The Tivoli takes up to 90 guests standing or 60 seated for meetings, workshops, conferences and private functions, with a bar, a commercial kitchen and a courtyard that adds room for about 50 more standing. It is the function room of the Cummins Theatre, the heritage-listed theatre owned and run by the Shire of Merredin at 31 Bates Street, Merredin, in the Central Wheatbelt of Western Australia.
Seminars and company events
The room is offered for workshops, meetings, conferences, speeches and Q&A sessions, and the theatre presents it as the smaller, more private alternative to its auditorium. It can be set up with a PA system, a large TV screen or projection, and temporary lighting trusses. Technical support is not included in the hire but can be booked separately, and a full equipment list is available on request. Tables and chairs are provided. For a larger program, the same building offers the auditorium, which suits a plenary session, a presentation to a full audience or an awards night.
Weddings and receptions
The theatre lists weddings and birthdays among the private functions held in the Tivoli. A pair of glass doors opens onto the Tivoli Courtyard, so a reception can flow between the room and the outdoor space. The auditorium is also offered for weddings and school graduations.
Rooms and capacities
The Tivoli holds about 90 standing or 60 seated, and the courtyard adds about 50 standing. The theatre treats these figures as guides that change with the layout and the type of event. The auditorium has 422 places in total: 222 on a seating bank and 200 in theatre rows on the floor. It is hired at three levels, from floor space only to a full setup with stage, elevated seating, dressing rooms, green room, advanced sound and a front-of-house manager. The commercial kitchen can also be hired on its own.
Catering
The venue has no in-house catering, but staff can recommend caterers based in Merredin. Hirers can use the commercial kitchen behind the bar, which has benches, ovens, microwaves, an urn, a dishwasher, a cool room, a freezer, and cutlery, crockery and glassware. The kitchen must be left clean. The bar is run by the Merredin Repertory Club and opens for functions on request. The venue is licensed, so outside alcohol is not allowed. Drinks packages can be arranged for private functions, and non-alcoholic drinks may be brought in.
History and setting
The Cummins Theatre was built in 1928 and has been a home for live theatre, dance and music in the Central Wheatbelt for close to a century. The Tivoli was built in 1991 and has recently been renovated. The Shire also programs performances through the year and runs community events in the building, such as a gala night and commemorations on ANZAC Day and Australia Day.
Getting there
The theatre is a short walk up Bates Street from Merredin railway station, served by the Prospector and MerredinLink trains from Perth. Street parking is in front of the building, including accessible bays, and a rear car park reached from Coronation Street takes buses and larger vehicles. Ramp access is through the Tivoli entrance.
