Things to do in Sydney today

Much of what we learn about love comes from the media we consume. For me, the idea of love was always intertwined with play. “Love at first sight” was an unattainable ideal that existed only on screen. Shakespeare, perhaps one of the most well-known Western and colonial storytellers, captured the complicated realities of love in ways that still resonate today: that it is meddlesome, ever-evolving and often sustained by blind faith in an unspoken kind of magic. Laura Murphy’s (The Dismissal, Zombie! The Musical) adaptation of the Bard’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Lovers, leads with magic. Its music and lyrics are grounded in the modern-day sensibilities of love – swiping right, choosing frivolity over fervour, and navigating the ongoing feminist challenge of knowing oneself while giving to another – all set to the perfect pop soundtrack for a meet-cute. For the theatre-savvy, Murphy’s musical realises the promise that &Juliet only flirted with, doing so through an entirely original score that wins the audience over with novelty rather than nostalgia. What’s the premise of The Lovers? Helena (Natalie Abbott, Muriel’s Wedding, Zombie! The Musical) loves Demetrius (Jason Arrow, Hamilton), who loves Hermia (Loren Hunter, Six), who loves Lysander (Mat Verevis, The Tina Turner Musical) – a classic love quadrangle complicated by friendship, loyalty and the constraints of parental approval. When Hermia defies her father and runs off with Lysander into the magical forest, chaos...

Looking to start building your art collection without going bankrupt? We’ve got you. The Affordable Art Fair is on right now in Sydney for its fourth year – this time taking over the cavernous halls of Carriageworks and marking the start of the progressive arts precinct’s Summer Program. From now until Sunday, November 9 2025, more than 65 galleries – representing hundreds of local and international artists – will gather under one roof for four days of creative inspiration. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a dedicated collector, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something to fall in love with, with original works priced between $100 and $10,000. At the new Carriageworks location, expect an upgraded layout, more space to browse, and refreshed dining options – plus plenty of spots to linger, swirl a glass of Bird in Hand pinot like a seasoned critic. The 2025 line-up is packed with newcomers and fan favourites. Sydney’s N Smith Gallery joins the Fair for the first time, bringing works by Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro, Sally Scales, Louise Zhang and more. Paddington’s Art2Muse Gallery, Pyrmont’s Audrey Fine Art, and Woolloomooloo’s Frances Keevil Gallery will also make their hometown debuts. From further afield, Tyger Gallery (Yass) and Corner Store Gallery (Orange) will be showing colourful, textural pieces. Returning exhibitors include Woollahra’s Project Gallery, Day Gallery from the Blue Mountains, and the ever-eclectic Jumbled from Orange. Also back are the...

Golden hour is a uniquely magical time in Sydney, when the sun begins to drop below the mountains and casts a honey golden glow across the city. And while golden hour is beautiful anywhere in the city, Barangaroo – Sydney’s buzzy west-facing waterside precinct – offers one of the best. After a successful launch event back in autumn, Barangaroo is bringing its Aperol-fuelled Golden Hour series back – and this time, the deals run all day long.   Throughout the month of November, one of Sydney’s prime sunset spots will be upping the ante with its golden hour offering; with live entertainment, affordable foodie offerings and ice-cold goblets of (appropriately golden) Aperol Spritz.Brought to life by the Bars of Barangaroo District, in partnership with everyone’s favourite orange aperitif, Golden Hours Barangaroo is a month-long event series designed to get people outside and enjoying springtime’s golden light.Throughout the duration of the event, 25 venues across Barangaroo will be serving up two Aperols for $30 (that’s $15 per drink), with excellent food offerings across the precinct and a varied line-up of live entertainment. Inspired by the Italian ritual of aperitivo, Barangaroo favourites including Gina, Zushi, Love.fish, Barangaroo House and Crown Sydney's Woodcut will be offering early evening treats to complement your Spritz.Plus, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the event, we can expect DJ sets from local tastemakers and roaming entertainment...

Every year, I wait with bated breath to see what original Australian musical the Hayes Theatre Company will put forward. In recent seasons, I’ve seen rock-singing country wrestlers, breakdancing zombies, and now – tap-dancing horses? Yes, Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical gallops onto the Hayes stage with all the energy, heart and irreverent Aussie spirit you’d expect from this beloved company. Even for those unfamiliar with Australia’s horse-racing history, the name “Phar Lap” carries mythic weight – the underdog chestnut who became a national hero during the Great Depression, and whose story is forever tied to “the race that stops the nation.” This new musical takes that legend and runs with it, blending history and humour with plenty of high kicks to create a crowd-pleasing spectacle that’s equal parts hoofbeats and hope. What's the premise of Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical? At the centre of the story is Harry Telford (Justin Smith, Into the Woods, The Dismissal, Dubbo Championship Wrestling), a down-on-his-luck trainer who’s never managed to produce a winner. His fortunes change when he stumbles upon Phar Lap (Joel Granger, Guys & Dolls, The Book of Mormon), a New Zealand–born thoroughbred with the makings of a champion. Sensing an opportunity, Telford strikes a precarious deal with the ever-money-hungry David Davis (Nate Jobe, Shrek the Musical). To get Phar Lap into winning form, the unlikely pair must navigate the horse’s relationship with his jockey Jim Pike...

The Art Gallery of New South Wales’ newest exhibition – Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940 – spotlights 50 trailblazing females who were among some of the first to draw attention to the fact that women can make some pretty bloody great art too.  The speedy rate of industrialisation in the 19th century meant a major shift in European society. Artists used it as a chance to reject traditional themes like religion, and instead focused on fresh ways to portray individuals (in a time where it felt like machines were going to rule the world). Meanwhile, women used it as their ticket to pull a seat up at the table. The focus of the exhibition is specifically on our very own Australian and New Zealander artists who made the journey to Europe to immerse themselves in the modernist movement. Gallery-goers can peruse works from historic names like Nora Heysen, Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, and also witness the work of some lesser-known but equally important creatives like CL Allport, Justine Kong Sing and Stella Marks. Featuring celebrated and rediscovered paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and ceramics, the exhibition includes work by celebrated artists such as Nora Heysen, Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, alongside lesser-known but equally compelling figures such as CL Allport, Justine Kong Sing and Stella Marks. Dangerously Modern’s run in Sydney spans all the way to mid-February so a hot (art) girl summer awaits. You...