Discover the secret arts scene in Sutherland Shire

It’s always showtime at the Pavilion Performing Arts Centre. The Sutherland Shire’s newest performing arts destination welcomes a high calibre of local performing arts companies, along with a diverse selection of Australian and international entertainers. You can laugh along with comedians Wil Anderson, Lano and Woodley, Ross Noble and Mel Buttle, celebrate 50 years of musical treasure Marcia Hines, and experience the incredible 20-instrument performance of Tubular Bells for Two.

This hidden gem on East Parade has been restored to its Art Deco glory with upgrades to its 160-seat theatre, a new bar and courtyards. Home to intimate productions by Sutherland’s local theatre and music companies as well as visiting companies including Musica Viva Australia. Coming soon is the comedy musical The Addams Family in June, followed by a pop-rock adaptation of Rick Springfield’s autobiography Late, Late at Night in July.

Sutherland Shire’s very own Miranda Musical Theatre Company is bringing The Addams Family Musical to the Sutherland Arts Theatre stage for nine exclusive nights from June 9-18. Based upon the original Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams, this spooky Broadway musical follows the ghoulish members of an American family, with an affinity for all things macabre. Get the whole family together and grab tickets starting at $45 here.

Step into a world of artistic wonder at this inspiring arts complex, nestled amid 1.4 hectares of landscaped gardens near the Royal National Park. Hazelhurst Arts Centre is the beating heart of visual arts activity in the Shire and presents more than 30 free exhibitions of contemporary Australian art annually. It’s also a creative resource for the community with an artist-in-residence space; a theatrette hosting special films, performances and lectures; workshop studios with print and ceramic workshops; and a regular program of events including their annual Made by Hand Art and Design Market, Art Fest Days and Hazelhurst at Night. Mark your calendars for Hazelhurst's upcoming exhibition In the Arms of Unconsciousness: Women, Feminism and the Surreal, which brings together 21 significant female Australian artists to explore ideas of feminism and the surreal from July 1 to September 3

Calling all pottery enthusiasts and those seeking a creative escape. Discover the joys of wheel-throwing and hand-moulding at this boutique pottery studio in Cronulla. Get your hands dirty with Mont’s beginner wheel and hand-building classes, or watch your creations take shape in their drop-in and kiln hire sessions. You can also share these fun-filled experiences with friends and family by booking Mont’s pottery parties, disability events and kids’ workshops, and also take home a treasure trove of hand-thrown ceramic wares from their collection including carafes, serving bowls and oil pourers.

Celebrate 60 years of artistic brilliance at the thriving community Arts Theatre in the heart of Cronulla. Each year, the Theatre produces four main plays, which run for six weeks, along with short-term creative productions in between, and weekly youth and adult drama classes. Until June 17, you can watch The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race written Melanie Tait. This funny and heart-warming story is set in the fictional NSW country town of Appleton and is about five different women overturning the potato cart and standing up for their principles. The next play of the season is playwright Andrew Bovell’s Things I Know to Be True, which is set in the southern suburbs of Adelaide and snapshots the ups and downs of Australian family life within a web of complicated family relationships. It runs from August 4 to September 9 and tickets start at $27 and can be purchased at the box office.

Amidst the Royal National Park, this 20-year-old Art Trail offers a unique opportunity to chat with talented Bundeena and Maianbar artists and browse their works. The Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail opens to the public on the first Sunday of every month and features award-winning artists including Sulman Prize recipients Bob Marchant and Jiawei Shen, and founding member Peter Mulder. Find the perfect painting or photograph to adorn your walls, a sculpture that sparks conversation or a woven piece that adds texture to your space. Studio openings vary each month and you can plan your visit using the online map, with most studios within walking distance from the Bundeena Ferry wharf.

Whether you’re a first-time, part-time or full-time ceramicist, this beautiful pottery studio in Taren Point offers classes, courses and private clay events for all abilities. You can explore the world of clay and create your own ceramic masterpiece in Part Time Ceramics’ interactive, one-off workshops including Pottery and Prosecco, Date Night, Brews and Bowls or Build a Planter. Grab your apron and roll up your sleeves for wheel throwing and hand-building sessions for beginners through to advanced, along with glazing sessions, casual studio access, 24/7 memberships, kid’s workshops and private events.

Lace-up your shoes and embark on a free, self-guided journey around Cronulla’s vibrant streets and laneways with the Shire’s Walk the Walls. The trail was curated by respected Australian graffiti and street artist Tim Phibs and also features Sydney-based mural and graffiti artist Art of Sektor, graffiti writer Snarl, and self-taught large-scale artist Paul Riot. You can admire their artistic styles across 40 walls including street art, stencils, posters, sculpture work, and abstract and urban art. Download the virtual map and street art booklet and let the exploration begin.