Chisholm St is a live performance space on Wadawurrung country, Ballarat. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and recognise that their sovereignty was never ceded.

Hosted by Bronwyn Blaiklock, Chisholm St is an intimate foray into fascinating corners of classical music. Launched in March 2021, this diverse series of concerts by regional musicians and spoken word performers gives you a rare glimpse into creative music-making, up close and personal.

Chisholm St: Golden Years

Golden age musicals played a huge role in popular culture. Chisholm St is pleased to present show-stopping talent, Sarahlouise Younger, performing songs from the golden years - the 1940s-1950s - with pianist Bronwyn Blaiklock. You will love the selection of songs from Musicals such as 'West Side Story', 'A Star is Born', 'Calamity Jane', 'Showboat' and more, with all the classic sass and drama a lounge room can hold. There aren't many venues that give you this kind of insight into the craft of musical performance, up close and personal. Stay for refreshments afterwards, meet the performers - it's included in the ticket - and enjoy the community at Chisholm St.

The performers

Sarahlouise Younger is a seasoned performing artist with over 25 years of performing experience. She made her professional debut as a child in the Australian production of The Wizard of Oz. Select professional credits include Wild World-The Cat Stevens Story (Hit Productions), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Variety), City of Angels (Just Pretending Co) and Nothing to Lose (Force Majeure). Her festival credits include Melbourne Fringe, Sydney Cabaret Festival and Melbourne Cabaret Festival. As a playwright, her works have been selected for residency and development with TheatreWorks “She Writes” program, Abbotsford Convent Pivot Program and Ilbijerri Theatre Company’s “Blackwrights” program. As an educator, she has taught for the Federation University Arts Academy, The Australia School (Singapore) Pineapple Studios (UK), Theatre Blacks, The Dance Studio Academy of Performing Arts, Bendigo South East Colleges Creative Arts extension program, and the Ballarat Centre of Music and the Arts.

Sarahlouise is the co-founder of Salty Theatre (Emeritus) and the co-creator of The Hatch Lab Music Theatre Residency program (including The Workshop and Hatchling). During her time at Salty Theatre she was the co-producer for the Australian premieres People Suck A Musical Airing of Grievances, Top Gun! The Musical, Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody and Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical (upon their exit).

Sarahlouise is represented by UE Agency and a proud member of MEAA.

Bronwyn Blaiklock graduated from the Elder Conservatorium (University of Adelaide) a lifetime ago with Honours in piano performance, and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in German and psychology. She also studied at the University of Freiburg on a DAAD scholarship. Her artistic passion is evident in the breadth and depth of her activity in the arts and music education industry over the last 30+ years. She has achieved high-profile activity in performing arts and professional writing across three states through work as a performer, artistic director, arts administrator, adjudicator, and educator. An innovator, Bronwyn frequently initiates collaborative projects with other creative genres to broaden audiences’ experience. As the Riverina Conservatorium of Music’s first Head of Keyboard (NSW), Bronwyn led a diverse team of piano teachers and performers and fostered some of the RCM’s highest achieving students. Creative projects during this period included planning the inaugural Riverina Piano Pedagogy Conference and establishing the Pure Poetry project.

Bronwyn’s poetry has appeared in Australian magazines and anthologies since 1997, including Page Seventeen, 4W Press, Pendulum, Poetry Monash and Friendly Street, among others. She has read at the Newstead Short Story Tattoo, the Words in Winter Festival, the Castlemaine Poetry Readings, the Clunes Booktown Festival and the Overload Poetry Festival. Bronwyn also contributed to statewide literary initiatives through membership of the Board of Writers Victoria (2010-2014). Bronwyn’s first collection, Etching my Initials, was published in 2016 by Melbourne Poets Union in the New Poets series. She is currently on the Board of the Ballarat Arts Foundation (BAF).

The venue

Seating
Bespoke reupholstered deck chairs and lounge suite awaits you, however, be sure to dress warmly as seating extends to an external covered deck and this is Ballarat, after all.

Children
Young children are welcome at Chisholm St, although paid ticket-holders have priority of seating. Children are welcome to enjoy the garden and cubby house during daytime performances.

Refreshments
You are invited to join the performers for refreshments afterwards. This includes wine, cheese, gluten-friendly snacks, light drinks, tea and coffee at no extra charge. You are welcome to bring a bottle of your favourite beverage.

Illness/Covid-19
Please do not attend if you are unwell. If you are unable to attend due to illness, we may be able to arrange a transfer of your ticket. Consider sending a friend in your place if you can't make it for any reason. Please use the hand-sanitiser supplied at the point of entry and maintain social distancing where possible.