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)

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 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

The best shows to see in Sydney this month

Summer might be behind us, but Sydney’s huge year of theatre is treading hot across the boards this April. The Down Under debut of genre-defying sensation Hadestown is still holding a steady flame – and we believe it could be the most re-watched musical of the year, with loads of theatregoers booking tickets for their second and third viewings (catch it before it closes on April 26). The arrival of autumn also means that it’s time for one of Opera Australia’s epic outdoor shows on Sydney Harbour, and this year’s fresh take on musical comedy classic Guys & Dolls is a spectacle that’s definitely worth rolling the dice on (closes April 20) – and we've prepared a handy guide for your visit to Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour over here. Speaking of the classics, the all-new Aussie tour of Annie opening at the gorgeous Capitol Theatre is sure to be fun for the whole family (now playing ’til June 21). Tickets for the Hayes Theatre Co's new production of The Producers are hot property, having sold out before the season even opened! (But you do have a shot to see it when it ships over to Riverside Theatres from May 15–18, tickets here.) We’re also keen for the Sydney premiere of Bloom (playing ’til May 11), a brand-new Australian musical comedy from one of the brains behind The Castle. And if it’s musical madness you’re after, you’ll laugh your head off at Titanique, which will be cruising Sydney’s waters for a while longer – the cult-hit parody has extended (yet again) through to June

The 20 best day spas in Australia

You know what’s finally trending in 2025? Self-care. While a warm bubble bath or 15-minute face mask is a nice pick-me-up, nothing beats a full-on pamper session at the spa. And boy does Australia have some pretty phenomenal pamper palaces that’ll leave you glowing from head to toe. Whether you’re treating yourself to a five-star massage while on holiday or searching for a local bathhouse to add to your weekly routine, we think you should add these day spas to the top of your to-do list. Here are the best and most luxurious day spas in Australia right now. ⭐️ Australia's best health and wellness retreats🌳 Here are all the best things to do in Australia🖼️ Art exhibitions you need to see this year

The smash-hit ‘RBG: Of Many, One’ is returning to the Sydney stage due to popular demand

Following a sold-out national tour in 2024, Sydney Theatre Company’s smash-hit one-woman show RBG: Of Many, One is returning to the Sydney Opera House stage once more in 2025. The brilliant Heather Mitchell will be reviving her award-winning performance as the woman who changed the face of the American legal system, the indomitable Ruth Bader Ginsburg – which Time Out Melbourne’s critic described as an “exemplary performance that is a wonder to behold…so spot on that it feels completely effortless” in their rave four-star review. A great legal mind, feminist icon, and improbable pop culture darling, Ginsburg was a trailblazing figure – and this critically-acclaimed production assembles a trio of powerhouse women that do her legacy justice. Directed by Priscilla Jackman, RBG: Of Many, One comes from the pen of Suzie Miller, the celebrated Australian lawyer-turned-playwright behind international hit Prima Facie (which has also been screening in cinemas around the world, care of the UK’s National Theatre Live, starring Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer). An “unexpectedly funny” and “sweeping but satisfying portrayal…delving into its main subjects with grace and patience” (Time Out Sydney) – this theatrical event will be talked about for years to come. Don’t miss your chance to experience it for yourself. RBG: Of Many, One will return to the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, from April 11 to May 17 as part of the 2025 national tour. You can book your tickets over here.

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

Time Out's guide to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour

The recipe for Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour (HOSH) is simple but brilliant: take one stunning outdoor location with world-class city views, add spectacular over-the-top set design, razzle-dazzle costumes, show-stopping dance routines, a live orchestra, some world-class performers – and a great big dash of fireworks for good measure. Heck, you might as well top it off with a tipple of Champagne, right? And you can’t settle in for a show on an empty stomach – lucky for you, there’s a variety of vendors on location at Mrs Macquarie’s Point, with themed menus that range from cheap-ish snacks to bougie sit-down dinners. Consumed while overlooking the harbour as dusk falls, we’d say this renders your night out a bona fide experience. We’re not the only ones, over half a million tickets have been sold for this annual event since it began. HOSH has been an annual highlight of the city’s culture calendar for 14 years now, and we reckon this spectacle deserves a place on everyone’s bucket list. After spending more than a decade dedicated solely to operatic classics, Opera Australia (OA) started mixing it up in 2019 by introducing classic musicals to the mix as well. If you’re intimidated by the thought of reading along with the English surtitles during an opera in an unfamiliar language, perhaps you’ll be tempted by a Broadway classic? And for the opera purists, we have the words of OA’s Associate Director, Shaun Rennie, who says: “I don't see them as separate streams [operas and mu

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

Our latest Sydney theatre reviews

There is a lot happening on Sydney's stages each and every month. But how do you even know where to start? Thankfully, our critics are out road-testing musicals, plays, operas, dance, cabaret and more all year round. Here are their recommendations. Want more culture? Check out the best art exhibitions in Sydney.

52 fun things to do indoors in Sydney

Sydney: the city of blue skies, ocean swims, alfresco living and sun-soaked times in the great outdoors, right? Well, hold on a second. That may be the case for a majority of the year thanks to our sunny Aussie climate, but the Harbour City also gets its share of super-rainy (and unbearably sticky) days. Don’t want to spend all of your indoors-time hunkering down at home? We’re here to help. Take shelter in style with our guide to the most fun things to do in Sydney within four walls. Whether you're in search of a crafternoon, a cultural adventure, or a cocktail with a view, there's something for everyone on our list of fun venues and activities where you can stay warm (or cool) and dry, all year round. 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: On a budget? These are the best things to do in Sydney for $25 or less.And these are the best walks in the city if you're keen to get out there and explore.

The 25 best new things to do in Australia in 2025

We’re calling it: 2025 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for travel in Australia. In a country that buzzes from sunrise to sunset, you’re guaranteed to find new and exciting things happening no matter where you wake up (or wind down). As the Travel and News Editor for Time Out Australia, it’s my duty to scope out all the newest happenings across every state and territory. From epic tours and highly-anticipated restaurants to the hottest new hotels and hidden gem exhibitions, here’s our ultimate list of the 25 best new things to do in Australia in 2025. How many will you tick off? 🦘 The 30 best places to visit in Australia👀 10 major Aussie moments to look out for in 2025🇦🇺 The 20 top tourist attractions in Australia

The 15 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

Listings and reviews (300)

Titanic. The Human Story

More than a century after the Titanic sank into the icy depths of the North Atlantic Ocean, claiming the lives of 1,496 people, the legend continues to captivate us. Sydneysiders can take a deep dive into the stories of the people on board and explore detailed, life-size recreations of the ship’s interiors when Titanic. The Human Story opens this May at the historic Pier 2/3 in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Created by award-winning exhibitions producer Musealia alongside one of the world’s foremost experts on the Titanic, renound Swedish historian and author Claes-Göran Wetterholm, the exhibition will feature a selection of around 200 never-before-seen objects and personal artefacts that unveil touching human stories of the ship’s passengers and crew. Far more than just a display of historic items, Titanic. The Human Story is a unique narrative experience, sharing tales of the people aboard history’s most legendary ship on its maiden and final journey. The experience encourages guests to travel back in time through photographs, handwritten letters, cherished keepsakes, and other personal belongings. Having captivated audiences with previous iterations across America and the UK, this exhibition welcomed more than 146,000 visitors during its Australian debut in Brisbane in 2024. (Not to be confused with the similarly immersive Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition in Melbourne.) If you’re keen on some more deep sea exploration, we also recommend swimming over to the Australian Natio

Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical Party

Update: due to popular demand, the season for this production has been extended until May 3. Tickets for the extra shows are available to buy online now. Step into the scandalous world of Manhattan’s elite for a night of drama, decadence, iconic pop hits and ’90s nostalgia at this immersive show/party experience – inspired of course, by the cult classic movie, Cruel Intentions. Featuring a cast of bonafide triple-threat performers, Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical Party promises to be an all-singing, all-dancing, 360-degree experience complete with a killer setlist of non-stop '90s bangers from icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, *NYSNC, Boyz II Men, The Verve, The Goo Goo Dolls, Natalie Imbruglia, R.E.M, and more. Blurring the lines between theatre and nightlife, this wild event is taking over St Kilda’s newly re-opened Alex Theatre. If you loved the production of Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical that previously toured the country, then you won’t want to miss this. This is an entirely new interactive experience – come prepared for some wild surprises. With themed cocktails (iced tea from Long Island, anyone?) and options to either sit and watch from a premium seat or sing and dance along in the ‘party zone’, you can choose your own adventure on a seductive night out with the iconic ’90s characters that you love to hate. Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical Party is now playing at the Alex Theatre, St Kilda, for a strictly limited season. Tickets start at $59 a

No Love Songs

A disarmingly charming work of gig theatre that packs an unexpected emotional punch, No Love Songs, is just the right fit to help break in Sydney’s newest performance space, the Foundry Theatre. A sort of stripped-back modern romance story filled with catchy, indie-rock-inflected songs, the premiere Australian tour brings together musical theatre darling Lucy Maunder (Chicago, Mary Poppins) and Keegan Joyce (who you might recognise from his roles in the series Rake and Please Like Me) as Lana and Jessie, a plucky young couple navigating love’s highs and lows. I must confess, I approached this show with trepidation, not entirely convinced that I’d be able to get on board. However, once you persevere through a handful of corny jokes, the performance really finds its feet. Leading with honesty and a sense of ratbag authenticity, this 80-minute two-hander taps into surprisingly profound depths. (And those depths get quite dark, too. So if you’re feeling in any way emotionally fragile, proceed with caution.) A breakout hit of the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the songs of No Love Songs are penned by Kyle Falconer, frontman of Scottish band The View – and if that name doesn’t immediately ring bells, the breakout single ‘Same Jeans’ from their debut album, Hats Off to the Buskers, will certainly stir up some nostalgia for any self-respecting Millennials who loyally followed the indie rock frequencies in the 2000s. (I can practically feel the skinny jeans compressing my organs.)

Foundry Theatre

Sydney’s brand new entertainment venue is off to a running start, with the first audiences to fill the Foundry Theatre praising the venue’s impressive sound quality, top-notch lighting tech and intimate atmosphere. After none other than Tim Minchin christened the stage with a sold-out five-show run in February, the schedule for the year ahead is already packed with an impressive line-up of gigs, comedy, cabaret and musicals. You’ll find the Foundry tucked behind the Sydney Lyric Theatre in Pyrmont (which, we would argue is one of the city’s better venues for musical theatre, aside from the fact it’s inside a casino). To make your way there, enter the Lyric’s foyer, hang a left, and follow the elaborate series of backstage passageways. (Hot tip: you’ll stumble across the Foundry’s own mini foyer on your journey, so you don’t need to fight the Lyric’s substantially larger audience for access to the candy bar.) If we were to sum up the vibe, we’d say it feels kind of like someone squished the Enmore Theatre into a loading dock, smoothed the Art Deco accents down into a more minimalist look, and maintained the killer lighting rig and audio quality – and we're into it! A venture of Foundation Theatres, the company that owns both the Sydney Lyric and the stunning Capitol Theatre, the intimacy of the Foundry is a welcome addition to the Sydney performance circuit. A flexible space, it can seat 360 seated guests, or up to 630 standing. This is just the beginning, too, with Foundation

Blak Markets

Sydney's Blak Markets are a welcoming space for everyone to engage with the oldest continuing culture in the world. This unique quarterly event offers Sydneysiders the opportunity to celebrate First Nations culture while discovering distinctive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, makers, and small businesses. On Sunday, March 23, the Blak Markets will be crossing Botany Bay for its inaugural event at Cook Park, Kyeemagh. The day will run from 10am–3pm, with the official Welcome and Smoking Ceremony starting at 10.30am. The full festival program also includes free interactive weaving workshops, cultural dance performances by the Djiriba Waagura dancers, live music by Cianna and Olivia, storytelling through dance workshops for children, and a Kamay cultural fishing haul. Visitors can peruse an eclectic range of 20 stalls selling a variety of art, homewares, jewellery, fashion, children’s clothing, textiles, woodwork, woven goods, plants and ethically sourced bushfoods. "The Blak Markets is a ceremony and a way for me to connect with mob, be grounded, practice culture and establish a sense of belonging while I am so far away from my traditional lands in Far North Queensland," says stallholder Taritah Jayne from Tarri Jayne Collective. "At the Blak Markets you will find the storytellers, dancers, hunters, gatherers, nurturers, healers, and elders, along with the next generation who are continuing the skill of trading like our ancestors did. It is a unique space that e

The Dictionary of Lost Words

The year is 1886, the very first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary is being compiled, and four-year-old Esme Nicoll has a front row seat. (Well, she’s hiding under the sorting table.) As her father and his male colleagues decide which words stay and which go, Esme collects the discarded scraps to compile her own, far more magical dictionary. Following a celebrated national tour, which won the hearts of theatre and literature lovers alike, The Dictionary of Lost Words returns to the Sydney stage for a limited season at the Roslyn Packer Theatre. Based on Pip Williams’ award-winning New York Times bestseller, this popular stage adaptation written by Verity Laughton and expertly directed by Jessica Arthur (Grand Horizons, Wonnangatta) has been described in Time Out Sydney's four-star review by critic Jasmine Joyan as “a poetic experience… an astounding performance set during the seismic events of the late 19th and early 20th century, at the height of the women’s suffrage movement and the dawn of World War I”. Arkia Ashraf and Ksenja Logos return to the production from the original 2023 staging, alongside six new performers including rising star Shannen Alyce Quan (Flat Earthers: The Musical) as Esme along with Kathryn Adams, Brian Meegan, Johnny Nasser, James Smith, and Angela Nica Sullen. The story unfolds on Jonathon Oxlade’s “artistic masterpiece” of set design, with a stage-wide bookshelf serving as a marker for changes in setting in place. As Joyan describes it: “Th

Sydney Comedy Festival

UPDATE - MARCH 11, 2025: For an extremely limited time, you can score $25 tickets for hundreds of Sydney Comedy Festival shows with the ‘25 for 25’ sale. This is your window to score ridiculously cheap tickets to see some ridiculously funny comedians! There is a limited $25 ticket allocation for all eligible shows, and the sale must close at 1pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, March 12. Find out more and start booking over here. *** 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 from April 21 to May 18, 2025. With brand-new experiences and more than 350 local and international performers 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 Auss

Mardi Gras Party

After the last glitter-covered punter has danced their way to the end of the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade route, that big loving energy kicks on at the official Mardi Gras Party. So, slug some Gatorade and get ready to keep on dancing long into the night. Celebrity guests in previous years have included Cher, Dua Lipa, George Michael, Cyndi Lauper, Olivia Newton-John, Sam Smith and Kylie Minogue (and there are rumours that Kylie might be appearing this year too, with Troye Sivan!). This year’s confirmed entertainers are nothing to sneeze at either – including iconic DJ, producer and fashion icon Honey Dijon, British singer Hayla, British musician, DJ and prominent lesbian Romy, and American singer/songwriter (and sometimes RuPaul’s Drag Race guest) Leland, as well as a bunch of hot local DJs and queer performers spread across multiple party zones for eight hours of debauchery between Hordern Pavilion and the Entertainment Quarter. This adult party playground is taking over Hordern Pavilion and five more surrounding venues at The Entertainment Quarter from 10pm to 6am on Saturday, March 1. Keen? Final tickets for the Mardi Gras Party are on sale now, starting at $229+bf. Find out more and book over here. 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. RECOMMENDED READS: Here's everything you need to know about the Mardi Gras Parade Hannah Conda chatted with us about being a glo

Queer Art After Hours

It’s time to revel in your rainbow palette, because the respectable Art Gallery of NSW is gonna let her hair down for an all-new edition of Queer Art After Hours. Hosted in collaboration with the Sydney Mardi Gras Festival (in the lead up to the massive annual LGBTQIA+ pride parade) this ever-popular free event promises lots of surprises, with a colourful kaleidoscope of experiences taking over the whole Art Gallery campus on Wednesday, February 26, from 5–10pm. Gear up for an evening filled with performances, DJ sets, fun workshops, and a variety of pop-up bars and food stalls alongside the Art Gallery’s existing restaurants and cafés. (Hot tip: look out for the ‘Queering the collection’ labels that will appear next to historical and contemporary artworks, showcasing the breadth and diversity of queer identity in the gallery’s collection.) You can take part in a drop-in ‘drag and draw’ session over cocktails with Drag Race Down Under icons Etcetera Etcetera and Nikita Iman; slow down and meditate with psychotherapist and healer Faith Agugu; create surreal, dreamlike collages under the guidance of artist Nkosi Ndlovu; and reconnect with your body in a sensuality movement workshop led by Basjia. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for performances throughout the night including an aural history of house music by Nefertiti LaNegra, the self-described ‘Serena Williams of drag’; a ‘sinner’s service for the people’ featuring poetry, song and dance with artists Tommy Misa and Fetu Taku; a

The Alex Theatre

With three distinctive performance spaces inside, this much loved arts venue (and conference centre) took over the former George Cinemas on Fitzroy Street in 2015. Stars including Pia Miranda, Gyton Grantley, Rob Mills and Brian Nankervis have trod the boards here. The Alex Theatre was set to take a final bow at the end of 2024, after owners Susan and Aleksandar Vass OAM put it on the market. However, the St Kilda stalwart was saved at the eleventh hour, partnering with Alex Read Theatre Performances Inc to reopen the theatre in February 2025. With an expanded new focus, the theatre is set to hone in on "the profound impact of technology on the arts and entertainment industry". (You can read more here.)

Sydney Mardi Gras Parade

An electric energy always fills the city on the night of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, the colourful climax of our city’s annual LGBTQIA+ pride festival (or “Gay Christmas”, as some of us say). The streets are packed with bodies, everyone is glittering, the outfits are bold and bright, and there’s a spark of possibility in the air, like we might really be able to party our way into a beautiful utopia where people of all walks of life are safe, accepted and embraced. The 47th Sydney Mardi Gras Parade will take over Oxford Street (in the heart of Sydney’s gay-bourhood) on Saturday, March 1, and shimmy on down to Flinders Street and Anzac Parade. (Gone are the days when the Parade was shifted to a strictly ticketed event at the SCG during the height of the Covid pandemic; it returned to its physical and spiritual home in 2023, right in time for Sydney WorldPride.) As always, the march will be kicked off by the famous rumble of the Dykes on Bikes, making way for over 11,000 marchers and 200 floats. Around 250,000 spectators are expected to gather to watch the colourful procession, which in 2025 is united under the theme FREE TO BE – because, “we’re not free until we’re all free to be”. Nowadays, this nationally televised event is officially one of the most popular carnivals in the entire world. But it all began as a protest in 1978, and we should never forget its radical roots (especially in today's political climate, as the rights of transgender people are thre

Mardi Gras Fair Day

Don we now our sunscreen and our (eco-friendly) glitter – Fair Day is back on, baby! Traditionally, this free community event leads the charge for all the colourful festivities the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is bringing to town in the lead up to the world-famous Parade. More than 70,000 people are expected to rock up when Fair Day returns to Victoria Park on Sunday, February 16 (10am–9pm) in 2025. (This is especially exciting because last year’s Fair Day was derailed by a frankly homophobically-timed asbestos outbreak, and the community scrambled to put on alternative events.) You can expect a fabulously inclusive day out featuring massive Main Stage performances, fun activities, sweaty dancefloors, food trucks, pop-up bars, and a whole bunch of market stalls and info booths where you can connect with LGBTQIA+ community, buy stuff from local queer artists and makers, and start putting together a sparkly parade night outfit with party-ready fashions. If you’re so inclined, you can even try out leather bondage gear, join a new social club, sign a petition – or just gather fistfuls of stickers, condoms and other miscellaneous freebies. Plus, the team from ACON (in partnership with the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care) will be offering free cervical screenings and private consultations with registered family planning nurses. The dynamic First Nations Circle returns this year, as well as the beloved Doggywood pageant alongside newcomers Trans C

News (405)

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

Broadway's hit ‘Anastasia’ musical will premiere in Australia this year

Australia’s massive year for musicals just keeps on giving, with news breaking that the Broadway hit Anastasia will premiere Down Under in 2025. 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 princes movies of all time, alongside The Swan Princess, right!?) 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 total bangers 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 Theatre in April 2026. Casting details

The Biennale of Sydney is returning to White Bay Power Station

When the Biennale of Sydney took over the heritage White Bay Power Station with awe-inspiring art installations last year – inviting the public to explore inside the freshly restored, formerly abandoned industrial monolith for the first time in over 100 years – it was arguably one of the coolest things to happen in the city in 2024. (And considering that the Biennale took out both the Critic’s Choice Award and People’s Choice Award for Best Art Exhibition in Time Out Sydney’s inaugural Arts & Culture Awards, we’d say that’s a pretty fair call.) As such, we’re pretty stoked to let you know that the Biennale of Sydney has announced White Bay Power Station as the first venue confirmed for its 25th edition in 2026. Photograph: Biennale of Sydney/Daniel Boud | Artist Andrew Thomas Huang at White Bay Power Station (2024) The Biennale welcomed more than 777,000 visitors across six venues in 2024, with the Power Station alone welcoming approximately 174,000 visitors, making it the most attended non-museum site in the history of the Biennale (this includes our original favourite Biennale spot, Cockatoo Island). Mark your calendars: the next Biennale of Sydney will take place from March 14 to June 14, 2026 – and as always, entry to the Biennale will be free. It will be led by new Artistic Director, Hoor Al Qasimi. The President and Director of Sharjah Art Foundation in the UAE, Al Qasimi is one of the most influential curators in the world right now, and was also recently named as t

You can win tickets to party with us at our exclusive Great Gatsby inspired soirée

When you need an escape from the daily grind, there are only two things that will do – a holiday to an incredible place, or a truly fabulous party. At the top of our wishlist? Running away to the excitement of New York State, and partying all night at a Jazz Era style soirée so ritzy that it would make Jay Gatsby himself blush – think a grand Champagne tower, good conversation, a dance floor where you can cut a rug, and all of the sparkles. The 1920s are so hot right now, and with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel now celebrating its 100th anniversary, we couldn’t think of a better time to take a leaf out of The Great Gatsby playbook and throw a swinging shindig. So, we at Time Out have partnered up with I LOVE NY, the official tourism office for New York State, to put on a glamorous evening inspired by 1920s New York. Photograph: Supplied/ILNY | Long Island's Oheka Castle was a source of inspiration for 'The Great Gatsby' Here in Sydney, we like our slice of New York served as a speakeasy, so this opulent invite-only affair will be taking over a secret underground location in the city on Wednesday, April 9. Oh, and we’re not just telling you about it to make you jealous, we want you to come party with us! We’re inviting 15 lucky readers (and their plus ones) to come party with us and our other VIP guests. All you need to do is take a New York minute to enter our competition by filling out the form over here before March 30, and cross those little fingers. An evening to

Yeehaw! A new musical featuring Dolly Parton's hit songs is coming to Melbourne

Melbourne's stacked program of stage shows is showing no signs of slowing down, with a heartwarming hit arriving in our city soon. It’s time to pull on your cowboy boots, tumble out of bed and stumble to the theatre, because the hit Dolly Parton inspired musical comedy Here You Come Again is about to be unleashed on Aussie audiences. With a stamp of approval from the country queen herself, the musical is 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 hilarious show will play in Melbourne as part of an Australian tour this year, following sold-out seasons across the US and UK. Photograph: Supplied/Hugo Glendinning | The UK cast of 'Here You Come Again' The tour will kick off at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 12, before promenading over to Sydney’s Theatre Royal September 12. Dates and venues for Perth, Canberra, Newcastle and Adelaide will also be announced soon. 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. This dazzling production will land in Australia with an all-star cast, including co-creator

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 September 12. Dates and venues for Perth, Canberra, Newcastle and Adelaide will also be announced soon. 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. This dazzling production will land in Australia with an all-star cast, including co-creator Tricia Paoluccio,

The hit Dolly Parton inspired musical ‘Here You Come Again’ is officially coming to Sydney

Australia's massive year of musicals is showing no signs of slowing down! It’s time to shine up your cowboy boots, tumble out of bed and stumble to the theatre, because the hit Dolly-Parton-approved musical comedy Here You Come Again is about to be unleashed on Aussie audiences. 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. Photograph: Supplied/Hugo Glendinning | The UK cast of 'Here You Come Again' The Aussie tour will kick off at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from July 12, before promenading over to Sydney’s Theatre Royal September 12. Dates and venues for Perth, Canberra, Newcastle and Adelaide will also be announced soon. 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. This dazzling production will land in Australia with an all-star cast, including co-creator Tricia Paoluccio who is returning to the role of Dolly, alongside Australia’s own Dash Kruck (Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superst

Vivid Sydney reveals 2025 program: drone shows axed, but there’s more free events and extra illuminations

Australia’s largest event will be back to transform the Harbour City this winter, with the 2025 edition of Vivid Sydney set to light up between May 23 to June 14. This year, organisers are promising us a refreshed and “reimagined” edition of the festival of light that “showcases Sydney’s creative pulse during winter”. Photograph: Supplied/Destination NSW | 'Our Connected City' For starters, we can expect a redesigned festival footprint, with the light walk being presented across five distinctive zones including eight buildings and landmarks that have never been illuminated before (as well as the return of some old favourites, like Martin Place); an expanded Vivid Music program; an interactive Stranger Things experience at Luna Park; and, none other than the fabulous Nigella Lawson is on board to curate three Vivid Sydney Dinner events. In good news for anyone whose bank account is struggling to keep up with all the cultural events coming up this year, we can confirm that the entire Vivid Light Walk will be free for everyone to enjoy this year. What’s more, 75 per cent of the events program is also free to attend. Photograph: Supplied/Destination NSW | Render of 'King Dingo' by Vincent Namatjira New projections and locations for Vivid Sydney 2025 Our favourite light installations from Vivid Sydney 2024 will be a tough act to follow, but this year’s epic light projections and animations include exclusively commissioned pieces from the likes of the late Australian visionar

Billie Eilish at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena: start time, set list, tickets and everything you need to know

Update Friday, March 7: With two Melbourne shows under her belt and a day off to recharge, Billie is gearing up for two more shows at Rod Laver Arena. For 90 minutes she'll take to her 360-degree stage that also features an LED video floor, floating platform, luminescent cube and massive overhead screens. We've been told highlights are 'Ocean Eyes', 'Birds Of A Feather' (duh) and a goosebump-inducing rendition of 'When The Party's Over' with vocal loops. It's been three years since Billie Eilish last toured Melbourne, and since then she's collected multiple Grammy and Academy Awards, dropped her third studio album (Hit Me Hard And Soft) and continued to charm fans across the globe. So, thank goodness, it's finally Melbourne’s turn to see the pop juggernaut as she brings her new world tour to town. After kicking off in North America last year, Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour is playing multiple shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne ahead of dates in Europe, the UK and Ireland. So, who’s hungry for some lunch? If going to see Billie Eilish perform in Melbourne is what you were made for, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need to know ahead of the shows this week. When is Billie Eilish in Melbourne? After shows in Brisbane and Sydney, Billie is playing a total of four Melbourne dates at Rod Laver Arena on March 4, 5, 7 and 8. Who is Billie Eilish’s support act in Melbourne? Ashnikko is the support act for all of Billie’s Australian shows on this tour. With a d

Drake Sydney tour: Everything you need to know

We know when that hotline bling, it can only mean one thing... Canadian artist Drake has confirmed that he’ll be coming to Sydney in 2025, as one of three confirmed stops on his Anita Max Win Tour of Australia. It’s been eight years since the world-famous star has performed on Australian soil, and in true Champagne Papi style, he first teased his return to Oz via a series of cryptic Instagram stories before confirming via live stream. Now, official ticket info and show date details for his visit Down Under have been revealed. Here's all the info Drake fans need... What are the Drake Sydney dates? The Anita Max Win Tour will see Drake take over Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, February 16, Monday, February 17, Wednesday February 19 and Thursday, February 20. Just like Olivia Rodgrigo and Coldplay both did earlier this year, he dropped the third date in response to the high demand. Drake also added a fifth Sydney date for Friday, March 7, which he then went on to cancel. Which Drake Sydney show was cancelled? Drake's fifth Sydney show – due to take place this Friday, March 7, was cancelled. In an official statement, Drake's team explained that they were "actively working on rescheduling these dates along with adding some additional shows." Why did Drake cancel his Sydney show? The exact reason for cancelling the last few dates of his Australia/ New Zealand tour is under some speculation, with Drake citing "scheduling conflict." When do Drake Sydney tickets go on sale? Gene

Here’s all the info you need for Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour in Sydney: times, tickets & set list

Calling all the lovers – it's almost time for our favourite showgirl Kylie Minogue to hit Sydney for not one, not two, but three huge arena shows. This will be Kylie's biggest tour since 2011, so you know she's going to be delivering pop anthems, perfectly choreographed dance moves and cheeky banter galore. It’s set to be a great, big huge sparkly weekend for the Harbour City, with Kylie’s shows overlapping with the 47th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday, which our Kylie has long been a supporter of. (Hot tip: there’s a rumour that Kylie might kickon at the official Mardi Gras Party, along with Troye Sivan!) So, who's ready to come into her world? Here's everything you need to know about Kylie's shows this week. When are the Kylie Sydney shows? After lighting the fuse for the Tension Tour in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane, Kylie will be rounding out the Aussie leg of her tour at the Qudos Bank Arena, with three gloriously glittery shows on Saturday, March 1 (the same day as the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade); Sunday, March 2; and Monday, March 3. How to get to the Kylie concerts in Sydney? Public transport is usually the best option for getting to Qudos Bank Arena; and that’s not only because the cost of travel on trains, metro, and light rail is included in concert tickets. Olympic Park Station is less than a ten-minute walk from the stadium, and plenty of additional trains and buses will be running for concertgoers – you’ll find more info over here.