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[title]The colder months are settling in, but Sydney’s thriving theatre scene is only just heating up. The performing arts hub Riverside Theatres, perched on the banks of Parramatta River, is serving up an unmissable winter program. With its own food truck, plus plenty of restaurants nearby on Church Street to grab a pre-dinner show, it’s the perfect destination for a culture-rich night out.
For its 2025 winter season, Riverside Theatres program offers an eclectic mix of dark comedy, sharp satire and literary stage adaptations. Intrigued? We’ve rounded up our top picks.
First up is Mr Red Light (July 10–12), a hilarious and heartfelt play from award-winning New Zealand theatre company Nightsong (Te Pō, Spirit House, 360). A down-on-his-luck bank robber's plan goes sideways when he's forced to confront three stubborn hostages and the world's worst police negotiator. Written by Carl Bland and directed by Ben Crowder, this production promises offbeat humour and a heartfelt payoff.
Then comes a bold adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984 (July 25–26), brought to the stage by Shake & Stir Theatre Co, the minds behind acclaimed productions like Jane Eyre, Frankenstein and Animal Farm. This gripping, all-Australian take on Orwell’s dystopian classic follows Winston Smith as he risks everything to fight for personal freedom in a totalitarian world.
In Trophy Boys (August 6-9), the toxic culture of elite private boys' schools which is rife with misogyny, homophobia, and hyper-masculinity is thrown under the spotlight. This razor-sharp satire from Melbourne-based company The Maybe Pile, follows an all-boys debate team hell-bent on crushing their sister school rivals in a high-stakes tournament.
For more information on Riverside Theatres and what’s on, head here.