OVERVIEW
What is a dangerous idea? This is a question that will be explored at our inaugural Festival of Dangerous Ideas, co-presented by the St James Ethics Centre, at Sydney Opera House in October.
In partnership with the Sydney Morning Herald, Foxtel and SBS, the Festival will give voice to both thought leaders and the public who will debate ideas ranging from the transformational to the ‘water cooler’ discussions of everyday life.
The Festival of Dangerous Ideas is consistent with our aim to place Bennelong Point and its famous House at the very heart of idea generation, exploration and presentation. Through courageous discussion, we aim to stimulate, provoke and engage with the wider world.
Richard Evans
CEO
Sydney Opera House
SATURDAY
Soapbox
Free on the Forecourt
Heats 12pm; Finals 2.30pm
Team Loko
Free on the Forecourt
2pm & 4pm
Polygamy and Other Islamic Values Are Good For Australia
Keysar Trad
The Studio
4pm
No Human Cure Justifies Animal Experimentation
Denise Russell
Utzon Room
4pm
Yes to Child Labour, No to The Minimum Wage
Ray Evans
Hosted by Michael Duffy
The Studio
5.30pm
Policing our Minds is the Future
David Mutton
Utzon Room
5.30pm
Religion Poisons Everything
Christopher Hitchens
Hosted by Tony Jones
Concert Hall
8pm
SUNDAY
Freedom: The Most Dangerous Idea of All
Germaine Greer
Concert Hall
11am
People With Flat Screen TVs Should Stop Whingeing about Capitalism
Oliver Hartwich and Cassandra Wilkinson.
Hosted by Paul Comrie-Thomson
Drama Theatre
12.30pm
Bring Back Conscription
Rear Admiral Chris Barrie
Utzon Room
12.30pm
Does Online Networking Harm Children's Brains?
Baroness Susan Greenfield
Concert Hall
1pm
By 2075 the Aboriginal Genocide will be Complete
Gary Foley
The Studio
1.45pm
Why We Enjoy Killing
Jeff Sparrow
Utzon Room
1.45pm
Team Loko
Free on the Forecourt
2pm & 4pm
IQ2 Debate: Democracy Is Not For Everyone
Concert Hall
2.45pm
The Arts Don't Deserve A Place In This Festival
John Carroll, Catherine Deveny and Julian Morrow
Hosted by Stephen Crittenden
Drama Theatre
3pm
Make All Drug Use Legal
Greg Barns, Norm Stamper and Alex Wodek
The Studio
4pm
Australian Stereotypes Betray Our Cultural Identity
Ien Ang, Robyn Archer and Larissa Behrendt.
Hosted by Bridget Kendell
Free in the Utzon Room
4.15pm
Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is Another Way For Africa
Dambisa Moyo
Concert Hall
5.30pm
Without God We Are Nothing
Cardinal George Pell
The Studio
5.30pm
$20 / $15 With Festival Pass
The Old Should Pay For Themselves
John Humphreys
Utzon Room
5.45pm
Unfit For Life: Genetically Enhance Humanity or Face Extinction
Julian Savulescu
Drama Theatre
6.45pm
Dangerously Funny!
Casey Bennetto, Jamie Kilstein, Jean Kitson, Paul McCarthy (as Kevin Rudd), Eddie Perfect & Band and Reggie Watts
Hosted by Judith Lucy
Concert Hall
8.30pm
FESTIVAL PASS
Buy 3 or more talks in the same transaction and pay the Festival Pass price - that’s a minimum saving of $15! (See individual talks for their Festival Pass price)
Festival passes are:
- Equal numbers of tickets, in three or more talks, purchased in the one transaction
- Strictly limited
- Available by phone only
You can add more talks to your Festival Pass once one has been purchased. Just make sure:
- The original booking is in your name
- You’re adding a different event from one you’ve already bought
- You mention your Festival Pass at time of booking (there are no refunds if you forget)
When planning your Festival experience, make sure you leave a minimum of 15 minutes between talks, to allow time to move between venues and collect and re-check your bags (where necessary).
All prices quoted are inclusive of GST where applicable.
Booking Fee Applies per Transaction ($5.00 Box Office, $7.50 online, $8.50 Call Centre)
No refunds, except as outlined in the Code Of Practice for Event Ticketing in Australia.
Program may be subject to change.