The Engine Room’s iconic red doors on View Street are sporting a series of new images to celebrate sixteen local performers and arts organisations.
Photographer and central Victorian artist Michael Wolfe was commissioned for the project called Stages.
The photographer said his vision for Stages centred on spotlighting local creatives and providing a platform for performance during the pandemic.
“Creative arts professionals, actors and performers have been amongst the hardest hit by the pandemic and this work demonstrates the changing faces of the Bendigo performing arts community,” Mr Wolfe said.
“I asked each of these models to be expressive – to get into character, if you will. The result is a theatrically focused narrative featuring some of the users of this incredible building.”
The groups that hire The Engine Room’s black box performance space are diverse from youth theatre companies, to musicians, comedy acts, and dance companies and the venue frequently showcases emerging talent.
City of Greater Bendigo Acting Manager Bendigo Venues and Events Jacoba Kelly said collaboration for Stages demonstrated resourcefulness during lockdown.
“Under Michael Wolfe’s creative direction, we invited sixteen local creative organisations who have worked in The Engine Room recently to feature in this installation,” Ms Kelly said.
“The diverse nature of these organisations demonstrates the scope of creativity generated in this well-loved and versatile performance space.”
Assistant Festival Director for the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival Amy Clark explained how their team utilised The Engine Room as a launch pad for emerging artists.
“For young and beginner artists, still finding their feet on stage, to be able to perform in front of attentive and supportive audiences has probably been one of the most rewarding things,” Ms Clark said.
Bendigo Pride Festival Director John Richards believed The Engine Room was the perfect venue for Bendigo Pride.
“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,” Mr Richards said.
