Alannah Le Cross (née Maher) (she/her) is obsessed with theatre, art, subversive underground performance culture, and statement earrings. A longstanding theatre critic, arts enthusiast, and writer with a penchant for exploring subcultures and humans in the city; she joined Time Out Sydney in 2019. After beginning as an editorial assistant and telling stories as the resident lifestyle journalist, she is now the arts and culture editor. In this role, she delights in connecting people with cool art and interesting experiences, as well as sharing reviews and insights from a crop of incredible writers whose diverse perspectives and incredible way with words leads to enriching reads.

She studied a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Journalism at Western Sydney University, which included an exchange program at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. She has written features and reviews for a range of independent and street press publications including The Music, and served as an arts editor for City Hub. Throughout her twenties, Alannah’s arts journalism career was juggled with roles in administration, marketing and publicity in the arts industry, not-for-profit and start-up spaces. Pair that with a past in hospitality, and you could say that she has experience on every side of the coin, and an appreciation for everyone’s hard work.

As of 2023, Alannah is also a judge on the Musical Theatre Panel of the Sydney Theatre Awards. If she’s not out seeing as many shows as humanly possible, you’ll find her down at the Impy, hanging out with drag queens or trying to make herself take the odd break from consuming culture. (But she’ll never be as busy or overcommitted as she was during Sydney WorldPride.)

Growing up regionally in Nelson Bay, Port Stephens (I know, how could she leave the beautiful beaches? The dolphins!? The salty delicacies of Aussie Bob's Fish & Chips!?) she was always drawn to the excitement and culture of the big city. A die-hard Inner Westie and a proud queer woman, Alannah is a shameless Sydney advocate who loves this city full of contradictions and diversity. She is passionate about making the arts more accessible and championing stories that foster our understanding of ourselves and others.

Want to pitch something to Alannah? Chuck her an email at alannah.lecross@timeout.com.

Ps. Alannah rhymes with Hannah. It’s pronounced A-lann-uh, not A-lar-na.

Alannah Le Cross

Arts and Culture Editor, Time Out Sydney

Follow Alannah Le Cross:

SOCIAL.instagram

Articles (243)

The best summer school holiday activities in Sydney

Believe it or not, we're already back at the school holidays, and if the thought of keeping the kiddos entertained for not just two, but six weeks sends you into a spiral, we have you covered this summer with an ultimate list of the best activities and experiences happening in Sydney for kids and families. Check out something for the explorers, the budding scientists, the mini-athletes, the musical prodigies and just about everyone in between. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Looking for somewhere affordable to eat out with the kids? Check out our guide to the best cheap eats in Sydney. Or visit the best kid-friendly restaurants in Sydney.

The best things to do in Sydney between Christmas and NYE

The five days between Christmas and New Year’s Eve are a strange, awkward, in-between time for everyone. Most places have closed shop for the summer, while others have new holiday hours that are tricky to wrap your head around. At this time of year, Sydney tends to feel more empty than usual as most locals make a mass exodus for elsewhere, but if you plan on sticking around and having a lovely summer holiday in a whole city that you're likely to get (probably, mostly) to yourself, we have put together a list for you of all the coolest things for you to do in town between Christmas Day and NYE. You're welcome. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Want more culture? Check out our guide to the best art exhibitions and theatre and musicals on in Sydney this month.

Best New Year's Eve events and parties in Sydney

This year has been a doozy when it comes to Sydney nightlife – with the addition of a slew of sexy new wine bars, unfathomably epic hotel renovations (we’re looking at you, Sofitel Wentworth) and some seriously swish rooftop venues giving our evenings the boost we didn’t know they needed. With such a stellar run of new openings, we expect to see some pretty impressive debut NYE parties joining the old faithfuls on this year’s festive calendar.To help you choose between the good and the great, we’ve put together a round-up of the best parties to book this NYE – so you can ring in 2025 with a bang (or an intimate dinner – pick your poison). Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Ready for a celebration right now? Here are our picks of the best bars in Sydney. Want to watch the fireworks without the hefty price tag? Here's our guide to the best free spots in Sydney to watch the NYE fireworks.

The 40 best music and culture festivals in Australia for 2025

If there's one sure-fire way of injecting joy into your year – it's festivals. Gathering with like-minded people in rainbow-festooned palaces full of amazing music, glittering performances and zesty food sounds like utopia to us – which is why it's a blessing that Australia has an incredible array of festivals on offer, one for every season of the year. In this list, we round up the best festivals that we reckon you should check out Down Under this year. Starting with those that are on earliest in the year and ending with those at the end, each of these festivals has been selected for its scale, its astonishing visuals, and its commitment to seriously good times. From music to comedy to wild light displays in the Outback, rest assured that going to any of these incredible Aussie festivals will be a bloody good time indeed. 🎭 The best musical and theatre shows in Australia🎨 Australia's best art galleries🍔 The best food festivals in Australia

12 regional towns to visit in Australia (that are anything but boring)

As much as we love the hustle and bustle of city life, there are moments when you just need to hit pause and escape to the middle of nowhere. From the coast to the countryside and the outback, Australia offers up a wealth of picturesque towns where you are sure to find some peace and quiet. At any of these adorable towns, you can trade crammed bus rides for refreshing nature walks, overcrowded beaches for secluded shores, and busy city parks for untouched pieces of paradise. Here are 12 charming towns that are anything but boring. 🌊 10 beach towns to visit in Australia (that aren't Byron Bay)🚘 The best day trips to take from every Aussie capital city😎 The 30 most incredible places to visit in Australia

The 19 best art exhibitions to see in Australia in 2025

Whether you favour sculpture, painting, photography or textiles, there’s something for everyone spread across Australia’s biggest art exhibitions in 2025. Here are just a few of our favourites that have us booking flights in eager anticipation. A summer standout is the unveiling of Magritte at the Art Gallery of NSW, showcasing the biggest display from the influential surrealist painter ever seen in Australia. At the same time, the NGV International is playing host to the largest collection of Yayoi Kusama’s work Down Under, on display until April 2025. Our Arts Editors will keep adding to this list of must-see exhibitions across Australia as more are announced. 🖼️ The best art galleries to explore in Australia👀 All of Australia's best museums🎶 The biggest musical to see in Australia right now

The 40 best TV shows of 2024 you need to stream

With Hollywood still regaining its footing after a 2020s it’d probably describe as a personal low, the field has been open for streaming shows to monopolise the cultural conversation. And this year it’s been well-established thoroughbreads that have been dominating our social feeds (Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Bear, Industry, Bridgerton, Slow Horses), as well as some unexpected bolters (Baby Reindeer, Rivals, Fallout). And with a second run of Squid Game about to end the year with a big pile of bodies, the pressure to cram in eight or ten episodes’ worth of must-see TV is not relenting anytime soon. Our advice? Shake off the pressure to ‘see everything’ – it’s impossible, short of ripping a hole in the fabric of time – and find the shows that really hit your sweet spot. To help with this, we’ve taken a backwards glance over the best and most all-round enjoyable new binges, curating our definitive list of 2024 favourites. And as any fan of ace Aussie comedy Colin From Accounts will tell you: it’s not always about the number of Emmys on the shelf, as the sheer joy on screen that makes something worth your precious time. Here’s where to start. RECOMMENDED: 🎥 The 50 best movies of 2024🔥 The best TV and streaming shows of 2023📺 The 100 greatest ever TV shows you need to binge

The best shows to see in Sydney this summer

From the razzle dazzle of big budget spectaculars to understated indie gems, there's pretty much always a mind-boggling amount of entertainment to pick from on Sydney's stages. It's been a bumper year for musicals, and that trend isn’t about to take a bow anytime soon. One of the biggest openings of the year is the brand new national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s OG rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, kicking off right here in Sydney at the Capitol Theatre. Meanwhile, Sydney's exclusive return season of the epic Hamilton continues to dominate the stage throughout the summer, alongside the ridiculously satirical fun of Titanique, and the Hayes is bringing it home with the Christmas classic Holiday Inn (until Dec 22). Then in January, get ready to journey into Middle Earth with the Down Under debut of The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale (from Jan 7). Are you into dance? Then be sure you don't miss the latest iteration of Bangarra's Dance Clan (closes Dec 14), which is showcasing incredible work from up-and-coming Indigenous choreographers. Looking for something entirely different? The Famous Spiegeltent has popped up inside the industrial-chic surrounds of Carriageworks for a fabulous Summer Program, and it's bursting at the seams with stunning cabaret and circus, including new shows from the salaciously sexy Briefs brigade (they're packin' boylesque and drag) as well as the family-friendly Flying Fruit Fly Circus. How about some meaty drama? Sink your teeth into the family

The biggest musical and theatre shows to see in Australia right now

There’s never been a quiet year for theatre in Australia. From the bright lights of Broadway and West End to our very own stages in Australia, we’re lucky to play host to some of the world’s biggest and best musicals. We’re also a hotbed for homegrown gems, with fresh and experimental shows lighting up stages across the country every month. From an Australian debut musical inspired by a much-loved fantasy show to the grand return of a British “mega-musical” starring cats, this year’s theatre line-up is shaping up to be one of the most exciting yet. Here are all the biggest musicals currently playing in Australia or headed Down Under in the next year or so. 🖼 The best Australian art galleries🔍 Australia's greatest museums 👀 The best art exhibitions to see in Australia right now

Where to find the best Christmas lights in Sydney in 2024

Nothing says Christmas quite like a gander of extravagant Christmas light displays. We at Time Out are certified Christmas-in-Sydney lovers. Especially our Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs. She might have grown up with White Christmases in London, but she loves the Martin Place Christmas tree, carols sung while sitting on the grass on a balmy summer's night, the festive-season dips, and the spectacular – sometimes silly – Christmas light displays that people put up in front of their own homes. If you want to get out in Sydney to see the Christmas lights in 2024, we have you covered with our guide to all the best places Sydney Christmas lights – both public displays and the neighbourhood ones, from Bondi to Belrose, Bankstown, Bexley and Blaxland. Read on for a twinkly time. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, things to do and travel inspo, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Check out the best Christmas markets in Sydney. Pick up a gorgeous Christmas tree.

The best exhibitions to see in Sydney this summer

Whethering you're looking to escape to a cool place on a belting hot day, or hide from some nasty looking rain clouds, Sydney’s best art galleries and top museums have you covered. The city’s major summer exhibitions are now welcoming visitors, and we reckon they're living up to the blockbuster status. The Art Gallery of NSW is levelling things up in a surreal way, recently unveiling Magritte (open ‘til Feb 9) – the biggest display from the influential surrealist painter ever seen in Australia. Taking things from the origins of surrealism to art for the future, AGNSW is also introducing visitors to the cyber futurism of pioneering Chinese contemporary artist Cao Fei in Cao Fei: My City is Yours (until Apr 13). Both of the aforementioned exhibitions are exclusive to the Harbour City as part of the Sydney International Art Series, which is rounded out by a major survey of acclaimed NYC painter Julie Mehretu at The MCA, titled Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory (until Apr 4). Photograph: Artspace/Hamish McIntosh | Installation view of 'The 5 hearts of the Worm Affair' by Tamara Henderson Over at Artspace (you know, the Wolloomooloo institution that took out the inaugural Impact Award in Time Out Sydney's Arts & Culture Awards) artist Tamara Henderson has turned her attention to those unsung heroes of the ecosystem – earthworms. Slug in the Mug (until Jan 5) features a wide variety of mediums, including glass and ceramic sculptural works, a sound installa

The best Christmas markets in Sydney for festive food and shopping

If the thought of joining the hoards at a shopping mall in December gives you full body chills, save yourself the bother and add these quaint Chrissie markets to your hit list. From arts and design treasure troves to European-inspired food markets, these Christmas shopping pop-ups have all the yuletide goods you need to make the silly season really special. This year, you’ll find a magical weekly market popping up in Martin Place every Thursday to Saturday in December, foodie fiestas going down at Carriageworks, and a celebration of ceramics popping up in a light-filled studio in Sydney's Inner East offering super-affordable (and beautiful) ceramics.Regardless of your holiday budget, it’s worth hitting at least one market for your annual dose of festive cheer (if only for the fondue). As the silly season continues, we expect more markets to be announced across the city – we'll keep you posted here as soon as we hear more. Merry shopping. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Give even greener presents by stopping by at one of Sydney's best plant nurseries. Need a tree to put all those market-bought goodies under? Here's where to find the best Christmas trees in Sydney.

Listings and reviews (336)

Hot Tub

In this delightfully unhinged tragicomedy set on the sunny Gold Coast during the wet hot height of schoolies, one young woman named Dido’s mission to get her estranged father to take her to Movie World (and also to lend her some cash) descends into chaos – by way of spicy money-making exploits with her new twink step-brother, a hot tub choppered onto a highrise roof, and a human head in a freezer. A one-time winner of the Patrick White Playwright’s Award, Hot Tub comes from the mind of Lewis Treston, the mad genius behind Hubris & Humiliation (a memorable and fabulous farce set in post-plebiscite Sydney and mounted by Sydney Theatre Company as a highlight of Sydney WorldPride). Meanwhile, for some reason (many reasons, probably) Hot Tub has been considered “unproducible” for close to a decade. What a treat for willing audiences then, that independent producer Bub and director Riley Spadaro teamed up with Belvoir 25A to bring this larger than life show to the humble Downstairs theatre in Surry Hills. Shamelessly crass and Aussie to the core, Hot Tub carries many of the great hallmarks which made Hubris & Humiliation such a hit. Pantomime-like-levels of camp and perverse parallels to the humour of Kath & Kim aside, Treston is able to pack in clever and unexpected deep cuts when it comes to commentary about the superficiality and greed that underlies modern life in Australia, as well as broader ruminations on the meaning of life. At the end of the day, life is just moving chips

Tina Arena

Has Australia produced a better pop singer than Tina Arena? We're struggling to come up with any who can rival the warmth and power of her voice, her astonishing skill as a storyteller, and her songwriting chops. With all these elements coming together, a night in her presence is a near-religious experience. A couple of days after Sydneysiders were swooning over her performance for the Sydney Opera House’s outdoor concert series with Richard Marx, our queen of the power ballad announced that she’ll be on the road again in 2025 for her encore Don’t Ask Again Tour in April and May, and she'll be performing all her famous hits (did you know 'Sorrento Moon' is about that Sorrento, not the one in Italy?). Following the news that her classic hit 'Chains' has been selected as one of ten extraordinary audio recordings to be added to the National Film & Sound Archive’s unique Sounds of Australia collection, this tour promises to be "a love letter to Tina's loyal fans". The NSFA Archive collects sound recordings for inclusion in Australia’s audiovisual archive, creating a continuous record of Australian culture, and 'Chains' is being recognised for "illustrating Australia’s cultural and political life and environment" – and we reckon anyone who has belted along to the words "I'm in chaaaiiinnnsss" can only agree. The tour is kicking off in Perth before heading to Sydney’s gorgeous State Theatre for two big shows on April 29 and 30 – that’s a Tuesday and a Wednesday night, for those p

Panthers Penrith

One of the biggest leagues clubs in the Southern Hemisphere, Panthers plays host to a range of live events. Located in the heart of the 'Panthers precinct' on Mulgoa Road, the sprawling complex is filled with many restaurants, bars, and function spaces; as well as indoor flying centre iFLY, an Aqua Golf driving range, Cables Wake Park for the adrenaline junkies; and the Evan Theatre, which can hold up to 850 people for lively concerts and theatrical productions. Whether or not you follow the footy, Penny Panthers is your one-stop-shop for a big weekend out in Penrith.

Westpac OpenAir Cinema

Somebody pop the Champagne, because Sydney’s most stunning outdoor cinema is back by the harbourside. Westpac OpenAir is taking over Mrs Macquaries Point again this summer, with panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as its staggering backdrop. Running over 41 nights from January 9 to February 18, the film program includes the first Australian screenings of A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan; the Nicole Kidman-starring Babygirl; Luca Guadagnino's Queer starring Daniel Craig; and The Count Of Monte Cristo, direct from Cannes Film Festival. Other highlights include We Live in Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield; Robbie Williams biopic Better Man; Maria starring Angelina Jolie; Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy; Gladiator II; Wicked; Elton John: Never Too Late; Nightbitch and Conclave. Meanwhile, there’s more than iconic views and the latest blockbusters in store. This year’s ‘Festival of Film’ is accompanied by an equally glittering ‘Festival of Food’, with three of Sydney’s best chefs setting up shop at the harbourside cinema. Film fans can fuel up before the credits roll with a bowl of excellent pasta from the pop-up ‘Fabbrica at Chandon Garden’ curated by Scott McComas-Williams, or a selection of Vietnamese fusion sharing plates from ‘Luke Nguyen at The Point’. If you’re looking for a refined full-service affair, then ‘Summer House Dining by Danielle Alvarez’ will be brought to life by Alvarez hersel

Laneway Festival

The 2025 edition of Laneway is coming to Melbourne's Flemington Park on Friday, February 14. Happy Valentine's Day to us! This year, the vibe Laneway Festival vibe is very electro-dancey-pop-like, with a dash of indie garage rock. With music discovery at its core, 100 per cent of the Laneway line-up has released new music this year, and a third of the line-up will tour Australia for the very first time. The woman of the moment and pop songstress behind such anthemic earworms as ‘Apple’ and 'I think about it all the time', Charli xcx, will return to Australia and New Zealand to perform exclusively at Laneway Festival this summer in the southern hemisphere. Charli is on top of the world right now, and this is the moment to see this “young girl from Essex” (as Lorde would say) at the top of her game. Joining the queen of brat summer, Charli xcx; is British bedroom pop rock icon Beabadoobee; fellow Laneway Festival alumni, the eternally charming Clairo (hot tip: stream ‘Sexy to Someone’ right now to have yourself a good bop); one of the biggest names in UK dance, Bicep, who present their new AV DJ show CHROMA; alternative pop queen Remi Wolf; and dance floor euphoria expert Barry Can’t Swim. Amongst the contingent who are touring to Australia for the very first time is British neo-soul star Olivia Dean; heavy-hitting LA shoe-gazers julie; hip hop’s most energetic new arrival, Joey Valence and Brae; NYC’s most in-demand band, Fcukers; UK dubstep DJ Hamdi; and the enigmatic el

Blak Markets

The Blak Markets is a welcoming space for everyone to engage with the oldest continuing culture in the world. Visitors can enjoy traditional performances and ceremonies in addition to perusing an eclectic range of stalls selling a variety of art, homewares, jewellery, fashion, children’s clothing, textiles, woodwork, woven goods, plants and ethically sourced bushfoods. The final market for the year will be held on Sunday, December 22 – occupying Dawes Point Park in The Rocks from 10am until 4pm. With more than 20 stalls to check out, it's the perfect place for meaningful gift shopping. You can expect tasty homemade baked goods created with Indigenous bush tucker and spices, handmade crafts and Indigenous art as well as free entertainment for all ages – with interactive workshops ranging from interactive weaving workshops to and native plant workshops for kids.. The Blak Markets is a ceremony and a way for me to connect with mob, be grounded... The market is generally held between two alternating locations: the picturesque Bare Island in Bidjigal Country, La Perouse (located within the Kamay-Botany Bay National Park, the island is usually only open for tours, which makes a visit to the Blak Markets all the more special), and on Tallawoladah Lawn in The Rocks with stunning views of Sydney Harbour. This special Chrstmas event will take place beneath the Harbour Bridge, on the banks of Sydney Harbour – referred to by the traditional custodians of the land and waters as Warrane.

Dance Clan - 2024

From stunning dance pieces inspired by natural phenomena, to a poetic meditation on Blak boyhood, three emerging artists take charge of their own stories in the latest edition of Dance Clan in 2025. A showcase of three brand-new performance works from Bangarra Dance Theatre, Dance Clan is dedicated to platforming and developing the next generation of Indigenous choreographers and creatives. Upon taking the reins of the respected company in 2023, bringing Dance Clan back from a decade-long hibernation was a top priority for Artistic Director Frances Rings, whose own choreographic career was springboarded by the program. This is the second edition to be produced in as many years, and the calibre of work on show is nothing short of superb. Yawuru woman Lillian Banks and Wiradjuri and Darkinjung man Kallum Goolagong have both choreographed original works performed by the company’s dancers, and in a first for Dance Clan, Gamilaroi and Tongan man Daniel Mateo choreographs and stars in a dance film co-directed with longtime Bangarra collaborator, Cass Mortimer Eipper. Each piece incorporates an original score, as well as custom fashion and design elements – every element of which has brought together early career creatives with industry mentors and community elders. Every aspect of production is pristine in its execution, while the multigenerational aspect adds a layer of reverence – there’s the sense that the audience gathered in the dark is witnessing something special, someth

Hadestown

Is it getting hot in here? Come on Melbourne, it’s time to head way down, to Hadestown. Seen by 3 million, streamed by more than 350 million and adored by fans all around the world – the acclaimed West End and Broadway musical phenomenon Hadestown will make its Melbourne premiere at Her Majesty's Theatre in May 2025, after having its Australian debut at Theatre Royal Sydney in February. For the uninitiated, the gist is this: written by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, Hadestown is a genre-defying musical adaption of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in a dystopian steampunk-esque underworld, set to an evocative score that blends New Orleans-style jazz and blues with modern American folk music – with a live brass band on stage, to boot. The show won eight Tony Awards when it opened in 2019, including Best Musical, and is still playing to packed houses five years later. Hadestown already has a dedicated fandom around the world and here in Australia, and it has an edge that will also appeal to everyone who isn’t already a die-hard musical theatre fan. The Melbourne premiere of this sensational musical is presented by Jones Theatrical Group and Opera Australia. Jones Theatrical Group's Susan Jones says Melbourne audiences "embrace musicals like no other city". "In return, musicals delight in performing here due to the rousing receptions and support that they receive. Hadestown will be no exception. Creator and writer Anaïs Mitchell is such an extraordinary

Cao Fei: My City is Yours 曹斐: 欢迎登陆

Descend down the escalators in the Art Gallery of NSW’s ultra-chic modern north building, and you’ll see an enormous octopus perched above the entrance to one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the Sydney summer – step inside a futuristic cyber cityscape with Cao Fei: My City is Yours. An unfurling of purple tentacles beckons you to step into the multidimensional world of this influential Chinese contemporary artist, and become totally immersed in playful and inventive multimedia installations. Cao Fei (pronounced ‘tsow fay’) encourages you to jump into an inviting pit of foam cubes, walk through installations embedded with found objects, perch on a yoga chair to watch a short doco, lay down to watch another video projected onto the ceiling, sit in an original 1960s cinema chair from Beijing to watch a sci-fi film, and even strap in for a VR experience. The exhibition offers a unique blend of virtual worlds and cutting-edge technology, as well as tributes to fallen city haunts both here and abroad. But for many Sydneysiders, the most remarkable sight will perhaps be the pitch-perfect recreation of the Marigold, the much-loved yum cha institution from Sydney’s Chinatown, which sadly closed for good in December 2021. Inspired by the restaurant’s 1990s Canto-decor, original furnishings have been salvaged for this uncanny installation – including the chandeliers and light fixtures, tables and chairs, regal red carpeting, and gold signage. All of this is juxtaposed by some bi

All About Women

Okay ladies (and friends), let’s get in formation! The Sydney Opera House has dropped the first details for the next edition of All About Women (AAW), the festival of feminist ideas that marks the weekend of International Women’s Day each year (and always gives us a lot to think about). In 2025, the binary-smashing bonanza will take over the House with panels and conversations – as well as stand-up comedy and an immersive experience – all exploring inclusive ideas on gender, justice and equality. There’s also happy news for the queer feminists out there (um, like the person writing this) who in previous years have rocked up for a full day of talks as they’re shaking off glitter and sleep deprivation – this year, AAW will not fall on the same weekend as the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade. (And thank goodness for that, because there’s a big gay program ready to compete with those Kylie Minogue concerts!) Leading the pack is Emmy-nominated comedian, actress and writer Kate Berlant (she/her) who will premiere a new stand-up show at AAW as part of her debut Australian tour. Known for her surrealist and absurdist style, this woman has had roles in some of Hollywood’s most-talked-about movies of recent years, including Don’t Worry Darling and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; and (hot tip!) her intimate comedy special Cinnamon in the Wind is currently streaming on Disney+. Berlant is joined by the much-loved winner of Australia’s first season of Alone, and author of new release We Are The S

Jesus Christ Superstar

Jesus Christ! The messiah will return to rock the Melbourne stage when Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s celebrated musical Jesus Christ Superstar arrives in Melbourne in early 2025, following huge acclaim and sold-out seasons in London, as well as an extensive North American tour. The Olivier Award-winning reimagined production of this celebrated rock musical will land at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in March 2025, as part of a national tour. With an iconic 1970s rock score that was originally released as a concept album, this global musical phenomenon has been wowing audiences for decades. Jesus Christ Superstar opened on Broadway in 1971, and went on to become the longest-running musical in West End history at that time when it transferred to London. The original Australian production opened at Sydney’s Capitol in May 1972, followed by seasons at the Palais Theatre and other cities, playing for more than 700 performances. Many people will also remember the iconic sell-out Australian arena tour in 1992, which starred John Farnham, Jon Stevens, Kate Ceberano, Angry Anderson, Russell Morris and John Waters. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. This musical is not so much about preaching the word of the Bible, but it’s more of a subversive interpretation of the psychology of the good

Heaps Gay Powerstation

A wise woman once said: “In the clerb, we all fam!” When it comes to the beloved local party collective Heaps Gay, those words couldn’t ring more true. From little-yet-lit pub parties to major street festivals, their events have been coaxing Sydney out of its shell since 2013. Whether you're gay, straight, or somewhere in between, you'll have a heaps good time with this crew. This weekend, Heaps Gay is celebrating the massive milestone of its 11th birthday with a warehouse party for the herstory books – more than 3,000 party-goers are set to embrace queerness, love, joy, celebration and inclusivity in the belly of the recently refurbished White Bay Power Station on Saturday, November 23, from 3pm–11pm. An incredible line-up of entertainment has come together for this gay ol’ time. Release the beast, because the gender bender of British drag royalty Bimini Bon Boulash (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK) is leading the pack! She’ll be joined by fellow cis-tem offender Gottmik (RuPaul’s Drag Race) as well as the original brat, Princess Superstar, British DJ Jaguar will be playing tracks for the hunnies, dance floor icon Kim Ann Foxman, House music legend Absolute will be on the decks spinning back-to-back with Naarm-based party girl Big Wett, plus there’ll be loads more local drag artists and performers. Off the back of two sold-out Ministry of Sound events at White Bay Power Station, the expansive, heritage-listed factory will be totally transformed with art installations and loads of col

News (384)

Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art is introducing an entry fee for the first time in 25 years

Breaking with a commitment to free access for all, Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) has just announced that General Admission charges will be introduced for the first time in 25 years. Sitting opposite the Sydney Opera House in Circular Quay and welcoming a reported one million visitors per annum, the MCA Australia is the country’s only public museum that is solely dedicated to contemporary art. In April 2024, it welcomed its 20-millionth visitor since they opened the doors in 1991, and ever since the turn of the century, its been free to explore the museum's collection and exhibitions like the experimental Hustle Harder (recognised in the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards), with the exception of ticketed major exhibitions, like this summer’s big show Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory. The MCA states that the move has been introduced out of necessity to secure the Museum’s future. As of Friday, January 31 2025, visitors to the waterfront gallery will be charged a $20 entry free. At the time of publication, it's not clear if visitors will also need to pay full price for ticketed exhibitions in addition to the general admission fee (adult tickets for the summer show mentioned above, for example, are $28, not including the booking fee). However, the MCA has also announced that it is looking to maintain free entry for Under 18s and for Australian students. Photograph: MCA/Clemens Habicht | 'Hustle Harder' (performance documentation),

How to sound smart at Sydney’s blockbuster exhibition about ‘Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru’

Last summer, the Australian Museum lit up the sunny season in Sydney with Ramses and the Gold of the Pharaohs, a blockbuster exhibition filled to the brim with priceless Egyptian artefacts. It drew every amateur Egyptologist out of the woodwork, attracting more than 508,000 visitors and contributing more than $57 million to the NSW economy – and also earning a nod in the inaugural Time Out Sydney Arts & Culture Awards. This year, the country’s oldest museum is transporting visitors into the ancient Andes, sharing the secrets of five distinctive Peruvian Empires with Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru. Exclusive to Sydney, this carefully-curated summer blockbuster showcases 134 artefacts including exquisite gold and silver ornaments, astoundingly-well-preserved ceramic objects (including depictions of x-rated scenes, and drinking vessels that were used in ceremonies of human sacrifice) and textiles that you won’t believe are thousands of years old (such as a wall hanging made out of brightly pigmented parrot feathers!). Plus, you can add on a pretty next-level VR experience called Machu Picchu and the Spirit of the Condor, which includes a bird’s-eye tour of Machu Picchu – which was filmed during the height of the Covid pandemic, a rare moment when the landmark wasn't swarming with tourists. Photograph: Australian Museum/Cain Cooper Once again, Time Out Sydney teamed up with local comedian and ancient history nerd AJ Lamarque to take a deep dive into the year’s big

Drake confirms Australian tour: here’s everything to know about dates, locations and tickets

We know when that hotline bling, it can only mean one thing. In huge news for Drake fans Down Under, the Canadian rapper has just announced he’ll be coming to Australia in 2025, with 12(!) confirmed shows on his Anita Max Win Tour of Australia. It’s been eight years since the world-famous star has performed on Australian soil, and in true Champagne Papi style, he teased his return to Oz via a series of cryptic Instagram stories before confirming via live stream in late November. Here’s everything you need to know about getting tickets to Drake’s 2025 tour of Australia. When and where is the Drake Australia tour? The Grammy-winning artist is set to bring his Anita Max Win Tour to three Aussie cities in 2025, including: Perth's RAC Arena – February 4 and 5 Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena – February 9, 10, 12 and 13 Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena – February 16, 17, 19 and 20 Brisbane Entertainment Centre – February 24 and 25 When do Drake Australia tickets go on sale? Drake tickets go live to the general public on Friday, December 6 at 12pm / noon local time via his website and Live Nation. Is there a presale for Drake’s Australia show? There are not one, but three presale opportunities for Drake's Aussie concerts. Mastercard cardholders will have first dibs with a special presale on Tuesday, December 3 from 12pm / noon local time here. Vodaphone customers will be able to access a presale at the same time (but you'll need to sign up for the presale code in advance here). Finally, West

Drake Sydney tour: tickets, presale, dates and all the info you need

We know when that hotline bling, it can only mean one thing... Canadian artist Drake has confirmed that he’ll be coming to Sydney in 2025, as one of three confirmed stops on his Anita Max Win Tour of Australia. It’s been eight years since the world-famous star has performed on Australian soil, and in true Champagne Papi style, he first teased his return to Oz via a series of cryptic Instagram stories before confirming via live stream. Now, official ticket info and show date details for his visit Down Under have been revealed. Here's all the info Drake fans need... What are the Drake Sydney dates? The Anita Max Win Tour will see Drake take over Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday, February 16, Monday, February 17 and Wednesday February 19. Just like Olivia Rodgrigo and Coldplay both did earlier this year, he dropped the third date in response to the high demand. When do Drake Sydney tickets go on sale? General sale for Drake’s Sydney shows begins on Friday, December 6, 2025 at midday via drakerelated.com and the Live Nation website. The waitlist is now live on the Ticketek website. Are there a Drakes Sydney presales? Yes, of course there are. There are several, in fact. Presales will kick off from Tuesday, December 3 – with the Mastercard and Vodafone presales running from 12pm on December 3 until 12pm on Thursday, December 5. Mastercard members will also get access to preferred tickets when general sales start on December 6. Westfield members will get access to exclusive r

GREAT SCOTT! ‘Back to the Future: The Musical’ will premiere in Sydney in 2025

It’s time to slip on your self-lacing sneakers and grab your hoverboard – because the Sydney Lyric Theatre is set to host the Australian premiere of Back to the Future: The Musical in September next year. Yep, the phrase “everything old is new again” takes on a whole new meaning with this show based on the blockbuster movie from 1985 that spawned a franchise and a multi-generational obsession with modified DMC DeLorean vehicles. The story follows the adventures of high school student Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and the eccentric scientist Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown (Christopher Lloyd) as they time travel to different periods in history and Marty faces the critical paradoxical question of “Wait, am I my own grandfather!?” Following award-winning seasons on Broadway and the West End, the creators of the original film trilogy, Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, have teamed up with producers John Frost and Colin Ingram for the Aussie debut. Gale penned the book for the musical, which is paired with new music and lyrics by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning Alan Silvestri (who composed all three film scores) and six-time Grammy Award-winning Glen Ballard as well as iconic songs from the film including ‘The Power of Love’ and ‘Johnny B. Goode’. Back to the Future: The Musical joins a slew of major musicals coming to Australia in 2025, including other highly-anticipated stage adaptations like The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale which opens in Sydney, and Beetlejuice the Musical busting out

Cody Simpson will star in ‘Guys & Dolls’ on Sydney Harbour

If there’s one thing that you can say about Cody Simpson, it’s that the guy really throws his all into whatever he sets his mind to – from his teen pop idol era, which saw him gain international fame and tour with Justin Bieber after signing a record deal at the age of 14 years old, to his recent stint in competitive swimming. His next challenge? High stakes musical theatre – performed outdoors, on a giant floating stage. That’s right, Opera Australia has just announced that Cody Simpson will make his Australian musical theatre debut in a brand-new production of the award-winning Broadway musical, Guys & Dolls, at Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in March 2025. Drawing on his ‘inner crooner’, Simpson will play the lead role of Sky Masterton, which was made famous in the 1955 film by Hollywood leading man Marlon Brando, starring alongside Frank Sinatra. Simpson joins an all-star cast including two of Australia’s favourite leading men, the uber-talented Irish expat Bobby Fox as Nathan Detroit, and the breakout star of Australia’s Hamilton, Jason Arrow, as the cheeky rogue, Nicely-Nicely Johnson, along with celebrated musical theatre performer Annie Aitken as the saintly Sarah Brown. Photograph: Alannah Le Cross | Director Shaun Rennie with the initial cast of 'Guys & Dolls' on Sydney Harbour While this is Simpson’s Australian musical theatre debut, the singer is no stranger to treading the boards – he played the role of Dimitri in the Broadway musical Anastasia between 2018 and

15 Time Out Recommended arts and culture venues in Sydney for 2024

Sydney is famed for its outdoor culture, but we also have a huge diversity of world-class arts and culture venues – from art galleries and theatres to live music, museums and cultural experiences. Check out these Time Out Sydney Recommended Arts & Culture venues for 2024. (Time Out Recommends 2024 is presented in partnership with Tyro.) Art Gallery of NSW Sydney Opera House Carriageworks White Rabbit Gallery Belvoir St Theatre Riverside Theatres Old Fitz Theatre Enmore Theatre Qtopia Sydney Hayes Theatre Co Artspace Ritz Cinemas Randwick Oxford Art Factory Heaps Gay Parties White Bay Power Station Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. Check out some of the theatre and musicals on Sydney stages now.

‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ will kick off a brand new tour at the Sydney Opera House in 2025

Hold onto your butts – it’s going to be a bumpy, rib-splitting ride! The longest running comedy on the West End, The Play That Goes Wrong is showing no signs of slowing down – and it’s set to celebrate its 10th anniversary with a new Australian tour, kicking off at the Sydney Opera House in winter of 2025. It’s a classic whodunnit story – at least, that’s what The Cornley Drama Society attempts to stage. There has been a murder at a country manor, and an inspector is on the case to find the culprit. But when these accident-prone thespians take on this 1920s murder mystery, everything that can go wrong, does. The actors and crew battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences (and a level of live stunts that could rival that old Police Academy stunt show they used to do up on the Gold Coast at Warner Bros. Movie World – who remembers that!?). We digress – who murdered Charles Haversham? You’ll have to see for yourself. Audiences old and new will be rolling in the aisles when this Tony and Olivier award-winning fan favourite crashes back Down Under. Premiering in 2012 with only four paying customers, The Play That Goes Wrong has now been seen by over four million people and has been performed in every continent – except Antarctica (where producers fear a frosty reception). Photograph: Supplied/SOH | The original West End production of 'The Play That Goes Wrong' “Impeccably crafted and internationally acclaimed, The Play Th

Sydney Mardi Gras announces exciting headliners + huge festival program for 2025

Well, there’s a lot going on in the world right now, isn’t there? Amidst the horrors, there is one golden light shining at the end of the rainbow – and that is the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, which has just dropped a massive update about everything we have to look forward to in the program for 2025. Come February, we will have an extraordinary celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride, culture, community, and great big ridiculous parties to dive into. What is the date of Sydney Mardi Gras in 2025? The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival returns from February 14 to March 2, 2025. The jewel in the Mardi Gras crown, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, will once again take to Oxford Street in spectacular fashion on Saturday, March 1 – featuring three premium Parade Viewing Areas, including the newly revamped Taylor Square Takeover promising parade-goers a totally new block party experience. Who will headline Sydney Mardi Gras in 2025? Every year after the parade, the official Mardi Gras Party shimmies on late into the night. In 2025, it is set to be another unforgettable night, headlined by Grammy award winning DJ, producer and fashion icon Honey Dijon and UK musician, DJ and songwriter Romy – one third of indie band The xx and now a solo artist with her debut album Mid Air, featuring Grammy nominated track ‘Strong’. In an exclusive Sydney appearance, Romy will perform live, bringing her unique sound and energy to the iconic event. Expect an eight-hour explo

Long live ‘Sharnana’! This ridiculous banana shark is Sculpture by the Sea’s crowd favourite

Here in Sydney, we know that the sunny season has arrived when great big sculptures start to appear along the coastline – from gravity-defying architectural marvels, to political statements and surreal-looking stuff that you’ve just gotta laugh at (who can forget that life-sized ice cream truck melting into the sand?). The largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition in the world, Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi takes over the two-kilometre stretch of the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk every October. This year, the 26th edition of the exhibition showcased 100 sculptures by artists from 16 countries. While Sculptures’ has packed it in for another year, a crowd favourite for 2024 emerged early on, capturing the imaginations of people young and old, and that is emerging artist Drew Macdonald’s brilliantly illogical ‘Sharnana’ – a two-metre long shark-banana hybrid made from recycled plastic, calcium carbonate, steel and acrylic paint. What is the story behind Sydney’s banana shark? In the words of the artist himself: “The illogical nature of ‘Sharnana’ – a shark emerging from a peeled banana – mirrors the chaotic nature of our existence. But ‘Sharnana’ isn’t about dread and despair; it’s about embracing the surreal humour of life’s contradictions and finding joy in the everyday.” Photograph: Gareth Carr/Sculpture by the Sea | Artist Drew McDonald poses with 'Sharnana' On Sunday, Sculpture by the Sea Incorporated announced that Drew McDonald is the recipient of this year’s Allens Pe

Didn’t score an invite to Sydney’s ‘Wicked’ premiere? Get tickets to a special screening instead

It was a star-studded night in the Emerald City (and by that, we mean Sydney) on Sunday night when the cast of Hollywood’s blockbuster new Wicked movie dropped in from the sky for the official Australian premiere event. That’s right, even multi-platinum pop star Ariana Grande and Broadway legend Cynthia Erivo – who step into the shoes of Glinda the Good and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively – walked the yellow carpet, along with everyone’s favourite wacky guy Jeff Goldblum, who plays the Wizard. Did your invitation get lost in the mail, or torn out of your hands by a pesky flying monkey? That really sucks. But thank goodness, you can still get your hands on tickets to some special screening events coming up at Sydney’s State Theatre, the gorgeous venue where the official premiere went down. Sydney is one of only five international cities (joining Los Angeles, New York, Mexico and London) that’s part of the Journey Through Oz tour, which is a series of themed premieres offering audiences an unparalleled experience of the film’s “wondrous, breathtaking world”. Photograph: Sonna Studios/Aaron Hilborn | Jeff Goldblum at the Australian premiere of 'Wicked' A little background about the Wicked movie This movie is one of the most anticipated Hollywood releases of the whole darn year, and it comes right in time for the 20th anniversary of the beloved musical that it is based on. In breif, Wicked is a precursor to The Wizard of Oz, and tells the origin story of t

This historic island in the heart of Sydney Harbour is home to the largest surviving convict site in Australia

Home to a haunting complex of cavernous industrial buildings, a convict-era prison, and a modern camping site, Cockatoo Island is a somewhat edgy addition to the sparkling stretch of turquoise water that weaves its way into the centre of our city. It's the largest island you'll find in Sydney Harbour, and the 44-acre land mass is now used as a venue for some of Sydney’s biggest cultural events (for example, the Biennale of Sydney has seen the island transformed into a sprawling art exhibition, Opera Australia has staged an ambitious outdoor punk-rock-inspired opera here, and there’s also a major music festival going down here this summer). But Cockatoo Island is still a fun and fascinating place to visit on an average day, even without a techno soundtrack. As one of Australia's first industrial sites to be granted heritage status for its history as a convict site, the main draw here is its historical significance. But with magical picnic spots and magnificent views of the city skyline, Cockatoo Island is well worth a day trip, regardless of your interest in its past. What is the history of Cockatoo Island? Connecting to the waterways and homelands of the Wallumedegal, Wangal, Cammeraygal and Gadigal peoples, the island is known as Wareamah by the traditional custodians of the land, and is understood to have been used as a meeting place and a fishing spot by Aboriginal people before its colonial history began. In 1839, many of the red gums that covered the island were removed