Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story
Tonight, tonight the world is wild and bright. Going mad, shooting sparks into space!
Fleet Steps, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
22 March - 21 April 2024
7:30pm - late
Available on Opera Australia
Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one interval.
02 9699 1099
[email protected]
Tonight, tonight the world is wild and bright. Going mad, shooting sparks into space!
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.
Leonard Bernstein’s 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.
PLEASE NOTE
This production contains strong language, adult themes, and a depiction of sexual violence; not recommended for children under the age of 12. The production also contains fireworks and sounds of gunshots, see further information under sound impacts.
FAQs
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: West Side Story is presented by Opera Australia and is an iconic Sydney annual event. With a magnificent stage on the water in Farm Cove, an event village based at Fleet Steps, and featuring fireworks every night, West Side Story on Sydney Harbour will be a night to remember.
Held from 22 March – 21 April 2024, performances are every night except Mondays and Good Friday. Ticket holders can access the event site from 5pm for a 7:30pm performance start time.
To find out more information about this event and book tickets, click here.
The event is situated at Fleet Steps in the Yurong Precinct of The Domain.
Site occupation: 27 February – 6 May 2024
Event Season: 22 March – 21 April 2024
Yes.
Bump in and bump out phase: due to the size of the infrastructure and set up of this event, for safety reasons there will be no public access along the Sea Wall or Fleet Steps during bump in and bump out phases. Yurong Gate to remain closed throughout bump in/out, pedestrians to be diverted through Victoria Lodge Gate.
Event season: access will be maintained along the Sea Wall and on Fleet Steps until 4:45pm. See exceptions further below under Footpath closures.
We encourage patrons to use public transport to and from the event:
- Train: exit via St James, Martin Place or Circular Quay stations
- Ferry: walk from Circular Quay
- Bus: for timetables, maps and to plan your trip visit: www.transportnsw.info
- Water taxi: water taxis will depart regularly from pick up points at Man O' War Jetty (next to Sydney Opera House) from 5pm until 7:30pm and drop off at The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, which is a 3-minute walk to the venue. After the show, water taxis will recommence for the return trip. Tickets are $15 each way.
- Taxi: Mrs Macquaries Road will be accessible for patrons travelling by taxi and taxis will be called at the conclusion of the performance to the entrance of the event on Mrs Macquaries Road. To reduce congestion, patrons are encouraged to catch the free shuttle bus (see below) and then catch a taxi from surrounding areas.
- Shuttle bus: the free pre-performance shuttle service starts at 5pm until 7:30pm and will loop from venue entrance on Mrs Macquaries Road to The Domain Car Park and then to Circular Quay. The free post-performance shuttle service starts from 8:40pm until midnight.
Road closures: no road closures for this event, however there may be some traffic delays during peak ingress and egress. The performances start at 7:30pm and finish approximately 10:15pm.
Gate closures: Yurong Gate to remain closed throughout the bump in/out period, pedestrians diverted through Victoria Lodge Gate.
- Bump in: 27 February - 22 March 2024
- Bump out: 22 April - 6 May 2024
Footpath closures: there will be no public access along the Sea Wall or Fleet Steps during the bump in/out period.
- Bump in: 27 February - 22 March 2024
- Bump out: 22 April - 6 May 2024
During the event season access will be maintained along the Sea Wall and on Fleet Steps until approximately 4:45pm (except for Mondays and Good Friday).
Parking restrictions/availability: limited metered parking is available on Mrs Macquaries Road and at the Domain Car Park. For prices visit: www.wilsonparking.com.au/the-domain-car-park
Mobility Pass Holder access: as per usual availability, see more about Garden accessibility here
Drop-off Zone: an event drop-off zone will be operational on Mrs Macquaries Road each event night near the entrance to Fleet Steps.
Yes.
Yes.
Sound checks and rehearsals for this event will be carried out intermittently from 11 March to 21 March 2024 between 1:30pm and 11pm.
During performance days (from 22 March to 21 April), sound checks will take place from 3pm to 5pm and event sound will commence from 5pm until 11pm. Fireworks will take place at each performance at approx. 8pm (approx. 25 seconds).
The performance contains sounds of gunshots. This will occur during rehearsals and performance season from 11 March – 21 April 2024.
The Handa Opera Sound Management Hotline is 0426 228 075.
We are committed to complying with all legislation and guidelines covering amplified sound levels at outdoor events. Click here for our Noise Management Plan.
We inform all immediate neighbours of events that may require traffic changes by email. We also provide event information via our website, newsletters and social media.
To stay informed, subscribe to our newsletter here or follow us on social media @BotanicSydney.
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