Alannah Le Cross

Comedy? In this economy? Well I don’t know about you, but I could sure do with a good chuckle. So it’s a good thing that the Sydney Comedy Festival is back with its biggest program ever in 2024 – more than 750 artists are gearing up to flood the city with laughter at more than 315 shows scattered across all corners of the city (from April 22 – May 19).  You can expect laughs of all shapes and sizes, from musical comedy to stand-up acts.With comedians coming from around the globe to entertain us in addition to a swathe of local jokesters, our Arts & Culture Editor Alannah Le Cross has pulled together some recommendations and grouped them by vibe (because we love a theme!).  Not sure where to start? Our top tip is to check out a Comedy Gala or Showcase, that way you'll get to see a dozen or more acts in one go (including some of the big names). Did you know that there's also several hubs of festival action throughout the city?  Photograph: Supplied/SCF | Sydney Comedy Festival Gala at the Enmore Theatre The Factory Theatre in Marrickville remains a major hub for the festival, with four different stages hosting heaps of shows every night, and the beer garden in the middle makes for a great place to hang out before and after back-to-back shows. A brisk walk from the Factory, Newtown’s legendary Enmore Theatre hosts huge shows in the main theatre, as well as the smaller wine bar stage and a couple more little rooms hidden upstairs. You could also technically back up shows at th

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 are hotly-anticipated new runs of Bridgerton and Squid Game on Netflix, a third season of Industry, a sci-fi prequel in Dune: Prophecy, HBO’s barbed political satire The Regime, Park Chan-wook spy thriller The Sympathizer, 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

Whether you're craving urban glamour or undone surf-chic, there's no doubt that Sydney is a gloriously romantic city. Gaze out over that landmark-spotted city skyline, dive underground to a funky hidden bar, or sit down for alfresco dinner after a sunset swim – whatever you're looking for, you'll find a kind of magic here. And when you're done exploring the city, you'll need a place to rest your head – and we've got you covered for the best hotels in town to stoke those romantic flames. Maybe a spa day for two, or a seaplane ride to your door will do the job. RECOMMENDED: Full of love but low on cash? Get cosy at one of the best camping sites near Sydney 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. 

Venture out of the city and explore the other incredible places New South Wales has to offer. For a truly unique and fun experience, book a stay at one of the five most bookmarked Airbnbs in NSW – they're popular for a reason! From luxury homes nestled in the heart of the rainforest to cosy treehouses and clifftop caves where you can reconnect with nature, these eye-catching retreats all make for a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. What are you waiting for? Updated April 2024: We all need a bit of pampering every now and again, this list included. And because we're committed to finding you the rarest stays, we've added two new gems to our lineup. One is a luxury tropical paradise in Clunes, while the other is a secluded cabin in the rainforest of Upper Burringbar. Brb, we're going on aeroplane mode.  Dreaming of more escapes from the city? 🇦🇺Check out the best tiny houses and cosy cabins near Sydney. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research 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.

Rain or shine, it's never a dull time when you have the best art galleries in Sydney to explore.  Read on for our must-see list of the coolest art shows to have a gander at in the Harbour City. If you're still looking for more, start ticking off our picks of the best museums in Sydney. Want more culture? Check out the best theatre and musicals to see this month.

There are many ways countries around the world honour their veterans and the sacrifices they make as members of our armed forces. One of the ways we do it here in Australia is with the fairly odd tradition of ANZAC Day two-up – betting on the flipping of two coins. First, of course, Sydney starts ANZAC Day with the big Dawn Service, which is back at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, commencing at 4.20am. The ANZAC Day March through the Sydney CBD kicks off at 9am and ends with a 12.30pm commemoration service by the Pool of Remembrance at the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park. Then, after you've formally paid your respects, it's time for the coin toss. From car park parties to beer gardens with grandstands, we've scoured the best Sydney venues for a rowdy game of two-up this ANZAC Day.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox. Looking for somewhere else to grab a drink? Check out the best bars in Sydney right now.

From the razzle dazzle of big budget musicals to indie theatre gems, there's pretty much always a mind-boggling amount to pick from on Sydney's stages. Check out all our top theatre selections for the month below. SEE ALSO: You'll be back: Hamilton returns in July, check out the amazing cast Fancy some art? Check out the best exhibitions in Sydney this month

Hey Sydney, we’ve got something to say: live music is not dead! Yeah, it sucks that big destination festivals like Splendour and Groovin’ have pulled the plug this year. But concerts and gigs are here for the long haul (and we’re not just talking about the Swiftiemania that swept the country in February and the chaos of those surprise Fred again.. concerts in March). Sydney has some bangin’ live music venues and a bunch more pubs and bars that put on great bands. And do you know how many gigs you can get to with the money that you’d spend on one muddy weekend camping out for big acts in Byron!? About a dozen!  Whether you’re looking to get rowdy in underground music dens or sway away to sweet melodies in grand concert halls, Sydney has you covered – and we’re here to help by rounding up some standout gigs to get around this month.  April is already off to a strong start – especially for nostalgia-hungry millennials, with Simple Plan and Missy Higgins playing sold-out concerts in just Sydney last week. Read on to get around more great gigs in store for the rest of the month. [Special mention to the living legend Nick Cave, who has already sold out his four nights at the grand State Theatre (Apr 29–May 7) accompanied by Radiohead's Colin Greenwood on bass guitar (you can shoot your shot for tickets to the Wollongong gig on May 9).]   The best gigs to catch in Sydney this April  Photograph: Supplied/Granville Nights | Thandi Phoenix A.GIRL & Thandi Phoenix @ Granville Nights R

Sydney is certainly not lacking in day spas, but when you want your indulgence in self-rejuvenation to have a bit more of a destination element to it, you can’t go past the Blue Mountains’ best. The area has some great spas to cater to all your relaxing desires – from stress-busting massages and skin-smoothing facials to treatments you didn’t even know you needed, like a zesty ginger-infused ‘cocooning’. Make a day trip of it or sneak off for a mud-wrap during your next getaway, at one of these five stellar Blue Mountains’ day spas.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 eateries in the Blue Mountains.You'll find the best bushwalks in the Blue Mountains here. And these are the best places to rest your head.

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. RECOMMENDED: Culture vultures, come and get your fix at these top Australian art galleries. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

Whether you favour sculpture, painting, photography or textiles, there’s something for everyone spread across Australia’s biggest art exhibitions in 2024. Here are just a few of our favourites that have us booking flights in eager anticipation. RECOMMENDED: The best musical and theatre shows to see in Australia in 2024. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

Buckle up, mates! Australia is set to rock 2024 with a jam-packed schedule of festivals and events. From dazzling light displays to dedicated food extravaganzas to vibrant spring flower festivals, there’s something worth travelling for in every state and territory. We’ve rounded up the best of the best, so you can start submitting those leave requests and planning your next getaway around these key events.  RECOMMENDED: Here are the best festivals worth travelling to in Australia this year. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Australia newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. 

Hey Melburnians, have you checked in on the melancholic sapphic in your life? You might need to, because Girl in Red is headed to our city, and this news probably means the aforementioned sapphic is losing their mind right about now. That’s right, after selling out her run of headline dates last year, Girl in Red is heading back Down Under in 2024 courtesy of Secret Sounds. In fact, she’ll be playing some of her biggest Australian shows yet this July.  With her fresh album in tow, the Doing it Again Tour will bless Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, July 17. Aside from her Melbourne show, Girl in Red will also play in Perth, Sydney and Brisbane (and we’re also told that Adelaide should “sit tight”).  Since the release of her charming debut single ‘I wanna be your girlfriend’ Norwegian alt-pop artist, songwriter and record producer Marie Ulven (aka Girl in Red) has been gaining legions of fans with her biting songs about navigating the world as a young queer woman. Her honest lyrics and intimate production has thrilled listeners around the world, making the singer-songwriter one of the streaming era’s biggest grass-roots success stories. Ulven’s successes have taken her a long way from the bedroom where she made her earliest records. She's played popular festivals such as Oya and Glastonbury and toured with pop icons like Conan Gray, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift on the North American leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour. This is your chance to see the artist perf

A borderline psychedelic, kaleidoscopic environment awaits you at this major solo exhibition by one of Australia's foremost contemporary artists, Dale Frank, presented across two floors at The National Art School gallery in Darlinghurst.  Growers and Showers (free to visit until June 1, 2024) is filled with bold colours, glossy abstract paintings, and highly experimental assemblages that play with unexpected surfaces like shattered glass, mirror, foam, human hair, CDs and foil ducting. (If you have an aversion to creepy clowns, proceed with caution.) Coloured lights, incense, and soundtrack personally picked by the artist himself (it’s Foreigner’s 1997 debut album, on rotation) further alter the atmosphere of the space, creating an immersive viewer experience that tests the boundaries of abstraction. Presenting 45 large-scale paintings, sculptures and installations created over the past decade – including nine never-before-exhibited works – this significant survey exhibition delves into Frank’s enduring commitment to experimentation and ongoing investigation into the potentiality of painting, alongside his multidisciplinary approach. Speaking with Katraina Cashman, Senior Curator of NAS Galleries, she explains that the artist's use of pop culture references and unconventional materials serve to challenge and stimulate the viewer's senses, eliciting a physical response that lingers long after the encounter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Sy

If you’re the type of theatregoer who likes to be kept on the edge of your seat, we’ve got delightfully terrifying news for you. Susan Hill’s much-loved fearsome tale The Woman in Black is coming to Sydney’s Theatre Royal in July, perfectly timed to match the chilling energy of winter.  This spine-tingling update follows the previously announced national tour, and we’re pleased to know that Sydney can now expect to get a slice of the gothic action too. Starring two of Australia’s most esteemed actors – Daniel Macpherson and John Waters – this renowned stage adaptation will demonstrate the power of illusion, atmosphere and controlled horror for Australian audiences.  Written in 1983, The Woman in Black has become one of the most successful gothic novels in the English canon. A perfect example of horror and gothic writing, this story transports you into the mystery of a terrifying spectre who haunts a small town. First playing to audiences in 1987, Stephen Mallatratt’s epic stage adaptation holds the honour of being the second-longest running play in West End history, bested only by Agatha Christie’s classic murder-mystery, The Mousetrap. You might also recognise The Woman in Black from the 2012 film adaptation starring Daniel Radcliffe.  Meanwhile, you might recognise Daniel Macpherson from his rise to fame on Neighbours, before he went on to conquer the stage, screen and film worlds internationally. With a career spanning 50 years, John Waters boasts an impressive resumé incl

Excuse me people, but have you checked on the melancholic sapphic in your life? You might need to, because Girl in Red is coming to town, and this news probably means that they’re losing their mind and listening to a Spotify deep dive of emotional European folk-pop right about now. That’s right, after selling out her run of headline dates last year, Secret Sounds is excited to announce that Girl in Red is heading back Down Under, set to play some of her biggest Australian shows yet this July.  With her latest album in tow, the Doing it Again Asia/Oceania Tour will grace the stage of Sydney’s legendary Hordern Pavilion on Sunday, July 14, in addition to dates in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane (and we’re also told that Adelaide should “sit tight”).  Since the release of her charming debut single ‘I wanna be your girlfriend’ Norwegian alt-pop artist, songwriter and record producer Marie Ulven (aka Girl in Red) has been gaining legions of fans with her biting songs about navigating the world as a young queer woman. Her honest lyrics and intimate production has thrilled listeners around the world, making the Norway-born singer-songwriter one of the streaming era’s biggest grass-roots success stories. Ulven’s successes so far have taken her a long way from the bedroom where she made her earliest records. She's played popular festivals such as Oya and Glastonbury and toured with pop icons like Conan Gray, Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift on the North American leg of her record-breaking

Sydney’s love affair with pop and live music isn’t over now that Taylor Swift has left the building. We can confirm that South Korean girl group aespa is bringing their epic arena tour to Australia for the first time. With a name derived from a combination of “æ” (avatar and experience) and aspect, this powerhouse K-Pop quartet – Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning – has carved a tremendous trajectory since they debuted in 2020 with the hot single ‘Black Mamba’, with record-breaking music releases and live performances including a main stage set at Coachella in 2022. With the SYNK : PARALLEL LINE tour perfectly highlighting their meteoric rise to fame, aespa is exciting fans globally with their incredible stage presence and innovative approach to hyperpop music, and Sydney will finally get our turn to be part of it this winter. Here's everything you need to know. When is Aespa in Sydney? Marking the first time aespa will bring their high-energy pop, electronic and hip hop performances Down Under, aespa will kick off the Australian leg of their tour at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Saturday, August 31 (then onto Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Monday, September 2). How can I get tickets to the Sydney Aespa show and how much do they cost? Tickets for the Australian shows will go on sale to the general public at 9am (AEST) on Friday, May 10, via Ticketek – you can join the waitlist here. Before then, Telstra Pre-Sale will be live from 9am on Tuesday, May 7 - 9am on Thursday May,

Praise be! In the biggest role of her career to date, Casey Donovan is confirmed to lead the cast in the Aussie debut of this divine musical comedy. The legendary casting doesn’t stop there, though – joining Casey in donning the habit is the much-loved Genevieve Lemon in the role of Mother Superior. After collecting five Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Sister Act will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from August and Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from November (all after a triumphant return to London’s West End earlier this year). Casey will be stepping into the sparkly shoes of the quick-witted disco diva Deloris (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the iconic 1992 film that inspired the stage show) whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody, she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found – a convent. Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she empowers the sisters to find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. With songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this feel-good show features original music by Tony and Oscar Award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted, and The Little Mermaid). Appearing on our screens from the age of 16, Casey Donovan has come a long way since she was named the youngest winner of Australian Idol (and we’re not just talking about when she was crowned “Queen of the Jungle” in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here). As one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers, Casey

Praise be! In the biggest role of her career to date, Casey Donovan is confirmed to lead the cast in the debut Melbourne season of this divine musical comedy. The legendary casting doesn’t stop there, though – joining Donovan in donning the habit is the much-loved Genevieve Lemon in the role of Mother Superior. After collecting five Tony Award nominations on Broadway, Sister Act will open at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from November (all after a triumphant return to London’s West End earlier this year). Donovan will be stepping into the sparkly shoes of the quick-witted disco diva Deloris (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the iconic 1992 film that inspired the stage show) whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Placed under protective custody, she is hidden in the one place she shouldn’t be found – a convent. Encouraged to help the struggling choir, she empowers the sisters to find their true voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. With songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco, this feel-good show features original music by Tony and Oscar Award-winner Alan Menken (Disney’s Aladdin, Enchanted, and The Little Mermaid). Appearing on our screens from the age of 16, Casey Donovan has come a long way since she was named the youngest winner of Australian Idol (and we’re not just talking about when she was crowned “Queen of the Jungle” in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here). As one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers, Casey is an epic and sought afte

It's been almost 27 years since a certain bespectacled boy came out from under the stairs and learnt of his snake-conversing, broomstick-flying, billions-making powers. And he's as popular now as ever, spawning films, spin-off films, toys, games, apps and multiple stage adaptations – only one of which is, well, actually authorised. Whether you missed Melbourne’s record-breaking four-year run of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, or you’re just looking to fill the void, Potterheads are in for a treat.  Who wants to sit through six hours of theatre anyway? Potted Potter – the hilarious show that condenses the entirety of the Harry Potter series into a tight 70 minutes – is ready to reunite Aussie audiences with the antics of Harry, Ron and Hermoine. (We are assuming show creators Daniel Clarkson and Jeff Turner glide over a lot of the endless camping that takes up an enormous amount of Deathly Hallows.)  The show has been touring for more than 15 years, and has even played Off Broadway and on the West End. Returning to Australia for the fifth time, the tour will kick off at the Canberra Theatre Centre from April 4–7 before heading to Sydney’s Seymour Centre from April 12–21, and finishing up at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre from April 24–May 5. So go on, relive Harry's days at Hogwarts. And although the show wasn't written by You Know Who, what it lacks in intellectual property compliance it more than makes up for in laughs. We're pretty sure Fred and George Weasley would appro

Comedy, in this economy? Well heck, I don’t know about you, but I could sure do with a good hearty chuckle right about now. So it’s a good thing that the Sydney Comedy Festival is back with its biggest program ever in 2024 – more than 750 artists are gearing up to flood the city with laughter at more than 315 shows scattered across all corners of the city from April 22 to May 19.  From the household names we all know and love to ground-breaking newcomers who are shaking up the comedy scene, you can pick and choose between a kaleidoscopic array of gala showcases, intriguing solo stand-up shows and special events. With a whole lot of tickets coming in at under $30, there really is a “comedy concert” for everyone (just don’t look for Che Diaz on the line-up).  You can catch new shows from legendary Aussie comedians like Rhys Nicholson, Will Anderson, Tom Gleeson, Reuben Kaye, Melanie Bracewell, Steen Raskopolous, regular The Project panellist Peter Helliar, a hilarious night with Judith Lucy and Kaz Cooke, comedy crack pot Reuben Solo, the sassy and sardonic Gen Fricker, Lizzy Hoo (loved for her Prime Video comedy special Hoo Cares!?) and 2022 Australia’s Got Talent finalist Emo Majok. Joining the long list of international stars is the much loved Stephen K Amos, 2016 English Comedian of the Year Josh Pugh, plus the fierce and fiery Irish comic Shane Daniel Byrne, and American history-meets-comedy podcast The Dollop is also heading Down Under for the Festival. Some of the most e

After attracting more than 22,000 visitors over two days last year, the National Indigenous Art Fair is returning to Gadigal Land this winter. This is your invitation to explore a vibrant ethical marketplace showcasing creations from remote and local First Nations artists, designers and makers from across the country. The annual two-day festival is marking its fifth year in 2024 at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in the Rocks, over the weekend of June 29-30. This event is a unique opportunity to peruse and buy artworks, textiles, jewellery, ceramics and artefacts directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from remote community-owned art centres from the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.  The Art Fair also offers visitors the chance to experience Indigenous culture first-hand through a two-day festival program of dance, cultural displays, interactive Indigenous weaving circles, and workshops for adults and children. There will also be the opportunity to taste and learn about native bushfood. “It is a rare opportunity to meet artists from some of the most remote parts of Australia and provides them an opportunity to promote and sell their artworks and host workshops demonstrating their unique arts and cultural practice,” says Peter Cooley, the CEO of First Hand Solutions, the Sydney-based Aboriginal corporation that spearheads the festival. In the lead up to the Art Fair, artists will travel to Sydney to participate in First

For many of us, our first introduction to The Rocky Horror Show involved a beaten up VHS tape and an exhilarating brew of conflicting feelings about Tim Curry’s iconic fishnet-stocking-clad role as Frank-N-Furter – the cross-dressing mad scientist alien from Transsexual, Transylvania. Beyond its immortalisation in the cult classic 1975 film, this rollicking rock’n’roll musical has been continuously on a stage somewhere in the world ever since it premiered to a small London audience in 1973 – and while today’s slick mainstage productions are a far cry from its grungy roots, there’s still no denying the appeal of doing ‘The Time Warp’ again. After touring around the country, Australia’s 50th anniversary production of Rocky Horror has taken a jump to the left (and a step to the right) to land back at Sydney’s Theatre Royal, about a year after it premiered at the same venue in the same month as Sydney WorldPride, with a couple of notable cast changes this time. It appears that the time on the road has done this company a world of good; the cast take to the stage with a more relaxed and playful energy as they tackle this risqué, silly, borderline-pantomime musical.  Former Australian of the Year and Paralympian Dylan Alcott is a delight to witness in his stage acting debut as The Narrator. With good humour, an ability to roll with the punches, and an injection of signature charm, Alcott nails the difficult-to-pin-down prerequisites to fill this role. The Narrator must be someone a

From an impactful entrance with a rousing rendition of Whitney Houston’s ‘I’m Every Woman’ through to a slowed down, jazzy version of cupcakKe’s brazen dirty rap hit ‘[I’m rolling with the] LGBT’ and a unique reworking of a certain hit song made famous by Frank Sinatra, ‘My Way’ – Milo Hartill has the audience utterly entranced from beginning to end in her laugh-out-loud debut solo show, Black, Fat and F**gy (BFF).  There aren’t many 23-year-olds who could perform the latter song with the gravitas it demands – but Milo isn’t your average Gen Z triple-threat performer (slash underwear model and accidental influencer).  Painting a picture through a pastiche of personal stories, anecdotes, and interpretive covers of well-loved tunes, you can’t help but fall in love with this multifaceted entertainer by the end of this 70-odd-minute romp. The audience is allowed an intimate insight into the realities of life as a mixed race, fat, bisexual woman on antidepressants navigating tumultuous career paths in theatre, music and social media influencing. (As Hartill explains, it can get really demoralising, even if you are profusely hot and talented *sigh*.) Go see this entertainer now, before the industry catches up and puts her in the spotlight of every mainstage in the country. While Milo’s story is unavoidably centered around her position “stradling pretty much all of the hottest 2024 minorities”, she steers clear of self-deprecation while giving the middle finger to everyone and every

From our sun-drenched beer gardens to our dreamy stretches of sand, you can't deny that Sydneysiders are afforded easy access to some pretty epic relaxation stations. But even we admit that we’re somewhat surprised to hear that Sydney has been named "the most chilled-out city" in the whole world. Sydney is Australia’s largest city, and (when you're not worrying about things like rental rises, parking fines, and the downward spiral of late-stage capitalism) there is whole lot to love about the Emerald City – like all the great things to do and our amazing options to get out to eat, drink, play and engage with culture. Which is why we’re pretty proud to take the crown, beating well-known chill-out zones including Honolulu, Amsterdam, and even our neighbours across the ditch.The news comes courtesy of a recent survey by insurance company PayingTooMuch, which analysed and ranked the most laid-back cities in the world based on a variety of metrics. These key factors included noise and pollution, the number of walking trails, happiness scores and the quality of green spaces. Sure, we'll take it. Photograph: Destination NSWBondi Beach, Sydney Thanks to our abundance of walking trails (an amazing 681), extensive outdoor spaces (the Harbour City is home to 917 parks), and high happiness rating (Sydney ranks as the third-happiest city in the world) Sydney came out as number one. If that doesn’t prompt you to take an hour out this weekend for a slow schooner in the sun, we don’t know

Often described as some of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best work musically, Tell Me On A Sunday is an essential show for committed musical theatre fanatics to tick off their list – but furthermore, is it a fascinating window into how women have been represented in their own stories. Decades before television brought us Sex And The City and Fleabag, this one-woman, one-act song cycle popularised the story of a young woman experiencing the highs and lows of looking for love in the city – albeit, as written by two men in the 1970s (Lloyd-Webber and Don Black). It is in so many ways a universal story about the human experience – the beauty, the messiness, the pain and the joy. Director Blazey Best brings a fresh production of Tell Me On A Sunday to Sydney’s intimate Hayes Theatre Co (playing until May 12) as part of a bumper 2024 season from the city’s heart of musical theatre and cabaret. Following in the footsteps of legendary leading ladies like Marti Webb and Bernadette Peters, Erin Clare (who was recently seen channelling a young Dolly Parton in 9 to 5) is taking on the coveted and demanding central role of “Girl” eight shows a week. She spoke to Time Out Sydney about the experience. Time Out: Erin, is this a dream role for you, and why?  Erin Clare: “I think for any actor, being given the chance to take on a one-woman musical is an incredibly exciting opportunity. The task is big, it's a complex story, as we see the full gamut of her emotions over some really significant life-alt

Nooo! After months of confusion following the announcement in November last year that the Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn tour was postponed due to “unforeseen circumstances”, it has just been revealed that the entire run of sold-out Aussie gigs has been cancelled. The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) had been scheduled to play three epic shows at Sydney's Accor Stadium on November 24, 25 and 27, with performances also confirmed in both Melbourne and Brisbane. None of these will go ahead now, with Ticketek confirming that full refunds will be issued to all ticketholders.  “Whilst we continue to work through the rescheduling process with the artist, tickets for the existing 2023 tour will be cancelled. All purchased tickets will receive a full refund,” reads a statement on the ticketing company’s website. It’s expected that refunds will take approximately 30 days to appear in the accounts of ticketholders. And if The Weeknd does indeed decide to head Down Under again (c’mon, we gotta hold out hope) those people will be able to access a priority pre-sale purchase window for new tickets. If sitting in that stressful Ticketek waiting room is something you’d do all over again just to see the Starboy in real life, there’s a waitlist you can join here. There’s been no word from the Weeknd himself regarding the Aussie cancellations, and he didn’t publicly comment on the initial postponement – so we’re not holding out hope for statement (or apology!). All those tears you were saving for anot

Cutting-edge Grammy-winning singer-songwriter SZA is officially on Aussie soil, and fans across Oz are playing her S.O.S album on repeat to prepare for her upcoming Melbourne shows. The genre-spanning powerhouse – whose musical style combines elements of R’n’B, hip-hop, soul, and chill electronica – announced the initial dates for the Australian leg of her S.O.S Tour back in February. She was set to take over Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena for two consecutive nights, but after the first two shows sold out in moments, SZA added an additional show in early May.  So, why are SZA fans so hungry to see this musician perform live? We chatted to Sydney-based fan Ava, who saw SZA back in 2018, and they told us: "She was everything." Aside from the chance to sing along to hit songs like 'Kill Bill' and 'I Hate U' with a whole stadium of people, Ava explained that SZA creates a space that is really special for the queer community, and "especially for sapphics and POC folks who don't often feel represented in those spaces". Slay. Here's what we know so far about SZA's upcoming Melbourne shows. When is SZA’s S.O.S Tour in Melbourne? SZA will take to the stage at Rod Laver Arena (after previously hitting up Brisbane for two nights and Sydney for four nights) on Monday, April 29, Tuesday, April 30 and Thursday, May 2. These three Melbourne shows are the last stop on her tour Down Under. What time will SZA come on stage in Melbourne? Rod Laver Arena is yet to confirm what time gates will open,

Hey Sydney, the Mormons are back. The mischievous musical theatre sensation The Book of Mormon is returning to the Land Down Under, with a brand new production set to premiere at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from July 2025. This somewhat unconventional musical comedy cleaned up at the Tony Awards after it debuted on Broadway in 2011, going on to break box office records and garner near-unanimous critical acclaim when it opened on London’s West End. When tickets for the show’s Australian debut in Melbourne were released in 2015 – nearly a year in advance of opening night – the Princess Theatre recorded its highest pre-sale period of any production in its 159-year history, also going on to win the Helpmann Award for Best Musical. For the uninitiated, The Book of Mormon follows two inept Mormon missionaries from Salt Lake City on their journey to save mortal souls in a corner of Uganda ruled by a one-eyed warlord. It’s the brainchild of South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone – hence, you can expect a lot of explicit language – along with Avenue Q and Frozen co-creator Robert Lopez.  So what’s the secret of the show’s success? As Time Out London’s Theatre and Dance Editor Andrzej Lukowski wrote, Mormon was always going to be a hit, but what made it into the Mormania phenomenon is the fact that non-South Park fans love it too. The songs are excellent. Filthy, witty and outrageous, but also sumptuous and note-perfect, they nod to the golden age of the American musical.  Photog

Do you think of Sydney as a street art capital? Yeah? Nah? Well, while we don’t have the same volume of famously ‘grammable, tagged-up laneways as some other unnamed Australian cities, you can find some pretty outstanding murals around our streets. The iconic work of artists like Scottie Marsh and Fintan Magee instantly comes to mind, both of whom are responsible for some huge (and sometimes controversial) outdoor artworks on city walls – and did you know that Newtown’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ mural is heritage listed, even though it started its life as an illegal artwork? We also have some pretty amazing outdoor art and sculptures, to boot. So, it seems that Sydney’s balance of quality over quantity was enough to get the Harbour City ranked as one of the best street art hotspots on the globe. Our city was able to sneak into the top ten of a recent study that listed the world’s street art capitals, placing eighth. While that position might not initially sound like something to write home about, it is a pretty strong achievement when you consider that the competition is literally the entire world – and apparently, Sydney’s street art credentials rank higher than both Montreal and Lisbon.  Photograph: Anna Kucera | Mural at the Sneaky Possum Perhaps unsurprisingly, Melbourne beat us, ranking as the world’s third-best city for street art, with our southern frenemy also identified as having the highest number of murals of all 132 cities included in the study, at a whopping 2,31

The cutting-edge Grammy-winning singer-songwriter herself, SZA, is on Australian soil – and fans across the country are playing her S.O.S album on repeat in preparation for the upcoming shows. The indefinable pop powerhouse – whose musical style combines elements of R’n’B, hip-hop, soul, and chill electronica – announced the initial dates for the Australian leg of her S.O.S Tour back in February. She was set to take over Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena for two consecutive nights in April, but after the first two shows sold out in moments, SZA added an additional show on Friday, April 26.  So why are SZA fans so hungry to see this musician perform live? We chatted to Sydney-based fan Ava, who saw SZA back in 2018, and they told us: "She was everything." Aside from the chance to sing along to hit songs like 'Kill Bill' and 'I Hate U' with a whole stadium of people, Ava explained that SZA creates a space that is really special for queer community, and "especially for sapphics and POC folks who don't often feel represented in those spaces". Slay. Here's what we know so far about SZA's upcoming Sydney shows. When is SZA’s S.O.S Tour in Sydney? SZA will take to the stage at the Qudos Bank Arena (after previously hitting Brisbane for two shows) for her first Sydney S.O.S Tour concert on Tuesday, April 23. She will also perform on Wednesday, April 24, and Friday, April 26, before heading down to Melbourne for three additional shows. What time will SZA come on stage? All gates to Qudos Bank

When you live in an utterly image-saturated culture, it can be all too easy to underestimate the power of the photograph, as well as the skills and processes behind the creation of an impactful image. Add the fact that practically all of us walk around with a device fitted with a camera in our pocket at all times, and the ominously growing prevalence of AI-generated imagery, and this muddies the waters even further. Freshen up your perspective by checking out the 2024 finalists of the National Photography Prize, Australia's longest-running acquisitive photographic award. Established in 1983 at the Murray Art Museum Albury (MAMA) on Wiradjuri Country, where it is still hosted to this day, the biennial award and exhibition is a snapshot (pardon the pun) of where photography is at as a medium.   From traditional film stills to digital imagery, unassuming smartphone snaps and camera-less imprints – when does a photographic piece count as art? Likewise, what qualifies a photograph as an important piece of documentation? The finalists of the National Photography Prize might just have the answers – these artists are pushing the boundaries of the photographic medium, and challenging existing languages and techniques. MAMA is a fresh and experimental gallery with a strong focus on photography, and Time Out’s Alannah Le Cross (that’s me) headed out there to explore the 2024 National Photography Prize exhibition (showing ‘til September 1 2024, free entry) with some guidance from MAMA’s

After an extraordinary 13 years with Sydney Theatre Company and eight as Artistic Director, Kip Williams today announced that he will be stepping down at the end of the year, after launching his eighth and final program in September.  Following the phenomenal success of his boundary-pushing cine-theatre epic The Picture of Dorian Gray, which is receiving rave reviews in London’s West End after being picked up by super producer Michael Cassel, Kip has decided to hand over the reins to a new Artistic Director at the end of 2024 as he makes space in his schedule for a potential Broadway season in 2025. Kip will begin rehearsals in the coming weeks for his highly anticipated new adaptation of Dracula, the third and final installment in his Gothic cine-theatre trilogy (which also includes his adaptation of Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde). He will continue to be an integral presence at STC in 2025, with tours planned for Dracula and a brand-new work to be unveiled as part of his final program for STC, which will be announced in September.  Photograph: STC/Daniel Boud | Eryn Jean Norvil in 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' On announcing his departure to STC staff on Friday, Kip said: “Serving as Artistic Director at Sydney Theatre Company has been the honour of a lifetime. Over the past eight years, I have had the opportunity to work with the most extraordinary theatre makers in the country and have been fortunate enough to program and help bring to life 89 productions for S

You’ll find one of Sydney’s most impressive museums, The Chau Chak Wing Museum, on the picturesque grounds of the University of Sydney. The purpose-built modern building stands in contrast to the university’s heritage sandstone facades, housing significant collections of objects that document art, science, history and ancient cultures. Among them, the museum is home to Australia’s largest permanent collection of Egyptian antiquities – not be confused with the Australian Museum's current major exhibition, Ramses and the Gold of Pharaohs, which is on loan from Egypt. The Chau Chak has a holding of more than 5,000 items, including mummified human and animal remains, and more than 300 items are on display at any one time. However, as of this week, visitors to the museum will no longer be able to see some particularly coveted items from the Ancient Egyptian collection in the public display – those items that are actual human body parts.  “For hundreds of years body parts in museum collections have been treated as objects,” said Dr Melanie Pitkin, Senior Curator of the museum’s Nicholson Collection.  “We have become so accustomed to seeing them on show that we often forget they once belonged to living people.”  Photograph: Chantel Le Cross | The Nicholson Collection at the Chau Chak Wing Museum Unwrapped ancient Egyptian mummified body parts will be returned to the Museum’s closely monitored collection store while the museum works to implement better practices with Egyptian comm

How do you tell the story of a mixed race, self-proclaimed fat, bisexual underwear model, performer and accidental Instagram influencer? You sing the shit out of a fistfull of killer songs in a brand spanking new cabaret, of course. Introducing Milo Hartill’s debut solo show – the boldly titled Black, Fat and F**gy. You can catch the world premiere of this subversive romp at Sydney’s Old Fitz Theatre (the last remaining pub theatre in the country) from April 3–13.  “I love to sing with people, and I love to make people laugh. I wanted it to feel like a live podcast where I happen to sing for half of it,” says Milo. The charismatic performer recently took a breather from rehearsals to sit down for a chat with Time Out Sydney’s Arts and Culture Editor, Alannah Le Cross. Terms like “rising star” get thrown about often, but it’s a pretty accurate descriptor for this multi-hyphenate entertainer (who is also known as That Fat Diva on Instagram). Graduating with a musical theatre degree in 2018, the now 24-year-old Milo was catapulted to national attention in the most unlikely way – by starring in an advertisement for Google, where her big smile brought so much joy to people living through pandemic lockdowns that she was interviewed on morning television about it.  Being black, fat and queer is fucking joyous – and the negatives that come with that, under certain framing, are fucking funny! But Milo shines the brightest when performing live. In addition to shaking her booty at queer

For any performer, taking on a leading role in a musical is a big deal. When you’re one of the main people in the spotlight, the pressure is on. But aside from learning lines, hitting all the right notes and nailing all the steps, the stars of Opera Australia’s West Side Story on Sydney Harbour must also contend with Mother Nature. Yep – wind, rain, fluctuating temperatures, seagulls – all whilst navigating a slanted stage that’s more than twice the size of any indoor stage in Australia. But when Arts & Culture Editor Alannah Le Cross went behind the scenes at the harbourside stage to meet award-winning soprano Nina Korbe and triple-threat tenor Billy Bourchier, who are both making their lead debut, it was clear that they’re both revelling in the opportunity of a lifetime.  “It's mind-boggling and very humbling, and something that I'm incredibly grateful for as an opportunity. I'm really trying to take it by the reins and run with it,” says Nina. A proud Koa, Kuku Yalanji, Wakka Wakka woman, Nina is actively involved in the championing of First Nations voices. She began performing with Opera Queensland at the age of just 15, and has gone on to perform with some of the country’s most esteemed orchestras and opera companies. Playing the role of the wistful young Maria, West Side Story is her professional debut.  Photograph: Opera Australia/Keith Saunders Alongside her, Canberra-born Billy Bourchier steps into the spotlight as Tony, the former gang member who seals his fate wh