A brand new museum for the performing arts is coming to Melbourne, showcasing rare objects
Located at Arts Centre Melbourne's beloved Hamer Hall, overlooking the Yarra River, AMPA promises to immerse visitors in Australia's glittering performing arts legacy. From circus spectacles and operatic grandeur to theatrical masterpieces and pop culture throwbacks, the museum will showcase over 850,000 treasured items from the nation's largest performing arts collection.
Visitors and Victorians alike will get the chance to marvel at extraordinary items, including Dame Edna Everage's ostentatious 'Scream Dress', Dame Nellie Melba's exquisite silk stage cloak, and Bon Scott's leather jacket. Additionally, memorable props and sets from legendary Australian productions such as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Summer of the Seventeenth Doll will also be on display.
AMPA will launch in phases, initially unveiling almost 500 square metres of exhibition space in December 2025, with a future expansion planned to reach approximately 800 square metres. The museum will blend exclusive pieces from its permanent collection with internationally acclaimed touring exhibitions, enhancing Melbourne's standing as a cultural powerhouse.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Bring Her Back viewers have just made a huge realisation about the cast
The Philippou brothers' new horror hits cinemas today Bring Her Back arrives in UK cinemas today (July 26) and chronicles the grim tale of two siblings who are placed with a foster mother still mourning her own late daughter. Brother duo Danny and Michael Philippou are the masterminds behind the blockbuster, marking their second cinema outing following 2023's smash hit, Talk To Me. Their latest offering was penned simultaneously with their debut and exists within the same fictional world, though it doesn't function as a direct sequel. The ensemble features acting legend Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water) leading the charge, alongside emerging Australian talent Sora Wong and Jonah Wren Phillips (Sweet Tooth), plus Billy Barratt (Kraven the Hunter). Since the Philippou siblings hail from Australia, they habitually locate their productions Down Under and have their performers adopt the local dialect. Yet audiences are only now discovering that two of Bring Her Back's leading stars are actually British. Sally, amongst the most recognisable faces in the line-up, originates from London, whilst Billy, who portrays Andy, is also a Londoner and happens to be the grandson of Welsh musical icon Shakin' Stevens, reports the Mirror. Spectators have been utterly astounded by the duo's authentic Australian pronunciations and flocked to Reddit to express their astonishment after hearing their genuine voices during interviews. "Holy s*** she's [Sally] not Australian? I'm Aussie and she reminded me of so many teachers, social service, councillor types I've known," wrote one viewer. Another commented: "I'm Aussie and her accent was flawless. Absolutely flawless." A third viewer expressed their astonishment, saying: "Sally Hawkins I recognised eventually, never would have known if I hadn't seen her before though. Billy Barratt though, I didn't clock at all. We need to start airlifting their dialect coaches to set whenever a script calls for an Australian character." Another cinema enthusiast chimed in with praise, remarking: "I knew Sally Hawkins was British, but when Billy Barratt spoke in interviews it completely shocked me. His accent was so good." The film's performances have garnered widespread acclaim, particularly Sally's portrayal of foster mum Laura, leaving audiences deeply impressed. During a chat with directors Danny and Michael, Sally opened up about what attracted her to the role. She enthused about the script, saying: "Your writing is so - it's just so real," and "It didn't feel like it was one genre or another, it just feels like really good storytelling." Sally also praised the directors' approach, adding: "It's rare for filmmakers to be that collaborative and free, and I always felt very supported and also trusted with your baby."
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Bring Her Back viewers blown away after hearing star's real voice
Fans of the freshly-released horror film have just made a huge realisation Bring Her Back hits UK cinemas today (July 26) and tells the bleak story of a brother and sister taken in by a foster mum still grieving for her own deceased daughter. Sibling directors Danny and Michael Philippou are the brains behind the blockbuster, which is their second big-screen release after 2023's smash hit Talk To Me. Their latest film was written at the same time as their first and set in the same universe too, though it does not serve as a sequel. The cast has acting royalty Sally Hawkins (Shape of Water) at the helm as well as some up-and-coming Australian stars in Sora Wong and Jonah Wren Phillips (Sweet Tooth), alongside Billy Barratt (Kraven the Hunter). Given that the Philippou brothers are from Australia, they typically set their films there and have their cast speak with the accent. However, fans are just realising two of Bring Her Back's major stars are actually British. Sally, one of the best-known names in the cast, is from London, while Billy, who plays Andy, is also a Londoner and the grandson of Welsh music legend Shakin' Stevens. Viewers have been left blown away by the pair's convincing Australian accents and took to Reddit to share their amazement after hearing their real voices in interviews. "Holy s*** she's [Sally] not Australian? I'm Aussie and she reminded me of so many teachers, social service, councillor types I've known," penned one viewer. Another shared: "I'm Aussie and her accent was flawless. Absolutely flawless." A third wrote: "Sally Hawkins I recognised eventually, never would have known if I hadn't seen her before though. Billy Barratt though, I didn't clock at all. We need to start airlifting their dialect coaches to set whenever a script calls for an Australian character." Meanwhile a fourth film fan added: "I knew Sally Hawkins was British, but when Billy Barratt spoke in interviews it completely shocked me. His accent was so good." The film's acting has been widely praised with viewers still reeling from Sally's performance as foster mum Laura. In a conversation with directors Danny and Michael, Sally shared what drew her to the project. "Your writing is so - it's just so real," she gushed. "It didn't feel like it was one genre or another, it just feels like really good storytelling." She added: "It's rare for filmmakers to be that collaborative and free, and I always felt very supported and also trusted with your baby."
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Folkestone Pride to be 'most exciting and diverse' yet
Folkestone Pride takes place in the town on Saturday, with organisers promising it will be "the most exciting and diverse yet".The event begins with a parade through the town, starting at the bottom of the Old High Street at 13:00 will continue along Sandgate Road and onto the Leas, where entertainment will take place on the bandstand between 14:00 and 18:00 after party, being held at the Leas Cliff Hall, has already sold out. Organisers said the day will be "family friendly, filled with love, music and unapologetic joy", with "unforgettable performances and a community that celebrates every colour of the rainbow".The afternoon event on the Leas will feature drag artists, DJs and a Kylie Minogue tribute act.
