What to Expect
Experience an uplifting evening that puts student performing arts front and centre, perfect for families who love live theatre and student showcases. The program highlights the confidence, teamwork and creativity of children from Ryde area schools in a professional Concert Hall setting at the Sydney Opera House.
Expect a varied program that moves quickly between genres and keeps kids engaged. Performances typically include:
- Dance routines from primary and high school ensembles
- Drama pieces and short sketches
- Musical ensembles and large choral works
The atmosphere is warm and supportive — ideal for parents, grandparents and carers looking for a memorable night out. The event is a great way to encourage young performers, promote arts in education, and enjoy live performing arts in an iconic Sydney venue.
Activity Details
The festival runs as a single evening performance, showcasing combined school choirs, orchestras and dance groups in the Concert Hall. The advertised run time is around 150 minutes with a 20-minute interval, so plan for an evening of entertainment that’s substantial but family-friendly.
Performances are suitable for all ages, though children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Be aware the production may use strobe lighting and smoke effects and may be filmed, so parents with sensory-sensitive children should plan accordingly.
Doors and foyer opening times are provided on the Opera House website and pre-show arrival guidance recommends arriving early to collect eTickets or use the box office if needed. Seating is allocated; latecomers may only be admitted at a break to minimise disruption to performers and other families.
Location and Access
This event takes place in the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, a short 7–10 minute walk from Circular Quay. Public transport options include ferry, train, bus and light rail, and there is a Wilson Parking facility onsite with advance-book discounted rates.
The venue is pram accessible with lifts to main and western foyers and pram parking available in the Western Foyer. If you need accessible seating or companion seating, contact the Box Office in advance to arrange assistance for a smooth visit.
Foyers open well before the show (times vary by venue), and theatre bars sell refreshments; bringing a reusable water bottle is encouraged. Consider travel time and allow extra minutes for bag checks and cloakroom drop-off if you are bringing larger items.
Important Information
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times; the Opera House is committed to child safety and has policies in place to protect young visitors. The event may contain strobe lighting, smoke machines and could be filmed, so adjust expectations if you have sensory-sensitive children.
Bag checks and x-ray scanning are part of the venue’s security procedures, and cloaking is available 60 minutes pre-show for many performances. Larger bags (over A4 size) may need to be checked into the cloakroom to reduce queuing and contact.
If you arrive late, seating may be delayed until a suitable break; some performances have lock-out periods and latecomers may not be admitted until interval or not at all. For any access needs, contact the Opera House box office ahead of time to ensure companion or wheelchair seating is reserved.
Booking and Prices
Tickets are sold through the authorised Sydney Opera House ticketing service, with reserved seating in price bands. Typical ticket prices for similar school festival events are in the mid-range and are shown per seat when selecting your allocation online.
A representative price range for this performance is $55–$65 depending on seating category, plus a per-transaction booking fee of $8.95. Exact prices and seat availability are displayed at checkout and may change, so book early to secure preferred seats for family and friends.
For accessibility bookings, wheelchair or companion seating and other assistance, contact the Box Office by phone; details and online ticketing links are available on the Sydney Opera House website. Keep eTickets handy and consider printing or saving them to your phone for faster entry.