UnWrapped

Overview

This autumn, the Sydney Opera House has announced a new biannual series, UnWrapped, that features rarely seen, critically-acclaimed works by both new and established independent artists and small performing arts companies. It will take place under the sails every May and August, with the inaugural season already underway until May 13 at The Playhouse and The Studio. What's more, the series aims to make performing arts at the Opera House from theatre to circus accessible to all, so all tickets cost just $45.

In both spaces, emerging artists will showcase alongside established artists who are boldly trying something different. In The Playhouse, Aussie artists Brian Lipson and Gideon Obarzanek star in Two Jews Walk into a Theatre..., a dry, humorous exploration of the father-son relationship that sees both performers take on new artistic territory. They'll share the space with performances of Personal, an intimate piece by award-winning Jodee Mundy who expresses her experience growing up as the only hearing person in a deaf family. Presented in two languages, Auslan and English, the piece combines performance, storytelling, multimedia and animation.

In The Studio, A Faint Existence, created by acclaimed Australian dancer Kristina Chan, explores our complicated connection to the environment through a mix of dance, design and music, while the wildly popular Mother's Ruin: A Cabaret About Gin, with performances by the beloved Maeve Marsden and Libby Wood, takes the audience on a hilarious trip through the history of gin.

The season is part of the Opera House's artist and sector development program which supports local Australian artists, small companies and producers. Additional initiatives include masterclasses by artists-in-residence, free three-year memberships for Australian artists and an annual digital mentoring program for up-and-coming artists.

Tickets for UnWrapped are on sale, costing $45 for one performance or $80 for two shows — a bang-for-your-buck deal, considering the calibre of performances to be expected.

Images: Ashley de Przer.