Page 90 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

88  SY DNEY

u Sydney Opera House

No other building on earth looks like the Sydney Opera
House. Popularly known as the “Opera House”, it is, in fact,
a complex of theatres and halls linked beneath its famous
shells. Its birth was long and complicated. Many of the
construction problems had not been faced before, resulting
in an architectural adventure which lasted 14 years. Today it is
Australia’s most popular tourist attraction, as well as one of
the world’s busiest performing arts centres, hosting nearly
2,000 performances for more than 1.4 million attendees every
year. The forecourt is a spectacular outdoor performance . Joan Sutherland Theatre
space in its own right, often hosting festivals and concerts. The venue’s second-largest theatre
is home to Opera Australia, as well
Detail of Possum as the Australian Ballet.
Dreaming (1988)
The mural in the
Joan Sutherland
Theatre foyer is by
Michael Tjakamarra
Nelson, an artist
from the central
Australian desert.

Opera House Walkway
Extensive public walkways around
the building offer the visitor
views from many different
vantage points.

KEY
1 The Joan Sutherland Theatre’s
ceiling and walls are painted black to
focus attention on the stage. Northern Foyers
The Utzon Room and
2 The Monumental Steps and the large northern
forecourt are used for outdoor foyers of the Opera
performances. Theatre and Concert
3 The Playhouse, seating almost Hall have spectacular
400, is ideal for intimate productions, views over the harbour
but is also able to present plays with and can be hired for
larger casts. conferences, lunches,
parties and weddings.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp482–3 and pp504–7