Skip Links
Close Search
A Chinese man holding onto two ropes and pulling them in the rain

Yong

A timeless coming-of-age story

Set against the backdrop of the Australian Goldrush of 1857, join Yong on an epic coming-of-age journey as he travels from his small village in China to Ballarat. Faced with momentous change, his courage and inner strength are tested in this sprawling and dynamic Asian-Australian story.

In The Studio | Sydney Opera House Presents | Kids & Families

COVID-19 safety information

The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We encourage you to wear a mask in indoor settings or when physical distancing can’t be maintained, and please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.

Pre-sale and on-sale information

On-sale timings:
·        Tuesday 22nd November: Insiders pre-sale 9am
·        Wednesday 23rd November: What's On pre-sale 9am
·        Friday 25th November: General Public on-sale 9am

Two shows on Saturday 24 June

Saturday 24 June; 1pm & 4pm

Standard tickets from $29 | $8.50 Booking Fee applies per transaction [$8.95 from 28 March 2023]

Ticket Description & price
Standard Ages 2 years and over
Premium  $39
A Reserve  $29
Insider Insider Members save 20% on this performance.
Premium  $35
A Reserve  $25
Group 5+ Please call +61 9250 7700 for more information
Premium  $35
A Reserve  $25

Prices 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. 

The authorised agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below.

This show runs approximately for 60 minutes, with no interval. 

Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.

 Wheelchair accessible |  Audio-described performance available

For any special access requirements phone the Contact Centre on 02 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com.

Recommended for ages 10+

Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times, and children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a mask.

Cast and Creatives

Writer - Jenevieve Chang
Director - Darren Yap
Assistant Director - Eva Di Cesare
Production Designer - James Browne
Composer - Max Lambert
Lighting Designer - Ben Brockman
Movement Director - Angie Diaz
Sound Designer - Zac Saric
Adaptation Consultant - Sandra Eldridge
Chinese Cultural Consultant - Charles Zhang
First Nations Consultant & writer of the First Nations scene - Richard Frankland Illustration - Kim Siew
Voice-over artists - Gabrielle Chan (Voice of Grandmother), Monica Sayers (Voice of Mother) & Shan-Ree Tran (Voice of Various Characters)

"Yong is a universally resonant story about a young boy who must learn to step out of the shadow of other people’s expectations to find himself."
Jenevieve Chang, writer

Overcoming adversity and building courage

A storm rages. Thunder cracks, the wind a mournful howl, rain falls and waves crash. The wooden boat bucks and heaves. Yong holds on tight. He looks up at the moon and thinks of home.

Set against the backdrop of the Australian Goldrush of 1857, Yong is a new Australian play by Jenevieve Chang. Mixing historical fact and narrative fiction, Yong takes us on a journey across land and sea, from China to the goldfields of Australia. In overcoming difficult challenges, he discovers a resilience in himself that he never knew he had.

Winner of the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Production for Children

A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production
Written for the stage by Jenevieve Chang
Based on the book Yong: The Journey of an Unworthy Son by Janeen Brian published by Walker Books Australia Pty Ltd

Supported by:
The Australian Government RISE fund
Australia Council for the Arts
NSW Government

Presented by Sydney Opera House

Looking for the schools performance?

cl23-yong-online-web-1600x1200-v2.jpg

Yong

20 Jun 2023 - 23 Jun 2023

Set against the backdrop of the Australian Goldrush of 1857, mixing historical fact and narrative fiction, Yong takes us on a coming-of-age journey of a young Chinese boy across land and sea, from China to the goldfields of Australia.

About Monkey Baa Theatre Company

Monkey Baa Theatre Company creates and presents great theatre for young people. They collaborate with internationally acclaimed authors, award-winning creatives, and most importantly, imaginative young people, in bringing their shows to life.

Over 25 years, Monkey Baa has become one of Australia’s widest touring companies with 38 national tours to 135 regional and remote communities, 5 international tours and over 3500 performances reaching over 1.5 million young people.

The stories Monkey Baa shares embrace social and cultural connections, celebrate our rich cultural heritage and inspire young audiences to learn about the world and their place in it.

Venue Information

Performances are being sold to 100% capacity in line with the NSW Public Health Order. This includes all shows in the Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Studio, Playhouse, Drama Theatre and Utzon Room. Please note that you will be seated directly alongside other ticketholders.

In order to manage venue capacities, all patrons in theatres must hold a valid ticket.

Our foyers will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. Please remember to maintain physical distancing whilst consuming drinks in our foyers.

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 consistent with COVID-safe rules.

Transport options

  • 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 their website for details.
  • Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel and COVID-19 safety measures. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House. 

Frequently asked questions – COVID-19 safety measures

What safety measures have you implemented?

Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of everyone on site, and we are closely following NSW Health guidelines and advice. The Sydney Opera House is registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you when visiting, please see our plan your visit page.

What am I required to do as an audience member?

Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.

As you move around the Opera House, practise physical distancing (1.5 metres whenever possible) and follow the guidance provided by our staff and signage.

Within venues, always take your allocated seat.

For detailed information about our COVID-19 safety measures and what’s required of you, please see our plan your visit page.

Do I need to be vaccinated to visit the Sydney Opera House?

The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Am I required to wear a mask?

Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.

How are you managing contact tracing? 

Contact information is required when making a booking with us and upon arrival at the Opera House, as set out in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events and our Customer Privacy Statement.

As the ticket purchaser, you are responsible for recording the contact details of your guests. Contact information will only be used for the purposes of contact tracing, if required, and will be deleted at least 28 days after your event.

Frequently Asked Questions - Performance and Venue

What time do I need to arrive before the event?

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 Concert Hall and 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.

Will there be bag checks, and is cloaking available?

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.

What safety measures do you have in place?

The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We encourage visitors to wear a face mask in indoor settings or when physical distancing can’t be maintained. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options here.

Does my child need to wear a face mask?

Children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a face mask.

Who are the authorised ticket sellers for this event? 

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.

What if I can't come to my performance?

Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend. If you can no longer attend because you are unwell, or have been in contact with someone displaying COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you, find out more information here.

Will there be food and beverages available for purchase in 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. 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. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.

Will there be pram parking at kids performances?

All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to the 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 consistent with COVID-safe rules.

Can my baby sit on my lap?

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 2 years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.

Can I smoke at the Opera House?

  • The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House will become a smoke-free site from Saturday 1 January 2022.
  • By becoming a smoke-free site, the Opera House seeks to reduce exposure to harmful second-hand smoke, as well as minimise the impact of smoking on the environment, including litter and pollution of the surrounding marine environment. 

You may also like...

touchandgo-website-1600x1200.jpg

Touch & Go

21 Mar 2023 - 30 Mar 2023

Entice, dare and entertain your children in this playful world filled with shapes and lines, led by two friendly dancers and a live guitarist.

cfc22-alieninvasion-website-1600x1200.jpg

Alien Invasion

12 & 13 April 2023

The Sydney Opera House has been visited by aliens! Join us on this interactive theatre play experience to find the left-behind alien.

cl23-wcfffa-online-web-1600x1200.jpg

We Come From Far, Far Away

20 May 2023 - 21 May 2023

From Norway comes an inspiring true story performed in a traditional Mongolian Yurt, using storytelling, shadow puppetry, comedy and live music following the moving journey of two young boys seeking refuge.

Make your gift

Your gift opens the Opera House to everyone in the community.

Give now