© Lonely Planet Publications THE ARTS Sydney Theatre Company ( p172 ) Opera Australia ( p172 ) Bangarra Dance Theatre ( p171 ) Moonlight Cinema ( p170 ) Australian Chamber Orchestra ( p171 ) 166 local band, concerts at the Gaelic are a cosy SYDNEY CONSERVATORIUM lonelyplanet.com affair bridging the gap between the pub OF MUSIC Map p54 THE ARTS scene and the larger theatres. %9351 1222; www.music.usyd.edu.au; Macquarie St, City; tickets free-$28; dCircular Quay HORDERN PAVILION Map pp84–5 This historic music venue ( p59 ) showcases the It’s too easy to categorise Sydney as shallow and silly, when it actually has a thriving and sophis- %9921 5333; www.hordernpavilion.com.au; talents of its students and their teachers. ticated arts scene. It’s not a complete accident that its main icon is an opera house, after all. 1 Driver Ave, Moore Park; tickets $54-72; g339 Choral, jazz, operatic and chamber concerts Probably the most exciting genre to explore during your stay is the theatre, which has given Holding over 4000 people, the historic are held from March to September, along birth to many major international stars. One of these is Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, whose Hordern (1924) hosts plenty of big-name with free lunch-time recitals on Wednes- early career included stints with the Griffin ( p172 ) and Sydney ( p172 ) theatre companies. She’s rock gigs and, along with neighbouring ven- days at 1.10pm. now returned to pay her dues, taking on a three-year contract (started in 2008) as co-artistic ues, the spectacular Sydney Gay & Lesbian director of Sydney Theatre Company, along with her husband, playwright Andrew Upton. Mardi Gras Party. If these walls could talk… SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT Sydney’s very excited by the prospect. Map p72 On the live music front, all the big names head through Sydney and you might just find CENTRE % your trip coincides with one of your favourites. Check the main ticketing websites when you’re LYRIC THEATRE Map pp100–1 1300 883 622; www.sydentcent.com.au; % 35 Harbour St, Haymarket; tickets $68-165; MLR planning your trip ( below ). 9657 8500; www.starcity.com.au; Star City, 80 Paddy’s Market Without having the extensive repertoires of European cities, there’s always plenty of clas- Pyrmont Rd, Pyrmont; tickets $50-103; MLR Star City A big concrete box purpose-built for super- sical music on offer to give you an excuse to check out the interiors of that famous set of sails The large Lyric in the casino stages flashy by the harbour. musical extravaganzas (Priscilla, Miss Sai- star extravaganzas, seating just over 12,000 gon) and has good acoustics. fans. THE THE ARTS One of the best sources of ‘what’s on’ information is Friday’s Metro section in the Sydney THE ARTS Morning Herald. It lists events for the week ahead and includes gallery listings, film reviews, and music and theatre interviews. METRO THEATRE Map pp62–3 SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Map p54 %9287 2000; www.metrotheatre.com.au; %9250 7111; www.sydneyoperahouse.com; TICKETS &RESERVATIONS CINEMA CAPITOL THEATRE Map p72 624 George St, City; tickets $13-60; dTown Hall Bennelong Point; dCircular Quay TICKETS & RESERVATIONS %9320 5000; www.capitoltheatre.com.au; 13 Easily the best place to see local and alter- The glamorous heart of performance in Aus- MOSHTIX Campbell St, Haymarket; tickets $65-215; dCentral native international acts (plus the odd DJ) tralia, with the Concert Hall and Opera Hall %9209 4614; www.moshtix.com.au Lavishly restored, this large theatre is home in well-ventilated comfort. Other offerings holding about 2600 and 1500 people respec- A local outfit handling tickets for lots of to big-name concerts and long-running include comedy, cabaret, music and theatre. tively. Witness theatre, comedy, music, dance smaller and independent concerts, theatre musicals. and ballet, but it’s opera that really shines. and other performances. NATIONAL INSTITUTE CITY RECITAL HALL Map pp62–3 OF DRAMATIC ART SYDNEY THEATRE Map p54 TICKETEK Map pp62–3 %8256 2222; www.cityrecitalhall.com; 2 Angel Pl, %9697 7600; www.nida.edu.au; 215 Anzac Pde, %9250 1999; www.sydneytheatre.org.au; 22 Hick- %9266 4800; www.ticketek.com.au; 195 Elizabeth City; tickets $45-103; dMartin Place Kensington; tickets $25-35; g393-394 son Rd, Walsh Bay; tickets $65-75; dCircular Quay St, City; h9am-5pm Mon-Wed, 9am-7pm Thu & This is a world-class, 1200-seat venue Former stomping ground of Mel Gibson, Opened in 2004, this venue is the most Fri, 9am-4pm Sat; dSt James with wonderful acoustics for live music Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush, NIDA is a significant theatre built in the city since the good place to see future stars. Student and The main booking agency for theatre, con- performances. Its architecture is based on Sydney Opera House. The state-of-the-art graduate plays are presented throughout certs and sport. Book by phone, internet or the 19th-century European blueprint, and theatre seats 850 and is managed by Syd- the year at its attractive 725-seat theatre or it’s an excellent place to hear the Australian ney Theatre Company. outlets around town. intimate 120-seat studio. Brandenburg Orchestra ( p171 ), Australian Chamber TICKETMASTER Orchestra ( p171 ) and Australian String Quartet, WHARF THEATRE Map p54 NEW THEATRE Map pp100–1 % among others. %9250 1777; www.sydneytheatre.com.au; 13 61 00; www.ticketmaster.com.au %9519 3403; www.newtheatre.org.au; 542 King The other biggie for music, sports, arts and Pier 4, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay; tickets $25-125; St, Newtown; tickets $10-27; dSt Peters dCircular Quay theatre ticketing; there’s an outlet at the ENMORE THEATRE Map pp100–1 Australia’s oldest continuously perform- % Sydney Theatre Company’s own theatre is Sydney Entertainment Centre ( opposite ). 9550 3666; www.enmoretheatre.com.au; 130 ing theatre (happy 75th!), the eclectic New d also home to the Bangarra Dance Theatre ( p171 ) Enmore Rd, Newtown; tickets $20-150; Newtown Theatre produces cutting-edge drama in The lovely old Enmore plays host to major and the Sydney Dance Company ( p171 ). The Wharf addition to traditional pieces. PERFORMANCE VENUES Australian and overseas acts (Jet, Alice restaurant delivers excellent pre- and post- show fare. ACER ARENA Map pp50–1 Cooper, Oasis), plus comedy and jazz. The %8765 4321; www.acerarena.com.au; Olympic Rolling Stones played an intimate concert STATE THEATRE Map pp62–3 Blvd, Sydney Olympic Park; tickets $29-150; here in early 2003. %9373 6852; www.statetheatre.com.au; 49 d dOlympic Park Market St, City; tickets $17-210; St James CINEMA The beautiful, 2000-seat State Theatre is This is Australia’s largest indoor entertain- Map pp90–1 Most suburbs have their own mainstream GAELIC CLUB a lavish, gilt-laden, chandelier-dangling ment and sporting venue (21,000 seats). %9211 1687; www.thegaelicclub.com; 64 Devon- cinemas (often in shopping centres), while palace. It hosts the Sydney Film Festival ( p18 ), Everything from concerts to Disney On Ice shire St, Surry Hills; tickets $10-35; dCentral art-house cinemas hover around the inner concerts, comedy and the odd musical. For to off-road-vehicle shows are hosted here. Whether it’s the latest darlings of the Brit- city. Movie listings can be found in Sydney’s more details, see p68 . Disabled access is excellent. ish music press or a particularly successful daily newspapers. 168 169 lonelyplanet.com lonelyplanet.com CHAUVEL CINEMA Map pp84–5 HAYDEN ORPHEUM PICTURE Broadcasts (live and prerecorded) of major %9361 5398; www.chauvelcinema.net.au; cnr PALACE Map p108 concerts can be heard on the ABC’s radio net- DANCE Oxford St & Oatley Rd, Paddington; adult/child %9908 4344; www.orpheum.com.au; work (ABC Classic FM 92.9). Check the Guide With its idolisation of the body beautiful, $16/9; h11.30am-midnight; g380 380 Military Rd, Cremorne; adult/concession $16/11; in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday for it seems only logical that Sydney has a vital Occupying the former ballroom of the h10.30am-9.30pm; g151 details. See also right . dance culture. Performances range from Paddington Town Hall since 1977, the Return to cinema’s golden age via this straight-down-the-line traditional ballet with tutus and packed-lunchbox tights to edgy, lib- much-loved Chauvel plays quality art-house fabulous Art Deco gem (1935). It still AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG releases both new and old (with a liberal has its original Wurlitzer organ, which is erating ‘physical theatre’. Australian dancers does of the quirky and out-there), and ORCHESTRA have a reputation for fearlessness in perform- played at special events and the monthly ABO; %9328 7581; www.brandenburg.com.au; hosts various themed festivals. Wednesday Luncheons (movie, lunch and ance, resulting in some breathtaking displays coffee $13). tickets $50-103 of physical skill and bravado (and sometimes The ABO is a distinguished part of Australia’s Map pp100–1 a lack of costume). DENDY NEWTOWN artistic landscape, playing baroque and clas- %9550 5699; www.dendy.com.au; 261 King St, HOYTS EQ Map pp84–5 Newtown; adult/child $14/9.50; h10am-9.30pm; %9332 1633; www.hoyts.com.au; Bent St, Moore sical music on instruments of those periods. AUSTRALIAN BALLET dNewtown Park; adult/child $16/11; h10.30am-midnight; Leading international guest artists appear %1300 369 741; www.australianballet.com.au Sydney’s premier art-house chain, Dendy g339 frequently. Performances are held at City The Melbourne-based Australian Ballet screens first-run independent films in The large movie complex in the Entertainment Recital Hall ( p168 ) and various local churches. performs a wide repertoire of classic as well comfortable theatres. Discount nights are Quarter ( p86 ) has more than a dozen cinemas.