Entertainment Venues in Sydney

Sydney’s theaters are notable for their atmosphere and stimulating mix of productions. Comedy is also finding a strong niche as a mainstream performance art.

Australian films have a fine international reputation and there are many annual film festivals. Classical music buffs cannot possibly visit Sydney without seeing a performance in the Sydney Opera House. Sydney also draws the biggest names in contemporary music.

•    FILM

The city’s main cinema strip is on George Street, near the Town Hall.

o    Hoyts and Greater Union shows all the latest blockbusters.

o    The Dendy cinemas show the latest art-house films and other repertory venues include Cinema Paris, Chauvel, Palace Academy Twin and the Verona cinema, located next door.

o    The Movie Room has science fiction, cult and 3-D films. Most cinemas offer half-price tickets on Tuesdays.

o    The annual Sydney Film Festival includes documentaries, retrospectives and new films from all over the globe.

•    THEATER

Musicals are staged at the Theatre Royal, the State Theatre, the Capitol and Star City’s Lyric Theatre. Smaller venues include the Seymour Theatre Centre, the Ensemble and the Footbridge Theatre. The Stables Theatre specializes in new Australian Playwrights. The Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is the city’s best and performs at The Wharf and the Sydney Theatre. Open-air summer events include performances by Shakespeare by the Sea at Balmoral Beach and the popular Sydney Fringe Festival which features new plays by up-and-coming playwrights

•    COMEDY

Sydney’s best comedy venue is the Comedy Store. There are comics, sketches or revues Tuesday to Saturday. Monday night has comedy at both the Bridge Hotel and in the Fringe Bar in the Unicorn Hotel.

 Opera And Classical Music

The Australian Opera (AO) was formed in 1956 and its two seasons at the Opera House are January to March and June to October.

Sydney’s main provider of orchestral music and recitals is the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Concerts are held in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall or the Sydney Town Hall. The Conservatorium of Music performs symphony, wind and chamber concerts and jazz big bands. Concerts of the Australian Chamber Orchestra are held at the Sydney Opera House throughout the year.

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, the city’s finest, also perform at the Opera House. The newest major classical venue is the City Recital Hall, which regularly plays host to a variety of local and international stars.

•    Dance

There is an eclectic variety of dance to be found in the city. The Australian Ballet performs at the Opera House March-April and November- December. The repertoire spans classic to modern.

o    Sydney Dance Company is the city’s leading modern dance group and performs at their studio at The Wharf.

o    The Aboriginal Dance Theatre is also contemporary with a traditional flavor.

Its performances are often at the Seymour Theatre Centre.

•    Rock, Jazz And Blues

Rock’s biggest names perform at the Sydney Entertainment

Centre, the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Sydney Superdome. Venues such as the Orient Hotel and Salina’s at Coogee Bay Hotel also draw crowds.

For jazz, try The Basement or Soup Plus, both are longstanding venues. The blues are played at the Empire Hotel and the Cat & Fiddle Hotel.

•    Nightclubs

Nightspots offering a range of mainstream dance music include the larger clubs, such as Home, Gas, Tank, Cargo Bar and

Jacksons on George.

Clubs into house and hip hop are Q, The Slip Inn and Goodbar. Gay clubs include D.C.M, the Oxford hotel and

Midnight Shift.