Sydney Culture

With live music, theater performances, and art exhibits, Sydney is a hub for arts and culture. Tour a contemporary exhibition, laugh at a comedy show, or take in a play. Venues range from the iconic Sydney Opera House to the heritage Sydney Town Hall and music-destination The Horden Pavilion.

Theater in Sydney

Musicals, dramas, comedies—there is plenty of arts and culture to experience in Sydney. The Capitol Theatre, located in the Haymarket district, is one of the city’s most renowned venues. Opening as a theater in 1928, The Capitol stages world-famous Broadway musicals and plays. Once the site of a fruit and vegetable market, the building was constructed for a circus and underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in the 1990s.

Having cast actors such as Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush, the Sydney Theatre Company has developed an outstanding reputation. Established in 1978, the theater produces 12 plays per year, drawn from a mix of Australian works, international scripts, and classical pieces. The theater sits on the harbor, on The Wharf

Also producing a wide range of plays, Theatre Royal is located within the MLC Centre, in the Central Business District. Shows range from Dirty Dancing and Cats to Les Miserable and the Importance of Being Earnest. Although the original was constructed in 1827, the present structure—part of a 60-storey skyscraper—opened in 1976. Around the building, find stunning works of design, sculptures, a European-like piazza, and art exhibits.

Music in Sydney

From rock shows to stage and classical works, the Sydney Opera House offers an ample roster of performances. As Sydney's poster venue, it presents more than 40 shows each week. The building is located on a spit, close to the Royal Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay. Besides the primary venues—the Concert Hall and Opera Theatre—the Opera House offers restaurants, bars, and other performance spaces. The building, designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon, was constructed from 1957 to 1973 and is on the World Heritage list. More than eight million people visit the venue each year.

Also a destination for visitors due to its architectural beauty, the Sydney Town Hall houses both the Sydney City Council Chamber and the Centennial Hall. The latter has the world's largest pipe organ, which was installed in 1890. Located in the Central Business District, the 1889 building is particularly treasured for its heritage elements: stained glass windows, marble pillars, and wooden floor. The hall sits an audience of 2,000 for theater-style events.

The City Recital Hall was built after the Opera House, and with more than 1,200 seats it often hosts, mid-range musical performances by orchestras, contemporary musicians, and solo performers. Like the Sydney Town Hall, the venue is also situated in the Central Business District. Other Sydney music venues include the Enmore, a suburban theater that presents music and comedy shows, and The Horden Pavilion, which dates to 1924. The Horden has staged many rock concerts over the years, including performances by Frank Zappa, Coldplay, Eric Clapton, and Gordon Lightfoot.

Art in Sydney

The premiere national gallery is the Art Gallery of New South Wales, which opened its first galleries in the current building in 1897. With large collections of Australian and international art, the gallery mounts rotating exhibits. Located within the Royal Botanic Gardens, the museum mixes modern galleries that overlook the harbor with Grand Courts that are dedicated to classical works.

Artist John Power bequeathed a fortune to University of Sydney, to use in contemporary art education. Opening in 1990, the Museum of Contemporary Art near Circular Quay is part of that education. The museum building, which was constructed for the Maritime Services Board, dates to 1952. Completed in 2012, a redevelopment added rooftop venues and new galleries to the museum. To discover other modern works, head to Soho Art Galleries. Established in 1995 by director Nigel Messenger, the gallery displays work by contemporary Australian artists.

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