Artist to Artist Masterclass Puppetry and Complicity with Dan Colley (Ireland)
17 August 2025
In the Centre for Creativity
Workshops
Join Irish artist and director Dan Colley, exploring his contemporary and multi-disciplinary approaches to making theatre, as seen in A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Sunday 17 August 2025 | 11am |
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Performance of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings* + Workshop | $45 |
*4pm OR 7pm Saturday 16 August.
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
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.
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9am, Tuesday 19 November 2025
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9am, Wednesday 20 November 2025
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Thursday 21 November 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
This workshop runs for approximately 2 hours.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Suitable for
Emerging, mid and senior level artists interested in in both text based and devised theatre for all ages.
Participants recommended age 16+.
Useful information:
Telling stories through theatre
Dan Colley’s performance making sensibilities have been described as deeply thoughtful, deeply empathetic, darkly theatrical and displaying a playful theatricality.
In this workshop participants will learn about his process of creating A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, exploring the intricacies of this beautiful piece of storytelling which uses a combination of music, puppetry and live video streaming.
Dan’s practice is influenced by the likes of theatre giants Complicité and participants will come away with new inspiration of how to combine narration, mime, small-scale puppetry, go-pro live screening and DIY sound effects o create highly visual theatre experiences.
This workshop is suitable for emerging, mid and senior level artists, interested in both text based and devised theatre for all ages. Your ticket is for both a place in the workshop and to see the performance A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Dan Colley
Director
Dan Colley is an independent theatre and film maker with a focus on ensemble-devised work and adaptations. He trained as a facilitator with Youth Theatre Ireland.
His shows Lost Lear (premiered at DTF 2022) and A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (premiered at Dublin Fringe 2019) continue to tour internationally including to New York, the Hague, Stockholm, Wellington, Auckland and all over the UK and Canada. His film The Painted Man produced by Samson Films was in the official selection of Galway Film Fleadh and was nominated for 'Best Arthouse Short' in the Fastnet Film Festival.
As Artistic Director of Collapsing Horse (2013-19) he directed nine original productions, created a series of ten radio plays, and an exhibition in the National Museum.
Dan was Co-Artistic Director of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival from 2017-19.
Dan was the Creative Director of Danse Macabre, a large-scale processional street theatre piece for Macnas. Dan directed and co-created TWENTY FIFTY with Fionnuala Gygax, an online interactive theatre piece part of DUETS in Dublin Fringe 2020.
Dan was awarded the Arts Council’s Next Generation Bursary Award in 2016. He is Theatre Artist in Residence in the Riverbank Arts Centre and on the board of the Dublin Fringe Festival.
Artist to Artist Masterclasses
Embark on a transformative journey of professional development with our exclusive series of masterclasses hosted by internationally renowned artists, all gracing the iconic stages of the Sydney Opera House.
This unparalleled opportunity invites both aspiring and seasoned artists, educators and industry professionals alike to delve into the secrets, techniques, processes and inspirations that have propelled these global talents to the pinnacle of their craft.
You’ll connect with like-minded artists and discover new techniques and perspectives to support your creative journey.
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.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children 2 years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
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 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. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and Western Foyers. The public lift to the 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.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
The Opera House has also developed a Child-friendly Code of Conduct to engage with our youngest visitors.
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