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

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Articles (247)

The best free (and cheap) dates you can go on across Sydney

Let's face it, love in this economy can be tricky. Generally, living in Sydney means that (unless you’re among the city's one per cent), taking your squeeze out on the town can lead you to consider auctioning off a kidney to cover the costs. To all you lovers out there whose weekly budget doesn't stretch to chartering a seaplane (or getting tipsy at one of the city's sexy underground bars), we hear you. That’s why we've put together an ultimate list of the best cheap and free dates available to boot-strapped lovers in the Emerald City – a list we compiled with love and care, testing out each option with romance in mind. Each of these options is guaranteed to set you back either nothing or next to nothing – save the cash and stock up on memories. 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.These are the best camping sites near Sydney for a low-cost romantic escape, and these are our readers' top tips for saving money in the Harbour City.

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

Critical Opinions: All of our reviews from Sydney Festival 2025

Every January, Sydney Festival arrives to kick off the city's arts and culture calendar with a massive helping of shows, gigs and immersive experiences. In 2025, we have an eclectic grab bag of more than 130 things to choose from, including critically-acclaimed productions from overseas (such as a subversive spaghetti western performed in “white face”) and wild new work from local artists (including the premiere of an unauthorised opera about Siegfried and Roy) in addition to some phenomenal live music in beautiful spaces. So, what are the performances that you absolutely cannot miss? And which ones will we still be ranting about for years to come? Time Out Sydney's squadron of independent critics are on the case, and they’re out there seeing as many shows as they possibly can this January. You can see our 13 top picks for the best shows to see during Syd Fest '25 over here, and check out our rolling list of festival reviews below. (Note: These “mini reviews” are shorter than the critical commentary that we typically publish, but they still offer honest, rigorous observations and critiques from reliable theatre enthusiasts and live music veterans.)

13 amazing First Nations organisations that you can support

Throughout Australia’s 235 years of colonial occupation, First Nations people have had to endure profound injustices and deep sufferings, the legacy of which continues today. Issues of race-related injustices and institutionalised racism are ongoing in modern Australia, so it's important that all Australians take the time to learn about our country’s fractured history, educate ourselves about the ongoing legacy of colonialism, and together, take steps forward towards real change. Any reading, learning, speaking up and donating to causes that work to minimise everyday injustices can help. In case you don't even know where to start, we’ve put together a list of some of the charities and organisations supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and PoC voices in New South Wales, as well as around Australia. Some of the organisations support First Nations mothers, others support First Nations queer people, some are all about moving towards reconciliation. If you aren’t in a position to help financially, there are other ways you can show your support. Read on to learn more. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land. Sydney-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations you can get behind BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation This Sydney-based organisation was established as a collective response to the identified need for strengthened visibility of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ community. They help young queer Indigenous people find community by f

Where to see Aboriginal art in Sydney

Whether you're visiting from overseas or a curious local looking to get beyond the basics (Dot paintings? Bark paintings? Seriously just the tip of the iceberg), these are the places to see the best of Australia's diverse Aboriginal art practice. You can also see the work of a handful of Aboriginal artists on the streets of the city – check out our hit-list of the best public art in Sydney, including Bara (2022), a 6.4-metre-tall marble sculpture created by Waanyi artist Judy Watson on the headland overlooking Bennelong Point and Circular Quay. Keep digging with the best museums in Sydney.

Things to do in Sydney on January 26

In Australia, January 26 has very different meanings for different people. For First Nations people, the day marks the beginning of colonisation and is sometimes called Invasion Day or Survival Day. For recent migrants, January 26 is the day of many citizenship ceremonies across the country. However you choose to spend it, we've picked out the main events taking place on the public holiday in 2025.In terms of time off work, it's worth noting that this year January 26 falls on a Sunday – meaning the public holiday will take place on Monday, January 27.Want to plan your year ahead? These are all the public holidays in NSW in 2025.Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. Want to escape the city? These are the best camping sites near Sydney, these are the best places to camp by the beach in NSW, and these are the best day hikes close to the city.

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

First Nations organisations and social justice campaigns you can support

The global Black Lives Matter movement in mid-2020 following the death of American man George Floyd sparked protests and demonstrations around the world and spurred on acknowledgement of the race-related injustices that continue to take place in this country against its original inhabitants, too. If you were one of the many people who posted a black square to show your support for the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s important to follow this up with action and education. Every single Australian must be reading, learning, doing research, speaking up and donating to causes that work to minimise everyday injustices and make serious moves to change institutionalised racism. We’ve gathered together a list of some of the charities and organisations supporting Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and PoC voices around Australia and the world. If you aren’t in a position to help financially, there are other ways you can show your support. Read on to learn how to provide financial support, get to know these organisations or get involved in their vital work. Looking for other ways to lend a hand? Here's where to volunteer in Melbourne.

The 7 most wishlisted Airbnbs in New South Wales

Venture out of the city and explore the other incredible places New South Wales has to offer. For a truly unique and fun experience, book a stay at one of the five most bookmarked Airbnbs in NSW – they're popular for a reason! From luxury homes nestled in the heart of the rainforest to cosy treehouses and clifftop caves where you can reconnect with nature, these eye-catching retreats all make for a great getaway from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. What are you waiting for? Updated April 2024: We all need a bit of pampering every now and again, this list included. And because we're committed to finding you the rarest stays, we've added two new gems to our lineup. One is a luxury tropical paradise in Clunes, while the other is a secluded cabin in the rainforest of Upper Burringbar. Brb, we're going on aeroplane mode. Dreaming of more escapes from the city? 🇦🇺Check out the best tiny houses and cosy cabins near Sydney. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every Airbnb featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The best romantic hotels in Sydney

Whether you're craving urban glamour or undone surf-chic, there's no doubt that Sydney is a gloriously romantic city. Gaze out over that landmark-spotted city skyline, dive underground to a funky hidden bar, or sit down for alfresco dinner after a sunset swim – whatever you're looking for, you'll find a kind of magic here. And when you're done exploring the city, you'll need a place to rest your head – and we've got you covered for the best hotels in town to stoke those romantic flames. Maybe a spa day for two, or a seaplane ride to your door will do the job. RECOMMENDED: Full of love but low on cash? Get cosy at one of the best camping sites near Sydney Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured below, we've based our list on top reviews and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

The 10 best weekend getaways from Sydney to explore NSW

In NSW, you don’t need to travel far to make a couple of nights away feel like a proper holiday. Whether you’re in the mood for a beach break, a hike in the mountains, or an escape to the country, we’ve found a host of getaway destinations that are easily accessible from Sydney.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. Need to squeeze your excursion into a day? These are the best day trips from Sydney. Or have an in-tents city break at one of the best camping spots near Sydney. Want a nature getaway close to home? You can stay at these magical houses in national parks surrounding Sydney.

The 25 most exciting events happening in Australia in 2025

Buckle up, mates! Australia is set to rock 2025 with a jam-packed schedule of music festivals, cultural celebrations, food fiestas and sporting events. Our Travel and News Editor, Melissa Woodley, has curated the ultimate list of the best events happening across the country this year. From dazzling winter light displays to sizzling summer food feasts to vibrant spring flower festivals, there’s something worth travelling for in every state and territory. Start submitting those leave requests and planning your next getaway around these key events across Australia in 2025. 😱 Here are the coolest new things to do in 2025✈️ The best places to visit in Australia right now🍽️ All the greatest restaurants in Australia

Listings and reviews (325)

“What did they tell you?”

A true labour of love and anger, this vibrant group art exhibition showcases the work of 38 women, trans and gender diverse artists who are speaking out on their experiences with medical gaslightlighting and misogyny at Alexandria's UNO Studios. “What did they tell you?” was devised by local Sydney artist Em Hatton after her own challenges navigating the health system, having recently been diagnosed with endometriosis after 20 years of symptoms. Angered by the things that doctors have told her over the years – such as “you should just have a baby to cure your pain” and “you have an undiagnosed pain syndrome” – Em discovered that unfortunately, her experience of medical misogyny seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Hence, she was motivated to rally together with fellow artists and develop this exhibition. From reproductive health issues to chronic illnesses and injuries, the featured artists have channelled their personal experiences with illness and medicalisation into a colourful, vibrant and powerful collection of works across multiple mediums – including painting, ceramics, sculpture, drawing, video and sound. These artists vary in art practice, age, identity, illness and background. But they all have one thing in common – navigating a medical system that overlooks and denies their needs, experiences, pain and symptoms. “Rage? Grief? Acceptance? Dark humour? This exhibition has it all, and it’s time we listen to these stories,” says Hatton. “This exhibition is

Jacky

Every now and then, a play comes along that reminds you of what good theatre is capable of: telling a story that exposes the truths of our society (the good, the bad and the ugly), that helps us to see ourselves and others with greater clarity and compassion and – better yet – keep us on the edge of our seats until the very end. Arriving at Sydney’s Belvoir St Theatre following its debut with Melbourne Theatre Company, Declan Furber Gillick’s Jacky is one of those plays. Rumbling with an undercurrent of honesty and authenticity, this unassumingly clever and comedically raw drama will stay with you long after you drift out of the theatre. Guy Simon (Holding the Man) reprises his role as Jacky, a smart young bloke who seems to be really finding his feet amongst the hustle and bustle of city life in Melbourne. As he juggles an internship with the uncertainty of the gig economy, his side-hustle as a sex worker is a pretty unbeatable way to pay the bills, and even get a leg up on the property ladder (and after all, he’s good at it). But when his unemployable younger brother Keith (Danny Howard, who makes an impressive Belvoir debut) arrives in town, Jacky’s worlds collide. Negotiating the boundaries of work life, personal life, politics and culture can be tricky enough – let alone if you’re a (closeted) Queer, Aboriginal man with a loud, nosy sibling crashing on your couch. The cast is rounded out by Greg Stone (August: Osage County) and Mandy McElhinney (Tiny Beautiful Things, S

Opera Up Late

Corsets, giant wigs, high drama, and faces painted for the back of the room – these are a few of our favourite things! But wait, are we talking about an opera, or a drag show? Well, both, actually! That’s right, the Sydney Opera House is set for a scandalous night out with the return of Opera Up Late, which is back by popular demand, and once again helmed by the hostess with the mostess: cabaret icon and provocateur Reuben Kaye. “Opera Up Late has become one of my favourite nights of the year,” says Kaye, who is currently starring in Jesus Christ Superstar (we had a chat with him about that too, watch it over here). Premiering at Sydney WorldPride in 2023, Opera Up Late is the one night of the year where Opera Australia’s rabble of classically trained performers lets it all hang out in a cheeky blend of comedy, cabaret and opera with a decidedly Queer lens. In 2025, this includes one of Australia’s most adored sopranos, Emma Matthews (who’s currently starring as the Fairy Godmother in OA’s production of Massenet’s Cinderella) alongside tenors Adam Player and Tomas Dalton, and mezzo soprano Angela Hogan, under the direction of the award-winning Shaun Rennie. Kaye adds: “It has this late-night, dangerous cabaret, licentious feel to it, which is really exciting to bring to an established opera company. It's a moment where you get to say to an opera audience: ‘Hey, here's what's been here all along!’ Because, there's nothing as queer as an opera – opera is drag!” Opera Up Late i

The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale

Well Frodo, we’re not in The Shire anymore. Sydney is in for a great big year of musical theatre, and it’s already off to an epic start with the Australian debut of The Lord of the Rings - A Musical Tale, which seeks to bring the Middle-earth of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy series to the State Theatre for one month to rule them all (cough cough) before embarking on a national tour. This tour commemorates the 70th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring hitting the shelves in 1954, which is of course the first book of the trilogy that inspired Peter Jackson’s blockbuster films in the early 2000s. For elder Millennials like me, the franchise conjures memories of a simpler time: a time when movies were treated more like a coveted form of storytelling rather than just another option in an endless barrage of ‘content’ to ‘stream’. A time when I would go to the local cinema to watch each new instalment in the adventures of my favourite beardy boys club with my dad, who even loaded my sister and I into the car for a day trip to Sydney to check out an epic exhibition about how those epic movies were made across the ditch in New Zealand. (So many used prosthetics! So cool!) I believe that there’s elements of LOTR lore that are so inescapable that you need not have watched the movies or read the books to get it. (Am I right, Preciousss?) There have been several attempts to realise the story of Frodo and the One Ring on stage, as musical theatre fanatics and Tolkien die-hards have

All About Women

Okay ladies (and friends), let’s get in formation! The full line-up for All About Women (AAW) is here, and the Sydney Opera House has not come to play in 2025. This annual festival of feminist ideas always marks the weekend of International Women’s Day in March, bringing together more than 50 artists, speakers and storytellers for a binary-smashing bonanza of panels, talks, workshops, stand-up comedy and immersive experiences exploring inclusive ideas on gender, justice and equality. Pick-and-choose your adventure with this spicy program – you can drop in for one or two sessions before debriefing over a vino at Opera Bar, load up your schedule for a full day of educational fun (and peruse the art installations in between), or even stream talks from your couch at home. The House has added a bunch of big names including Silicon Valley's “most feared” and “well-liked” journalist, Kara Swisher (who in a change of routine, will actually be on stage over at the City Recital Hall on Wednesday, March 5); actress and director Rachel House, discussing what it means to be a Māori woman in the spotlight; Jaguar Jonze on the issues that still plague the modern music industry; Grace Tame getting in on the big Feminist roast, and loads more fodder for thought. This lot joins the names that were already announced in November, such as Emmy-nominated comedian, actress and writer Kate Berlant (she/her) and the much-loved winner of Australia’s first season of Alone, Gina Chick (she/her). Known

Sydney Festival

Every summer, right after the dust settles from the Harbour City’s epic NYE fireworks display, Sydney Festival is waiting to take over the city with a great big helping of fresh arts and culture. This is your chance to get in on an almost-month-long program that’s crammed with exciting performances, immersive art installations, phenomenal live musicians, and parties that rock on well into the night. Featuring more than 130 experiences and running from January 4–26, highlights of the 2025 festival include a salacious true crime tale staged inside Darlinghurst Courthouse; Sydney Town Hall’s conversion into a Wild West pioneer town; the world premiere of a wacky unauthorised opera about the magical duo Siegfried and Roy; and intimate contemporary gigs in regal spaces like the ACO on the Pier and the City Recital Hall. You also have the chance to explore some sizeable new statement-making art installations – like Colour Maze, a vibrant installation unravelling across the wharf at the heart of the festival hub that invites the entire family to walk inside; and What We Leave Behind from Cave Urban, which invites you to share messages of hope for our environmental future that are woven into a unique bamboo structure on Tallawoladah Lawn. As with last year, the festival hub takes the form of ‘The Thirsty Mile’ – a full-swing festive takeover across both of the historic piers that make up the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct and the eight national performing arts companies that call them hom

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

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

News (388)

Introducing Australia’s “strange and unusual” star of Beetlejuice the Musical, Karis Oka

Australia is diving head-first into a massive year for musical theatre in 2025. In addition to garden variety revivals and grassroots local stuff, Aussie audiences are also finally going to have the chance to experience two fresh, edgy Broadway blockbusters that haven’t been seen Down Under before now. In Sydney, that’s the February debut of Hadestown, while Melbourne is busting out the ghost with the most in Beetlejuice the Musical in May – the hair-raising musical comedy inspired by the cult 1988 film directed by Tim Burton. (Not to be confused with the 2024 movie sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, which is another great addition to the fantastically twisted fictional universe, just saying.) Beetlejuice’s summoning to the local stage is a spooky dream come true for Melbourne-based triple-threat Karis Oka, who has just been announced as Australia’s own Lydia Deetz – the quick-witted teenage outcast who finds herself befriending the dead couple who haunts her family’s new home. Portrayed by Winona Ryder on the big screen, the character is considered a goth icon. As she explains it to Time Out, on the day her casting was announced, Oka “felt like my brain and my heart was just going so fast all day!”. It's a dream role for the Japanese-Australian actress, and even a passing glance at the comment section on her Instagram page (a space where off-beat shots of taxidermied creatures, tarot cards and mystic paraphernalia intermingle with backstage moments from her latest acting gigs

A rare giant ‘Corpse Flower’ is about to bloom at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens

UPDATE, THURS JAN 23: Putricia has finally started to bloom! She's been holding out on us for more than a week, but the people's smelly queen – who has so far inspired an official Spotify playlist, a fan page on Facebook, and more than 500,000 viewers of her livestream – is now tentatively opening up. Once the spathe starts to open, it does so rapidly over a four-to-six hour period, and the bloom will last just 24 hours in total. From today, the Botanic Gardens will be open to visitors until midnight for the duration of the bloom (queue will close earlier, once at capacity). Read on for more info. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alannah Le Cross (nèe Maher) (@alannurgh) It’s not every day that a Corpse Flower (also known as ‘Amorphophallus titanum’, or ‘Bunga Bangkai’ in Indonesian) blooms. In fact, this momentous natural phenomenon hasn’t happened in the Harbour City for some 15 years. But that’s about to change, with the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney announcing that they have one that’s about to do the thing! So, why does the blooming of a random flower have so many Sydneysiders on the edge of their seats? Well, aside from the fact that the Corpse Flower is bloody massive (it can grow up to three metres tall and weigh over 50 kilograms), and that they’re only supposed to bloom once every few years, the plant only flowers for just 24 hours – that’s not a very large window for a sticky-beek! Oh yeah, and as the name might suggest, these stran

Aussie director behind ‘Rocky Horror’ honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Sydney

Hot patootie, bless our souls! Sydney’s theatre community gathered at a star-studded ceremony overnight for the annual Sydney Theatre Awards, hosted by actress and cabaret legend Marney McQueen (who is currently starring as “Céline Dion” in Sydney’s exclusive season of Titanique). A total of 28 awards were presented, shared between 16 productions that played on Sydney’s stages during 2024 (more on those below). In addition to this, the highly anticipated Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to a true veteran of theatre and opera, director Jim Sharman, as around 500 people cheered on in the Seymour Centre’s York Theatre. Jim Sharman honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award Since graduating from NIDA in 1966, Sharman has racked up more than 70 productions to his credit. He made his mark on the world with his direction of three revolutionary rock musicals, including Hair in 1969 (Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Boston) – Sharman was just 25-years-old when he was handed full creative control of the production, and its success was such that it was seen by more than 1.5-million people during a five-and-a-half year run in Sydney, and thrust future stars Marcia Hines and Reg Livermore into the spotlight. Meanwhile, his bold take on Jesus Christ Superstar in 1972 (Australia, London) was the first successful staging of the concept album by Tim Rice and Andrew Llyod Webber, and went on to shape the now-famous rock opera globally. Photograph: Jeff Busby/Crossroads Live | The 2024/25 Sydn

Drake adds two new shows to 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 14(!) 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, and March 7 Brisbane Entertainment Centre – February 24 and 25, and March 4 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 ad

The best shows to see during Sydney Festival 2025 in January

Every summer, right after the dust settles from the Harbour City’s epic NYE fireworks display, Sydney Festival is waiting to take over the city with a great big helping of fresh arts and culture. This is your chance to get in on an almost-month-long program that’s crammed with exciting performances, immersive art installations, phenomenal live musicians, and parties that rock on well into the night. Featuring more than 130 experiences and running from January 4–26, highlights of the 2025 festival include a salacious true crime tale staged inside Darlinghurst Courthouse; Sydney Town Hall’s conversion into a Wild West pioneer town; the world premiere of a wacky unauthorised opera about the magical duo Siegfried and Roy; and intimate contemporary gigs in regal spaces like the ACO on the Pier and the City Recital Hall. You also have the chance to explore some sizeable new statement-making art installations – like Colour Maze, a vibrant installation unravelling across the wharf at the heart of the festival hub that invites the entire family to walk inside; and What We Leave Behind from Cave Urban, which invites you to share messages of hope for our environmental future that are woven into a unique bamboo structure on Tallawoladah Lawn. Photograph: Sydney Festival/Wendell Teodoro | 'A Model Murder' As with last year, the festival hub takes the form of ‘The Thirsty Mile’ – a full-swing festive takeover across both of the historic piers that make up the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct a

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 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