from Bendigo and other places. It's actually quite amazing when I think about all the things we've done in the space."  

Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival

Amy Clark has been Assistant Director and the chief administrator behind Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival since 2011.  The festival has staged and supported many shows at The Engine Room in that time, from Singer/Songwriter Showcase events featuring established artists, Master Musician Workshops, the famed Blues Boot Camp and the celebrated Acoustic Youth Stage.

"Utilising The Engine Room as a launching pad for young and beginner artists, still finding their feet on stage in front of attentive and supportive audiences, has probably been one of the most rewarding things we've enjoyed partnering on with the BV&E crew. Their importance to our local arts culture cannot be overstated."

Bendigo Pride Festival

John Richards is the Director of the Bendigo Pride Festival, as well as a writer and podcaster. He is co-creator and writer of the ABC TV comedy Outland and the BBC radio comedy Night Terrace. Bendigo Pride Festival has produced many LGBTQIA+ shows and events at The Engine Room.

"The Engine Room is my favourite performance space in Bendigo. It's intimate but still feels like you've had a night out at a theatre. It's perfect for Bendigo Pride to play in!"

James Bodin

JB is a writing, performing, music-making artist living and working in Bendigo. He is also one half of creative duo 'Laughing Banana' who work to support the performing and visual arts industry in numerous ways.

"I've worked with so many groups in the Engine Room in the past 5 years. Arena, The Laudanum Project, Uncertain Curtain, CreateA, Punctum, James Squared, and That's Classic Entertainment to name a few. From actor to composer to lighting tech, I work to help get fresh new works on their feet."

Instagram: @banana_laughing

South Sudanese Ensemble

The South Sudanese Ensemble was formed in 2019. Once a week they would come together in The Engine Room to ideate, compose, sing and practice their craft, working towards shaping a performance that celebrates their culture and heritage. This has formed the project Baai (meaning 'home') which will premiere on November 13 2021.

Bendigo Queer Film Festival

Bendigo Queer Film Festival was founded in 2004 by Chris Walters and is the oldest regional queer film festival in Australia. Celebrating queer culture in film and visual arts, it includes its own Short Film Competition with and for LGBTIQ+ people living in Central Victoria. BQFF committee member Joanne Comerford shares her thoughts on The Engine Room. 

"It's an edgy venue smack-bang in the middle of Bendigo's Arts precinct. It's the absolutely perfect place to stage a queer, avant-garde film festival."

On The Hill Theatre Company

On The Hill Theatre is a not-for-profit theatre company founded in Bendigo in 2017. The group caters for kids, teens and adults and particularly welcomes neuro diverse and differently abled actors to participate in performances and projects. They encourage and aim to inspire the next generation of theatre makers to share their love for the arts into the future, whilst creating a safe and welcoming place for creative expression and development. 

“What I love about theatre and acting is everything, the costumes, the big stage and making new friends!”