Things to do in Sydney today

"To be, or not to be" is the question that has haunted generations, but Goodnight Sweet Prince, now playing at Sydney's The Old Fitz Theatre, asks a more contemporary one: how do you keep living when the world you have inherited feels irreparably out of joint?  Liesel Badorrek’s intimate 70-minute reimagining of Shakespeare’s Hamlet transforms the prince’s famous existential crisis into a meditation on generational grief, the mourning of not only what has been lost, but what was promised and never arrived. It begins with a deceptively simple theatrical question: who will be Hamlet tonight?  With Raj Labade and Jack Twelvetree swapping the roles for each performance, Badorrek makes the casting itself part of the drama. Hamlet becomes less a fixed character than a vessel for uncertainty, contradiction and the overwhelming weight of inheriting a broken world. What is the premise of Goodnight Sweet Prince? Rather than offering another adaptation of Hamlet, Goodnight Sweet Prince is less interested in Hamlet the play than Hamlet the man. Drawing from excerpts of monologues and scenes across Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Badorrek creates a portrait of a man consumed by grief, paralysed by indecision, and haunted by questions that cannot be resolved through logic alone. With Hamlet at the centre, the tragedy feels less like something he participates in and more like something that happens to him – an overwhelming force he is unable to escape. Through this lens, Badorrek uses...

Dust off your sequins – a glittery-as-heck night of disco, circus and cabaret is taking over the Sydney Opera House this winter. Showing in the Studio from July 24 to September 13, Velvet Inferno is the very sparkly new evolution of the hit Australian production Velvet, promising wildly impressive acrobatics, powerhouse vocals and a solid soundtrack of disco anthems. The brilliant Marcia Hines will own the role of The Diva, with beloved multidisciplinary star Brendan Maclean taking on the fan-favourite role of Country Mike. Joining the Velvet family for the first time is singer-songwriter KYE as Gloria, whose coming-of-age story unfolds beneath a sparkling Studio 54-inspired mirrorball. The circus line-up is just as impressive. Expect next-level hula-hooping from Craig "Hula Boy" Reid, the Australian debut of Ukrainian roller-skating duo Duo Stardust, plus terrifyingly impressive aerial performances from Oleg Tatarynov and Zoe Marshall. Hyper-talented vocalists Emma Feliciano and Mateja Sardelis round out the cast. Soundtracked by disco classics including It's Raining Men, If You Could Read My Mind and No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), Velvet Inferno reunites the original creative team behind the global hit: director Craig Ilott, musical director Joe Accaria and choreographer Amy Campbell. More than a decade after Velvet first wowed audiences, the production continues to tour internationally, with an ongoing residency in Hamburg. Tickets start at $49.90. You can learn more...

A new work by revered Australian playwright Jane Harrison (The Visitors, Stolen) is always one to be celebrated. Her works tackle and investigate both the past and present existence of First Nations communities, weaving a contemporary lens through which she aims to reconcile, teach and honour. The newest Sydney Theatre Company-commissioned work, Bennelong in London, is no different. Here, Harrison dissects the historical narrative of Woollarawarre Bennelong, a man who found himself in an unprecedented moment in history. At the centre of the work is a complex individual whose historical narrative has been documented by the colonisers and whose history can only truly be known by his actions. This is a play that is ultimately a conversation between generations, focusing on identity, representation and the responsibility that comes with one’s story. What is the premise of Bennelong in London? Sebastian (Guy Simon – Stolen, Holding the Man) is a contemporary First Nations actor preparing to audition for the role of Woollarawarre Bennelong (Googoorewon Knox – Hamilton) in an unnamed project. It’s clear from the outset that he can’t quite get a grip on the portrayal of one of the most significant figures in the early years of invasion as he shoots numerous takes on a precariously propped phone. Harrison’s plot takes no time in getting to the crunch – after an offhand plea to summon the spirit of Bennelong for help, Sebastian gets what he asks for in the form of the figure...

Few things in life manage to bridge generational divides, and one of them is Animal Crossing. Whether you’re looking for activities these school holidays or feeling nostalgic for the hours spent catching fish on your Nintendo Switch, head to Darling Harbour from July 1 to August 23 to experience a dreamlike underwater world where your favourite virtual characters and the real marine world collide. Back by popular demand, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience returns with a fresh and even more immersive take, giving returning fans the perfect excuse to come back. Snap a pic with Isabelle, everyone's favourite secretary, or check out panels from Blathers about the aquarium’s real-world marine life. In between lessons, see if you can spot a washed-up Gulliver alongside giant cutouts of other island residents hiding around. You can also take part in a stamp rally inspired by the game. If you collect all the character stamps, you'll take home a postcard as a reward that’s worthy of a spot on the fridge.  Tickets start from $99 per family, with 30 per cent off until July 19. Plus, students save more than 50 per cent, with $24 tickets available weekdays anytime (outside school holidays) or every day after 3pm. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience at Sea Life runs for a limited time from July 1 to August 23, 2026. To learn more and get tickets, visit the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium website. To celebrate the return of The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience, we're...

Greek mythology is definitely having a moment thanks to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey, but Sydney’s very own White Rabbit Gallery is the place to be if you want to learn about Chinese mythology.  Established in 2009 to showcase philanthropist Judith Neilson's remarkable collection of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art, The White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale has become one of Sydney's most fascinating cultural spaces. And now, David Williams brings us Black Myth, the gallery's 33rd exhibition that explores how ancient Chinese myths continue to shape our modern, technology-centric lives. Inspired by the hit 2024 video game Black Myth: Wukong – a modern reimagining of the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West – the exhibition examines the darker side of mythology and the enduring power of storytelling. Journey to the West follows the monk Tang Sanzang and his travelling companions: the mischievous Monkey King Sun Wukong, the pig-faced Zhu Bajie and the loyal river ogre Sha Wujing as they embark on an epic quest to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. Mirroring that legendary adventure, the video game Black Myth explores journeys of every kind – physical and metaphysical, inner and outer – while delving into the Chinese ideas of transformation and transcendence. Artists include Sun Xun, whose intricate woodcuts and ink paintings create entire imagined worlds; Zong Ning, who reinvents ancient legends through contemporary photography and everyday...