DO you know you can go behind the scenes at some of Melbourne’s most famous attractions?
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The city’s cultural heart, the Arts Centre, offers several backstage tours, allowing you to trace the footsteps of famous performers, directors and choreographers and hear stories from behind the scenes of major stage productions.
Tour guides reveal the secrets of the centre – which actually extends five floors underground – while offering a sneak peek into backstage rooms, hidden passageways and technical contraptions unknown to most.
THE glamorous yet gruelling world of ballet is revealed in a series of behind-the-scenes events, including a question and answer session with artistic director David McAllister and the opportunity to watch rehearsals and coaching sessions.
The company recently introduced exclusive tours of its production centre in Altona, 13km south-west of Melbourne.
The 10,000 square-metre, custom-designed wonderland, houses more than 50 years’ worth of archival costumes and 130 large containers of props.
From Graeme Murphy’s cygnet tutus to Cinderella’s coach, every artefact is recorded and preserved.
VICTORIA’S natural and cultural history museum offers a range of previews and behind-the-scenes experiences including the chance to meet the animal keepers and horticulturalists who care for its live plant and animal displays.
Also on offer is a tour that allows you to view the conservators in action, analysing and preserving some of the 16 million objects and specimens in the collection.
The tours are only available to museum members, but reciprocal memberships from a range of other Australian museums are recognised.
WHILE not technically a backstage tour, Melbourne Theatre Company does offer the chance to become part of its Dress Rehearsal Club.
For an annual fee, you can have entry to dress rehearsals for the entire season – perfect for regular visitors to Melbourne.
There’s no need to book.
Free tours take you through the historic building, from the dome to the basement and every nook and cranny in between. They access collection storage areas not usually open to the public, offer an aerial view of the reading room from the sixth floor, and visit the original Melbourne Museum catacombs.
WHEN it was built in 1879, the Great Hall (now known as the Royal Exhibition Building) was the largest building in Australia, and the tallest building in Melbourne.
It was the venue for the opening of the first Commonwealth Parliament of Australia on May 9, 1901, and became Australia’s first World Heritage-listed building. Today, it hosts dozens of events and expos each year. Regular guided tours are held on most days.
