Sydney Opera House’s Winter Kids & Families Program Announced

Sydney — Wednesday 1 May 2024

The Sydney Opera House today announced its huge winter kids and families program of theatre, dance, digital and creative play experiences. Taking place this June – August, the line-up of 18 shows and workshops features the Sydney premiere of a Roald Dahl classic adapted for the stage, the Australian premiere of an interactive dance and projection performance direct from Italy, a boundary-pushing dance performance from the UK, as well as a packed program of creative workshops in the Opera House’s purpose-built Centre for Creativity. 

Sydney Opera House Head of Children, Families and Creative Learning, Tamara Harrison says: “This winter, we really get to push the boundaries of creative exploration and participation, and continue to showcase theatre as both a place of joy and fun for intergenerational audiences, as well as a space for exploring relevant and topical issues. People of all ages will again be immersed in the wonder and possibility of creativity and I’m thrilled to introduce a selection of new international work and artist to artist led workshops to the venue this season.”

Winter program highlights include:

All ages

• Willay Giilang (Possum Story) Exhibition || 29 and 30 June: Celebrating NAIDOC week, this special, all ages community exhibition, led by proud Wiradjuri Woman, Aunty B – Bianca Caldwell, showcases traditional woven toys and animals made by primary school students.

Children and families (4-11 year-olds)

• James and the Giant Peach || 5 – 21 July: The magic, mischief and mayhem of Roald Dahl’s beloved novel James and the Giant Peach will be brought to life on stage for its Sydney premiere by the nation’s leading contemporary theatre company, Shake & Stir Theatre Co.
• Little Murmur || 9 – 10 August: Featuring groundbreaking projections, an extraordinary  soundscape and a blizzard of paper and confetti, Little Murmur is a new international dance theatre performance that explores the realities of living with dyslexia through dance and humour.
• The River That Ran Uphill || 25 – 27 July: A fiercely moving production about the power of hope, The River That Ran Uphill is based on the experience of Edgell Junior, a Ni-Vanuatu man from Pentecost Island who experienced and survived Cyclone Pam (2015).
• A Forest in the City || 16 – 19 July: Direct from Italy, this Australian premiere is an interactive and immersive performance using full scale colourful projections, digital technology and dance, inviting audiences aged 4+ to help create a magical green city.
• Seed Bracelet Workshop || 16 and 19 July: To complement the performance of A Forest in the City, this free workshop invites children aged 4+ to create their very own seed bracelet to be planted at home.

Young people & adults (12 – 18+ years)

• Make-Believe Masters: Young Theatre Designers || 15 and 16 July: Audiences aged 12-16 will delve into the world of creating designs for set and costumes for live performance with award-winning designer Isabel Hudson. Hudson will walk participants through the entire theatre design process, from brainstorming ideas to the final production.
• Creating Performances with Digital Projections || 18 July: in conjunction with the Australian premiere of A Forest in the City, artists and industry aged 15+ will join the renowned Italian artists and technician from performance group Compagnia TOP (Teatro di Piazza o d’Occasione) for a discussion on technology and artistic process, as well as the challenges of working with projections within a live performance context.
• Stagecraft Studio: Theatre Set Design || 5 August: Explore the world of theatrical set design and scenography in this three-hour workshop where designer Isabel Hudson shares her unique approach and unveils secrets for designing theatre and live performance.
• Little Murmur Movement Workshop || 9 & 19 August: Led by the artists of the award-winning Aakash Odedra Company, this movement workshop for practitioners inspired by the performance of Little Murmur will assist emerging, mid and senior level dancers and industry art professionals to find their individual styles, and embrace what makes them unique.