I would say this is the most recognized opera house in the world... easily. It is gorgeous,…read moreespecially when there are special occasions where it may be lit up in colorful displays. What really surprised me was that the exterior consists of small tiles... who knew. One drawback is that it is not easily accessible. Loads of stairs to climb and the distance from any transportation option to the entrance is huge. Once inside you will still be walking quite a distance and many many stairs. You will not be able to enter here without staff assistance if you are not walking perfectly well. The inside is as gorgeous as the outside, there are several bars and restaurants inside and out and serivce is great. I came here for my very first opera and even so I could only afford the 'cheap' seats, I must say that my view of the stage was great and the sound quality was excellent. A great help were the small screens on which the translation of the opera followed along. Sort of like closed captioning for the happenings on stage. Helped me tremendously as I tried to follow along, but do not understand a lick of Italian. What else can be said that hasn't been said a million times? Oh yeah, don't forget to visit Benny the seal who hangs out on some stairs in back of the building facing the water of course.

Whether I saw the Sydney Opera House from the inside, by land, or by sea, this civic structure is…read morean iconic as I've ever seen in my travels. My only other frame of reference was our previous visit to the Oslo (Norway) Opera House. Both are waterfront cultural landmarks designed to merge art with public space. I think the comparison is relatively weak, but I did enjoy Oslo's stark and walkable white marble roof designed to resemble a glacier, encouraging public interaction. Yet, its hard to beat Sydney's sculptural sails. We took the inside tour, with one regret being running out of time and not having the opportunity to enjoy a performance here, preferably in either the huge Orchestra or Opera Halls. Heck, I would have settled for one of the plays on the lower level. The biggest highlight though was getting to see the projection on those Sails commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the Australian Navy. Absolutely Stunning!

Beautiful historic theater in Sydney. Located in downtown, it was interesting to see the eclectic…read morearchitecture. The theatre was built in the Gothic Style with French elements in the baroque and empire style. In the 1930s, there was a push to update the area. The Art Deco front obscures the gothic elements on the facade, look over the red and gold to see the stunning stonework.

Ever wanted to pretend you're at an Oscars party?…read more Chuck your glad rags on and step out in style at the State Theatre, the closest thing we've got to a Baz Luhrman film made flesh - a magnificent receptacle, a splendiferous spectacle, a gilt-and-velvet wonderland where every day's a holiday and everyone looks good when mood lit. Part throwback to a bygone age, part modern romance, come for a film, come for a theatre performance, come for a gig, just come as you are. Or were. It can be kind of hard to tell, its' like the imaginarium of Dr Parnassus all up in this place. The mermaid busts and marble stairs, the and chandeliers and candy bars are wondrous and dizzying, they make you want to put your arms out and throw your head back and twirl at an invisible camera in the ceiling. If you see me doing that you'll know why. Take care not to spill your chardonnay.

Thank you Natalie Portman for making Ballet sexy again - suddenly Swan Lake has a new meaning and…read morethe dancers pirouetting away have back stories and although things may not be as dramatic, I do believe the film has sparked young interest in ballet again.... Ballet is a unique experience for someone who has never seen it before. You're watching people use their bodies in the most extraordinary way where they tell you a story using no words, just movement and music. It's simply magnificent to watch, and the Australian Ballet dancers are exceptionally talented. My only suggestion for newbies, is read about the ballet you're watching so that you get some idea of the storyline so that you can enjoy the directors interpretation of the script. Simply brilliant and a wonderful experience for all people.

Actually I can imagine a lot of guys reading about this place due to:…read more1. Being coerced by their significant other to take them to the ballet; 2. Trying to find a logical reason for agreeing to go; or 3. Having a genuine love for ballet and dance. I have a feeling that most are in the first category :p The Australian Ballet is a well-regarded dance company with talented dancers that have had a wealth of overseas and Australian-based experience. So you are assured of witnessing an incredible performance every season. I have heard a Russian Method trained ballet dancer comment that Australian ballet dancers lack a certain flair when performing and that the performances you would see in Europe are on a higher level. However I think that for the general viewing public who are not there to provide a critique on technique, I'm sure they will be blown away by the Australian Ballet :) I've seen a modern performance a few months ago called Body Torque hosted by the Australian Ballet and it was incredibly good in terms of overall performance. I'm really looking forward to Romeo & Juliet in December which is choreographed by Graeme Murphy of SDC fame and costumes designed by Akira Isogawa! It will be amazing! Tix for the 2012 subscription season are already on sale and highlights will include Swan Lake and Onegin. Prices to ballet aren't cheap ($172-$200 for A reserve but it goes to $32 for the nose bleed D reserve seats) but I think it is worth it as you get to experience watching incredibly talented (and athletic!!) people doing what they were born to do. Dance!

Located in the Chinatown and Thai town area with lots of restaurants and small food places to get…read moredinner beforehand or after a show, sits the Capitol Theatre. Unassuming exterior but with a beautiful ornate interior with old Victorian style decor and Roman style arches and sculptures on top. I went to see the musical, Beauty & The Beast which is an awesome Disney adaptation of the movie. I seen it first about 20 years ago and really enjoyed it then as I did now. It's definitely a show that all ages will enjoy and sing along. The snack bars have your typical goodies and the snacks and drinks are allowed in the theatre seating area. During intermission there was a small side window inside the seating area that opened and sold some snacks and drinks as I purchased a bottle of water. Inside the theatre the temperature was comfortable and acoustics were excellent. The seating seemed a little worn and outdated but did not take away from the experience.

The site of the Capitol Theatre has provided entertainment to the people of Sydney since the early…read more19th century when this piece of land was used by early settlers as a market place for produce and hay, giving this area its name "Haymarket". The building initially functioned as a fruit and vegetable market called "Belmore Markets". The markets were built in 1891 by George McRae, City Architect. The markets relocated in 1912, after which Wirth Bros took over the lease and opened their new Wirth Bros Hippodrome in 1916. The old site was divided up between the Manning Building (1895-1924), facing Pitt Street, and the western half, which was rebuilt as a theatre in 1928. A beautiful old building with grand interiors and host to many famous Australia and international performances, musicals and so on. I have been here many times and really enjoyed it. I love live theatre and have seen some great musicals here as well as other forms of theatre.

The last time I came to see a play at the Wharf Theatre, I came to see the modern adaption of the…read moreBertolt Brecht play, Baal. Baal is an anti hero, everyone loves and admires him despite his self destructive nature and sour attitude toward those around him. David Bowie performed Baal once, I bought a record of the music. It was very slow and his voice was very deep, though looking back, perhaps my record player wasn't working properly. We walk along the corridor of the Wharf Theatre, past the old pictures of those great actors to have graced the stage. The Sydney Theatre Company's hall of fame, interspersed between windows that look out onto the water. The ideal scenery for a night at the theatre, or anywhere else if water's your thing. At the end of the hallway is the foyer. The bar serves beer and wine, but I tuck into the free water located on a table near the balcony door. I run into an old friend and chat to her about various happenings in our lives that are interesting enough to relate to another human being in a social setting. The play is about to begin and we part ways to find our seats. The productions that the Sydney Theatre Company puts on are always of an extraordinarily high quality and this production is no different. The cast are the same as those who put it on in Melbourne and have all travelled up to display their wears. (In more ways than one, as the play is rife with nudity.) There's a question and answer session with the actors once the play is finished. It's very interesting to hear their take on such a dark and provocative piece of theatre.

Three years ago I wouldn't have gone near Sydney Theatre Company. No doubt that it is an…read moreinstitution for theatre in Sydney but it just took itself and theatre so seriously. Then Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton took over as Artistic Directors and changed things up. Suddenly the seasons mixed topical and modern productions with the classics and maybe even a musical thrown in to really stir things up. The 2012 season has just been announced and already I have my eye on 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' - a "scintillating drama" starring Hugo Weaving. Ticket prices always vary with each production/venue priced differently. My tip is to watch STC on FB or Twitter where occasionally they will sell last minute tickets at approx $30. Otherwise if you're under 30 there are heavily discounted tickets to each production so make sure you mention that at the time you book!

The Tap Gallery is a mildly cat-pee scented Mistress of the Dark. SUCH a great venue with it's two…read morelevels, many rooms and liquor license, Tap is a performance artist's dream. (Well, maybe after Broadway, the Sydney Opera House, Wembley Stadium...) The unpretentious facade hides a decent sized venue, complete with cafe and bookstore, and being artist-run they get a nice eclectic mix of exhibits- it's not just one person's taste determining who gets to show there. All around a great concept and worthy of support. I just wish wish wish the house cat was kitty-litter trained because the place has an underlying aroma that seeps into your consciousness after a couple of hours here. They could also do with a fan as the low ceilings stop the air from circulating (not helpful with aforementioned odour issue), but overall this is a great place to enjoy the eclectic furniture and soak up some Arts darling.

A friend of mine was putting on a play. It was to be performed at the Tap Gallery on Palmer Street,…read morea small theatre located above an art gallery. We arrived, had a bit of trouble finding a park (as you do in that area) and then rushed upstairs, slightly late, though the play hadn't started yet so all was good. Tickets purchased we walked into the theatre space. It's an unusual space, but it's intimate, the seats are simply large steps that take up one side of the room and seat about 50 people. The stage is a long stage as it takes up the remainder of the room, depending on what sets are constructed for the play. The play was thoroughly enjoyable with an adequate amount of puns thrown in for good measure. The issue with the Tap Gallery Theatre is that if anything happens in the lobby while the play is on, and also, technically speaking, even when the play isn't on, but lets not play that philosophical mind game, then you can hear it in the theatre and it can be disrupting. For example a conversation about a drink. We can hear you. After the play we all moved downstairs to continue quenching our thirst with fizzy beverages and to admire some art. As mentioned earlier, the downstairs section of the building is an art gallery and as luck would have it there was an opening that night so the place was full of people both young and old. Some of the art was fantastic, other art pieces were confusing and there was even a large man with a Casio S1 playing synthesised music to entertain the masses. It was a fun night out and one full of culture, art and entertainment. It has its drawbacks, but there are few places where you can meld theatre, fine art and Casio S1's so seamlessly as the Tap Gallery.

This centre has changed quite a lot since I was here in the mid 1970s when it wasn't too much…read moretrouble to park in the street. We decided to get dropped off and picked up this time as the performance was just an hour long as it was for kids. Our transport went to Broadway shops and browsed. The theatre seating is good. Even with a tall and/or large person in front, the tiering allows you to see over them. Not so good for little kids as we had to do a shuffle so kids were sitting behind kids. Strangely, we got the impression that the performers were happy to be there too as they seem to be getting excellent support from the backstage guys when things went astray. We brought our own snacks rather than pay at the snack bar. The performance was good. We got out pretty quick and across City Road to the playground to wait for our pickup.

The Seymour theatre is located in the Sydney Uni campus area. The facilities include a number of…read moreperformance theatres with a variety of different shows on offer from local university productions to specialist shows. The Seymour theatre provided me with my first experience of the Ballet. I had that Homer Simpson thoughts of the ballet being "do do dododo do do do" like the circus instead of la la la kick kick kick kick and legs everywhere. The show was different and a new experience at the least. The theatre was comfortable and provides the audience with an intimate space given that it's venue holds only about 80-100 people. The lighting was good in the theatre with plenty of good spot lights to add mood to the show. Overall good theatre and would come back again but perhaps not for the ballet. Seymour by name and See More by nature.

I shed tears, actual tears, tears of love lost, when the original District 01 off Oxford St shut…read moredown earlier this year. Sydney had lost one of her raddest venues and a place renowned for putting on ace performances, plays, sales, exhibitions and just about anything else you can think of. It was making way for a bakery. Now, I'm all for baked goods, but Sydney can't afford to lose little gems like this that add something irreplaceable to the fabric of this damned fine city. Huzzah, then, that District 01 has risen - phoenix-like! - from the ashes of corporate suckitude and is reincarnated in Randle Lane, a small, clean alleyway near Central Station and the place is cooler than ever. HUZZAH I SAY. I attended the relaunch party last night and while there were canapes and live tunes and drinks what I really got excited about was the venue: a white-walled space ready to be transformed into whatever, whenever. A blank canvas waiting for imagination to recreate it into anything the user desires. Light globes hang low from the ceiling. Entry is up the stairs of a repurposed loading dock. And . . . there's just something about partying in a secret alleyway that makes me feel cooler than I probably (er, actually) am.

This is definitely one of those places you've stumbled upon by accident and you want to keep it a…read moresecret. Down a little alleyway off a quiet street, there's a set of door with a sign on them that reads "District 01". Inside is a converted warehouse with white floors, walls and ceiling and a few stacks of white pallets. I was here for a Yelp event so the projector was beaming District 01 offers with intermittent Yelp logos. The night was fairly warm and humid but the venue remained cool enough even though it was packed with people. This is defo worth keeping in mind if you're an event coordinator/PR/marketing peep looking for cool, new venues for events.