The Ball

The Ball takes over Bartholomew's on Friday 4 September, from 6:30 pm to 11:59 pm. It's billed as a premium nightlife and theatre hybrid, and the description makes it clear that this isn't a night where you sit in a chair and watch a show. There's no stage and no separation between the performers and the crowd; the entertainment unfolds around you, with roaming performers, headline acts, dancers, live musicians and immersive installations scattered throughout the venue. Hidden coves of enchantment are meant to open up as the night goes on, and you'll be handed a map on arrival, though the experience is designed to get you lost.

Bartholomew's itself is a restaurant and bar in the heart of Newcastle, handy to the light rail and inner-city hotels like the five-star QT. It's a spot known for everything from whisky masterclasses and high teas to cabaret dinners and live music, and this night leans into that cabaret side of things. The ticket includes a five-hour premium food and beverage package with roaming canapes, so you can move through the room with a drink in hand rather than staying put.

All proceeds from the night go to the Hunter Breast Cancer Foundation, so it's a night that supports a local cause. Tickets are A$290.00 plus a A$7.25 ticket service fee, and it runs from 6:30 pm until midnight on Friday 4 September at Bartholomew's, 145 King St, Newcastle.