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Indonesian dancers Murtala and Alfira O’Sullivan have a combined show called Sisa-Sisa at Bankstown Arts Centre during Sydney Festival.

Trauma of the Boxing Day tsunami inspires long-overdue Sydney Festival debut

Murtala and his wife Alfira O’Sullivan are performing a very personal double bill in Bankstown.

  • Chantal Nguyen

Latest

The real skaters deserved to be extras in a better show.

Could this be the worst Sydney Festival show I’ve ever seen?

Our reviewers give their verdict on the latest Sydney Festival offerings.

  • Katie Lawrence, Chantal Nguyen, Peter McCallum, John Shand, Kate Prendergast and Cassie Tongue

‘I was told not to drool’: For Dan Daw, just being himself is a radical act

The Australian dance-maker’s latest work asks what it would mean to ignore those urging him to “fit in”.

  • Matthew Westwood
Mama Does Derby star Amber McMahon, left, with co-creator and writer Virginia Gay and roller derby skater Nicole Eyles, aka Ziggy Wheeldust, from Inner West Roller .

‘Quite magic’: The Sydney Festival show transforming Town Hall into a roller derby track

Dozens of skaters will transform the beautiful building into a roller derby track for a show described as “live theatre turned up to 150 per cent”.

  • Garry Maddox
dwefew

Reuben Kaye is engorged, enraged and unrepentant

The veteran performer sees cabaret as deeply political and transgressive.

  • Matthew Westwood
Aroha Pehi, Serene Yunupingu and Miah Wright of the Jannawi Dance Clan who will perform Garrigarrang Badu at the Opera House as part of Sydney Festival. Photographed in Newington, Sydney on December 19, 2025. Photo: Dominic Lorrimer

Four generations on one stage give Dharug language back its voice

Peta Strachan started the all-female Jannawi Dance Clan in 2008 to learn more about her ancestors’ language.

  • Helen Pitt
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Khalid Abdalla performs Nowhere in the UK.

‘I use it with belief’: Sydney Festival headliner defends show that refers to ‘genocide’

The Crown star Khalid Abdalla says Nowhere is about the desire for a better world for everyone and is not a threat to Jewish safety.

  • Garry Maddox
Interviewing Lonnie Holley is like peering through a verbal kaleidoscope.

One of 27 children and traded for a bottle of whiskey at four: Lonnie Holley has some stories

The artist doesn’t improvise just his music; he improvises his lyrics – and interviews.

  • John Shand
Sydney Festival 2026

Sydney Festival 2026

Sydney Festival is upon us for another year. Here is everything you need to know - reviews, previews and interviews - to plan your festival experience.

Travis Alabanza / Burgerz

A stranger attacked Travis. She didn’t get mad - she got herself a hit show

The British artist’s award-winning show will make you question everything you thought you knew about transgender people.

  • Nick Galvin