Alannah Le Cross

Rain or shine, it's never a dull time when you have the best art galleries and best museums to explore in Sydney. Read on for our must-see list of the coolest exhibitions to have a gander at. Want more culture? Check out the best shows to see on Sydney's stages this month. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.  

Last year we bid farewell to Succession, Barry and Top Boy, fell hard for Beef, Colin From Accounts and Blue Lights. The next 12 months should help us move on – the potential impact of 2023’s writers’ strike notwithstanding – as early hits like World War II epic Masters of the Air and Mr and Mrs Smith, Prime Video’s intoxicating mix of witty marital drama and zippy espionage caper, are already proving. Ahead is a hotly-anticipated new run of Squid Game on Netflix, a third season of Industry, a sci-fi prequel in Dune: Prophecy, Colin Farrell in DC spinoff Penguin, and The Franchise, the latest from telly genius Armando Iannucci – among many other potentially binge-worthy offerings. But there’s only so many hours in the day and you can’t spend all of them on the sofa. Here’s our guide to the shows most worthy of your time.RECOMMENDED: 🔥 The best TV and streaming shows of 2023🎥 The best movies of 2024 (so far)📺 The 100 greatest ever TV shows you need to binge

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.

If there's one sure-fire way of injecting joy into your year – it's festivals. Gathering with like-minded people in rainbow-festooned palaces full of amazing music, glittering performances and zesty food sounds like utopia to us – which is why it's a blessing that Australia has an incredible array of festivals on offer, one for every season of the year. In this list, we round up the best festivals that we reckon you should check out Down Under this year. Starting with those that are on earliest in the year and ending with those at the end, each of these festivals has been selected for its scale, its astonishing visuals, and its commitment to seriously good times. From music to comedy, to wild light displays in the Outback, you can rest assured that going to any of these incredible Aussie festivals will be a bloody good time indeed.  🎭 The best musical and theatre shows in Australia🎨 Australia's best art galleries🍔 The best food festivals in Australia

With its sunny skies and chilled-out vibes, Queensland is the ultimate playground for outdoor festivals. Every year, thousands of Aussies – armed with disco moves and doof sticks – descend upon the Sunshine State to celebrate the best of our nation’s music, culture and food.  Come September, festival season is in full swing with the return of Brisbane Festival, the city’s biggest arts and culture event, plus Bigsound, the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest music industry bash. But the fun extends far beyond the city, spilling all along the coast to neighbouring towns, including Noosa and the Gold Coast. Here are all the best festivals to add to your calendar in Brisbane and beyond. 🎸 The greatest music and arts festivals in Australia🍔 The best food festivals in Australia🌳 All the best things to do in Brisbane

From the razzle dazzle of big budget musicals to indie theatre gems, there's pretty much always a mind-boggling amount of entertainment to pick from on Sydney's stages.  It's been a bumper year for musicals, and this month takes the cake with the hotly-anticipated return season of Hamilton continuing to dominate the stage, exclusive to Sydney. September is also a massive time for new work – it's time to get weird with Sydney Fringe Festival bringing literally hundreds of shows to various venues around town, in addition to a couple more festivals that are debuting cutting-edge new work. Check out our top theatre selections for the month below.

We might be a little biased, but in our humble opinion, Sydney's got it all. Can you think of many other cities in the world that rival its natural beauty, rich heritage and history that dates back thousands of years, and its creative, culinary and cultural offerings by world-class pros. In fact, there's so much to see, do, sip and ponder here, you could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed. Worry not, dear reader – we're making it simple for you. Our team (including Food & Drink Editor Avril Treasure and our Sydney Editor Alice Ellis) sifted through every good time the Big Smoke has to offer and put together a Sydney bucket list for the ages. Whether you're a new arrival or a born-and-bred local, this 2024 Time Out Sydney round-up of the city's must-do activities will let you experience Sydney from every angle. After all those great activities you're bound to be thirsty. We suggest you head to one of the best pubs in Sydney right now.  Need somewhere to stay? Check in to one of Sydney's best hotels or Airbnbs. 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.

We're all about a secret underground dive bar or two – but in a city as beautiful as Sydney, it seems like a damn shame to retreat into the depths for every tipple. From a sundowner by the harbour to a sunny rooftop in the Inner West, our town is awash with sky-high watering holes. So we've rounded up the best spots in the city to sip a cold one under a gorgeous open sky. But drinkers beware: Sydney's rooftop bars play host to some of the most contested seats in the city, so get in early for a spot in the sun.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. For more al fresco drinking try one of Sydney's best beer gardens. Looking for another top-notch watering hole? Check out the best bars in Sydney.

Sydney, spooky season is almost upon us, which means one thing: it's time to start crafting your outfit. To help, we've compiled a list of Sydney's best costume shops, meaning that whether you're in the market for a '20s inspired bedazzled frock, want to rock some '80s fluro vibes, or just simply scare the bejesus out of your mates with a gory mask – we have you covered.  But if you're looking for regular fabulous daywear rather than something fearful, head to the best antique stores or best op shops in Sydney.  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.  

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 best public galleries worth visiting in Australia.  🌳 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia👀 Australia's finest museums☀️ The best things to do in Australia

While manic repetition of squats, lunges, sprints and push-ups is one way to stay healthy and rev your engine with endorphins, some fitness fans prefer a more left-of-field sweat sesh than what a gym or an aggressive bootcamp can provide. These unusual workouts let you dance, bounce, swing and climb your way to a healthier you, and you'll have a ball getting there. If you can’t make it to a class (or are yet to stock up on the requisite glow sticks) you can make jogging fun along these scenic running routes in Sydney. Then, cool off in the salty embrace of our favourite ocean pools. After all that hard work, why not treat yourself? Check out Sydney's best spas. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.  

From musicals based on much-loved and seriously messed up kids’ TV shows to gothic horror reimagined via icons returning to the stage after decades away, this year in theatre is shaping up to be one of the strongest we’ve seen in quite some time.Here are a few shows we know you’ll want to catch before it’s too late to say you were there. 🖼 The best Australian art galleries🔍 Australia's greatest museums 

Is it getting hot in here? Come on Melbourne, it’s time to head way down, to Hadestown. Seen by 3 million, streamed by more than 350 million and adored by fans all around the world – the acclaimed West End and Broadway musical phenomenon Hadestown will make its Melbourne premiere at Her Majesty's Theatre in May 2025, after having its Australian debut at Theatre Royal Sydney in February.  For the uninitiated, the gist is this: written by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, Hadestown is a genre-defying musical adaption of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in a dystopian steampunk-esque underworld, set to an evocative score that blends New Orleans-style jazz and blues with modern American folk music – with a live brass band on stage, to boot. The show won eight Tony Awards when it opened in 2019, including Best Musical, and is still playing to packed houses five years later. Hadestown already has a dedicated fandom around the world and here in Australia, and it has an edge that will also appeal to everyone who isn’t already a die-hard musical theatre fan.  The Melbourne premiere of this sensational musical is presented by Jones Theatrical Group and Opera Australia. Jones Theatrical Group's Susan Jones says Melbourne audiences "embrace musicals like no other city".  "In return, musicals delight in performing here due to the rousing receptions and support that they receive. Hadestown will be no exception. Creator and writer Anaïs Mitchell is such an extraordinary

A program full of independent artists, for spring? Groundbreaking. Seriously! The Sydney Opera House has rolled out the latest edition of UnWrapped, an ongoing series that invites a cavalcade of indie artists (and technologists) into the People’s House for a showcase of new and cutting-edge work. From a “boganised” reimagining of one of Audrey Hepburn’s most iconic roles to an experiment in AI-generated choreography, there are 14 works to choose from by more than 20 creators, including 11 new commissions. The season explores notions of identity, artistic ownership and concepts of time via multidisciplinary mediums spanning film, dance, performance, AI-generated choreography, music and installation. In Class Act (Aug 28-31), comic and playwright Mish Grigor works with experimental art organisation APHIDS to present a tongue-in-cheek deconstruction of My Fair Lady from the point of view of a self-proclaimed bogan. Growing up in Western Sydney, Mish sets anecdotes from her childhood against a classic tale to examine the myth of a classless Australia in a multi-faceted piece of physical theatre that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. Elsewhere, award-winning writer Mark Rogers has teamed up with the boundary-pushing re:group performance collective to present a raucous work of “gig theatre”. Told through the eyes of a teenage Silverchair fan who discovers he can auto-tune moments from his past, AUTO-TUNE (Sep 4–7) fuses theatre, music and video.  Present

Content note: This review mentions the death of an animal; it also discusses a popular story about an Autistic character that was written without any consultation from Autistic community.  You might not think that the death of a dog could be the impetus of a heartwarming story – but perhaps, you just need to open yourself up to looking at the world a little differently. When 15-year-old Christopher John Francis Boone discovers the lifeless body of Wellington (the dog who belonged to his neighbour, Mrs Shears) on the front lawn, he is set on a path that will change his life forever. Before now, Christopher has never ventured alone beyond the end of his street, but his determination to solve the case will take him all the way from sleepy Swindon to the hustle and bustle of London – and lead him to uncover another great mystery: what really happened to his mother?  Christopher has an extraordinary mind – he’s brilliant at maths, he notices things that other people don’t, and he’s also wary of strangers and hates to be touched. Soon after he first appeared on the pages of Mark Haddon’s ridiculously-successful novel in 2003, Christopher also became a beacon of representation for people on the Autism spectrum. Almost a decade later, Simon Stephens’ stage adaptation of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time went on to garner a similar level of success, with award-winning runs on both the West End and Broadway. Roughly another decade later, Sydney’s own Belvoir St Theatre

This musical comedy to die for has arrived at Arts Centre Melbourne after two sell-out seasons at Sydney's Hayes Theatre. Murder for Two is a hilarious 90-minute show where two of the country’s most exciting up-and-coming musical comedy performers play multiple roles – not to mention the piano – in a rip-roaring parody of classic murder mysteries. After checking it out for ourselves, we agree with Time Out Sydney arts and culture editor Alannah Le Cross' review, although we in Melbourne loved the show so much that we bumped the rating up from a four to a five. Read on for the original Sydney review. A fantastic night of musical theatre doesn’t always call for million-dollar sets, a huge cast, expansive chorus lines of high-kicking dancers and fireworks. Sometimes, you just need two ridiculously talented performers, a grand piano, and a mystery to solve. Enter Murder For Two – aka, the very definition of a rip-roaring rollicking ride (and a couple of Australia’s most exciting up-and-coming musical comedy stars both have their hands on the wheel). A maverick by name and by nature, Maverick Newman (The Comedy of Errors, Friends! The Musical Parody) deftly darts between playing 12 different and equally eccentric suspects as Gabbi Bolt’s small-town police officer, Marcus Moscowicz, attempts to solve the case. This playful show rides the thin line between clever and silly at a thrilling, dangerous speed Who shot and fatally killed the great American novelist Arthur Whitney – at hi

Sydney’s recently revamped cultural space, the White Bay Power Station, will be welcoming visitors this spring for a huge *free* event, with the eclectic delights of Power Up Festival taking over for three days and two nights from September 20–22. From bands and DJs to cabaret and magic shows, all served up with a huge helping of visual arts, each day of the festival will have different programming, spotlighting the very best of the local community. Discover artworks from over 100 local artists; 200 musicians and performers, including renowned Inner West singer/songwriter Josh Pyke and a spectacular site-specific aerial performance from Legs on the Wall; and delicious eats and drinks from local faves including Mary’s, Mapo Gelato, White Bay Brewery and more. For those that love a bit of variety, Friday will be for you, featuring a stellar line-up of circus acts, magic, cabaret and cultural performances. From morning to evening, Saturday will be jam-packed with electrifying indie/rock performances from local musicians and theatrical performers. Meanwhile, Sunday will be full of family-friendly vibes, perfect for all who want to unwind and relax for the week – bring along your bub to learn all about music and instruments, enjoy an enchanting set of classical music, or come for a relaxed wander through the historic halls. Photograph: Supplied | Josh Pyke Following the success of the 24th Biennale of Sydney – which saw the site welcome 180,000 visitors, and also cleaned up at t

It looks like Christmas has come early, because we just found out that Elf: The Musical will make its Australian debut at the Sydney Opera House, just in time for the silly season. This heartwarming musical adaptation of the beloved film (which is, arguably, Will Ferrell’s best role ever!) is heading Down Under with a special presentation on the Opera House’s grand Concert Hall from December 19–29, presented with the (suitably named) John Frost for Crossroads Live. This ridiculously fun adventure follows Buddy on a quest to find his true identity. Despite being raised as an elf in the North Pole, Buddy learns that he is actually a human – which explains his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities. Hilarious misadventures ensue as his search for his birth family leads him to the bright lights of New York City, where he’s faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn't even believe in Santa. Speaking exclusively with Time Out, the director of this production (and Sydney's own merry expat) Eric Giancola, told us: “Elf: The Musical is pure joy, wrapped up in a giant Christmas bow! I love how the show is able to take the magic of the film and amplify it with music, dance, and a live energy that’s completely infectious. “The holiday season is a time when we can all embrace our inner child, let go of the stresses of the year, and just revel in the warmth of love and connection. And in Sydney, where Christmas comes with beach day

Pack your sunglasses and prepare to be blinded by the lights – The Weeknd is finally heading back Down Under after the initial 2023 Australian tour dates for the extended After Hours Til Dawn Tour were unceremoniously cancelled.  The three-time Grammy Award-winning starboy will perform in Sydney on Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23 at Accor Stadium.  The tour celebrates the Weeknd’s 2020 album After Hours, which features the hit award-winning single ‘Blinding Lights’. We've covered everything you need to know about getting your hands on tickets, set times, and more over here. Born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, the singer we know as The Weeknd first gained critical and commercial success with his debut studio album Kiss Land and subsequent albums Beauty Behind the Madness (2015), Starboy (2016), My Dear Melancholy (2018), After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022). Concertgoers can expect to hear tracks from across the years, including chart-topping anthems like ‘Can’t Feel My Face’, ‘Starboy’, ‘Blinding Lights’, ‘Heartless’ and ‘Save Your Tears’.  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: 🚅 Here's everything we know so far about Sydney’s new Metro fast-rail system 🎨 Take a peek at the best exhibitions to see in Sydney right now ⭐️ Check out the winners of our first-ever Time Out Arts & Culture Awards!  

The historic White Bay Power Station is located in the heart of the Bays West area in the Inner West suburb of Rozelle (near Balmain) and it is a focal point in transformation of the Bays West precinct. The state heritage-listed building was built from 1912 to 1917, and operated right up until it was decommissioned in 1984. It happens to be Sydney's oldest surviving power station, and it still holds equipment and machinery that predates the 1950s, with the site's recent refurbishment preserving much of its original fixtures.  After being closed to the public for more than 100 years (although, if you speak to the right people, they'll have tales to tell about illegal '90s raves) this iconic Sydney landmark underwent extensive remediation and conservation works in order to start a new life as a hub for arts, culture and community. In March 2024, they threw open the doors to kick off the new era with the 24th Biennale of Sydney, welcoming over 180,000 visitors over three months (and also going on to nab two awards in the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards!). Since there’s no parking on site, the best way to get to White Bay Power Station is by public transport. Regular bus routes 441 and 442 stop on Robert Street, just outside the venue. The easiest place to board is from a bus stop near Town Hall Station and the Queen Victoria Building. The site is generally only open to visitors for events, festivals and tours. Check out what's coming up over here.

It’s impossible to make everyone happy. Indeed, when it comes to meeting the appetites of musical theatre fans in Sydney, it’s a tall order at the best of times. This year, Sydney’s major stages have been pumping out the busiest theatre calendar we’ve seen since pre-pandemic times. However, aside from some notable exceptions, many of the productions claiming the lion’s share of the flashy budgets and the big stars are nothing we haven’t seen before. Musicals like Chicago, Grease, and Rocky Horror are fun and all – but they’ve been done more times than we care to remember, and discerning theatre lovers have a nose for when something is mainly getting a re-mount for cynical commercial gain (allegedly), rather than artistic merit.  Enter, an unlikely saving grace – Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy. Sure, the story is a familiar one, inspired by the hit early ’90s comedy movie of the same name starring Whoopi Goldberg (who was also involved in creating the original production). However, this is the first time that this screen-to-stage production has appeared on an Aussie stage. This fun and vibrant show gives you all the razzle dazzle you could want from a night at the theatre – and it blankets the Capitol Theatre in a dazzling cascade of disco ball beams, to boot.  If you’re looking for a feel-good theatrical outing with plenty of sparkles, then let this show take you to church. Leaning into a Motown-inspired brand of ’70s disco, soul, and funk rhythms, this show harnesses or

Jesus Christ! The messiah will return to rock the Melbourne stage when Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical Jesus Christ Superstar arrives in Melbourne early next year, following huge acclaim and sold-out seasons in London, as well as an extensive North American tour. The Olivier Award-winning reimagined production of this celebrated rock musical will land at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in March 2025, as part of a national tour.   With an iconic 1970s rock score that was originally released as a concept album, this global musical phenomenon has been wowing audiences for decades. Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in 1971, and went on to become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time when it transferred to London. The original Australian production opened at Sydney’s Capitol in May 1972, followed by seasons at the Palais Theatre and other cities, playing for more than 700 performances. Many people will also remember the iconic sell-out Australian arena tour in 1992, which starred John Farnham, Jon Stevens, Kate Ceberano, Angry Anderson, Russell Morris and John Waters. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. This musical is not so much about preaching the word of the Bible, but it’s more of a subversive interpretation of the psychology of the goo

It’s the face that stops the nation. Australia’s favourite portrait prize is back for 2024, and as always it's a delight to see which famous faces have made it into the mix of painterly interpretations. This year, more than 1,000 paintings were submitted, and you can peruse the 57 finalists at the Art Gallery of NSW up until September 8 – after which, they’ll ship off around the country. So, who took out the top gong? On Friday June 7, Sydney-based artist Laura Jones was announced as the winner of the 2024 Archibald Prize, taking home $100,000 for her portrait of the Australian novelist and environmental conservationist Tim Winton. It's not the first time Jones has been an Archie finalist (she's been featured four times, to be exact), but her win this year makes her the 12th woman to take out the Archibald Prize since it began in 1921. Laura hopes such an accolade "inspires more young girls to paint". On receiving the award, she said: "I'd like to thank my sitter, Tim Winton. Tim is one of the world’s greatest novelists and also a tireless advocate for the environment. He is an inspiration to me as both an artist and as a human being." The winner of the always highly-anticipated Packing Room Prize was announced earlier on Thursday, June 30 – with street artist Matt Adnate taking out the coveted award with his piercing portrait of hip-hop musician Baker Boy.  Meanwhile, the Gallery announced the winner of the People's Choice Award on Thursday, August 8. Seven-time Archibald Pr

River deep, mountain high – this is a comeback story like no other. Grammy Award-winning musical artist Tina Turner was a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race to become the global Queen of Rock'n’Roll. And finally, the musical inspired by her life story is coming to Melbourne in September after touring the country. Presented in association with Tina Turner herself, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical received its world premiere in April 2018 in London, where it opened to five-star reviews and has broken box office records at the Aldwych Theatre. It has since had three European tours and a Broadway production in November 2019, which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammys and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. When she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021, Tina Turner became one of only three women in the institution’s history to be inducted twice (she was initially inducted in 1991, alongside Ike Turner). Turner’s Australian connections run deep. Upon its original release in 1973, her semi-autobiographical hit ‘Nutbush City Limits’ spent an entire year in the top 100 of Australia’s single chart (and the Nutbush dance remains a staple at numerous Aussie weddings and social gatherings). Tina’s star turn in the Australian film Mad Max: Beyond Th

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Sydney could easily nab the title of the culture capital of Australia. Yep, there’s more to the Harbour City than beautiful beaches, top notch restaurants, and a steadily-reanimating nightlife scene with rad dancefloors to keep you busy during the warmer months in the Emerald City.  The Sydney International Art Series (SIAS) amps up the offerings from the city’s gallery scene every summer, bringing major exhibitions from some of the world’s most influential artists exclusively to Sydney. With the latest contingent of Sydney International still open to visit through March and April, we decided to play tourist in our own city and put together the ultimate three-day itinerary for visitors and locals alike to get an in-depth art and culture fix (paired with some equally fun and sophisticated eating and drinking, too boot).  Photograph: AGNSW/Mim Stirling | Installation view of 'Kandinsky' exhibition featuring 'Around the circle' (1940) This year, the trio of exhibitions in the series are spread across the recently expanded Art Gallery of New South Wales (AGNSW) and the iconic Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) on the edge of Circular Quay and The Rocks. You’ve probably seen images of the impressive giant metal spider that’s perched on the forecourt outside AGNSW? Well, Sydney’s cultural offerings only get more intriguing, beautiful and edgy as you explore further. Our tip: Book in for a guided tour whenever possible. The SIAS exhibiti

Did you happen to see photos of that ominous projection proclaiming "The End is Near" on the Nylex Tower in Melbourne last night? Thankfully, we don't need to worry about the world ending just yet – phew! – it was all a silly little stunt to announce that The Weeknd is finally returning Down Under. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JACQUELINE FELGATE (@jacquifelgate) Yep, after a rollercoaster journey that saw his original After Hours Til Dawn tour dates in Australia indefinitely postponed and then officially cancelled, it's now confirmed that the global superstar will officially return. And it's actually way sooner than you'd expect, with Sydney scoring back-to-back shows in October – yep, just two months from now. So whether you were lucky enough to score tickets the first time, or you missed out and you're determined to snag them now, here's everything you need to know about The Weeknd's rescheduled Aussie tour. Has The Weekend rescheduled his Australian tour in 2024? Yes, after first postponing and then officially cancelling his tour back in April, The Weeknd has now confirmed he will finally bring his After Hours Til Dawn tour to Australia in 2024. When is the Weeknd coming to Sydney? The Weeknd will head to Sydney for back-to-back shows at the Accor Stadium on October 22 and 23.  How much are the Weeknd tickets for Sydney?  Based on the last time tickets went on sale, we believe prices will range from $102.87–$306.75. But these may be subject

Many fantasy series have come and gone, but it seems that there is no escaping the pull of the one to rule them all. Middle-earth is about to collide with the Harbour City, with the news that The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale is set to make its Australian debut in Sydney. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved epic trilogy, the stage production will premiere with a strictly-limited season at the State Theatre Sydney from January 7, 2025.  Journeying to the Sydney stage in time for the 70th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring (the first book in the trilogy) hitting the shelves in 1954, this ambitious production 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.  We reckon that this show sounds like a great occasion to celebrate your eleventy-first birthday, or any old excuse to venture out of your underground dwelling in the Shire. Word to the (Sam)wise though, you might want to load up on a hearty meal of po-ta-toes before embarking on this three-hour theatrical quest. How… precious! The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale’s Australian debut will actually be the second stop on a world tour – which will begin in Auckland, New Zealand, at the end of 2024 following its highly anticipated US premiere at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.  Photograph: Supplied/Liz Lauren | The Chicago Sha

There’s nothing that screams Australian high school life like eshays, formals (not "prom") and a nice sprinkling of the c-word in casual schoolyard vocabulary. Netflix's breakout hit series Heartbreak High has it all, and while Aussie adolescents (well, anyone who’s ever been to high school, for that matter) finally have a teen drama they can relate to – well, aside from the daggy school uniforms being replaced by a parade of designer outfits – the reboot of Heartbreak High is making waves for much bigger reasons.  Season 2 of the show debuted at Number 1 on Netflix in Australia earlier this year (no surprises there) and No. 7 worldwide. It turns out that while dramas about getting your P's, bush camp, and PE class on the oval in those baggy sports uniforms resonate well with Aussies, there are much deeper narratives at play that hit home for viewers around the world. Season 2, which was released in April this year, deals with a whole new ball game of hit-you-right-in-the-guts topics (spoiler alert!) – Harper (Asher Yasbincek) is navigating the complexities of the Australian legal system, Amerie (Ayesha Madon) must deal with a pregnancy scare, Malakai (Thomas Weatherall) struggles to understand his sexuality, and we haven't even talked about Darren (James Majoos) and Ca$h (Will McDonald) navigating their mismatched sex drives within their blossoming relationship.  Photograph: Supplied/Netflix But next to the charismatic cast, we reckon that Sydney is the real star of this b

In April this year, Sydney Theatre Company (STC) announced that its Artistic Director Kip Williams will be stepping down after the 2024 Season. The news came as a surprise to many, and the question has been lingering since – “Who will fill those big shoes?” Well, the wait is over – today, the STC Board announced the appointment of award-winning actor, director, writer and producer Mitchell Butel as its new Artistic Director and co-CEO. Who is STC's next Artistic Director? One of Australia’s most versatile artists, 53-year-old Butel has been serving as the Artistic Director of State Theatre Company South Australia (STCSA) since 2019. Over the years, he has performed in or directed over 150 stage productions; worked with every Australian state theatre company; and won multiple Helpmann, Sydney Theatre and Green Room Awards – as well as two AFI/AACTA nominations for his work as an actor in Australian feature films. (And we’re sure there’s also a Time Out Arts & Culture Award on the horizon too, eh?)  Butel’s long history with STC began as a teenage audience member when he was inspired by the Company’s founding Artistic Director, Richard Wherrett. He has since worked with every successive Artistic Director across 18 productions throughout his three-decade career. Butel says that he is “simultaneously humbled and thrilled’’ to be appointed to the role.  Photograph: STC/Daniel Boud | 'The Dictionary of Lost Words' was commissioned by Mitchell Butel “With such a rich history and c

UPDATE, AUGUST 8: News has broken today that Jack Karlson, the man behind the iconic "democracy manifest" meme, has died. The 82-year-old had been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. Stoll Watt, one of the police officers involved in Karlson's notorious arrest at Brisbane's China Sea Restaurant, has commented on his passing. According to the ABC, Watt said: "It's a sad day for Australia as we've just lost a true colourful character... I came to regard him as a mate, he called me comrade, and said I was the only copper he ever liked."  Karlson and Watt had reunited earlier this year for the announcement of a new documentary about the man behind the viral meme. Read on to find out more.  ORIGINAL ARTICLE, POSTED JUNE 21, 2024: From “Tell him he’s dreaming” to “You’re terrible Muriel”, there are just some phrases that are immediately recognisable to all Australians. They activate something deep within our bogan hearts. And when it comes to the dankest of memes, there is truly no reference more iconic than “Democracy Manifest” – the ridiculously quotable legend of a man who just wanted to dine out on a “Succulent Chinese Meal”. If the mere mention of this gets you chuckling, then you will be delighted to hear that this week, it was announced that a documentary about the man behind the meme – Jack Karlson – is coming soon to a screen near you.  So where did this legend of eating out gone wrong begin? Well, it was October of 1991, outside a Chinese restaurant in Brisbane’s Fortitude V

As long as people are looking at art and making art, the 'landscape' genre will always have a place – from the calligraphic brushwork of the idyllic nature scenes in Ancient Chinese art movements, to the traditions of European pastoral scenes that influenced the earliest painting trends in post-colonial Australia, to breathtaking panoramas captured by drone cameras today. So, what do we value in landscape art today? Well, the Hadley’s Art Prize is a good place to start looking for an answer.  Established by the grand Hadley’s Orient Hotel in Hobart and worth a cool $100,000, the annual acquisitive art prize is one of Australia’s most lucrative art awards, awarded to the most outstanding portrayal of the Australian landscape. This year, Tasmanian-based artist Zoe Grey (@zoe__makes) has taken out the 2024 Hadley’s Art Prize for her painting ‘The Shape of Rock’.  Grey’s practice explores notions of home, connection to place and the experience of landscape. Taking cues from abstract expressionism, her winning artwork simultaneously conveys a sense of rebellion and a sense of calm. Laying your eyes on ‘The Shape of Rock’ feels sort of like walking up to a turbulent ocean on a windy day – there’s something innately calming about being in its unruly presence.  Photograph: Hadley's Art Prize/Jessica King | Zoe Grey with her winning artwork 'The Shape of Rock' Grey's painting depicts the rugged landscape of Marrawah, a remote coastal community on the northwest edge of Tasmania whe

When Sydney Theatre Company and the Michael Cassel Group announced that they were teaming up for the Australian premiere of Dear Evan Hansen (as part of STC's bumper 2024 Season) musical theatre fans right across the country collectively lost their minds. An instant hit on Broadway for its profoundly contemporary take on life and the way we live it, the Aussie production opening in October 2024 is the first original staging of the musical to be licensed since it was originated.  It's already been a huge week for showbiz in Sydney, with an esteemed crowd turning up to the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards on Monday night (we're still recovering!), the first performances of the Sydney Lyric Theatre's exclusive return season of Hamilton hitting the stage, and an extravagant cast reveal for the Down Under debut of Titanique (the cult-hit musical parody of Titanic). While the lion's share of the Dear Evan Hansen cast was announced in June, one crucial role was still yet to be confirmed – and that would be *the* Evan Hansen, the character originated by Broadway legend Ben Platt. Well, the wait is over. Rising star Beau Woodbridge has today been announced as the lead in the upcoming tour. An Aussie boy, Woodbridge began his career at a young age, playing key roles in mainstage musicals before moving to London to study Musical Theatre at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, where he has recently performed the role of Melchior in Spring Awakening. As a kid, Woodbridge

Near, far, wherever you are… you will not want to miss this irresistibly funny parody of the biggest romantic disaster film of all time. New York’s award-winning splash-hit Titanique will have its Australian premiere in Sydney this September. An irreverent send-up of the ’90s blockbuster Titanic, driven by the songs of pop icon Céline Dion, Titanique has become one of the Big Apple’s most sought after tickets, and has extended its run multiple times since it opened in 2022. The show is set to make its maiden voyage to international waters, cruising into Surry Hills’ world-class cabaret venue The Grand Electric this September, creating a cool new space for the world's hottest new musical.  Bright and early the morning after celebrations for the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards, producers Michael Cassel and Eva Price today confirmed the "kooky krazy" cast of Titanique's Aussie voyage. Breaking the ice (ahem) by inserting herself directly in the narrative as the Queen of Power Ballads herself, Céline Dion, is music theatre and cabaret legend Marney McQueen (Hairspray, The Dismissal). She is joined by Drew Weston as the dreamer Jack Dawson opposite Georgina Hopson (Phantom of the Opera on the Harbour) as the sweet ingenue Rose Dewitt Bukater, while Australian stage and screen darling Matt Lee plays Victor Garber. Stephen Anderson (Mary Poppins) also joins the company as Rose’s overbearing mother Ruth, along with Keane Sheppard-Fletcher as Rose’s lover Cal, and Abig

Artspace in Woolloomooloo has taken the Impact Award 2024 in Time Out Sydney’s inaugural Arts & Culture Awards. The Impact Award has been established to recognise an organisation that has a positive impact on Sydney's arts and culture industry, whether that's through the support of artists, education, or innovative practices that make art and culture more accessible or sustainable. In December 2023, this heritage-listed building re-opened (after being closed off for two years; followed by a stunning $19.2 million transformation) as a state-of-the-art facility. It's a gallery space – but there's a whole lot more going on there that warrants its status as the 2024 Impact Award winner. The third floor is home to Artspace’s Artistic Residency Program, where each year they offer ten rent-free studios to support ten artists at all stages of their careers. One of the artists amongst the first residency cohort for this new era of Artspace is Julia Gutman, who became one of the youngest ever winners of the Archibald Prize in 2023 for her portrait of singer-songwriter Montaigne – and whose work then went on to be displayed on the Sydney Opera House sails for Vivid 2024 in May to June 2024. Photograph: Artspace/Katherine Lu | 2024 One Year Studio Program artist Gemma Smith in their studio Demonstrating that Artspace is dedicated to more than visual art, there’s also a new sound-proofed 250-square-metre multi-purpose space on the first floor for showcasing music, dance and performanc

1001 Remarkable Objects at the Powerhouse Museum Ultimo has taken the Critics' Choice Best Museum Exhibition Award 2024 in Time Out Sydney’s inaugural Arts & Culture Awards.  Remarkable, indeed, was the verdict from Time Out critics. With the intent of showcasing the diversity of the Powerhouse’s archives, eccentric critic and Australian personality Leo Schofield and his committee might have just curated the most stunning and all-encompassing exhibition Sydney has ever seen. Photograph: Alannah Le Cross | '1001 Remarkable Objects' Watched over by a giant glammed-up Kewpie doll, there was something to intrigue everyone across the 22 spaces within 1001 Remarkable Objects – from film buffs to porcelain collectors, Georgian era enthusiasts, luxury fashionistas, car fanatics – and, well, we could be here all day. This free exhibition ran until February, 2024, when the Powerhouse Ultimo closed for three whole years of renovations. A perfect send-off for this beloved museum. To view all the nominees for Best Museum Exhibition in the 2024 Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards, head over here. To find out more about 1001 Remarkable Objects, click here. RECOMMENDED: Check out the best museums in Sydney over here.

The Biennale of Sydney: Ten Thousand Suns has taken home the Critics' Choice Best Art Exhibition Award 2024 in Time Out Sydney’s inaugural Arts & Culture Awards.  The Biennale of Sydney pulled out all stops for its 50th anniversary edition in 2024. It took over six different locations around the city with stunning and provocative art by artists from all over the world, and while we wouldn't want to play favourites, the stand-out venue was absolutely White Bay Power Station. After being closed to the public for more than 100 years, the heritage-listed industrial site in Rozelle was relaunched as a hub for arts, culture and community with the Biennale. Exploring the space itself is just as exciting as the art – but the curators didn't hold back either. Photograph: Winnie Stubbs | Time Out Sydney A huge painting by artist Dylan Mooney overlooked the scene. With a high-impact art style awash in saturated colours, Mooney has drawn on his experiences as a Queer Indigenous man to pay tribute to Aboriginal dancer and activist Malcolm Cole in the iconic Captain Cook drag costume he wore in the 1988 Sydney Mardi Gras Parade, the year of Australia’s Bicentenary (look out for more references to this cultural moment throughout the Biennale – including in images from the legendary photographer William Yang). Other highlights included the head of a giant blue deity, people dressed as human-sized foxes making mischief in domestic debris, and many more weird and wonderful sights.  To view