Burnout Ballet is a bold new theatre production from local disability arts program CreateA that fuses street culture with dance to celebrate local stories, challenges perceptions and showcases performers of all abilities.
Burnout Ballet is the latest original work from CreateA, a program from Golden City Support Services. Featuring choreography, storytelling, music and video, the production will be staged at The Engine Room on View Street on Thursday December 11 and December 12, 2025.
The new work is an opportunity for performers with all-abilities to take the stage, share their stories, and be seen as artists. Greater Bendigo audiences are invited to experience a show that is fresh, inclusive and deeply connected to the region's identity.
The performance started as an idea from a local news story about 'burnout' behaviour in Bendigo streets that resulted in an arrest. CreateA has taken this idea and, with their typical inventiveness, delivered a show that has bar scenes, car scenes and dance routines.
Chief Executive Officer Golden City Support Services/CreateA Natasha Williams said the combination of street and dance culture brings high energy and a great deal of fun to the stage.
"Burnout Ballet is inspired by real stories and real people. It's about who gets to be heard, and who gets to perform. We're proud to present a show that is inclusive, energetic and uniquely Bendigo," Ms Williams said.
The full stage production is made possible through support from the City of Greater Bendigo, including rehearsal and performance space, and a $5,000 Power-Up Grant from the Ulumbarra Foundation to support costume and set design, music production, and payment for performers and creative staff.
Ulumbarra Foundation Chair Carolyn Stanford said CreateA's project was chosen as it provided wonderful opportunities for local performers of all abilities to be involved in a fully staged theatre production.
"We loved that the story was developed here in Bendigo, is about our regional culture and developed in conjunction with the artists," Ms Stanford said.
Manager Bendigo Venues & Events Julie Amos said the City was proud to support inclusive arts programs like CreateA.
"Our region values creativity and inclusion and Burnout Ballet is a fantastic example of what happens when those values come together. We're proud to support CreateA and excited to see this production at the Engine Room," Ms Amos said.
CreateA ensemble member Sarah Goninon, a seasoned performer who has also worked with Back-to-Back Theatre, encouraged the community to come along.
"Come and see our show. It's awesome," Sarah said.
