Things to do in Sydney today

What’s in a name? Quite a lot, if you’re the first named character in the title of a play. Particularly when almost every other legend written about you has you named second, or not at all. This is the plight of Isolde, an Irish princess, star of many stories, but most notably Wagner’s influential opera Tristan und Isolde. Her legend is centuries old, one of the most famous involving a love potion – and now, Sport for Jove brings it to the beloved basement stage at the Old Fitz Theatre in the form of a play written (and crucially, named Isolde and Tristan) by German playwright Esther Vilar, and translated by Udo Borgert and Laura Ginters. The original legend features Tristan, a prince of Cornwall, and Isolde, the princess of Ireland, whose countries are at war. After Tristan defeats the Irish giant Morholt (the Irish King’s brother-in-law) he is tasked with traveling to Ireland to bring Isolde back to marry his uncle, the King of Cornwall. However on the journey, Tristan and Isolde fall madly into forbidden love, thanks to a love potion. Deception, punishment, and death ensue.  Vilar’s play not only switches the names, but also some of the details, and turns the legend from a sweeping and dramatic warning against being “consumed” by love into something pointier, and more complex. It’s certainly not your regular medieval romance, or even your regular opera… clever, biting, and appropriately eerie. Damien Ryan (Artistic Director of Sport for Jove) directs this production, setti

Have you ever seen somebody embody joy? Someone so comfortable and proud of where they have come from, of where they are now, that they vibrate with unwavering enthusiasm? That’s what it’s like to watch Mandela Mathia perform. Lose to Win is an autobiographical work that tells the story of Mathia’s journey to Australia, or what he calls “Paradise”. From his birth in South Sudan, to the bustling streets of Egypt, to the rickety boat that brought him to Australia as a refugee, Mathia finds poetry in his smallest wins. This deeply personal performance lands at Belvoir St Theatre in 2024 after premiering at the Old Fitz Theatre in 2022 under Red Line Productions. Sharing the same warm and minimalistic staging as Belvoir's concurrent production of Nayika: A Dancing Girl, Director Jessica Arthur has kept the communal campfire feeling from the original staging, focusing the activity in a semi-circle around a simple black dance mat. Props, including traditional jewellery, clothing and other adornments sit within reach behind Mathia. Beside them, sits musician Yacou Mbaye and his assortment of wooden instruments including several different kinds of drums. We need more theatre makers like these, so that we might learn and share in the joy of what it means to lose to win. These elements create an inviting and immersive experience, but it's Mathia’s command of the monologue that calls us to attention. Interspersed with the more harrowing parts of his journey are funny quips, like which

The Harbour City does a good line in immersive light experiences, and if you can’t wait until Vivid takes over the city later in May, Luna Park is here to help. The iconic attraction’s newest installation – Sonic Neon – is now open, with tickets on sale until the end of June. Housed in Crystal Palace – a building which dates all the way back to 1935 – Sonic Neon will take visitors on a journey through six different rooms, with state-of-the-art visuals and a layered soundscape creating a transportive experience. Illuminating more than 150 metres of the historic building, the experience will feature more than 26,000 lights set to a pulsating soundtrack using state-of-the-art technology that’s never been used before in Australia. Tickets to the event are available now, which you can purchase online or in person. Plus, save money by purchasing bundles like the Unlimited Rides Pass and Lunaverse Superpass, which includes Sonic Neon, Dream Circus and unlimited rides.  The family-friendly rave and experience will run daily from 10am. Tickets for the self-guided Sonic Neon experience (estimated to take around 30 minutes) start at $29 per person. If you’re keen to secure your tickets, you can do so over here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more things to do, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED: Keen for more luminous fun? This immersive experience is coming to the Blue Mountains Lightscape will be taking over the

Luna Park – Sydney’s heritage harbourside amusement park – has been stepping up its lighting game in recent months. Back in December, the team launched Dream Circus: a high-tech immersive experience housed in the 3,000 square metre Big Top building. Then, Sonic Neon joined the line-up: another immersive light and sound experience spread across eight different rooms within the theme park’s historic Crystal Palace. Now, Luna Park has announced that they’ll be running magical moonlit sessions for a limited time this May – with tickets available to purchase now. Luna Park in the Dark will return every Friday and Saturday for the first three weeks of May – with more than 30,000 lights set to be turned off from 6pm until 10pm – giving Sydneysiders the opportunity to tap into an extra-magical night-time experience.   Tickets to Luna Park in the Dark will score you unlimited access to rides, plus entry to Sonic Neon: Luna Park’s new immersive experience, and access to the Blacklight Dessert Bar which will be serving glow-in-the-dark edible treats. Candle-lit classical performances will take place within the Big Top, and a cast of carnival characters will be roaming the park keeping guests entertained between rides. Tickets launched this week, and are likely to sell out fast. You can snap up yours over here.   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox.   RECOMMENDED: The Vivid Sydney 2024 pr

It might not get much better for booze lovers than Circular Quay’s Overseas Passenger Terminal transforming into rows upon rows of booths holding endless spirit tastings.  The Sydney Spirit Festival debuts in town from May 10 to 12, but don’t let the name fool you. The event has rounded up talent from around Australia including “Australia’s godfather of whisky” Bill Lark of Lark Distillery. Plus you can expect everything from the classics (I’m looking at you, vodka, tequila and gin) to grog from around the world like grappa and soju.  There are actually 148 brands of whisky on offer, to be precise. A standard $80 ticket will give you access to sample every last one of those drops in a three-hour session, and a tasting glass and a tote bag. Or if you want to ball out you can snag a premium $120 ticket that gives you access to the boozy masterclasses like how to shake up a mean Espresso Martini, or exploring the differences between Spanish and Italian vermouth.  With all that sipping, some lining of the stomach won’t hurt. Look forward to a range of cuisines on site, from Japanese noodles, to Italian cannoli and Mexican tacos. Word on the street too is if you purchase a bottle from Hugo exclusive Vodka, you’ll get to knock back a luxe little bump of caviar with your sample.  Every ticket also includes a gin and tonic on the house, and by house we mean one of the many bangin’ Sydney bars that have partnered up with the Sydney Spirits Festival. Whether you choose to visit Apollon