Sydney, you’ve done it again! Sydney Festival returns with a spectacular program of free and ticketed events spanning contemporary and classical music, theatre, dance and more for a sizzling summer of fun.
Sydney Festival 2015 will feature 179 events, with 495 performances across 25 venues stretching from Bennelong to Parramatta. With an impressive 85 free events and 18 world premieres and exclusives, summer in stunning Sydney is not to be missed.
Sydney Festival will present a number of large-scale works, bringing the world’s greatest artists to Sydney and this year boasts a music program larger than ever before.
Hyde Park’s hugely popular Festival Village returns with a variety of circus and cabaret shows and music performances. The village will be an oasis of arts, eats, beats and other treats to enjoy the balmy summer nights in the city. Audiences can enjoy all the entertainment on offer in the magnificent surrounds, the Famous Spiegeltent and a new addition The Aurora Spiegeltent. Climb through Dublin street artist Maser’s Higher Ground, a two-storey M.C. Escher-inspired maze constructed from a skeleton of freight containers and covered in graphic stripes and bold colours.
It’s one big, three-week long par-tay, and it all kicks off on 8 January 2015. Here’s the alluxia picks for a cultural getaway in Sydney:
Music
Tex Perkins heads behind the bars to embody the spirit of Johnny Cash for one epic night. In a recreation of the legendary American’s 1968 Folsom Prison concerts, Perkins delves into Cash’s dark repertoire at the old Parramatta Gaol.
When: 17 January 2015
Where: Parramatta Gaol, Parramatta
Theatre & Dance
A world premiere and new Australian theatre work by Kate Mulvany lovingly brings to life the iconic children’s book Masquerade by Kit Williams. This magical tale will enchant audiences both young and old.
When: 7-17 January 2015
Where: Sydney Opera House
Opera & Classical
A favourite with Sydneysiders, hear Australia’s brightest stars, sing opera’s most famous arias with the backing of a full orchestra under the stars.
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When: 24 January 2015 – free
Where: The Domain
Circus & Cabaret
One of the world’s greatest circus performers, James Thierrée will entrance audiences with his imaginative, whimsical stage magic with his most extravagant work to date. A vibrant carnival of circus, dance and theatre that builds to an unforgettable climax, Tabac Rouge promises to be a thrilling adventure.
When: 7-23 January 2015
Where: Sydney Theatre at Walsh Bay
Free
Seu Jorge: Summer Sounds in the Domain
Sassy samba and hot hip hop take centre stage as Brazil’s superstar Seu Jorge brings his signature mix of transformative pop covers and swinging original tunes from Rio’s favelas to Australia for the first time.
When: 10 January 2015 - free
Where: The Domain
Family
Popping up in Darling Harbour for the enjoyment of the young and not-so-young, Waterfall Swing is the high-tech creation of a team of artists, designers and engineers from New York. This perfect summertime playset creates a cascading curtain of water that miraculously opens just in time to allow riders to pass through.
When: 8-24 January 2015
Where: Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour
Special Highlight
Beat the Drum: Celebrating 40 years of Triple J
A once in a lifetime event to celebrate four decades of passionate support for the best in Australian music, the stellar line-up includes Hilltop Hoods, The Presets, The Cat Empire, You Am I and many more of the best Australian musicians.
When: 16 January 2015
Where: The Domain
Sydney Festival is a great time to visit the harbour city! Browse our Sydney accommodation and book online with instant confirmation and no booking fees on a great range of unique and special accommodation and boutique hotels at alluxia.com
Image credit: Sydney FestivalYou Might Also Like: Jean-Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk
