What's On

Graham’s tribute to legend Kenny Rogers, no gamble for fans Radio personality, Ray Hadley, believes that Graham Toole is “worthy of a broader audience,” & Frank Ifield gave him the international spur award in 2004. I love performing live, so the more shows the better, we hope to give our audience something they can sing along to, tap their feet & to smile about” he added. Growing up in chilly Oberon he got a taste of the limelight performing as a child at the Local eisteddfods and it brings back wonderful memories.

Written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag, Killing Eve) and directed by Vicky Jones, Fleabag is a rip-roaring look at some sort of woman living her sort of life. Following a box-office record-breaking run in cinemas in 2019, the one-woman show returns to cinemas to the big screen this summer. Fleabag may seem oversexed, emotionally unfiltered and self-obsessed, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. With family and friendships under strain and a guinea pig café struggling to keep afloat, Fleabag suddenly finds herself with nothing to lose.

BMEC audiences are in for a treat when we welcome A Slightly Isolated Dog back to our venue in 2025! For those who came along to The Trojan War earlier in 2024 – you know that this company knows how to put on show! Five hilarious performers tell the terrifying (yet still exceptionally sexy) tale of Jekyll & Hyde. Thrilling, charming, shockingly good comedy, we make you laugh until it hurts. An 80 minute, guaranteed feel-good night, expect plenty of laughs in the company of your mates, and some of the sassiest performers in town. Meet the most delightfully evil man alive, Mr Hyde. This ridiculous rendition of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel, Jekyll and Hyde is retold by a team of charmingly ‘French’ performers with the help of the audience.

Unfortunately this event has been cancelled by the promotor. Refunds have been organised for all patrons who purchased tickets. BMEC is saddened to have to cancel this event and we hope you will join us again in the future. Kind regards, The BMEC Team. 

Come and enjoy National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) at Bathurst Library, reading a story at the same time as thousands of other libraries, schools, and bookshops across Australia. Library staff will read Truck Cat written by Deborah Frenkel and illustrated by Danny Snell at 12noon sharp, followed by more stories, songs, and rhymes. Plus, an interactive demonstration of our FREE library kid’s databases and a take home craft.

Join us as we kick off the 2025 Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival with a special get-together as we celebrate ten incredible years of storytelling, creativity, and community. Reflect on the festival’s journey so far, hear from some of the people who’ve helped shape it, and get a sneak peek at what’s to come in this year’s exciting program. It’s a warm welcome and a toast to the stories that bring us together.

Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival, May 22 - 25, 2025 Bathurst Writers & Readers Festival returns for another year, in conjunction with Sydney Writers’ Festival. The Bathurst Writers’ & Readers’ Festival is an annual literary event presented by BMEC Local Stages program in collaboration with Bathurst Library, Arts OutWest and Books Plus, Bathurst. The Festival is bringing back all your favourites, including Opening Night event, focus panels, in-discussions, Sydney Writers Festival live streams and of course The Great Festival Read. (with plenty more good stuff in-between!)

Hear Alone Australia winner Gina Chick regale you with stories of her extraordinary life, from her unconventional childhood to deep links with nature as an adult. With host TK.

Travel the winding road of love through first encounters and second chances with bestselling novelist and screenwriter David Nicholls, in conversation with Jennifer Byrne on his latest love story.

Respected Indigenous leader Thomas Mayo and historian Clare Wright reflect on the history of First Nations movements for change in Australia and look at next steps. With Lorena Allam.

Question what it means to change the world by defying history with Kaliane Bradley’s bestselling debut, which blends time travel, romance and spy thriller. With host Melanie Kembrey.

Join Central West author Cadance for a conversation on her new Science Fiction novel Letters To Our Robot Son. Hear Cadance and Paul Stafford discuss writing Sci-Fi, exploring themes of Artificial Intelligence, autonomy, family relationships and more. With her unique robot characters, Cadance captures a colloquial and heart-felt tale of life, family, hope and redemption – at the end of the world (maybe).

Join esteemed novelists Rumaan Alam, Robbie Arnott, Samantha Harvey and Torrey Peters as they discuss the state of the novel with host ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans (The Bookshelf).

Join the Moriarty sisters, Jaclyn, Liane and Nicola, as they discuss their career beginnings, different publishing paths and many successes with writer and broadcaster Sarah Macdonald.

Hear iconic Australian writer Helen Garner’s reflections on football and the cycles of life in The Season, her first full-length book in a decade. In conversation with David Leser.

Hear Alan Hollinghurst discuss his seventh novel, a rich and pleasurable account of a lifetime in modern England and the search for identity. In conversation with Georgina Godwin.

Hear how Laureate of Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín returned to the Lacey family of international bestseller Brooklyn with the long-awaited sequel, set 20 years after Rose’s death. With ABC Radio National’s Kate Evans.

Announcing the 2025 Stella Prize winner in a special event at Sydney Writers’ Festival - Livestreamed to the Bathurst Writers' & Readers' Festival  Stella is a leading advocate for gender equity and cultural change in Australian literature. Since its inception in 2012, Stella has championed the work of Australian women and non-binary writers with its flagship program, the prestigious Stella Prize. This annual literary award celebrates writing that is original, excellent and engaging.

Novelist Shankari Chandran, investigative journalist Kate McClymont and Diamond Dagger Award winner Ian Rankin discuss the line between fact and fiction in the stories they tell about crime. With host Matthew Condon.

Join bestselling author Justine Ford live at BMEC as she talks about why she started writing true crime, and the case that haunts her. Justine Ford is a TV producer and journalist with a background in news and current affairs. She was a presenter on the top-rating crime series, Australia’s Most Wanted, and her producing credits include the hit shows Missing Persons Unit, Border Security¸ RPA and Random Acts of Kindness.

Celebrating the culture and creativity of the LGBTQIA+ community one true story at a time, Festival favourite Queerstories has played to crowds big and small, from Mudgee to Murwillumbah, Albury to Adelaide, Brisbane and beyond. Featuring Daniel Nour, Torrey Peters and more.

With host Jennifer Wong, get special insight into the art and industry of baking from the queens of Australian pastry, Flour and Stone's Nadine Ingram, Beatrix Bakes' Natalie Paull and Lune Croissanterie's Kate Reid.

There’s always so many terrific books that we miss reading whilst we’re reading other wonderful books! Enjoy hearing Jen Barry and Lisa Holloway as they chat about some of the great books you may have missed over the past year, along with some to look forward to in the second half of the year.

Philosopher A.C. Grayling traces ‘cancel culture’ back to the ancient Greeks and tries to find a middle ground among the incendiary debates flamed by contemporary culture wars.

Ben Macintyre discusses his definitive account of the 1980 Iranian embassy siege in London which put the SAS on the world stage. With Richard Fidler.

With the recent explosion of romance books hitting the shelves, join two of Australia’s unique voices for a conversation on writing modern Australian romances. Join Melanie Saward and  Leesa Ronald for an exciting book talk centered on contemporary love stories. Melanie’s Love Unleashed explores the complexities of modern relationships and the transformative power of love, while Leesa’s Special Delivery takes readers on a heartfelt journey of unexpected romance, second chances, and personal growth.

Following the latest instalment of the Inspector Rebus series, Ian Rankin reflects on his career as an international bestselling author and the UK’s #1 crime writer. With Michael Williams.

Lynette Noni is the bestselling and award-winning author of The Prison Healer series, The Medoran Chronicles, and the Whisper duology. She appears in conversation with Alex Adsett to discuss her latest novel, Wandering Wild.

For tens of thousands of years, First Nations oral traditions have carried history, law, culture, and identity across generations. In this insightful panel, Wiradyuri knowledge holders and scholars will explore the profound role of oral knowledge in preserving and passing on cultural heritage. From stories, songs, and ceremonies to language revitalisation, cultural practices, and the protection of sacred sites, knowledge holders are vital custodians of Wiradyuri traditions. Join us for a powerful conversation that challenges the dominance of written records and celebrates the enduring wisdom of storytelling as a source of knowledge and truth.

Join Asako Yuzuki as she talks about her international bestseller Butter and the transgressive pleasures of food, in a live translated event with Carody Culver. 

This hugely popular feature of the local program sees book lovers reading the same book in the lead-up to the Festival weekend. Read the book then attend the event where a panel discusses the book selected for each year. For 2025, the Great Festival Read is Purple Threads by Jeanine Leane. The panel conversation will be between women leaders in our community.

Join Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney for wild on-stage antics. Celebrate the latest Wimpy Kid book while satisfying your craving for family fun! Rec. ages 7–12.

Dive into the heart of a chilling mystery with Pip Fioretti’s latest novel, Skull River. Set in 1912 in a dying gold town, the novel follows mounted trooper Augustus Hawkins, a troubled war veteran, as he embarks on a dangerous hunt for a ruthless murderer. But as the bodies pile up, Hawkins uncovers a web of secrets lurking beneath the town's dusty surface.

Prominent writers Colm Tóibín and Charlotte Wood discuss how they became writers and what Ireland and Australia’s literary culture means to them. With host Michael Williams.

Join Jack Beaumont and Ben Macintyre as they lead you into the reality of espionage and intrigue, in conversation with Matthew Condon.

Dr. Stephen Gapps’s latest book Uprising focuses on the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance and reveals just how widespread and coordinated Aboriginal resistance was across eastern Australia during the early 1800s. Join us for Dr Gapps in conversation with local historian Sarah Swift as they delve into the importance of confronting difficult histories to better understand our shared past.

Anna Funder’s work explores the best and worst that humans are capable of. Hear her discuss how we can resist the exploitation of our humanity in a world of bots and tech bros that sees humans as raw material.

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra comes to the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre for one night only, performing a concert of enchanting classical favourites led by Conductor in Residence Benjamin Northey.  Music has an extraordinary power to inspire and delight. You will experience it all, from the magic of Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Ravel’s playful Mother Goose, from Falla’s rousing The Three-Cornered Hat to the simple gift of Copland’s Appalachian Spring.   And feel your spirits soar on the wings of Vaughan Williams’ exquisite The Lark Ascending,  one of the best-loved pieces of music ever written, expertly performed by Associate Concertmaster Alexandra Osborne as violin soloist.  

Big Band Blast is back in Bathurst for another exciting weekend of Big band Music. The opening night concert will commence with Bathurst's own CONnections Big Band from the Mitchell Conservatorium, followed by The Admiral's Own Big Band from the Royal Australian Navy.  The music will range from traditional big band fare from the 30s and 40s swing era through to contemporary sounds. All guaranteed to get your toes tapping.  Now in its 11th year, Big Band Blast provides educational and performance opportunities to high school big bands from around Australia. Proudly supported by the Mitchell Conservatorium, Big Band Blast is proud to call Bathurst home. 

Big Band Blast is back in Bathurst for another exciting weekend of the Big Band music. The Gala Concert will feature the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra directed by David Theak, with special performances by the Big Band Blast clinicians - John Morrison (drums), Jacki Cooper (vocals) Eric Dunan (trumpet) and Dan Barnett (trombone). We invite you to join us in hearing the superb talents of the Syd Con Jazz Orchestra as they play stunning arrangements of modern and classic jazz pieces.

Mozart’s timeless comedy returns to the Met this season. Conductor Joana Mallwitz, in her Met debut, takes the podium to conduct a stellar ensemble cast including American bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as the clever valet Figaro, Ukrainian soprano Olga Kulchynska as the wily maid Susanna, Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins as the skirt-chasing Count, Italian soprano Federica Lombardi as his anguished wife, and French mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa as the adolescent page Cherubino.

Ross Wilson is hitting the road with his all-star band The Peaceniks to celebrate over 50 Years of Hits including all the Daddy Cool and Mondo Rock favourites you’d expect along with the latest offering from an almost 6-decade career, tracks from his latest EP on Bloodlines Records, She’s Stuck On Facebook All The Time, and everything in between. From Daddy Cool to Mondo Rock and as a solo artist with no less than 26 ARIA Top 40 hits to his credit as a singer, songwriter and producer, Ross Wilson is one of Australia’s most awarded, respected, and well-known artists! From the legendary band Daddy Cool whose number one anthem Eagle Rock and debut album Daddy Who? smashed all previous sales records in Australia an astounding 50 years ago in 1971, to the 1977 formation of Mondo Rock, delivering 80’s hits Cool World, State of The Heart, Chemistry, No Time, and Come Said The Boy and into the 21st century as a solo performer, Wilson has never been out of the limelight.

The Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase tour will be tearing up the freeways of Australia to bring the best of the 2025 Festival to Bathurst!  Expertly curated and lovingly presented, the Showcase will feature some of the Festival’s hottest acts live on stage for an incredible two hours of hard-hitting laughter.  Boasting a line-up of veteran favourites and some of the freshest emerging talents, this jam-packed night of pure entertainment will leave you sore from belly laughs!

The Robertson Brothers are thrilled to be returning with their new heart-warming and uplifting 1960’s Variety TV Show!  Geoff and Ben Robertson are back as your charming and cheeky hosts for this nostalgic night of entertainment as they pay tribute to the musical giants of the 1960’s – The Beatles, Petula Clark, Del Shannon, Beach Boys, The Hollies, Bee Gees and the Everly Brothers.   Variety TV Show fans will be excited to know the multi-talented Simon Brook McLachlan (from the Original Australian cast of Jersey Boys) will return in 2025 to thrill us with his very special tribute to Del Shannon. Also joining the Variety show this year is the amazing Cosima De Vito (Australian Idol) with her incredible tribute to Petula Clark.

Three-time Olivier Award-winner Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who; Sex Education) in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy. While assuming the role of a dutiful guardian in the country, Jack lets loose in town under a false identity. Meanwhile, his friend Algy adopts a similar facade. Hoping to impress two eligible ladies, the gentlemen find themselves caught in a web of lies they must carefully navigate.

To celebrate pride, BMEC is excited to present a special screening of of this beloved Australian iconic movie Two drag queens and a transgender woman travel across the Australian desert in a tour bus to take their cabaret show to a remote town. Along the way, they encounter various interesting characters. Starring Hugo Weaving, Terence Stamp, Guy Pearce, Bill Hunter and June Marie Bennett

THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF ROCK ’N’ ROLL is an exciting and memory riddled show presented by Bob McKinnon. From television shows including Johnny O’Keefe’s SIX O’CLOCK ROCK and Brian Henderson’s BANDSTAND, so many talented performers and recording stars were born. This is not a tribute concert … this is the real deal. In THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF ROCK ’N’ ROLL , audiences will re-live all the FABULOUS ORIGINAL HITS from the HITMAKERS themselves - LITTLE PATTIE, DIGGER REVELL, JADE HURLEY, DINAH LEE and LUCKY STARR.

Following the success of her internationally acclaimed debut solo show 'Teardrops on My Dildo', Vanessa Larry Mitchell returns with her next instalment of hilarious life events in her new show 'Lube Me Alone' Expect more dating stories (or lack-of-dating stories), more about parenting and anatomy awareness, and more things that should never be said out loud! If you thought things couldn’t get any more wild than ‘Teardrops on My Dildo’…. Think again!

Step into the world of Australia’s own Mr. Magic, master performer, illusion designer, and magic coach known for his work on Australia’s Got Talent, Possum Magic, Harry Potter & The Cursed Child Parts 1 & 2, and N.I.D.A (The National Institute Of Dramatic Art). Get ready for a hilarious and fast-paced interactive family show. Accompanied by legendary live pianist Peter Dascent (Playschool) - Prepare to be spellbound as objects materialise, vanish, and morph right before your very eyes in a series of mind-boggling magic moments that frequently involve the entire audience. Word on the street is that Mada will be scouting for a young apprentice from the audience to assist him with a jaw-dropping illusion on stage. Plus, Adam, a father of three, will lead a special interactive magical tribute dedicated to all the dads in the audience.

Prepare to amaze your friends and family with an hour of mind-blowing magic tricks and mini illusions with master magician Adam Mada. Join Australia's very own Mr. Magic, the master performer, illusion designer, and magic coach for Australia's Got Talent, Possum Magic, and the Australian cast of Harry Potter & The Cursed Child Parts 1 & 2. for an interactive workshop where you'll learn how to turn ordinary objects into extraordinary feats of magic, and discover how to deliver dazzling routines like a true magician.

Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is the story of two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere who became the biggest folk heroes in all America. They craved adventure - and each other. Fearless, shameless, and alluring, this is the electrifying story of love, adventure and crime that captured the attention of an entire nation. Bonnie and Clyde The Musical: Filmed Live features music by multi-Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award nominee Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlett Pimpernell, Death Note), lyrics by Tony and Oscar winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love), a book by Emmy Award nominee Ivan Menchell (Blended, The Cemetery Club, Death Note The Musical).

World music sensation MZAZA is offering free vocal and instrumental workshops alongside their spectacular show, The Birth and Death of Stars.

Get ready to be transported to a magical cosmic realm with award-winning folk/world band MZAZA’s The Birth and Death of Stars at BMEC. This award-winning production brings together mesmerising Balkan and French inspired music, stunning visuals, and compelling storytelling for a theatrical experience like no other. Led by the enchanting vocals of French-born vocalist Pauline Maudy, MZAZA’s talented musicians from the four corners of the globe will take you on a journey through the cosmos, exploring what connects us to the world and each other.

After selling out his 2024 shows, Australia's country music legend Lee Kernaghan is bringing his Boys From The Bush – The Concert  to more towns around Australia in 2025.  Lee’s amazing career now spans across 3 decades of trailblazing music making. He continues to deliver exciting live concert productions by fusing arena-rock bravado with country music’s heart and soul, by joining the traditional country stories with real life on the land sensibilities and values, and in the process he continues to lead the pack in modernising and growing the genre and community that he fondly calls his mates. 

Part of our live performance on screen programming. Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece Dr. Strangelove. This explosively funny satire, about a rogue U.S General who triggers a nuclear attack, is led by a world-renowned creative team including Emmy Award-winner Armando Iannucci and Olivier Award-winner Sean Foley.

Big Brother is back. Strap in for an electrifying take on the George Orwell classic – from the multi-award winning creative minds at Shake and Stir (Frankenstein, GRIMM, Jane Eyre, Animal Farm and Dracula). It was a bright cold day, and the clocks were striking thirteen...

This multi award-winning show captured recently at the Sadler’s Wells Peacock Theatre is an extraordinary musical journey paying homage to Janis Joplin and her biggest musical influences. Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock.

Get ready to be taken back to the golden years of crooning, rock n roll and sweet soul music, with this UNFORGETTABLE musical journey celebrating the legends of the 50’s and 60’s with this Aria, Logie, Mo, Ace and Helpmann award winning entertainer and his 7 piece band featuring songs by Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dusty Springfield, Connie Francis, Bobby Darin, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, Roy Orbison & More…

Magical and meaningful, IMAGINE LIVE is a celebration of creativity, friendship and our precious natural world. With the help of the audience, performers play and sing their way through the pages of Alison Lester’s iconic best-selling book, and quickly discover there is WAY more to these pages than they first thought. Spot a leopard, dive with a dolphin or dig up a dinosaur as this iconic book springs into life before your eyes. IMAGINE LIVE combines live action and animation with digital puppetry in a large-scale, multi-screen performance. Underscored by original music, characters and objects travel between real and animated worlds, responding in real time to audience input. Beautiful and meaningful, IMAGINE LIVE is a celebration of the transformative power of creativity.

Join us this year as we Celebrate The Eagles Greatest Hits live in Concert. A two hour performance of songs that defined an era, Take it to the limit, Desperado, Lyin Eyes and the world famous Hotel California. A six-piece band lead by Whalen Hughes and David Thompson as Don Henley and Glenn Frey, arguably the best sounding anywhere in the world. Secure your tickets now and be part of a night that pays homage to one of the greatest bands in history. 

This multitalented line up of circus performers, each world class in their own right, have combined their acrobatic, juggling, aerial and balancing talents together to create a show like no other. This outstanding cast are led by a quirky ringmaster struggling with a fear common among us all... change.

Get ready for a sensational night of music, nostalgia, and pure fun as multi-award winning Abbalanche – the Australian Abba Tribute Show, takes the stage to deliver an electrifying tribute to the iconic Swedish pop group, ABBA.  Abbalanche brings the legendary hits and unforgettable charm of ABBA to life like never before. From “Mamma Mia” to “Dancing Queen”, their pitch-perfect renditions and authentic dazzling costumes will transport you straight back to the 70’s. Abbalanche's infectious energy and passion for ABBA's music create an unforgettable atmosphere, one where you'll find yourself singing along, dancing in the aisles, and sharing the joy with fellow fans of all ages.

Don’t you ever wish you could travel back to the Saturday night dance? Take a spin across a glassy floor, to a swinging live band under sparkling lights? On this special Saturday night, you can! Join Dance Makers Collective with live music from Felix Albert and the Gentlemanly Two in a solid evening of joyous dancing with your partners, family and friends. This event, a spin-off of Dance Makers Collective’s 2020 Sydney Festival hit The Rivoli, takes inspiration from the peak dance hall and disco eras, reimagined for the modern lover of dancing. Whether you have a dance partner, like a night out on the town, or have a boogie in your bedroom, The Saturday Night Social is the place for you!

Detention tells the compelling tale of two young people from disparate worlds finding each other amidst a figurative minefield: Sima, a Hazara refugee fleeing a detention centre when her visa has been rejected, and Dan, a marginalised boy raised in a caravan park in regional Australia. Their shared quest for a sense of home and safety binds them together. Based on the novel by Tristan Bancks, this production explores the refugee experience, centering on themes of displacement, belonging, and shared humanity. Developed in collaboration with Hazara artists and young people, Detention seeks to ignite conversations, using theatre as a catalyst for truth-telling and change.

There’s never been a group, let alone a supergroup, in rock history quite like it 4 years, 2 mega albums, a slew of hits, and a Grammy But the one thing they never did was tour. That is.. until now.. The Traveling Wilburys Collection bring together the collective talents, excitement, and magic that the original had to offer. Live. On stage. Like never before. Featuring all the hits of the Traveling Wilburys PLUS the classics from each individual artist – Harrison, The Beatles, Petty, The Heartbreakers, Lynne, ELO, Orbison, and Dylan.

We invite you to join us for a night celebrating the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival and John Fogerty, as we present the music of one of the world’s most iconic bands – from the songs they wrote, to the songs covered, to the songs they wrote for others