Caligula on the Potomac
From marble republic to political circus
Nick Bryant & Gabriel Sherman, with Julia Baird
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Has Trump forever changed the presidency and the United States?
Event details
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Sunday, 4 October 2026 | 10:30am |
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Unreserved Seating | $39 |
$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.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
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For those requiring assistance, wheelchair or companion seating, accessible seating locations are available. Bookings can be made by calling the Box Office on 1300 764 849 or by email.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
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.
Former NBC Chief Marketing Officer John Miller to Gabriel Sherman, Vanity FairI do think he would like to be a dictator... And the worst thing is that we really could have the America that you and I both know go away.
Meet the speakers
Nick Bryant
During his distinguished career with the BBC, Nick Bryant came to be regarded as one of its finest foreign correspondents and also its leading authority on the United States. Along with covering all the US presidents from Donald Trump back to Bill Clinton, he has covered some of the most momentous events of our time. The attacks of September 11th, the war in Afghanistan, the Asian tsunami, the death of Princess Diana, the election of Barack Obama and the rise of Donald Trump.
He is the author of five books, including the critically-acclaimed When America Stopped Being Great: A History of the Present, which made it onto Joe Biden’s desk in the Oval Office, The Rise and Fall of Australia: How a Great Nation Lost its Way and The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict with Itself.
He is now the host of ABC Radio National’s Saturday Extra programme and the host of the popular Substack History Never Ended.
Gabriel Sherman
Gabriel Sherman is an award-winning journalist, screenwriter and author of Bonfire of the Murdochs. He is also the author of The New York Times bestseller The Loudest Voice in the Room about the late Fox News CEO Roger Ailes. He has been covering the Murdochs since 2008. Sherman is the screenwriter of the twice Oscar-nominated film The Apprentice and has covered politics in the United States for New York magazine and Vanity Fair. He lives in London with his wife, son and daughter plus their dog and cat.
Julia Baird
Moderator
Julia Baird is an award-winning author and journalist. She writes columns for Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the ABC. Her first book, Media Tarts, which was re-released in 2021, was based on her history PhD about the portrayal of female politicians. After moving to the US to take up a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School, she became a columnist and senior editor at Newsweek. She was then made an op-ed contributor at the New York Times. Julia's biography of Queen Victoria was one of The New York Times' top ten books of the year. Her bestselling book, Phosphorescence: On Awe, Wonder and the Things That Sustain You When the World Goes Dark, won several awards, including ABIA Book of the Year. Her most recent book is Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything. Her two-year investigation into domestic violence in religious communities earned her four Our Watch Awards for Excellence in Reporting on Violence Against Women, including the gold, and a Walkley Award nomination. She lives near the sea with two children and an abnormally large dog.
4 Oct – 4 Nov 2026
Curious
Curious is where culture, creativity and ideas collide. It’s for minds that never stop asking questions about the world and ourselves. Dive into the ideas shaping headlines, sparking debate and changing the way we live.
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Attending this event
Practical information about this event, ticketing and visiting. If you have questions or need help, see our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact us.
Ticket information
If you have further questions or need help, please refer to our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact a member of our team on 1300 764 849.
A resale restriction is in place, meaning it is unlawful for a person to resell their ticket for more than 110% of the face value. In all cases, it is advisable that tickets are only purchased from authorised channels, to protect your rights should the event be cancelled or postponed and to be sure you receive all necessary communications.
The authorised agency for this event is listed under ticket pricing. 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.
A booking fee of $8.95 applies per transaction. Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children three (3) years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
Please contact Box Office on 1300 SOH TIX as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.
eTicket or postal delivery should be used wherever possible. Tickets will be emailed three days prior to the event. Download your e-Ticket and have it ready on your mobile device for scanning before you queue to enter the venue.
At the venue
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. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lift access to the main and western foyers.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy. The Opera House has also developed a Child-friendly Code of Conduct to engage with our youngest visitors.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House is a smoke-free site. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
The safety and security of patrons, visitors and staff is our highest priority. Entry to venues inside the Opera House including theatres, the Utzon Room, the Centre for Creativity and Bennelong Restaurant is via a single entry point located under the Monumental Steps.
In line with our venue security procedures, all ticketholders must present their bags and personal belongings for visual inspection or x-ray screening prior to entering the building. Our walk-through scanners are safe for patrons with pacemakers, cochlear implants or similar devices. Please let security know if you prefer alternative screening.
We hope all our audience members, including those children with us, have a wonderful time. Please keep disturbances to a minimum. Ticketholders who interfere unreasonably with another’s enjoyment may be asked to leave.
If your child becomes unsettled during the performance, we ask that you step outside with them until they settle. Note that you may not be readmitted until there is a suitable break in the performance.
Filming and photography is not permitted inside the venue, unless expressly authorised by us. You must switch your mobile phone off or to silent while in the venue.
Refreshments are available to purchase from our theatre bars, with foyers open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
The Opera House has a range of restaurants and bars on site. Explore our venues.
Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show. It is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly. Larger items – including handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks, umbrellas, suitcases and prams – are not permitted inside the venues and must be cloaked.
Yes, pram parking is available outside our theatres. All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers.
Foyer doors are usually open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 120 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Theatre doors will open 30 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 15 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
If you’re collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts.
We’ll aim to 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.
Where an event has a lock-out period, 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.