What to see in week three: blockbuster dance, experimental art & more
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We’re past the halfway mark of Sydney Festival’s 2025 season – and our minds are buzzing with big ideas and our feet sore from burning up the Moonshine Bar dancefloor.
On the agenda this week: intimate gigs at ACO On The Pier, world premiere dance works and some of the biggest spectacles in the Festival continuing their runs (with plenty of standing ovations). Plus, events that won’t cost you a cent – like a free symphony under the stars and an open-air meditation workshop.
Let’s embark on week three, shall we?
Friday 17 January
Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera
Ta-da! The reviews are in for our epic Las Vegas opera. Magician Teller (of Penn & Teller fame) described the show as "a daring, crazy, bold idea executed beautifully. The loftiest high art meets the glitziest, rhinestone-covered showbiz”, while Limelight dished out a 5-star rave, calling it “as camp as it is moving”. See Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera before it disappears next week.
When: Friday 17 January, 8:30pm
Where: Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1 Theatre (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: From $80 + BF
Parvyn
Just around the corner at ACO On The Pier, Punjabi-Australian vocalist Parvyn rings in the weekend with her signature fusion of classical Indian music, dance, electronica, pop and jazz. She’s adept at melding musical styles – with influences ranging from Björk to Anoushka Shankar. It’s your chance to sample her new epic new album, Maujuda, up nice and close.
When: Friday 17 January, 7:30pm
Where: ACO On The Pier (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: From $39 + BF
Free Live Music at Moonshine Bar
The immaculate vibes continue ’til late at Moonshine Bar with Soul of Sydney, presented by Azzam Mohamed. Oyobi is serving up feel-good electro-Latin tunes, while of DJ Phil Toke is slinging an uplifting mix of funk, soul, disco, boogie and Afrobeat. There are deck chairs to take in the harbour views, but it’ll be tough to resist the dancefloor.
When: Friday 17 January, open from 6pm
Where: Moonshine Bar (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: Free
Saturday 18 January
Sydney Symphony Under the Stars
Cheese boards at the ready. Parramatta Parklands will soar on Saturday with a free starlit concert from Sydney Symphony Orchestra and national treasure Joseph Tawadros, master of the oud. Get a taste of what’s to come and watch Tawadros’ 2019 performance of “Constantinople” with Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House here.
When: Saturday 18 January, 7:30pm
Where: The Crescent, Parramatta Park
Cost: Free
ANITO
See why ArtsHub dished out 5 stars for Justin Talplacido Shoulder’s queered Filipino ghost story, an “awe-inspiring work”. ANITO is a work rooted in Sydney’s underground queer and diasporic club scenes, combining collective craft, puppetry, dance and experimental electronic music.
When: Saturday 18 January, 3:30pm & 6pm
Where: Carriageworks
Cost: From $53 + BF
Animal
Friends in the Shire (and those who missed Animal at Parramatta) can catch the surreal circus at the Pavilion Performing Arts Centre. It’s the last chance to see daring acrobatics, bizarre juggling (yes, giant cowbells!), tap dancing, folk music and even a tractor doing wheelies all under one roof.
When: Saturday 18 January, 7pm
Where: The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland
Cost: From $62 + BF
Sunday 19 January
The Chronicles
Stephanie Lake is one of the most innovative Australian choreographers to emerge in the last decade. Her explosive new work chronicles the cycles of life – with 12 incredible dancers, an electro-acoustic score and the Sydney Children’s Choir singing live. Sure to be a highlight.
When: Sunday 19 January, 5pm
Where: Roslyn Packer Theatre (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: From $62 + BF
Mary Ancheta Quartet
If you missed them on Thursday, Vancouver’s Mary Ancheta Quartet is letting the funk fly one last time on Sunday afternoon at ACO On The Pier. The group’s sound is influenced by Squarepusher, The Meters and Prince, blending jazz, electro-funk and R&B.
When: Sunday 19 January, 3pm
Where: The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre Sutherland
Cost: From $62 + BF
Stories From Here
Stories From Here brings you to the streets of Bankstown for a one-of-a-kind audio walking tour, led by local artists. Hear stories written and recorded by young people about the places that matter to them – and also grab a cheeky bahn mi after.
When: Sunday 19 January, 10am & 12:30pm
Where: 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown
Cost: Guided tour $15 + BF
Monday 20 January
Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru
Come face-to-face with over 130 ancient artefacts including exquisite jewellery and funerary objects from royal tombs, which offer a glimpse into the opulent history of the Andean people. Expect state-of-the-art projections, videos and priceless artefacts.
When: Monday 20 January, 10am–5pm
Where: Australian Museum
Cost: Adult $42.50, Child $23
Tuesday 21 January
Colour Maze
You might have seen the kaleidoscopic Colour Maze splashed across your socials? Inspire the kids with a rush of vibrant colours and Tongan motifs, as well as spots to climb, crawl and create. Be sure to book in advance, as timeslots fill up fast.
When: Tuesday 21 January, 9am–5pm
Where: Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: $22.50 + BF
Katie Noonan: Jeff Buckley's Grace
Hear the spine-tingling album Katie Noonan described as “the single biggest influence” on her musical journey. The five-time ARIA-winning Australian singer and her five-piece band take on Buckley’s masterpiece in celebration of its 30th anniversary.
When: Tuesday 21 January, 6pm
Where: Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1 Theatre
Cost: From $62 + BF
Wednesday 22 January
Plant a Promise
Plant a Promise is a world premiere work in four parts, conceived by Kuku Yalanji choreographer and playwright Henrietta Baird. From Wednesday through to Saturday, experience a moving dance performance, inviting Indigenous and non-Indigenous audiences to connect culture and environment, head and heart.
When: Wednesday 22 January, 7pm
Where: The Studio Theatre at Bangarra (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: From $44 + BF
All In
The beautifully restored Parramatta Town Hall invites you to go all in with award-winning company Dance Makers Collective. This eclectic contemporary dance work features contributions from some of Western Sydney’s finest creatives across flamenco, hip-hop, Bharatanatyam and Dharug dance – including Pepa Molina, Azzam Mohamed, Vishnu Arunasalam and Peta Strachan.
When: Wednesday 22 January, 7pm
Where: Parramatta Town Hall
Cost: From $44 + BF
Thursday 23 January
Water Memory Meditation Workshop with Akala Newman
Haven’t checked out Vigil: Gunyah just yet? Thursday morning is a lovely time to visit the First Nations-led gathering space for a free two-hour meditation workshop with Akala Newman. Register your interest here. There’s also a chance to soak in the soundscape by composer and sound designer Brendon Boney.
When: Thursday 23 January, 11am
Where: Barangaroo Reserve
Cost: Free
Allysha Joy plays Roberta Flack
With hits including “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, “Where Is the Love”, “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “Feel Like Makin' Love” and “Closer I Get to You”, Robert Flack is one of the finest songstresses of our time. Deeply expressive Naarm artist Allysha Joy puts her own spin on Flack’s songbook, and also plays fresh material from her own album, The Making of Silk.
When: Thursday 23 January, 9pm
Where: ACO On The Pier (The Thirsty Mile)
Cost: $39 + BF