Page 212 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sydney

210  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Theatre and Film In the suburb of Killara,
the Marian St Theatre for
Sydney’s theatrical venues are well known for their Young People stages the
atmosphere and quality. There is a stimulating range of occasional theatrical production.
productions, from musicals, classic plays and Shakespeare With luck, you may even be
to contemporary, fringe and experimental theatre. Comedy able to see a performance by
the incredibly athletic Flying
also has a strong foothold, with celebrated performers as Fruit Fly Circus. This troupe
well as upcoming artists performing on small stages and of boys and girls, aged
at major festivals. Prominent playwrights include David from eight to 18, excels
Williamson, Debra Oswald, Brendan Cowell, Stephen in aerial gymnastics and
Sewell, Louis Nowra and Andrew Upton. has an annual residence at
the Sydney Opera House.
Australian film-making also has an excellent international
reputation. A rich variety of both local and foreign films is
screened throughout the year. Film
The city’s largest cinema
complex, the Event Cinemas
Theatre students throughout the year. multiplex is in George Street,
Sydney’s large musical The well-respected Sydney just one block south of Town
productions are staged at the Theatre Company (STC) stages Hall, and screens the most
Theatre Royal, the Sydney Lyric some of the most acclaimed recent film releases. Similar
theatre at The Star, the opulent productions, often featuring multiplexes, such as Hoyts at
State Theatre (see p84) and the big-name performers. Most Broadway, can be found at the
Capitol Theatre (see p101). STC productions are at The Broadway Shopping Centre, in
Smaller venues also offer a Wharf or the Roslyn Packer the Entertainment Quarter on
range of interesting plays and Theatre at Walsh Bay, though Driver Avenue, and in Bondi
performances. These include some are staged in the Drama Junction in the Westfield
the Seymour Theatre Centre, Theatre of the Sydney Opera Shopping Centre.
which has three theatres; the House (see pp76–9). Cinephiles flock to the Palace
Belvoir, which has two; the The Bell Shakespeare Norton St Cinema at Norton
Ensemble Theatre, a theatre-in- Company interprets the Bard Street, and to the Dendy
the-round by the water; and the with an innovative slant without Cinemas at Newtown and Opera
Footbridge Theatre. The Griffin tampering with the original text. Quays. Cinema Paris shows
Theatre specializes in works Its productions are ideal for arthouse and indie films, and
by new Australian playwrights, young or wary theatre-goers. often screens Bollywood movies
while the Old Fitz Theatre, Street performances and as well. The Chauvel Cinema at
located in the back lanes of open-air theatre are popular Paddington Town Hall screens
the historic Woolloomooloo during the summer months the best of independent and
area, is a 60-seat venue that when life in Sydney moves world movies in a lovely space
stages classic and contemporary outdoors. Shakespeare with proscenium-arched stage.
theatre. Carriageworks presents Australia puts on open-air For a movie and a meal,
an ambitious and risk-taking productions in the Botanic Govinda’s (see p193), which
artistic programme reflecting Garden in January. is also an Indian restaurant,
social and cultural diversity. The For the adventurous, the screens films that have just
Parade Theatre at the National Sydney Festival (see p51) offers finished their run at the
Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) a celebration of original, often cinemas. The admission price
show cases work by NIDA’s quirky, Australian theatre, dance, includes a tasty vegetarian
acting, directing and production music and visual arts. Once buffet dinner.
con sid ered somewhat frivolous, The latest screenings are
Film Censorship it has developed the repu ta tion usually at 9:30pm, although
Ratings of having serious artistic depth. most major cinema complexes
run shows up to as late as
G For general exhibition midnight. Commercial cinema
PG Parental guidance Children’s Theatre houses offer reduced-price
recommended for those under Sydney thrives on spectacles tickets on Tuesday, while Palace
15 years that delight children, and their and Dendy do so on Monday.
M 15+ Recommended for
mature audiences aged 15 parents. You will often find
and over jugglers, mime artists, buskers Film Festivals
MA 15+ Restricted to and magic shows at Circular
people 15 years and over Quay and around Darling The Sydney Film Festival is a
R 18+ Restricted to adults Harbour (see p93). The Sydney highlight of the city’s calendar
18 years and over Opera House regularly has (see p53), screening some
performances for children. 200 new features, shorts and

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