The penguins notwithstanding, was this Phillip Island's 'wow' moment?

ISLAND folk, for a long time the poor cousins of those toffee-nosed types from Sorrento and the Mornington Peninsula, have become sophisticated overnight.

That’s what a $31.3 million new arts centre will do for you!

The Act II pas de deux from Swan Lake no less, here, live on our own stage.

The poignancy of Kate Ceberano, the power of our own Elly Poletti.

The sublime talent of Slava Grigoryan, the charisma of Kutcha Edwards and the hilarious irreverence of performance comedian Garry Starr…

All wrapped up by tour de force of stage and screen, Jane Clifton, as MC.

That’s what you got if you were one of the lucky ones to win a ticket in the ballot for the first stage show in the magnificent new theatre at the Berninneit cultural centre in Cowes on Wednesday night this week.

Where the VIPs had caught the first public glimpses of the new facility last Saturday afternoon, after Senator Jess Walsh, Bass MP Jordan Crugnale and Bass Coast Mayor Cr Michael Whelan had officially opened the centre, Wednesday night’s program launch was all about the people, 250 of them.

They arrived early, many dressed in their finery, for the smoking ceremony by the Bunurong Land Council's Mark Brown outside, and then hors d'oeuvres and drinks inside before the show.

And what a show they were treated to, featuring a selection of household-name artists, all signed to perform at the centrepiece of Berninneit facility, the new 260-seat theatre, over the next six months.

Kate Ceberano is due back here on January 20 and the Victorian State Ballet, performing Swan Lake here, on Saturday, June 1.

“It’s wonderful to share with you the Berninneit program launch,” said the Mayor Cr Michael Whelan.

“This has been coming together for 30 years, I’m told by former Phillip Island councillor Anne Davie, and there are a lot of people who’ve played a role and a lot of people to thank,” he said singling out former CEO Ali Wastie, who was back in town for the celebrations, the present-day council for staying the course, the council’s project team, the design and construction group and the community either engaged in an advisory capacity or as one of the 700 who responded to the naming process.

“I love you all,” he said.

Cr Whelan highlighted the decision to go with the strict standards of efficiency in a Passivhaus design and the efforts taken to build around the magnificent trees on the site but noted that it would be what goes on inside the facility that would make the difference.

“We want to see a fun, challenging and diverse program in the centre, one that allows the community to engage fully with an excellent art and performance program.”

And that’s certainly what a rapt and enthralled audience got on opening night in what was genuinely a “sneak preview” of what’s coming up there over the next six months, with Kate Ceberano only able to clear commitments in the last few days to make the night.

“You want to be here to support such an important occasion as this for arts in the region,” said Kate, acknowledging that she’d had a great time backstage waiting to come on.

Among the songs she performed was a tune she wrote at age 15 which has become a personal anthem, “I won’t ever walk away… I’ll just be brave and stay”.

And as much as newly elevated Music Victoria Hall of Fame inductee Kutcha Edwards and Kate Ceberano bookended the night superbly, it was the outrageous Garry Starr who went close to stealing the show with his streaky version of Swan Lake, performed in the skimpiest G-string you’d ever hope not to see.

“Is it over? Can I look now,” said Jane Clifton as Starr left the stage in his birthday suit (or very near).

Leading Phillip Island artist Sandra Peeters summed it up.

“An artwork is always enhanced by a great frame and art can be really powerful when offered a space like this… we look forward to a wealth of cultural exchange now and well into the future.”