Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

208  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT IN SYDNEY

Sydney has the standard of entertainment smaller theatres host interesting fringe events,
and nightlife you would expect from a modern dance and rock and pop concerts. Pub
cosmopolitan city. Everything from opera rock thrives in the inner city. Movie buffs are
and ballet at Sydney Opera House to open- well catered for with film festivals, art-house
air productions in the Botanic Garden is on films and foreign titles, as well as the latest
offer. The multi-theatre ICC Sydney at Darling Hollywood blockbusters. Comedy shows take
Harbour (see p100) and large venues in the place at small venues most nights of the week,
suburb of Homebush host major concerts. and the Sydney Comedy Festival is a highlight
The Capitol, Sydney Lyric and Theatre Royal of the spring calendar (see p211). Free outdoor
stage the latest musicals, while Sydney’s many entertainment is a feature of the summer.

Buying Tickets overseas bookings by phone
Some of the most if you have a valid credit card.
popular operas, Buying tickets from touts is
shows, plays and not advisable. Unscrupulous
ballets in Sydney are sellers have been known to sell
sold out months in electronically delivered “e-tickets”
advance. While it is and their PDF attachments
better to book ahead, multiple times. In such a case,
some theatres do set the ticket’s barcode will only
aside tickets to be allow entry to the first person
sold at the door on to enter the venue. It is legal to
the night. sell on a ticket, but not for more
The easiest way to than the original cost.
Modern dance at the Roslyn Packer Theatre (see p210) buy tickets is online,
either through the
Information Choosing Seats
major ticket agencies or the
For details of events in the city, venue’s official website, although Whether booking in person at
you should check the online you may be placed in “electronic either the venue or the agency
listings calendars provided by queues” if it is a major event. You or booking online, you will be
the City of Sydney, Tourism can also buy tickets from the box able to look at a seating plan
NSW and major news websites. office or by telephone. Some by price category and date
The printed versions of the daily orchestral performances do not availability, and choose your
newspapers also carry cinema, admit children under seven, so own seat. Check seating plans
and often arts and theatre, check before buying. If you make carefully, as many venues have
listings and advertise ments. The a phone booking using a credit unusual lettering: Row A may
most comprehensive listings card, the tickets can be mailed not always be the front row.
appear in the Sydney Morning to you. Alternatively, tickets In Sydney, there is not much
Herald’s “Spectrum” section on can be collected from the box difference in price between
Saturdays. The Daily Telegraph office an hour before the show. seats in the side and to the
has good entertain ment The major agencies will take rear of the stalls and the dress
coverage on most days.
Tourism NSW has information
kiosks at Circular Quay and
Chinatown, which have free
guides and the quar terly What’s
on, while the City of Sydney’s
One-Stop Shop at Town Hall (see
p221) provides informa tion
services, too. Where Maga zine is
available at the airport and the
Sydney Visitor Centre at The
Rocks. Hotels offer free guides,
or try the True Local website.
Music fans are well served
by the free weekly guide The
Music, found at video and music
shops, pubs and clubs, or online
at www.themusic.com.au. The annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival’s Dog Show (see p51)

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