Home to a lively arts scene

Performing arts teacher Tanya Stewart knows how important the arts are to a child’s development, so when an opportunity came along to take her five-monthold daughter to a performance of Milly, Jack and the Dancing Cat at the Colac Otways Performing Arts and Cultural Centre (COPACC), Ms Stewart didn’t hesitate.

“The arts are such an important part of life, especially for young people. It gives them an opportunity to express themselves and you can see the excitement and joy it brings to them,” Ms Stewart, 37, says.

Since COPACC opened in 2001 it has hosted a busy annual program of drama, physical theatre, children’s theatre, fine and popular music, dance and comedy. A local hub for the arts, the centre has quickly become an important place for local artists and performers to show their work and for travelling companies to perform.

No longer obliged to go to Geelong or Melbourne to see quality theatre and music, locals now have access to a diverse program of performances and exhibitions aimed at all ages and interests.

This year’s program includes 19 shows as well as six seniors’ Morning Music shows and a school holiday program offering opportunities for young people to learn about the visual and performing arts from creating puppets and stage sets, to technical theatre skills, contemporary dance, clowning and circus skills.

Highlights of the 2008 season have included a sold-out season of The Gospel According to Elvis and Menopause the Musical (sold out six weeks prior to show) and sellout shows of the children’s classic Possum Magic. The COPACC comedy season, which featured the Melbourne Comedy Festival Roadshow, has also been one of the year’s highlights.

“It was terrific,” says Heather Barker, 61, and a COPACC subscriber. “It was more challenging than traditional performing arts but I was really pleased to see people of my age and older in the audience.”

COPACC manager Karen Patterson says wherever possible the community is invited to make connections with the professional actors and musicians who play at COPACC.

“We’ve had master classes for young musicians with pianist Roger Woodward, workshops with the Australian Army Band and Melbourne musicians, and Australia Pro Arte conductor Benjamin Northey also took a handful of our talented young musicians under his wing for an afternoon,” she says.

The 20-strong COPACC Choir recently took part in a gospel master class with Trace Canini before taking the stage as backing singers in the sell-out performance of The Gospel According to Elvis in April.

“Wherever possible we try to extend people’s experience at the theatre either by offering complimentary workshops, post-show discussions, and the chance to meet the cast,” Ms Patterson says.

Colac resident and visual artist and arts activist Lyn Richardson, 40, says: “COPACC gives local people the opportunity to be exposed to the arts that they didn’t have before. It’s a really great set-up.”