West Side Story on Sydney Harbour Tickets
About West Side Story on Sydney Harbour
West Side Story exploded onto Broadway in 1957 in a sensational storm of exuberant dance and wistful romance. It was a phenomenon that never faded, “an incandescent piece of work” (The New York Times).
In 2024, this musical masterpiece returns to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour in an electrifying, larger-than-life staging.
Experience the greatest score ever written for musical theatre, dynamic dance numbers that soar through the open air, and a love story for the ages.
It’s war on New York’s Upper West Side, and the Jets and the Sharks are locked in a fierce turf battle. But as the two teen gangs hurtle down a dangerous path, Tony and Maria cross enemy lines, dreaming of a time and place where they can love freely.
The score is punctuated with hits: ‘America’, ‘Tonight’, ‘Maria’, ‘I Feel Pretty’, and the enduring ‘Somewhere’.
Opera and musical theatre great Francesca Zambello directs a production that revels in all that’s beautiful about West Side Story, with designers Brian Thomson and Jennifer Irwin transforming Sydney into a slice of New York.
See why this staging became the highest-selling ever on the harbour-top stage, delighting audiences and critics. Limelight called it “a wonderful production that uses the large, outdoor space cleverly, thrills with its electrifying choreography and catchy, complex score ★★★★ 1/2 ”.
If you’ve never been to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, prepare for a remarkable night out. Arrive early to enjoy the sun setting over Sydney Harbour as you raise a glass and drink in the view at one of the five pop-up bars and restaurants on site. Then take your place in the grandstand by the water to enjoy the enthralling show, complete with live orchestra hidden beneath the dramatic stage and fireworks in the balmy night air.
Run time
2hrs 30mins (incl. interval)
Categories
Age
Recommended for ages 12+
Start date
22nd March, 2024
End date
21st April, 2024
Venue
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour - Fleet Steps
Accessibility
Sections A-E, in the first 5 rows are best seats for persons with limited mobility, who are not wheelchair users. Please note upon entry, you will walk downhill and up a few stairs to seats. Upon exit, the path is uphill.
Directions
Mrs Macquaries Road, leading into the venue, is likely to experience traffic congestion. It is highly recommend avoiding this road by catching public transport or parking in surrounding car parks, and then catching the free shuttle bus.
Please note when walking from the train, bus, or ferry remember that access to the venue via the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is only possible prior to 6:30pm in March and 6pm in April. After this time, the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is closed from all entrances and not possible to walk through.
GETTING TO THE VENUE
BY TRAIN: The nearest train stations are: St James: approximately a 16-minute walk (1.3 km)
Martin Place: approximately an 18-minute walk (1.5 km)
Circular Quay: approximately a 29-minute walk (2.3 km)
BY BUS: Bus route 200 stops on Macquarie Street.
BY CAR: The Domain Car Park is the closest car park and is open 24 hours. A free shuttle bus is available to guests who park in the Domain Car Park (details below). Parking spots for those with mobility parking scheme permits are located at the northern end of the ground floor.
There is also metered parking along Mrs Macquaries Road, Hospital Road and Macquarie Street. Meters accept credit card or payment by mobile phone.
Art Gallery Road, leading into the venue, is likely to experience traffic congestion. We highly recommend arranging an alternative drop off/meeting point.
Complimentary shuttle bus (wheelchair accessible) The pre-performance shuttle service runs from 4:30pm until the start of the performance on a loop from the Domain Car Park (departing from Sir John Young Crescent on the ground floor) to the venue entrance on Mrs Macquaries Road. The shuttle ride takes approximately 5 minutes, depending on traffic. The pre-performance shuttle bus does not stop at the Art Gallery of NSW. We recommend arriving early to ensure you have time to be seated before the start of the performance.
The post-performance shuttle service starts from 8:45pm and runs until midnight, or until the last patron has left, and stops at the Domain Car Park. The post-performance shuttle bus does not stop at the Art Gallery of NSW.
More information about West Side Story on Sydney Harbour
★★★★★ “a perfect Sydney night out” - Cultural Binge
“THIS exuberant revival of a hit musical born as long ago as 1957 hits the mark with a fresh young cast and a message as relevant today as it was in Shakespeare’s time.” – Daily Telegraph
★★★★ “a triumphant spectacle” - TimeOut
★★★★ “magic” “remarkable” – The Guardian
★★★★ “It’s the perfect answer to the question of where to take a visitor to Sydney.” – SMH
“It’s as if every other performance of West Side Story you’ve seen was in black and white, whilst this one was in full technicolour. Such was the intensity of the brilliance of so many aspects of this production that it felt fresh and more detailed than any I have watched before.” – Stage Whispers
Based on concept of: Jerome Robbins
Book by: Arthur Laurents
Music by: Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by: Stephen Sondheim
Entire Original Production Directed And Choreographed by: Jerome Robbins
Originally produced on Broadway by: Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince
By arrangement with: Roger L. Stevens
Licensed exclusively by: Music Theatre International (Australasia).
Starring: Nina Korbe and Billy Bourchier
Photo Credit: Danial Boud
Tickets
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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