SongRites Short Films SongRites
3 September 2025
In the Playhouse
Cinema
Experience four powerful First Nations short films by First Nations storytellers from regional communities, underpinned by their connection to Country and culture – Katele (Mudskipper), The Djarn Djarns, Bala and Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura, Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that content from this event may contain images and voices of deceased persons.
| Date | Time |
| Wednesday 3 September 2025 | 8.15pm |
| Ticket | Price |
| Community | $10 |
No booking fee applies
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
9am, Wednesday 25 June 2025
Become a Sydney Opera House Insider to receive exclusive pre-sale access
What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale
12pm, Wednesday 25 June 2025
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Friday 27 June 2025
Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
The duration of this event is approximately 60 minutes. Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
The advertised start time is the introduction start time. Venue doors will open approximately 15 minutes before the advertised start time.
Katele (Mudskipper)
12 minutes
The Djarn Djarns
26 minutes
Bala
10 minutes
Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura, Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli (Senior Woman, Young Woman)
12 minutes
Age
Katele (Mudskipper) is classified Mature (M). The Djarn Djarns is classified Mature (M). Bala is classified Mature (M) for nudity. Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura, Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli (Senior Woman, Young Woman) is classified General (G).
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Useful information:
A series of four First Nations short films in one night
Katele (Mudskipper)
Australia | 2022 | English | Drama | M
Katele (Mudskipper) won Best Australian Short at its Flickerfest Premiere in 2023 and at MIFF the same year. Directed by John Harvey, it follows Martha (Elma Kris), a weary Torres Strait Islander woman whose monotonous laundromat job takes a surreal turn when a mysterious visitor, Katele (Mudskipper), offers her a glimpse into another life. Rooted in Saibai Island mythology, this poignant story explores the pull of home and the unbreakable ties to culture and place.
Director John Harvey
Producer Gillian Moody
Writers John Harvey, Walter Waia
Cast Waangenga Blanco, Elma Kris, Tony Nixon
Bala
Australia | 2021 | English | Drama | M
Directed by former Senior Artist and Choreographer at Bangarra Deborah Brown, the eclectic tale of Bala made the official selection for various film festivals including ImagineNATIVE Film Festival, Toronto, Flickerfest, Sydney and the Brisbane International Film Festival. A former navy officer reunites with his cousins to grieve after learning of the death of his much loved Grandfather and the break up of a relationship. Feeling alone he questions his significance. The call of the ocean is strong.
Director Deborah Brown
Writer Melissa Lee Speyer
Cast Luke Currie-Richardson, Waangenga Blanco, Michael Bani
The Djarn Djarns
Australia | 2005 | English | Family, Drama | M
The Djarn Djarns is a heartfelt story of friendship, culture, and loss, centred on four young First Nations boys who perform as a traditional dance group at their local cultural centre. The story unfolds on the anniversary of Franky’s (Hunter Page) father’s death, as grief begins to disrupt the group’s plans for a performance. As Franky navigates the emotional weight of the day, the film becomes a moving portrait of resilience, cultural identity, and the strength found in shared experience.
Director Wayne Blair
Producer Kylie du Fresne
Screenwriter Wayne Blair
Cinematographer Murray Lui
Editor Henry Dangar
Cast Hunter Page-Lochard, Scott Angeles, Tony Barry, Lafe Charlton, Lillian Crombie, Blake Herczeg, Ben Mazza, Kerrod Melton, Alexa Miller, Tony Briggs, Scott Munns, Wayne Blair
Jarda Bura, Gurri Bura, Jarda Ngarli, Gurri Ngarli (Senior Woman, Young Woman)
Australia | 2024 | Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi, English | Narrative | G
Exploring practice and power through film, photography and composition, this powerful film highlights women’s stories of strength. With touching intimacy, bear witness to the intergenerational relationships between women, their kinship system, their living connection to Country, and the knowledge they collectively share between mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters and aunties. Co-created with Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi women from Ieramugadu (Roebourne), this is a story of matriarchal strengths, and the enduring leadership of First Nations women.
Producer Big hART, WA Museum-Boola Bardip
Community Producers Bodhi Aulich-Croll, Zoe Street
Creative Team Jessica Allan, Nina Allen, Leith Alexander, Rebecca Riggs-Bennett, Anna Cadden, Genevieve Dugard, Jessica Allan, Adelina Larsson-Mendoza, Claire Leach
Cast Berry Malcolm, Anne Jacobs, Maudie Jerrold, Allery Sandy, Janelle Mowarin, Verdell Jerrold, Michelle Adams, Mae Mae Jeffries, Kimberley Wilson, Lauriann Walters, Bella Warrie, Karella Walker, Hannah Phillips, Lashonrae Long, Jessica Allan, Nina Derrell, Trinity Mowarin, Penny Wally, Oweniqua Guiness, Coby Guiness, Bella Warrie, Ella Togo, Shaykarni Smith
Presented by Sydney Opera House and National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
3 – 6 September 2025
SongRites
SongRites is a new program showcasing First Nations voices through music, dance, film and conversation. Experience the living tradition of Songlines passed through generations, grounded in Country and culture.
Acknowledgements
Event Sponsor
The Sydney Opera House thanks Event Sponsor Sydney Harbour Federation Trust and Idealist donors R O Albert Family and Dr Russell & Jane Kift for their generous support of SongRites.
A very special thank you to Yuwaalaraay Wirringgaa artist Lucy Simpson for the creation of our DanceRites artwork.
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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