Illume
4 – 14 June 2025
In the Joan Sutherland Theatre
Dance
From the extraordinary Bangarra Dance Theatre comes an iridescent new theatrical experience.
| Date | Time |
| Wednesday 4 June | 7:30pm |
| Thursday 5 June | 7:30pm |
| Friday 6 June | 7:30pm |
| Saturday 7 June | 1:30pm & 7:30pm |
| Monday 9 June | 6:30pm |
| Tuesday 10 June | 6:30pm |
| Wednesday 11 June | 1:30pm & 7:30pm |
| Thursday 12 June | 7:30pm |
| Friday 13 June | 7:30pm |
| Saturday 14 June | 1:30pm* & 7:30pm |
*Audio described performance
| Standard | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | $139 - $149 |
| A Reserve | $119 - $129 |
| B Reserve | $99 - $109 |
| C Reserve | $79 - $89 |
| Pensioner Australian Pension Card holders | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | N/A |
| A Reserve | $99 - $109 |
| B Reserve | $79 - $89 |
| C Reserve | $59 - $69 |
| Senior Senior Card holders | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | N/A |
| A Reserve | $109 - $119 |
| B Reserve | $89 - $99 |
| C Reserve | $69 - $79 |
| Under 30 | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | N/A |
| A Reserve | $59 - $69 |
| B Reserve | $59 - $69 |
| C Reserve | $59 - $69 |
| Group 10+ To make a group purchase please call +61 2 9250 7700 | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | N/A |
| A Reserve | $99 - $109 |
| B Reserve | $79 - $89 |
| C Reserve | $59 - $69 |
| Student Full-time Student card holders (Aust. only) | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | N/A |
| A Reserve | $99 - $109 |
| B Reserve | $79 - $89 |
| C Reserve | $59 - $69 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
Young people under the age of 15 must be accompanied at all times.
The only authorised ticket agencies for this event are Sydney Opera House and Bangarra Dance Theatre. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
9am, Tuesday 5 November
Become a Sydney Opera House Insider to receive exclusive pre-sale access
What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale
9am, Wednesday 6 November
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Tuesday 12 November
Audio Described Performance
Saturday 14 June 1:30pm
The Audio Described performance is for those who are blind or have low vision, as well as those with sensory processing disorders, autism, or people who simply require some assistance to experience the spirit of the story as fully as possible. Physical and visual elements, and their relation to Culture and Story are described through a pre-recorded commentary that is woven into the music and sound of the production. It is relayed via a free headset and receiver. Please book using the Audio Description price type.
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Content Warning
This production may contain political and social themes, depictions related to traumatic events suffered by First Nations Peoples, and voices or images of deceased persons.
Run time
70 minutes, no interval
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for ages 12+
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Useful information:
Illume explores the awe of light
Step out of the shadows and into the phenomena of light – the central life force of our planet. From the extraordinary Bangarra Dance Theatre comes an iridescent new theatrical experience, drawing together music, visual arts and dance to explore the ways light has captivated and sustained Indigenous cultural existence for millennia.
Today, artificial light pollution disrupts ecosystems and obscures the dark night sky, devastating First Nations people’s connections to sky country and limiting their ability to share celestial knowledge and skylore. First Nations people stand on the precipice of the world under threat.
Mirning Choreographer Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard Visual Artist Darrell Sibosado’s collaboration explores the awe of light, a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. It charts the impacts of light pollution in a climate emergency. Illume asks the urgent question: is the deep wisdom passed down from elders enough to illuminate a path forward from the shadows of a dark future?
Journey with us through a kaleidoscope of images, patterns and synergies into the otherworldly language of light.
Presented by Bangarra Dance Theatre
New York TimesBangarra Dance Theatre is a modern dance company unlike any other… remarkably imaginative and richly varied.
A New Stage
From 2025, Bangarra Dance Theatre will proudly illuminate the Joan Sutherland Theatre, after 20 years of making fire in the Drama Theatre. Watch A New Stage, our new film celebrating this exciting new chapter of Bangarra's story at Sydney Opera House.
Gallery
of
Artist information
Choreographers
Frances Rings and artists of Bangarra Dance Theatre
Artistic & Cultural Collaborator
Darrell Sibosado
Set Design
Charles Davis
Costume Design
Elizabeth Gadsby
Lighting Design
Damien Cooper
Composer
Brendon Boney
Cultural Consultant
Trevor Sampi
Gadhu Dining
Before evening performances of Illume, come with us to Gadhu Dining, an exclusive pre-show dining experience. Gadhu (“Saltwater” in Dharawal language) invites you to immerse yourself in a 2 or 3 course menu created by proud Yuin man, Dwayne Bannon Harrison.
Plan your visit
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
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