Alannah Le Cross (née Maher) (she/her) is obsessed with theatre, art, subversive underground performance culture, and statement earrings. A longstanding theatre critic, arts enthusiast, and writer with a penchant for exploring subcultures and humans in the city; she joined Time Out Sydney in 2019. After beginning as an editorial assistant and telling stories as the resident lifestyle journalist, she is now the arts and culture editor. In this role, she delights in connecting people with cool art and interesting experiences, as well as sharing reviews and insights from a crop of incredible writers whose diverse perspectives and incredible way with words leads to enriching reads.

She studied a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Journalism at Western Sydney University, which included an exchange program at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. She has written features and reviews for a range of independent and street press publications including The Music, and served as an arts editor for City Hub. Throughout her twenties, Alannah’s arts journalism career was juggled with roles in administration, marketing and publicity in the arts industry, not-for-profit and start-up spaces. Pair that with a past in hospitality, and you could say that she has experience on every side of the coin, and an appreciation for everyone’s hard work.

As of 2023, Alannah is also a judge on the Musical Theatre Panel of the Sydney Theatre Awards. If she’s not out seeing as many shows as humanly possible, you’ll find her down at the Impy, hanging out with drag queens or trying to make herself take the odd break from consuming culture. (But she’ll never be as busy or overcommitted as she was during Sydney WorldPride.)

Growing up regionally in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens (I know, how could she leave the beautiful beaches? The dolphins!? The salty delicacies of Aussie Bob's Fish & Chips!?) she was always drawn to the excitement and culture of the big city. A die-hard Inner Westie and a proud queer woman, Alannah is a shameless Sydney advocate who loves this city full of contradictions and diversity. She is passionate about making the arts more accessible and championing stories that foster our understanding of ourselves and others.

Want to pitch something to Alannah? Chuck her an email at alannah.lecross@timeout.com.

Ps. Alannah rhymes with Hannah. It’s pronounced A-lann-uh, not A-lar-na.

Alannah Le Cross

Arts and Culture Editor, Time Out Sydney

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Articles (253)

A beginners’ guide to the Archibald Prize (and the Wynne and Sulman Prizes)

Whisperings, heated opinions, controversy, and some confusion – sounds like the Archibald Prize is back. Brisbane artist Julie Fragar just won the 2025 Archibald Prize with a stunning portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams, a week after Abdul Abdullah won the much-loved Packing Room Prize with a portrait of another fellow artist, Jason Phu. So what's the deal with this bunch of pompous portraits? And who is Archibald anyway? Before you go suss out the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes exhibition (May 10 - August 17) at the Art Gallery of NSW, get up to speed with our guide on how to Archie like a pro.

The 11 best glamping sites in Sydney and NSW

Are you more a glamper than a camper? If you prefer seeing the great outdoors from a luxury tent complete with bubble baths and fresh French linen, let this list serve as your bible. Our Sydney team – including culture-fiend Alannah Le Cross – have tried and tested the best glamping sites in and around Sydney; from a safari tent at Taronga Zoo's Roar and Snore to the luxe spherical confines of Bubbletent Australia.Each one of these glamping spots have been assessed by our editors based on their luxury, nature immersion and all-round wow factor. Add them to your 2025 holiday wish list for when you want to escape the urban hustle without losing the creature comforts. Your back will thank you. Looking for more travel inspo? Check out the best Sydney camping spots and our top Sydney staycations, and then think about getting there with the best caravans and campervans to hire in NSW. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.

The best shows to see in Sydney this month

The colder months are starting the settle in, but Sydney’s huge year of theatre is hot to trot. In a major coup for the Sydney stage, the world tour of Les Miserables The Arena Spectacular has landed from the West End for a strictly limited run, and musical theatre fanatics will not want to miss the chance to weep their way through this one (closes May 11). Meanwhile, the inimitable Pamela Rabe returns to Sydney Theatre Company to tackle one theatre's most challenging roles in Samuel Beckett's Happy Days (May 5 - Jun 15). Need a laugh? Don't shrug off Sydney Comedy Festival, which is bringing hundreds of hilarious people and funny experiences to the city for its massive 20th anniversary edition (festival closes May 18). If it’s musical madness you’re after, you don't want to miss the chance to laugh your head off at Titanique. After several extensions, this camp cult-hit parody has officially called a closing date in June (and it definitely won't be shipping off to any other cities!). That’s all just for starters! Read on for our critics' reviews and more top theatrical picks below.

The 20 best art galleries to explore in Australia

Australians have a love affair with art, and with incredible galleries dotted throughout the country, it’s also one of the top reasons we travel interstate. Every year, our nation welcomes blockbuster international exhibitions, along with major showings of our most colourful and creative local talents. Whether it’s contemporary Aboriginal art in Alice Springs, delicate glassworks in Wagga Wagga, topical portraits in Canberra or 21st-century Chinese art in Sydney, these are the top public galleries worth visiting in Australia. The best part is that most offer free entry to the permanent galleries! As a bonus, our Arts & Culture Editor, Alannah Le Cross, along with Travel & News Editor, Melissa Woodley, have also put together a guide on the best art exhibitions to see in Australia right now. 🌳 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia👀 Australia's finest museums☀️ The best things to do in Australia

The 20 best museums for history and culture in Australia

When visiting a new city, it’s highly likely that, at some point, you’ll find yourself standing in front of a big and beautiful museum or gallery. Come rain, hail or shine, these brilliant buildings are the place to brush up on historical happenings and learn a thing or two about local heritage. Inside Australia's best museums, you’ll find some of our country’s greatest treasures and a huge diversity of subject matters too, ranging from natural history and cultural artefacts to science marvels and sporting achievements. Don’t wait until the next rainy day to explore Australia’s best museums with this ultimate guide, curated by our very own local experts (including Travel & News Editor Melissa Woodley and Arts & Culture Editor Alannah Le Cross). 🖼️ The best art galleries to explore in Australia🎶 All the biggest musicals touring Australia right now👀 The coolest art exhibitions to see in Australia

The best musicals in Sydney

Look sharp, triple threats! Sydney is a hotbed for showstoppers, with major musicals passing through our theatres every month, including both homegrown gems and large-scale spectacle from Broadway and the West End. These are all the biggest shows that are playing right now. RECOMMENDED: Check out the best shows to see in Sydney this month.

The best theatre to see in Sydney this week

There are always a lot of wonderful things to do in Sydney. But whether it's an evening filled with razzle dazzle or cheeky matinee, there is something extra special about going to the theatre. You can take a deeper dive by hopping over to our guide to the best of Sydney's stages this month. For now, here's our picks of the best shows to see this week.

The 27 best hotels in Sydney

The Emerald City is peppered with a whole host of dreamy stays – from boutique boltholes with rooftop pools overlooking trendy city suburbs to sky-high towers with uninterrupted views of the Opera House. To help you choose which is right for you, our team of writers (including Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs and Travel and News Editor Melissa Woodley) have shared their top picks for the best places to stay in Sydney – along with tips on how to make the most of your stay. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: These are the best glamping sites in NSW. These are the best camping sites near Sydney. And these are the best spots for a weekend away if you’re keen to get out of town. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The best exhibitions to see in Sydney this month

Rain or shine, Sydney’s best art galleries and top museums contain treasure troves of inspiration just waiting to be discovered. The Art Gallery of NSW is ready to unleash a fresh suite of famous faces, diverse landscapes and eclectic sculptures with the return of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes. There's also plenty more strange and wonderful things to discover across both gallery buildings – and you only have a limited time left to head down into The Tank and allow the rich visual and sonic experience of Angelica Mesiti: The Rites of When to wash over you (closes May 11). If you like your exhibitions extra outrageous, then you absolutely do not want to miss XSWL at White Rabbit Gallery (closes May 18). Taking its name from the Chinese internet slang term for “laughing to death”, this exhibition features four floors of wild contemporary art where silly, harmless fun and jokes are deployed to bypass taboos and tackle politically sensitive topics. Qtopia Sydney will also soon say goodbye to the colourful suite of exhibitions that opened during Sydney Mardi Gras, including an exploration of a certain Aussie pop star’s deep bond with her LGBTQ+ fanbase in Kylie Minogue & Queer Devotion, as well as a fabulous showcase of painstakingly crafted costumes from past Sydney Mardi Gras Parades in BE:DAZZLED Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Costume Extravaganza. Are you prepared to head outside of the city for an experience where art and nature come together? Down by the bend of

The 16 best wellness retreats in Australia

Sometimes you just need to take a time out – and here at Time Out Australia, we’re the experts at doing just that. We’ve scoped out the very best wellness retreats around Australia, where you can soak away your worries and be pampered like absolute royalty. From an award-winning natural hot spring with 50 bathing experiences to the Southern Hemisphere’s largest spa with one of only two Somadome meditation pods in Australia, these places will cater to all your relaxing desires. Make a day trip of it or sneak off for a dedicated week-long detox – whatever you choose, you’ll leave feeling like a whole new person. These are the best wellness retreats in Australia right now. ✨ The top luxury hotels in Australia🌳 Australia's most magical rainforests🥾 The most epic hikes to do in Australia

The best dancefloors in Sydney

Dancefloors come in all shapes and sizes in Sydney – sticky-floored pubs can double up as heaving rave caves, small bars morph into late-night party dens on sporadic Wednesdays, and on most Friday nights, warehouses across Sydney's Inner West transform into laser-lit super-clubs (though we can't spill too much on that front). Sydney cops a lot of flack for its nightlife, but we think it's all about just looking in the right places. Here are our picks of the most reliable dancefloors to break some shapes in the Harbour City right now. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Looking for somewhere more chill to whet your whistle? Here are our favourite hidden bars in the Harbour City.Want a live show? These are the best bars and pubs with live music in Sydney.

The biggest musicals to see in Australia this year

There’s never been a quiet year for theatre in Australia. From the bright lights of Broadway and West End to our very own stages in Australia, we’re lucky to play host to some of the world’s biggest and best musicals. We’re also a hotbed for homegrown gems, with fresh and experimental shows lighting up stages across the country every month. From the grand return of a British “mega-musical” starring cats to the Aussie premiere of a musical based on Pretty Woman, this year’s theatre line-up is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Here are all the biggest musicals currently playing in Australia or headed Down Under in the next year or so. 🖼 The best Australian art galleries🔍 Australia's greatest museums 👀 The best art exhibitions to see in Australia right now

Listings and reviews (302)

Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes

Australia’s most popular arts event is back in action for 2025, with the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes bringing a fresh batch of painterly expressions to the walls of the Art Gallery of NSW from May 10 to August 17. They call it “the face that stops the nation”, and the Archibald Prize has indeed been courting controversy and conversation for more than a century now. This popular portrait prize is always filled with famous faces, with artists from all over Australia (and also New Zealand) capturing the spirit of the times through paintings that capture the likeness of the personalities that define their communities. Julie Fragar is the winner of the 2025 Archibald Prize – she won over the judges with a stunning portrait of fellow artist Justene Williams (read more). RECOMMENDED: A beginner's guide to the Archibald Prize. The winner of the 2025 Packing Room Prize was announced a week earlier, with the Packing Room Pickers (a.k.a. the Art Gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries) selecting Abdul Abdullah's striking painting of fellow finalist Jason Phu as their favourite Archibald portrait this year (read more here). Meanwhile, the Wynne Prize awards the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figurative sculpture, and the Sulman is awarded to the best genre painting, subject painting or mural project. (Find out more about the 2025 winners over here.) The annual finalists exhibition is a real must-see, with each prize attracting diverse entries that

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Have you been feeling a little on edge lately? Do you feel like your life is spiralling out of control, on a planet that’s spiraling out of control? Boy, do we have a show for you! Take a load off and step into the vibrant, hilarious world of 1980’s Madrid for the Sydney premiere of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at Sydney’s beating heart of musical theatre, the Hayes Theatre Co. We meet Pepa, a heartbroken actress, who finds her life turned upside down after her lover’s sudden disappearance. As she searches for answers, Pepa navigates a series of increasingly outrageous events alongside a cast of eccentric characters, including a vengeful ex-wife, a best friend entangled with an international terrorist, a power-suited lawyer, and enough sedative-laced gazpacho to knock out half of Spain. Following his award-winning, critically acclaimed seasons of Cry Baby and American Psycho, Alexander Berlage returns to the Hayes to direct this exhilarating comedy based on the iconic 1988 movie by Pedro Almodóvar. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown features an exciting cast including Amy Hack (Yentl, Hedwig and the Angry Inch) as Pepa, and Andrew Cutcliffe (The Dismissal, Caroline or Change) as her missing lover Ivan. Tisha Kelemen (Little Women, Nine) is Lucia, Ivan’s ex-wife, and her son Carlos is played by Tomáš Kantor (Fangirls, West Side Story). Pepa’s best friend Candela is played by Grace Driscoll (Sunset Boulevard, Nice Work If You Can Get It) and film director H

The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale

If there's one fantasy series to rule them all, it's hard to go past The Lord of the Rings. And now, Middle-earth is about to collide with our cultural capital, with the news that The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale, has landed in Melbourne. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved epic trilogy, the stage production is showing at the Comedy Theatre until June 22. This musical invites audiences to join the Hobbits on a quest, bringing Middle-earth to life with a cast of multi-skilled actor-musicians in a theatrical event that celebrates community, courage and camaraderie – featuring an original folk-inspired score. *** Time Out Sydney reviewed The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale when it played at the State Theatre in January. Read on for that three-star review: For elder Millennials like me, The Lord of the Rings franchise conjures memories of a simpler time: a time when movies were treated more like a coveted form of storytelling rather than just another option in an endless barrage of ‘content’ to ‘stream’. A time when I would go to the local cinema to watch each new instalment in the adventures of my favourite beardy boys club with my dad, who even loaded my sister and I into the car for a day trip to Sydney to check out an epic exhibition about how those epic movies were made across the ditch in New Zealand. (So many used prosthetics! So cool!) I believe that there’s elements of LOTR lore that are so inescapable that you need not have watched the movies or read the boo

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Melbourne, it’s time to put on some makeup and pull the wig down from the shelf – because Hedwig has finally announced plans to head on over to our wicked little town. Following a smash-hit season with Adelaide Festival, GWB Entertainment and Andrew Henry Presents have confirmed that Hedwig and the Angry Inch will unleash its raw energy at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from June 13 as part of Rising. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the best rock musical ever” and featuring a razor-sharp catalogue of songs including ‘The Origin of Love’, ‘Midnight Radio’ and ‘Sugar Daddy’, Hedwig and the Angry Inch holds a special place for many queer people and rock music devotees. The world needs the wisdom of John Cameron Mitchell’s cult masterpiece of gender-fuckery more than ever – and an arguably perfect team of local queer talents have come together to create this original Australian production. Seann Miley Moore stars as the hedonistic anti-heroine herself, Hedwig. Along with a live rock band, Moore stars opposite acclaimed actor, singer, songwriter Adam Noviello as Hedwig’s devoted yet defiant partner, Yitzhak. The cast are in safe hands with co-directors Shane Anthony and Dino Dimitriadis along with musical director Victoria Falconer, set designer Jeremy Allen and costuming by queer fashion icons Katie-Louise and Lilian Nicol-Ford of legendary Sydney fashion house Nicol & Ford. Hedwig and the Angry Inch will run from June 13-26. For more information and to purchase tickets, head to th

IRL

When Lewis Treston’s name is on the script, you can expect that you’re in for some delightfully unhinged antics, incisive social commentary, big laughs, and some very, very gay shenanigans. IRL is Sydney’s latest taste of the Treston playbook, and this angsty, cosplay-filled teen drama packs all the essential ingredients into a single chaotic day set amongst the surreal chaos of a pop culture convention in Brisbane. Following Hubris & Humilitation (a fabulous farce set in post-plebiscite Sydney, brought to life with pizazz by Sydney Theatre Company) and Hot Tub (a crime-filled tragi-comedy set on the Gold Coast during Schoolies, boldly staged downstairs at Belvoir 25A) – director Eugene Lynch reunites with the team behind The Pigeons (potentially the most polarising play of 2024) to bring IRL crash-landing onto the humble stage of KXT on Broadway. We meet Alexei (Andrew Fraser), a gay, 17-year-old cosplayer with a mild Disney Princess obsession and a celebrity best friend, Taylor (Bridget Haberecht), who decides Supanova is the perfect place for his first date with long-time internet crush, Thaddeus (Leon Walshe). But, in a regrettable moment of self-sabotage, Alexei assumes a false identity in order to test out his would-be boyfriend. Meanwhile, the thin line between reality, fantasy, and saccharine pop-culture saturation begins to blur beyond recognition. Treston’s script contains an interesting balance of silly banter, niche internetspeak, incisive wit, and profoundly hu

The Wrong Gods

Following the runaway success of theatrical epics Counting and Cracking and The Jungle and the Sea, Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre presents the world premiere of S. Shakthidharan’s brand new play, The Wrong Gods (May 3 – June 1). Taking an interesting detour from the huge scale of the critically-acclaimed playwright’s previous hits, this gripping tale of local justice and global power unfolds over a short, sharp 90 minutes with an all-star cast of four. In a valley in India, paintings on a cave wall bear testimony to the presence of people – and their gods – for fifty-thousand years. Close by, Nirmala farms the soil as her ancestors did, but her daughter Isha wants something more – a city education, and the opportunity it promises. And there are outsiders in the valley now, bringing new crops, new technologies, new visions of the future. There are new gods loose in the valley. But they are asking Nirmala and her people to pay a heavy price. Co-directed by S. Shakthidharan and Belvoir’s Resident Director Hannah Goodwin (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Never Closer), The Wrong Gods features Manali Datar (Fangirls), Nadie Kammallaweera (Counting and Cracking), Radhika Mudaliyar (Counting and Cracking), and Vaishnavi Suryaprakash (Counting and Cracking, Nayika: A Dancing Girl), with set and costume design by Keerthi Subramanyam (Never Closer) and original music by Hindustani musician Sabyasachi (Rahul) Bhattacharya. Filled with hope, betrayal, tradition and self

And Then There Were None

Would-be detectives, riddle me this: do you think you can guess which novel penned by British crime writer extraordinaire Agatha Christie is her best seller? If you’re thinking of a tale featuring Miss Marple or Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot, then you might need to revisit your list of clues. In fact, of all 66 novels attributed to Christie, her most popular mystery is actually And Then There Were None. (And trust us, do not look up the original title.) It’s one of only a handful of Christie’s novels that features no recurring characters – and that’s probably because there aren’t many left standing after a group of ten perfect strangers are summoned to a mysterious, storm-lashed island and promptly accused of murder most horrid. As gripping a whodunnit as it’s possible to be, the tightly-plotted head-scratcher has long captivated readers the world over. Unsurprisingly, it’s been adapted oodles of times, including multiple films, radio and TV shows, including being spoofed on Family Guy. Well, hold on to your alibis, because the producers of the recent huge national tour of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap are bringing a brand-new production of And Then There Were None to Sydney’s Theatre Royal, following its premiere season in Melbourne. Stage and screen luminary Robyn Nevin is back in the director’s chair, with a stacked cast featuring Mia Morrissey (Deadloch), Nicholas Hammond (The Sound of Music), Tom Stokes (Death of a Salesman), Jack Bannister (The Mousetrap), Eden Falk

The Other Art Fair

Get ready to raise a glass to curious encounters and immerse yourself in a colourful world of art, because The Other Art Fair is landing back in Sydney from May 8–11, and it’s once again taking over the cavernous White Bay Cruise Terminal in Balmain. Cast aside your preconceptions – this global event is a place where barriers are broken and the usual art-world rules don’t apply. You have the chance to connect with more than 100 independent artists; get hands-on with immersive installations; witness unexpected performances; and discover artwork that makes you stop, think, and maybe even laugh out loud. With live DJs on the decks and a buzzing bar serving up refreshments, you can also expect the return of fair favourites like live Art Battles and fine line tattoos from local stick-and-poke artists – and yes, that ink is permanent, we have road tested getting tattooed at the fair (refer to the video below). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sydney (@timeoutsydney) This time around, you can also take a chance on a Blind Date With An Artwork (for $200) and check out James Patrick’s Art Vending Machine filled with one-of-a-kind, entirely human-made miniature artworks. The May fair is also all fired up for The Ceramics Edit, which puts the incredible work of Australian ceramicists in the spotlight. And the matriarchs haven’t been forgotten either, on Sunday (May 11) the fair becomes “The Mother Art Fair” – a special Mother’s Day transformation,

Tender

Ngununggula, for the uninitiated, is a gorgeous little gem of a gallery residing in a repurposed dairy shed near Bowral, a chilled 90-minute drive from Sydney. The latest exhibition to take over the walls is Tender (April 12 – June 15), an all-women showcase of seven leading Australian painters exploring the sensitive yet provocative concept of “tenderness”. Through new and existing work, artists Sally Anderson, Sarah Drinan, Laura Jones, India Mark, Dionisia Salas, Julia Trybala and Amber Wallis urge audiences to explore tenderness as a multifaceted human experience; and challenge the gendered associations of this term, which is often associated with notions of care and femininity. Tender follows the popular 2024 exhibition Once More With Feeling, and is part of the gallery’s annual program committed to showcasing the work of Australian women artists. This colourful, defiant and emotionally charged exhibition is the only excuse you need to gather up your coven for a drive to the Southern Highlands. But if you need any more encouragement – aside from free entry – Ngununggula also features Hearth by Moonacres, a flavour driven farm-to-table café, and the whole lot is surrounded by landscaped gardens and green fields. A perfect place to catch your breath, if you ask us. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news and things to do, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: The best exhibitions to see in Sydney Here’s the best theatre to see in Syd

Thinking together: Exchanges with the natural world

When it comes to regional art galleries, Bundanon is top tier. But it’s difficult to convey the magic of this place if you haven’t experienced it for yourself. Hidden within a nature reserve and perched between a snaking bend of the mighty Shoalhaven River and the foot of a mountain, it's a special place to unplug and connect with art and nature. Hence, the latest exhibition to take up residence in the Art Museum, which encourages new ways of thinking through collaborations between humans and non-human worlds, is a natural fit. From large-scale paintings in traditional Indigenous art styles to experimental technologies, Thinking together: Exchanges with the natural world features new major commissions from contemporary artists and collectives that take a range of unexpected forms and unusual perspectives. For example, Greek-Australian artist and performer Tina Stefanou has been “collaborating” with retired horses for almost a decade, and these equine beauties are now the stars of ‘Horse Power’ (2019) – a video work in which we see them dressed in costumes festooned with jangling keys, creating freestyle percussion as they graze nonchalantly. Meanwhile, music-making mushrooms are the heroes of ‘Growth in the shadows’, a living artwork from Sydney-based interdisciplinary artist Keg de Souza – and that’s not a euphemism. Working with ecologists and Bundanon’s natural resources team, de Souza has “borrowed” live mycelium and fungi samples from the landscape and housed them in W

Sydney Comedy Festival

So, who else could use a laugh? Good news for us, the Sydney Comedy Festival is gearing up to celebrate its 20th anniversary with its biggest program ever in 2025 (from April 21 to May 18). With brand-new experiences and more than 350 acts from near and far to get around, it’s time for you to prepare yourself for some next-level laughs and silly shenanigans. We’re particularly keen on the brand-new Sydney Comedy Festival Comedy Crawl that will come to life amongst the top-notch bars in the YCK Laneways precinct in the CBD. Led by a host, you can join a group of punters and take a chance on a surprise line-up in surprise venues, moving from bar-to-bar for each comedy set. The Festival’s inaugural ‘One Night Stand’ will also bring Daniel Sloss to town (with some friends) for an Australian exclusive performance at the Sydney Opera House for one night only on April 24, marking the beginning of annual Sydney-only shows. (That’s right, he’s not even going to MICF this year!) Sloss joins a colossal list of big names appearing in the Festival, including Aussie comedy legend Rhys Nicholson (Drag Race Down Under), Guy Montgomery, Jimeoin, Arj Barker, Melanie Bracewell, Nazeem Hussain, Becky Lucas, Joel Creasey, Rhys Darby and Steph Broadbridge – whose brand new Raygun-inspired show Breaking the Musical has already made quite a bit of noise. You can find also check out our list of 14 top shows to see at Sydney Comedy Festival in 2025 for more inspo. Another Festival first is Break

Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular

If you've always dreamed a dream of seeing the musical Les Misérables live in a spectacular arena setting, now's your chance. The beloved production is officially marching towards Melbourne for the Australian leg of a massive world tour, following rave reviews and sold-out crowds across the UK and major European cities. Describing itself as “the most spectacular arena production of a musical ever staged”, this epic tour is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the world’s longest-running musical, the record-breaking London production of Les Mis, which is still playing to sell-out audiences today. Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will arrive at Rod Laver Arena on May 14 for a 15-show run. Super-producer Cameron Mackintosh has assembled a world class creative team, with the exciting new production design being specifically created for each venue – and the international cast is also absolutely top tier. Australia’s leading lady, Marina Prior, is playing Madame Thénardier. Maria is certified musical theatre royalty – before she blew everyone away as the original Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera in the early ’90s, she also played Cosette in the original Australian production of Les Misérables. Highly recognisable British comedian, actor and author Matt Lucas (best known for Little Britain) is also reprising the role of Thénardier. He first triumphed in the role in the 25th Anniversary Concert at The O2 in London, and later in the production

News (415)

This stunning portrait of artist Justene Williams just won the Archibald Prize 2025

The face that stops the nation has landed. This morning, the Art Gallery of New South Wales announced Brisbane-based artist Julie Fragar as the winner of the 2025 Archibald Prize, for her portrait of fellow Brissy artist and colleague Justene Williams. The highly detailed black and white painting, titled ‘Flagship Mother Multiverse (Justene)’, depicts Williams as an “active master of a multiverse of characters and events”. Fragar is a four-time Archibald Prize finalist, and this is the first time she has won the $100,000 prize. The artist broke into tears when the Art Gallery of NSW’s recently appointed director, Maud Page, phoned this morning to deliver the news that her work had been selected as the winner from the 57 finalist works. This is the 15th time in Archie history that the prize has been awarded to a woman, and Fragar is the 13th woman to win since its inception in 1921. Fragar and Williams work together at the Queensland College of Art and Design, where Fragar is the head of painting and Williams is the head of sculpture. Photograph: Alannah Le Cross | Julie Fragar with her winning portrait at the 2025 Archibald Prize announcement Responding to the win, Fragar said: “You work your whole career imagining this might happen one day. Thinking back to myself as a 17-year-old showing up at the Sydney College of the Arts – a kid from country New South Wales – it’s incredible to think I have won the Archibald Prize. Portrait painting wasn’t taken as seriously in the 1

Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally will make an exclusive appearance at Vivid Sydney 2025

If you thought that Vivid Sydney’s new and improved program was already sounding too dishy to handle – with icons Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson both set to make appearances – then think again. The hottest couple in comedy, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally are confirmed to appear on stage and in-conversation together for the very first time in Australia, closing out the final night of the 2025 festival. Unscripted & Unfiltered with Nick Offerman & Megan Mullally will see the immensely talented husband-and-wife duo grace the stage of the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) on Saturday, June 14. Mullally, best known as Will & Grace’s Karen Walker, and Offerman, best known as Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson, have forged a creative partnership that spans film, television, podcasting and co-authorship over their quarter of a century as a couple. However, they have never appeared in a live-onstage in-conversation before now. “Megan and I are powerfully chuffed to get back to town for Vivid Sydney, but also to reprise our lovemaking session atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge,” Offerman said in an official statement. He continued: “Once we have recharged those particular batteries, we’ll be thrilled to transfer our slatternly energies to the Vivid Sydney audience. Come for the anecdotes and the burlesque lust in our every turn of phrase, then get stretched out before you get home, because there’s gonna be some canoodlin’”. In this playful conversation moderated by

All aboard! Titanique has finally called a closing date for record-breaking Sydney run

After more than 300 Céline-belting, wig-snatching, laugh-out-loud performances, Titanique is preparing to leave the dock one last time. This June, the outrageous and award-winning musical parody will unberth from Sydney’s Art-Deco-style cabaret den, The Grand Electric, sailing off into the sunset — never to return to Australian shores (unless, of course, an iceberg demands an encore). Since Titanique opened in October, this Harbour City exclusive has become one of the hottest tickets in town, with our critic saying that this “completely unserious” sequin-filled extravaganza will “have you laughing so hard your cheeks hurt” in a rave five-star review. But unlike Céline’s eternal ballad, this show will not go on. After several sold-out season extensions, the final performance has finally been called for June 22, 2025. So it’s time to hit up your girls, gays, theys, and enthusiastic straight men, because you have a limited time left to experience this cult musical phenomenon before it sails away forever. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alannah Le Cross (nèe Maher) (@alannurgh) For the uninitiated, this off-Broadway splash-hit is a gloriously camp, spectacularly unhinged Olivier Award-winning send-up of James Cameron’s cinematic juggernaut that rewrites the tragic tale of Jack and Rose, putting none other than the Queen of Power Ballads herself – Céline Dion – at the helm. With cabaret icon Marney McQueen leading the Aussie cast as Céline Dion, thi

Spilt Milk is making a huge 2025 comeback, with Doechii and Kendrick Lamar heading up a massive line-up

For a festival born and bred in little ol' Canberra, Spilt Milk has done pretty well for itself. The regional-ish Aussie music bash expanded to Ballarat in 2019, the Gold Coast in 2022, and Perth in 2023, establishing itself as Australia's largest touring day music festival. After a hiatus in 2024, Spilt Milk has announced its highly-anticipated return in December 2025, with all four cities once again primed to become the fertile ground for some real dance floor action. And with a line-up this hot, we reckon it's high time to book that weekend away in Canberra. Every year, Spilt Milk delivers a slick line-up of international hitmakers – and this year is no different, with hip-hop legend Kendrick Lamar headlining the festival alongside US rap goddess Doechii (who will make her Aussie debut). As always, the fun goes beyond the stage, with immersive activations like rowdy country bars, jolly sing-alongs, empowering art exhibitions and a pumping party bus. Given Spilt Milk has a track record of selling out in mere minutes, you’ll want to be ready to pounce when tickets drop in Australia. Here’s everything you need to know about scoring tickets in 2025. When and where is Spilt Milk 2025? Like in previous years, Spilt Milk is bringing the party to four Australian cities in 2025, including: Ballarat: Victoria Park – Saturday, December 6 Perth: Claremont Showground – Sunday, December 7 Canberra: Exhibition Park – Saturday, December 13 Gold Coast: Gold Coast Sports Precinct – Sunday

This unusual portrait of Sydney artist Jason Phu just won the 2025 Packing Room Prize

The Art Gallery of NSW has been filling up with famous faces as it gears up for the 2025 edition of Australia’s favourite annual art event, the Archibald Prize for portraiture, which will open to the public next weekend. But the announcement of the so-called “face that stops the nation” that will win the main prize will have to wait, because the winner of the much-loved Packing Room Prize has just been announced. Abdul Abdullah has taken out the popular prize with his portrait of fellow artist and friend Jason Phu. Valued at $3000, the Packing Room Prize is awarded to the best entry in the Archibald Prize as judged by the Art Gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries. Abdullah’s portrait, titled ‘No mountain high enough’, marks his seventh time as an Archibald finalist and was selected from 57 finalists in this year’s exhibition. He has also been a finalist in the Wynne and Sulman Prizes multiple times. (Get a better look at the full painting over here.) Photograph: AGNSW/Diana Panuccio | Packing Room team with director Maud Page and the Packing Room Prize 2025 winning work by Abdul Abdullah Alexis Wildman, senior installation officer and member of the Art Gallery’s Packing Room team, says that the Packing Room Pickers were instantly drawn to Abdullah’s painting. He continued: “Both [Abdul and Jason] are accomplished artists whose works have a distinct style and engage with complex social and cultural themes using wit and cartoonish references. The team holds

‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ is bringing glam-rock glory to Carriageworks this July

Sydney, it’s time to put on some makeup and pull the wig down from the shelf – because Hedwig has finally announced plans to head on over to our wicked little town. Following a smash-hit season with Adelaide Festival, GWB Entertainment and Andrew Henry Presents have confirmed that Hedwig and the Angry Inch will unleash its raw energy at Sydney’s Carriageworks from July 17. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “the best rock musical ever” and featuring a razor-sharp catalogue of songs including ‘The Origin of Love’, ‘Midnight Radio’ and ‘Sugar Daddy’, Hedwig and the Angry Inch holds a special place for many queer people and rock music devotees. The world needs the wisdom of John Cameron Mitchell’s cult masterpiece of gender-fuckery more than ever – and an arguably perfect team of local queer talents have come together to create this original Australian production. (I was lucky enough to head over to the country’s festival capital for the premiere in February, and it was every bit as gloriously gritty, grungy, hilarious and heart-wrenching as I hoped it would be!) Seann Miley Moore stars as the hedonistic anti-heroine herself, Hedwig. Moore took out the critics’ choice award for Best Performance in a Musical in the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards with their acclaimed take on the Engineer (or, as Moore describes them, the ‘Engin-Queer’) in Miss Saigon, and this wild, rock-fuelled role is your chance to see them like you’ve never seen them before. Along a live rock band, Se

Funny You Should Ask: 14 top picks to see at Sydney Comedy Festival in 2025

The Sydney Comedy Festival is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary by unleashing a bigger program than the city has ever seen before in 2025 (running from April 21 to May 18). So, with more than 350 funny folks from near and far hopping up on stages across the city, where do you get started? Right here. I’ve teased out a list of the acts that I’m most excited about down below (from Local Legends to International Icons). Another top tip is to check out a Sydney Comedy Festival Gala or a Best of The Fest showcase, where you’ll be introduced to a mixed lineup of a dozen or more acts in one go (usually including some big names!) who will all have their own solo shows too. This year, we’re also keen on the brand-new Comedy Bar Crawl that will come to life amongst the top-notch bars in the YCK Laneways precinct in the CBD. Led by a host, you can join a group of punters and take a chance on a surprise line-up in surprise venues, moving from bar-to-bar for each comedy set. LOCAL LEGENDS TO SEE AT SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL Photograph: Supplied/Jax Moussa Reuben Kaye – The Party’s Over From cancellation to resurrection, we will always worship at the altar of this razor-tongued prince whenever he crawls out of the Kaye Hole. Taking time out from his musical theatre debut in Jesus Christ Superstar, join Reuben Kaye and his band for a hilarious set of new songs and musings on the state of the world, with a sprinkling of his greatest hits reimagined for 2025. When & Where: April 24. Enmo

The hit Broadway musical 'Anastasia' is coming to Melbourne this year

Just when we thought the line-up of musicals coming to Melbourne this year couldn't be more exciting, it's been revealed that the Broadway hit Anastasia will be making its Australian debut in our city this year. This rave-reviewed musical is inspired by the beloved 1997 animated feature from 20th Century Fox (which we’d argue is one of the best non-Disney princess movies ever) and, of course, the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape in the dawning days of the Russian Revolution. A lavish musical for the whole family with opulent settings and dazzling costumes, Anastasia premiered on Broadway in 2017 and played to sold-out audiences for three years before several international productions were mounted around the world, as well as two North American tours. Photograph: Supplied | The US touring production of 'Anastasia' Music and lyrics are by the renowned writing team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the same pair behind the movie’s score, who have been referred to as “one of the greatest songwriting teams in Broadway history”. Naturally, the musical includes all the beautiful songs from the animated film, including ‘Journey to the Past’ and ‘Once Upon a December’. The Australian premiere of Anastasia is presented by John Frost for Crossroads Live and Opera Australia. It will open once upon a December at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in 2025, before touring to Perth’s Crown Theatre in March 2026, and will finally land at Sydney’s Lyric Theatr

Weather, bats, party boats: the unique challenges of staging a musical on Sydney Harbour

When it comes to staging a performance of any live musical (or an opera, for arguments’ sake), there are a whole lot of moving parts that must come together. The pitch-perfect live orchestra, the actors emerging from quick costume changes, leaping straight into painstakingly blocked choreography, delivering carefully memorised lines and lyrics *with conviction* as a whole squadron of unseen people steer all of the technical elements to keep the train on the track – when you witness all of these pieces come together in real time, there really is nothing else quite like it. So what happens when you take all of the delicate elements of live theatre, and up the stakes by thrusting it onto an outdoor stage the size of “a football field” suspended over Sydney Harbour, and top it off with a big smattering of fireworks? That’s what you get at Handa Opera on the Harbour (HOSH), and this year’s bombastic take on the musical comedy classic, Guys & Dolls, which director Shaun Rennie describes as “one of the best musicals ever written”. “It's a unique beast, that's for sure,” says Rennie, who is also Opera Australia’s associate director. “It's part spectacle, part musical theatre – and yet, there are logistics that you wouldn’t even think about. Like the wigs, if it rains, all have to be reset – and there’s literally not enough time to reset them all.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sydney (@timeoutsydney) According to Rennie, the “genius people

A tribute to the world’s longest-running musical ‘Les Misérables’ is touring Australia next month

When a musical has been witnessed by more than 130 million people around the world, you know it’s going to be good – and that show needs no introduction. Les Misérables is arguably one of the greatest musicals of all time and the longest-running in history, celebrating its 40th revolutionary year in 2025 with a global arena tour. After sell-out shows in 53 countries, the record-breaking London production of Les Misérables is headed to Australia this April and March. Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will arrive at the ICC Sydney Theatre on April 30 for 15 performances, followed by 15 dates at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena from May 14, and seven shows at Brisbane Entertainment Centre from May 28. Super-producer Cameron Mackintosh has assembled a world-class creative team, with the exciting new production design being specifically created for each venue – and the international cast is also absolutely top tier. Australia’s leading lady, Marina Prior, is playing Madame Thénardier. Maria is certified musical theatre royalty – before she blew everyone away as the original Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera in the early ’90s, she also played Cosette in the original Australian production of Les Misérables. Photograph: Supplied | Matt Crockett | Matt Lucas & Marina Prior Highly recognisable British comedian, actor and author Matt Lucas (best known for Little Britain) is also reprising the role of Thénardier. He first triumphed in the role in the

London’s epic ‘Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular’ is about to arrive in Sydney

Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men?... Well, that might be the sound of the spectacular, star-studded arena production of Les Misérables that is marching towards Sydney for the Australian leg of a massive world tour, following rave reviews and sold-out crowds across the UK and major European cities. Describing itself as “the most spectacular arena production of a musical ever staged”, this epic tour is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the world’s longest running musical, the record-breaking London production of Les Mis, which is still playing to sell out audiences today. Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular will arrive at the ICC Sydney Theatre on April 30 for 15 performances (including extra shows added to meet the demand), followed by dates at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Super-producer Cameron Mackintosh has assembled a world class creative team, with the exciting new production design being specifically created for each venue – and the international cast is also absolutely top tier. Photograph: Supplied | Marina Prior and Matt Lucas star in ‘Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular’ Australia’s leading lady, Marina Prior, is playing Madame Thénardier. Maria is certified musical theatre royalty – before she blew everyone away as the original Christine Daaé in the Australian premiere of The Phantom of the Opera in the early ’90s, she also played Cosette in the original Australian production of Les Misérables. Hi

Hold onto your cowboy boots! The Dolly Parton inspired musical ‘Here You Come Again’ is making its Aussie debut

Here we go again... or here we come again! Australia’s bumper line-up of musicals just keeps getting bigger and better! Only weeks after the news that Pretty Woman: The Musical is headed Down Under for its Aussie debut, another Broadway smash hit is set to make its mark in 2025. That's right, the Dolly-Parton-approved musical comedy Here You Come Again will be gracing Australian stages this July. Packed with all of Dolly’s most iconic songs – including ‘Jolene’, ‘9 to 5’, ‘Islands in the Stream’, and ‘I Will Always Love You’ – this heart-warming and hilarious show will tour Australia this year following sold-out seasons across the US and UK. The Aussie tour will kick off at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 12, before promenading over to Sydney’s Theatre Royal on September 12. It will then stop at Perth's Regal Theatre from August 22, Civic Theatre Newcastle from November 20, Canberra Theatre Centre from November 27 and Her Majesty’s Theatre Adelaide from December 6. Photograph: Supplied | Hugo Glendinning | The UK cast of 'Here You Come Again' Not to be confused with 9 to 5 the Musical, which made its Australian debut a few years ago, or Hello, I’m Dolly, the bio-musical co-created by Dolly herself, which is set to open on Broadway in 2026 – Here You Come Again channels the spirit of the universally-loved country queen’s heartfelt and sassy style to tell the story of a diehard fan, whose fantasy version of Dolly Parton helps him navigate life's toughest challenges.