The Photography of the BMI | Victorian Seniors Festival | Now fully Booked
2023-10-06 10:30 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
You Can’t Tell Anyone, A Ballarat National Theatre Production

August 23

@

6:00 pm

-

7:30 pm

$15 – $30

Minerva Space

I won’t tell, if you won’t.

Playwright: Joanna Richards

Directed by Ruby Abbott

You Can’t Tell Anyone is a philosophical thriller that examines the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Thanks to a game of Paranoia, this group of teens will never be the same again. No one is safe, not even the audience.

It’s the end of school and Gwen is throwing a party. After an emotional year, her friends are keen to spend the night drinking, playing games, and arguing about literally everything. But when a party game spirals out of control, long-held tensions start to strain and snap. Are the friends messing with each other? Or is there a bigger threat pounding at the door?

You Can’t Tell Anyone was commissioned and first produced by Canberra Youth Theatre, 10 August 2023 at the Canberra Theatre Centre, Courtyard Studio.

Directed by Ruby Abbott

Ruby is a local creative artist, working as an actor, director, and producer. Ruby has been involved in many productions in Ballarat and surrounds. She has performed several times with Ballarat National Theatre, including in Mr Bennet’s Bride (2022), Dust and Ruin (2023), A Date With Death (2024) and Dancing at Lughnasa (2024). Ruby has previously served as an assistant director for many productions, including The Haunted Theatre (2025), Sister Cities (2024), and The Servant of Two Masters (2021). Ruby directed God of Carnage for Ballarat National Theatre in 2026. “I am very excited to be bringing a youth centred play to Ballarat in 2026. Our town is exploding with young talent. I hope you’re there to witness it.”

Tickets: $30 adults, $25 Concession, $20.00 BNT members, $15 Children, Group package (10 adults), $18. Ticket sales close 1 hour prior to the performance. A bar will operate for these sessions.

Get Tickets

No allocated seating

Running Time: 90min Hours (no interval) Doors open 30 minutes prior to show start time. Bar available. Content warning: This play contains mature themes and scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers. It contains strong language, references to suicide and self-harm, sexual assault, and violence. Recommended for mature audiences only.

Ballarat National Theatre

Ballarat National Theatre are a BMI Community PartnerFind out more about BMI Community Partnerships below.

Supporters & partners

This event takes place on Wadawurrung Country. Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute acknowledges the Wadawurrung People of the Kulin Nation as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, learn and create. Always Was, Always Will Be, Aboriginal Land.

Spring Book Sale
2023-10-07 - 2023-10-09 | Library Ground Floor, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Unsettling: An insight into landscape change from Barry Golding
2023-10-10 19:30 - 20:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Card Making with Fay Marshall | Victorian Seniors Festival
2023-10-11 11:00 - 15:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Past Truths/Bright Futures
2023-10-11 17:15 - 19:15 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society - Lo and Behold: Reveries of the Connected World
2023-10-12 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

A Talk by Dr Phil Roberts OAM | Under Minerva's Gaze | Victorian Seniors Festival
2023-10-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Minerva's Secrets | Night Tours
2023-10-22 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-10-22 21:00 - 22:00, 2023-11-26 19:00 - 20:00, 2023-11-26 21:00 - 22:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Dried floral arrangement with Fay Marshall | Victorian Seniors Festival
2023-10-25 11:00 - 15:00 | Heritage Reading Room, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Fashion Parade Fundraiser | BMI Vintage & Collectables
2023-10-28 14:00 - 16:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Day Tours of the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute | Series
2023-10-31 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-11-14 14:00 - 2023-12-19 15:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Kadampa Meditation Series | Daily Rituals for Inner Peace
2023-11-01 19:00 - 2023-11-08 20:30 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society - The Good Boss (El buen patron)
2023-11-09 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

From the Shadows by Gillian Gregory | Book Launch
2023-11-11 14:00 - 15:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Kadampa Meditation Series | Anger Management
2023-11-15 19:00 - 2023-12-13 20:30 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

In Conversation with Gabriel Bergmoser
2023-11-16 18:00 - 20:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Regional | Once Upon a Time
2023-11-17 18:00 - 22:00 | The Ballaarat Mechanics’ Institute, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Golf Day Fundraiser | Join Us at Snake Valley Golf Club
2023-12-01 09:30 - 15:30 | Snake Valley Golf Club, 341 Chepstowe Road, Snake Valley, Victoria, 3351, Australia

Summer Book Sale
2023-12-02 - 2023-12-04 | Library Ground Floor, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

BMI Summer Maker Market
2023-12-03 10:00 - 14:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

BMI Members Christmas Party with the Ballarat Singers
2023-12-11 17:30 - 19:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia

Ballarat Film Society - Redemption of a Rogue
2023-12-14 19:30 - 21:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Motown Mistletoe with Motor City Sounds
2023-12-16 19:30 - 22:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Day Tours of the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute | Series
2024-01-09 14:00 - 2024-05-14 15:00 | Lending Library, Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia

Organs of the Ballarat Goldfields | Recital 3 | Haydn Baryton Trios
2024-01-13 15:00 | BMI – Minerva Space, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350

Ballarat Chess Club
2024-01-18 17:30 - 2024-01-25 22:30 | BMI – Humffray Room, 117-119 Sturt Street, Ballarat Central, VIC, 3350, Australia
