David Kary

WALSH BAY ARTS PRECINCT OPEN DAY THIS COMING WEEKEND

The view from the balcony of the Wharf 1, sydney Theatre Company. Photo Brett Boardman

 

The Walsh Bay Arts Precinct will present its first precinct-wide Open Day presented across Pier 2/3 and Wharf 4/5 this coming Saturday 8 October

The program will feature over 40 free events that invite the public inside the Precinct to experience the dynamic cultural offerings of the resident companies through workshops, dance classes, access to rehearsals, behind the scenes tours and interactive activities.   

A highlight of the program will be the Artistic Directors Round Table hosted at the Wharf 1 Theatre at Sydney Theatre Company – a rare opportunity for the general public to hear from the Artistic Directors of the country’s foremost performing arts companies discussing the future of Australia’s arts and culture landscape, in a lively round table discussion. 

The Round Table will take place at 10.30am in the Wharf 1 Theatre at the Sydney Theatre Company. Moderated by the Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney Jess Scully, speakers will include Richard Tognetti, Artistic Director of the Australian Chamber Orchestra; Fraser Corfield, Artistic Director of Australian Theatre for Young People; Stephen Page, Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre; Peter Evans, Artistic Director of Bell Shakespeare; Lyn Williams, Artistic Director of Gondwana Choirs; Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director of the Sydney Dance Company; Brett Weymark, Artistic Director of Sydney Philharmonia Choirs; and Kip Williams, Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company. 

Further highlights of the program include:

  • Sydney Theatre Company will give visitors behind-the-scenes access to the Company’s sets, props and costumes across two exhibition displays, alongside acting workshops for children and a special live Q&A discussion with Director Tait de Lorenzo, who was Assistant Director on the company’s recent production of Blithe Spirit. 
  • Bangarra Dance Theatre will welcome visitors into their foyer space for artistic and educational children’s activities that are inspired by their first dedicated performance for children, Waru – journey of the small turtle. 
  • Bell Shakespeare will host exclusive behind-the-scenes viewings of the rehearsals for their upcoming world premiere musical The Lovers, as well as a series of Shakespeare themed workshops for young people. 
  • Australian Theatre for Young People invites young visitors to join in on a precinct-wide treasure hunt that explores all the places and spaces that make up the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct and its neighbourhood of artists. ATYP will also host a series of 30-minute drama workshops, performance tasters and improvisational theatre games, led by some of the industry’s best teaching artists and professional actors.
  • Sydney Dance Company will host free taster dance classes spanning jazz, hip hop, ballet, contemporary, tap and more, led by some of the industry’s best dance teachers. Visitors will also have the opportunity to watch the Company dancers rehearse their new work Summer, choreographed by Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela for their upcoming season Resound. 
  • Australian Chamber Orchestra will transform its Belgiorno Room into a pop-up café and cinema, showing exclusive StudioCasts of the ACO live in performance, as well as interactive children’s activities related to their new theatre production How To Catch A Star.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs will invite adult singers of all abilities to a free 90-minute Sing With Us workshop in the Precinct’s impressive event space featuring choral music from Bach and Mozart.

Gondwana Choirs will host 30-minute interactive family singing workshops, for children to experience the joy and fun of being a member of the Sydney Children’s Choir.

Below are the links to the landing pages of the different resident companies in the Precinct who will be opening up their doors.

For further information:

https://www.create.nsw.gov.au/create-infrastructure/arts-properties/walsh-bay-arts-precinct-nsw/

Featured image by Jacquie Manning