Sydney Opera House: A New Program of Family Shows This Spring

Get ready for school holiday family fun at the Sydney Opera House this September and October. As the weather warms up and the days get longer, families across Sydney are in for a treat with these fun and engaging shows to fill the spring school holidays with adventure the whole family can enjoy.

Some fan favourites are returning to this iconic venue, along with 'blooming' marvellous brand-new shows, designed especially for kids and their families.

Sydney Opera House: A New Program of Family Shows This Spring

Edward the Emu

A heartfelt helping of wonderful wildlife, Edward The Emu will take centre stage at Sydney Opera House in a rare treat for anyone who loves animals as much as they love people (if not more).

Edward is bored with being the only emu at the zoo and he's feeling glum, thinking that perhaps the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Join him on his colourful adventures and discover if life is more fun for the seals, the lions or the snakes. Join Edward's heartwarming and hilarious journey and experience the beauty of watching young ones explore self-discovery and special friendships.

This beloved character, based on the books by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement, is being brought to life by the creative legends at Monkey Baa Theatre. 

Where:  Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
When:   27 September - 6 October 2024
Ages:    Ages 4+
Cost:     From $29 | $8.95 booking fee applies to all transactions

Big Sky

Sydney Opera House is the home of unforgettable experiences and the sky's the limit with Big Sky - an uplifting extravaganza that features the phenomenal circus skills of the world-renowned Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

Kids in regional Australia grow up under a big sky, surrounded by space, and allowed to run free. But for some kids growing up in a country town can be claustrophobic and limiting. Follow along as 12 unforgettable characters, performed by kids aged between 10 and 18, look forward to their futures, show off, get spooked, and prank each other. Getting up to all sorts of fun mischief that unfolds over a single night, from sunset to dawn.

Where:  Studio, Sydney Opera House
When:   28 September - 5 October 2024
Ages:    All ages
Cost:     From $39 | $8.95 booking fee applies to all transactions

Waru - journey of the small turtle

Experience Waru - journey of the small turtle, Bangarra's first ever dedicated work for children. In this contemporary saltwater Lagaw Kazil (Island Children) story a green turtle navigates her way back to the beach where she was born, under the star-illuminated skies of the Torres Strait. The season has started, the turtles are returning to nest, and soon the island will welcome a new generation of hatchlings – amongst them, our new small turtle friend, Migi, who undertakes a journey of discovery and survival in this interactive and immersive introduction to Torres Strait Islander culture and dance.

Bangarra Dance Theatre is a company of professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers, storytellers and firemakers, as well as one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies. In Bangarra’s first dedicated work for children former Bangarra Artistic Director, Stephen Page, together with Hunter Page-Lochard and Bangarra alumni dancers and choreographers Sani Townson and Elma Kris, provide teachers, parents and caregivers with a unique opportunity to open up conversations about climate change, caring for the environment, and the traditional cultural values of respect and reciprocity.

Where:  Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
When:   9 - 10 October 2024
Ages:    3+
Cost:     From $25 | $8.95 booking fee applies to all transactions

Kids Music Playtime

Sydney Opera House and Sydney Youth Orchestras present a very cool introduction to live music that's as much fun for your toddler as it is for you.

Step into a world of musical wonder and excitement with Kids Music Playtime, where imagination meets the magic of music, creating a perfect harmony that will delight young hearts and minds. Kids Music Playtime is a beautiful introduction to live music and instruments for the littlest audience members. 

Experience a playground of different musical styles; from classical favourites, folksy blues and new songs for everyone to sing, every note will spark joy and wonder. Toddlers and babies can experience the grandeur of the Sydney Opera House in a relaxed environment where they're encouraged to move, dance and sing along.

Where:  Joan Sutherland Theatre Northern Foyer, Sydney Opera House
When:   20 September - 6 December 2024
Ages:    0 - 2
Cost:     $25 from 1+ | $8.95 booking fee applies to all transactions

Free Creative Play

While you're visiting the Sydney Opera House during the spring school holidays, make time for a pit stop in the Western Foyers to see impressive ghost net art sculptures and be inspired to make your own turtle artwork.

Ghost nets are discarded fishing nets that pose a threat to our marine life. In this free drop-in workshop, they are repurposed in artmaking, inspired by the work of contemporary artists from the Torres Strait Islands. This activity was originally designed by the Australian National Maritime Museum in partnership with Bangarra Dance Theatre for Waru - Journey of the small turtle.

Where:  Western Foyers, Sydney Opera House
When:   28 September to Thursday 10 October | 10 am - 4 pm
Cost:     FREE

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