Artsplorers

Where to Hide a Star (ACO on the Pier)
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-04 | Australian Chamber Orchestra Pier 2/3, Suite 3/13A Hickson Rd, Dawes Point, NSW, 2000, Australia
From the creative team that brought you the smash-hit production How to Catch a Star, comes a brand-new theatrical adventure based on Oliver Jeffers’ sequel, Where to Hide a Star – a sparkling celebration of imagination, friendship, empathy, courage and love.
In this delightful new ACO Families production, we reunite with our Boy, who has finally caught his Star. But now his wish has been fulfilled, he faces a new problem: can something so bright belong to just one person?
Join the Boy on his brave journey across lands, seas and space, chasing stuck penguins and lost stars, answering cries for help with daring rescue missions, and finding unexpected friends in the most surprising places. Beautifully staged with live music by an ACO quartet, Where to Hide a Star is a story of friendship and connection, of learning when to hold on – and when to let go.
Based on the internationally bestselling children’s book by acclaimed author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, adapted and directed by Sandra Eldridge, and brought to life with a stellar original score by award-winning composer Elena Kats-Chernin, Where to Hide a Star will delight dreamers of all ages.
Age: 3–8 years
ACO On The Pier – The Neilson
Wed 1 Oct, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Thu 2 Oct, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Fri 3 Oct, 10:30am,12:00pm and 2:00pm
Sat 4 Oct, 10:30am,12:00pm and 2:00pm
Mon 6 Oct, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Tue 7 Oct, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Wed 8 Oct, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Thu 9 Oct, 10:30am and 12:00pm
Fri 10 Oct, 10:30am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm
Sat 11 Oct, 10:30am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm

Bottom's Dream (Bell Shakespeare - Pier 2/3)
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-04 | Bell Shakespeare – Pier 2/3, 13A Hickson Road, Dawes Point, NSW, 2000, Australia
Bottom has had a most rare vision. He’s just woken up in the forest after a strange dream involving fairies, magic flowers and donkey ears. Was it just a dream, or was it real?
Join us these school holidays for an immersive, interactive introduction to Shakespeare with live performances and hands-on activities based on the show!
In this adventurous, hilarious and heart-warming show, we explore the magic and mayhem of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Take Bottom’s hand and help him piece together his strange dream through key scenes from the original play, playing with Shakespeare’s language and characters along the way.
This is A Midsummer Night’s Dream through the eyes of one of Shakespeare’s greatest clowns. A magical introduction to Shakespeare for primary students.
Schedule:
Wednesday 1 October – 11a.m. and 2p.m.
Thursday 2 October – 11a.m. and 2p.m.
Friday 3 October – 1p.m.
Saturday 4 October – 1p.m.

Murmur (Sydney Opera House)
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-05 | Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Direct from Europe, Murmur is both circus and sound theatre for families. Daringly, it plays with all the senses – with rustling sound backpacks, a landscape of speakers and an acrobatic composer!
For the first time in Australia, join Murmur’s visual circus and a multi-sensory acrobatic sound composition! This is an imaginative performance for everyone who sometimes longs to be more than just human.
Camiel is building a world full of sounds. A purring cat comes from a pocket, a swarm of bees flies through the air, two arms create the sound of cars. Far away you hear a finger squeaking on a window. Sea becomes wind becomes breath.
Surrounded by the audience, Camiel jumps, falls, rolls and flies in his attempt to compose the world. Suddenly the audience’s backpacks start to buzz and everything and everyone becomes part of a swirl of sounds in a loudspeaker landscape.
Schedule:

Date
Time

Wednesday 1 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Thursday 2 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Friday 3 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Saturday 4 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Sunday 5 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Tuesday 7 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Wednesday 8 October 2025
10:30am, 1pm

Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies (Royal Botanic Garden)
2025-09-30 - 2025-10-05, 2025-09-27 - 2025-09-28 | Royal Botanic Garden, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join the magical fairies as they go on an exciting musical adventure!

In an enchanting world of song and dance, the adventurous Tinkerbell meets up with the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Together, the cheeky Mustardseed, fluttery Moth, daring Cobweb and sweet Peaseblossom go on a magical quest with Tinkerbell. The audience is invited to dress up and join in the fun! Come as a fairy, an elf, a Jedi, a pirate or even a superhero!
Everyone is welcome to join this sparkling adventure with a special visit to ‘Bubble Land’ to help Tinkerbell and her new fairy friends find her lost wings.
Schedule:
Sat 27 September – 10a.m., 1:30p.m.
Sun 28 September – 11a.m.
Tues 30 September – 10a.m.
Wed 1 October – 10a.m.
Thur 2 October – 10a.m. and 1:30p.m.
Fri 3 October – 10a.m. and 1:30p.m.
Sat 4 October – 10a.m.
Sun 5 October – 11a.m.
Tues 7 October – 10a.m.
Wed 8 October – 10a.m.
Thurs 9 October – 10a.m. and 1:30p.m.
Fri 10 October – 10a.m. and 1:30p.m.
Sat 11 October – 10a.m.
Sun 12 October – 11a.m.

Same Like Yesterday (Riverside Theatres)
2025-09-30 - 2025-10-04 | Riverside Theatres – Parramatta, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta, NSW, 2124, Australia
Experience Same Like Yesterday – a vibrant, animated storytelling production sharing Adnyamathanha culture through art, music, and Dreamtime stories.

Created by senior Adnyamathanha women in collaboration with SharingStories Foundation and the local community, the show follows the journey of Virlkuthalypila, two ancestral women of the Yura Muda (Dreaming), across the Flinders Ranges. Designed like a giant pop-up book with stunning 3D projections, this is an immersive, culturally rich experience for all ages.

Free. Bookings required.
Schedule:
Tuesday 30 September – 10:30a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m.
Wednesday 1 October – 10:30a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m.
Thursday 2 October – 10:30a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m.
Friday 3 October – 10:30a.m., 11:30a.m., 12:30p.m., 1:30p.m.
Saturday 4 October – 11a.m., 12p.m.

Splish Splash Science! (Riverside Theatres)
2025-09-30 - 2025-10-03 | Riverside Theatres – Parramatta, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta, NSW, 2124, Australia
Roll up! Roll up! It’s the splishiest, splashiest show on Earth!
From the multi-award-winning creators of The Alphabet of Awesome Science and You Are a Doughnut comes a wet and wild science circus where the star of the show is (drum roll please…) — WATER!
Join ringmaster Rip Tide as he expertly explores and experiments with the exciting properties of this exceptional chemical. You’ll be confounded and astounded while experiencing thrills and (actual!) spills in equal measure — as water squirts, spurts and sprays in every conceivable direction!
Plus, Rip is going to need to recruit a few more stars to join him on stage! Will you be brave enough to step into the “SPLASH ZONE”?
Filled to overflowing with circusy-science, this show will have you singing, dancing, laughing, gasping… and ducking for cover!
Oh, and there is a possibility (in fact a probability) that you might learn a thing or three… (not sorry about it!).
Schedule:
Tuesday 30 September – 11a.m. and 2p.m.
Wednesday 1 October – 11a.m. and 2p.m.
Thursday 2 October – 11a.m. and 2p.m.
Friday 3 October – 11a.m. and 2p.m.

Snail and Rocks (Erskineville Town Hall)
2025-09-27 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-20 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-13 14:00 - 15:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Erskineville Town Hall, 104 Erskineville Road, Erskineville, NSW, 2043, Australia
A Snail and a human called Rocks grapple with the concept of perfection.
In this whimsical and comedic play for children and families, a little snail sets out on a grand adventure to become human. A human, Rocks, (who, yes, called themself Rocks, because rocks are awesome,) sets out to become a forest gremlin.
After fatefully meeting and making a deal with a mysterious entity, Snail and Rocks get their wish and transform into a human and forest gremlin, but the only catch? They have to be perfect, otherwise the world falls apart.
Ideal age range is 10-13.
Schedule:
Saturdays – 13, 20 and 27 September – 2p.m.

The Vegetable Plot - Pineapple People (The Joan - Penrith)
2025-09-27 10:00 - 15:00 | The Joan, 597 High St, Penrith, NSW, 2750, Australia
Get ready for a freshly sliced serving of musical comedy with the brand-new live show from multi award-winning Australian children’s band The Vegetable Plot, starring Aspara Gus, Ru Barb, Sir Paul McCarrotney and Avo Kaydo.
Bursting with juicy songs, funky flavours and tropi-cool puppetry, this delightfully zingy concert is a fruitastic family adventure that is guaranteed to have you smiling from the inside out.
Show times – 10a.m. and 2p.m.

Show and Workshop Package: $35.
Show Only: From $22.50.
Duration
Show: 60 minutes (No interval).
Workshop: 60 minutes (No break).
Age Suitability
Show: Ages 3 – 9 and their families.
Workshop: Ages 5 – 9 only (Must be accompanied by a parent/guardian).

Lah-Lah Meets Sydney Youth Orchestra (Turner Hall)
2025-09-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Turner Hall, 19 Mary Ann Street, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
Step into a concert hall like no other, where a full orchestra meets the stars of ABC KIDS in a toe-tapping, laugh-out-loud, sing-your-heart-out celebration of music!
Come on a great big musical adventure with the Sydney Youth Orchestra as they join forces with Lah-Lah and her Big Live Band, those quirky stars of ABC KIDS TV. Meet the stripy-socked singing sensation Lah-Lah, Buzz the Bandleader with Lola the Dancing Double Bass as well as Mister Saxophone, Squeezy Sneezy and his piano accordion and Tom Tom on drums. This fun-filled musical event is sure to get the whole family up singing and dancing. Help Lola the Dancing Double Bass and she meets the different instruments of the orchestra and their families and finds her starring spot in the orchestra!
Lah-Lah is all about introducing children and their families to the wonderful world of music and musical instruments and joining forces with the incredible talents of the Sydney Youth Orchestra makes this one family concert you won’t want to miss!
It’s entertaining, educational and perfect for kids aged 2-7 years.

The Smeeds and the Smoods (Seymour Centre)
2025-09-27 - 2025-09-29 | Seymour Centre, Corner of City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, NSW, 2008, Australia
Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (also seen in the TV animation on ABC Kids).
On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?
Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up, from the team that brought you The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom live on stage.
Schedule:

Sat 27 Sep
10am, 12pm, 3pm

Sun 28 Sep
10am, 12pm

Mon 29 Sep
10am, 12pm

Moss Piglet
2025-09-27 - 2025-09-28 | Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Playful and thrilling, Moss Piglet is an epic new work for families about how even the tiniest of things can be the strongest. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey through the microscopic world of the tardigrade… perhaps you’ve heard of them?
Small but mighty, they have withstood multiple extinction periods, survived boiling temperatures and even the vacuum of space. With a surprising cult following, some people call them ‘Water Bears’, others call them ‘Moss Piglets’.
An explosive portrait of the world’s most resilient and curious critters. Taking young audiences from jelly-filled petri dishes to the depths of a volcano to Arctic glaciers to the moon, Moss Piglet explodes the mysteries of the wildly weird tardigrade.
Featuring wicked puppetry, choreography, live video and green screen technology, this is an epic ride of microscopic proportions.
Recommended Age: 5+
Schedule:

Date
Time

Saturday 27 September 2025
12pm*, 3pm, 6pm

Sunday 28 September 2025
11am, 1:30pm

*Auslan Interpreted performance

Dorothy in Oz - Kids (Marrickville Town Hall)
2025-09-26 - 2025-09-28, 2025-09-19 - 2025-09-21, 2025-09-06 - 2025-09-07 | Marrickville Town Hall, 303 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville, NSW, 2204, Australia
Follow Dorothy into the magical world of Oz in this immersive experience, combining the wonder of L. Frank Baum’s beloved series with interactive storytelling, live performance, puzzles, and stage magic!
An unforgettable experience combining the whimsy and wonder of L. Frank Baum’s beloved classic book series with the excitement of interactive storytelling, live performance, puzzle solving, and delightfully surprising stage magic.
Be prepared to be whisked away to a land over the rainbow, where you will be invited to craft your own special potion as you explore the magical land of Oz and the characters within.
From the brilliant mind of A.K. Wregg – creator of the international smash hit The Alice: An Immersive Adventure, The Wizard’s Den, and The Art of Murder, comes an adventure where you’re not just a spectator, but a key player in an entirely new Oz story!
Suitable for ages 6+
Schedule:
Sat 6 Sep 2:00 PM to 3:20 PM
Sun 7 Sep 1:00 PM to 2:20 PM
Sat 13 Sep 2:00 PM to 3:20 PM
Sun 14 Sep 1:00 PM to 2:20 PM
Fri 19 Sep 11:00 AM to 12:20 PM
Sat 20 Sep 2:00 PM to 3:20 PM
Sun 21 Sep 1:00 PM to 2:20 PM
Fri 26 Sep 11:00 AM to 12:20 PM
Sat 27 Sep 2:00 PM to 3:20 PM
Sun 28 Sep 1:00 PM to 2:20 PM

Family Sunday: Pamela Allen Exhibition Launch (Stat Library of NSW)
2025-09-21 11:00 - 14:00 | State Library of NSW, State Library, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join us for a morning of fun activities to celebrate the opening of The Curious World of Pamela Allen.

This exhibition is designed for our youngest visitors, with interactive elements and fun activities.

Come and meet characters created by Pamela Allen for her books, including Mr McGee and Alexander!

Enjoy story time, craft activities and hunt down the animals hiding in the Library.

The Curious World of Pamela Allen is located on Level 1, Mitchell Building. Meet for family activities at the John B Fairfax Learning Centre.

Dorothy in Oz - Kids (Marrickville Town Hall)
2025-09-13 - 2025-09-14 | Marrickville Library, 313 Marrickville Road, Marrickville, NSW, 2204, Australia

Andy Griffiths Live (Sydney Opera House)
2025-09-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Hold on tight for a white-knuckle ride into the wild imagination of one of Australia’s favourite storytellers, Andy Griffiths, with a guest appearance from illustrator Bill Hope.
Join the bestselling creator of the Treehouse series for a laugh-out-loud event to launch his new book: You & Me and the Peanut Butter Beast. Dive into the world of Andy’s latest adventure, in this special Sydney exclusive where he’ll tell you all about his new book and revisit some highlights from his old ones, with special guest Bill Hope. Laughs guaranteed—dress-ups encouraged!

Teeny Tiny Stevies (Factory Theatre)
2025-08-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Factory Theatre, 105 Victoria Road, Marrickville, NSW, 2204, Australia
“Teeny Tiny Stevies are real life”.
Bring the whole family because this is the most wholesome live gig there is! Teeny Tiny Stevies will absolutely delight the littlies AND bring the LOL’s for parents. The old feel young, the young feel like grown-ups and everyone meets in the middle for a rocking good time.
Playing all their biggest hits, along with new tunes from their brand new album ‘Brain Fart’, get ready for dancing, sing-alongs and a ridiculous level of collective joy. Core memories – we got you!

Babies aged 12 months of age & under are permitted free entry in parents Arms/Laps with a paying Adult ticket

Peter and the Wolf (Sydney Opera House)
2025-08-23 10:30 - 14:00 | Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Join the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House for Peter and the Wolf, an enchanting musical tale that has been inspiring young music lovers for generations.
This concert is recommended for children ages 5 and up.
Schedule:
Saturday 23 August – 10:30a.m. and 1p.m.

Josephine Wants to Dance (Riverside Theatres - Parramatta)
2025-08-23 10:30 - 11:30 | Riverside Theatres – Parramatta, Corner Church and Market Streets, Parramatta, NSW, 2124, Australia
A hilarious musical about self-discovery, ballet, hip-hop and…a kangaroo.
Based on the picture book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, this delightful musical is a must see!
Josephine is a kangaroo who loves to dance. Her little brother, Joey, tells her kangaroos don’t dance, they hop – but Josephine continues to point her toes and leap through the air. When a ballet troupe comes to the sleepy town of Shaggy Gully, Josephine desperately wants to dance like the ballerinas in pink tutus and silk ballet shoes.
On the day of the first performance the Ballet Company is in trouble. The prima ballerina twists her ankle and the understudy has a splinter in her toe. Who can dance the lead role? Josephine’s talents are called upon to help save the day. Can she do it, and more importantly, does it matter that she’s a kangaroo?

Teeny Tiny Stevies (The Lounge, Chatswood)
2025-08-23 10:00 - 11:00 | The Concourse – Chatswood, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW, 2067, Australia

The Gruffalo's Child (Glen Street Theatre, Belrose)
2025-08-19 - 2025-08-20 | Glen Street Theatre, Cnr Glen Street, Blackbutts Rd, Belrose, NSW, 2085, Australia
If you loved The Gruffalo, don’t miss the sequel, which returns following previous sell-out Australian tours –
now in a new West End production!
Join the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in this magical musical adaptation of the much loved picture book.
One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he?
The team behind The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and The 13-, 26-, 52-, 78- & 91-Storey Treehouses return with The Gruffalo’s Child, bringing together physical theatre, music and puppetry to deliver songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults.
Show times
Tue 19 Aug – 12:30 pm
Tue 19 Aug – 03:30 pm
Wed 20 Aug – 10:00 am
Wed 20 Aug – 12:00 pm

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings (Sydney Opera House)
2025-08-16 - 2025-08-17 | Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Ages 8+ | A magic-realist gem of theatre and storytelling for all ages from Ireland, using a combination of music, puppetry and live video projection. Inspired by the story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Date
Time

Saturday 16 August 2025
4pm, 7pm

Sunday 17 August 2025
2pm, 5pm

Tiptoe Giants (Randwick Literary Institute)
2025-08-08 11:00 - 11:45 | Randwick Literary Institute, 60 Clovelly Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
Come craft, colour, clap and cheer with Lee, Vee, and Meg from TIPTOE GIANTS’.
Engage and join in with their award-winning hit songs, dance moves, games, and engaging musical activities in this live and intimate experience for families.

Trombone Superstar (The Concourse - Chatswood)
2025-08-02 14:00 - 15:00 | The Concourse – Chatswood, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW, 2067, Australia
Introduce your little ones to the joy of music. Featuring trombone superstar Jonathon Ramsay – a Sydney boy who grew up to play with the greatest orchestra in the world, the Berlin Philharmonic. Alongside Nino Rota’s Trombone Concerto with Dr. Nicholas Milton AM and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, Jonathon Ramsay will engage young minds by revealing the inner workings of his instrument and demonstrating how brass instruments make their remarkable sounds. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for children to experience the magic of music firsthand with a true superstar!​​​​​​​
Join the orchestra for activities in the foyer after the performance!

Family Sunday and Author Maryam Master (State Library NSW)
2025-07-27 10:00 - 13:00 | State Library of NSW, State Library, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia
Escape the chilly weather and spend time in the Learning Centre!

You’ll find games, craft, puppets, books and fun activities for the whole family.

There will also be an author workshop with the marvellous Maryam Master.
This is suitable for 5 to 12 year olds and must be booked separately: The power of storytelling with Maryam Master

Ready, Set, Listen! (Ashfield Town Hall)
2025-07-26 10:00 - 14:00 | Ashfield Town Hall, 260 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield, NSW, 2131, Australia
Introduce your little ones to the magic of live orchestral music at Ready, Set, Listen!
Designed to engage children aged 0-5 in the brain-stimulating practice of active live music listening, this bite-sized, 30-minute interactive performance features the extraordinary musicians of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, alongside leading children’s entertainer Emily Who and percussionist Timothy Constable.
Set in the beautiful Ashfield Town Hall, this concert offers comfortable floor seating and cushions for families, parents and guardians. Sit, listen, and move around with your children as they explore orchestral music in a fun, relaxed and welcoming environment.
Pairing engaging storytelling with the Sydney Symphony’s world-renowned artistry, Ready, Set, Listen! is the perfect first concert experience to ignite your child’s imagination, spark a love of music, and make unforgettable memories together.

Performance Times:
10a.m., 11:30a.m., 1p.m.
