NOVA Music Theatre originated from the Box Hill Light Opera Company. The name was changed so that the company could present a wider range of musical productions, not just operatic style performances. Since then, NOVA has progressed from presenting shows in school halls to the highly technical, high quality shows of today. The last productions as Box Hill Light Opera were The White Horse Inn and Carousel, performed in the Box Hill High School hall. 

In 1972. NOVA decided to perform Camelot as its first production and to stage it in the Alexander Theatre because of the better facilities. It was a fine production and an Australian amateur premiere. This was followed by Hello Dolly in the same venue .... another premiere! Finding it hard to attract audiences from Box Hill and surrounding areas it was decided to try Kew High School because of its proximity. NOVA stayed at Kew for some time, but still the audience seemed to want to stay near home. NOVA moved to Nunawading High School presenting many productions both large and small. A tremendous challenge for such a small venue. 

Then, in 1986,  NOVA moved to the Whitehorse Centre in Nunawading. The first production in this venue was Brigadoo , followed by many others in the ensuing years. The last NOVA production in The Whitehorse Centre was Wizard of OZ in 2019. 

The centre was rebuilt and opened in 2023. NOVA moved into the new theatre "The Round" in October 2013 with the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "Cinderella". NOVA is looking forward to providing many more productions in this wonderful theatre.

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Past Shows