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Beyond the Binary

Jinghua Qian, Sandy O'Sullivan, Amao Leota Lu & Yves Rees

What would our world look like if all our current gendered expectations disappeared, and what needs to happen for this to be achieved?

In the Studio and on Stream | Talks & Ideas 

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

Multipacks

General public on sale - 9am, Thursday 16 December

Single Tickets 

Insider Member Priority – 9am, Thursday 16 December
General public on sale - 9am, Friday 17 December

Sunday 13 March 2022, 4pm

This talk runs from 4pm - 5pm

Standard tickets from $33 | $8.50 Booking Fee applies per transaction Save up to 15% with a festival Multipack | Livestream tickets from $15

Ticket Unreserved Seating
Standard
$33
Insider (Save 20% on this performance) $26.40
Multipack Buy 3 - 4 events and save 10%  $29.70
Multipack Buy 5+ events and save 15%  $28.05
Livestream $15
Livestream festival pass $85
Babes in arms $10

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

Enjoy the full day of talks online with a Festival Pass ($85), or purchase an individual livestream ($15). Purchase here.

This talk runs for approximately 60 minutes (no interval)

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

In English | Auslan interpreted | Audio loop available & wheelchair accessible

Auslan interpretation service is provided for audiences who are deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Experienced Auslan interpreters stand to the side of the stage and translate what the speakers are saying into Auslan. A block of seats is reserved for users of this service to ensure a good view of the interpreter and the stage. If you wish to book Auslan tickets and be seated in this area please call 02 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com

Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.

Suitable for all ages

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.


“There’s no point escaping one ill-fitting costume just to adorn myself in another"

Yves Rees

Close

Imagine a world with no gender binary

What would our world look like if gender binaries disappeared completely? Yves Rees leads a provocative panel discussion that seeks to imagine this future where rigid binaries and gendered expectations have broken down entirely. What benefits does this entail for individual autonomy and authenticity and for society?  And what would need to happen to get there?

Among an array of issues, this panel will examine the connection between challenging the binary and fighting colonialism and racism, as well as the relationship between transness and feminism. In the future, how can feminism and women better support gender beyond the binary? And how can going beyond the binary help us all challenge the patriarchy?

Co-curated by Dr Yves Rees
Presented by Sydney Opera House

More about...

Dr Yves Rees is an award-winning writer and historian living on unceded Wurundjeri land. At present, they are a Lecturer in History at La Trobe University and co-host of Archive Fever podcast. Rees was the recipient of the 2020 Calibre Essay Prize, awarded for their essay "Reading the Mess Backwards", and was a 2021 Varuna Residential Fellow. Their memoir, All About Yves: Notes from a Transition was published by Allen and Unwin in 2021. Rees has a regular history segment on ABC Radio Melbourne and their writing has featured in the Sydney Review of BooksThe AgeArcher magazine, Guardian Australia, Overland, Meanjin, Junkee, Australian Book Review and The Conversation. Rees is trans and uses they/them pronouns. They are the co-founder of the Spilling the T transgender writing collective and volunteer with Transgender Victoria.

More about...

Jinghua Qian (ey/eir/em) is a Shanghainese writer living in Melbourne's west, on the land of the Kulin nations. Ey has been a performance poet, a radio broadcaster, a television journalist, and an arts critic. Eir work has appeared on ABC TV; in The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Morning Herald, and a host of literary journals; and once on a brick wall.

Jinghua Qian

More about...

Professor Sandy O’Sullivan is a Wiradjuri transgender/non-binary person in the School of Indigenous Studies and the Centre for Global Indigenous Futures at Macquarie University. They are a 2020-2024 ARC Senior Future Fellow, with a project titled Saving Lives: Mapping the influence of Indigenous LGBTIQ+ creative artists. Since 1991 they have taught and researched across gender and sexuality, museums, the body, performance, design, and First Nations’ identity.

Sandy O'Sullivan

More about...

Amao Leota Lu is a proud Samoa Fa’afafine and an Indigenous Pasifika Trans Woman who is an activist, performance artist, writer, poet, storyteller and trans consultant and community worker who weaves the rainbow tapestry of race, culture and gender in her talks and works.

A strong advocate of transgender issues in particular where trans women of colour fit into Australian society, Amao’s background is in radio and community work. 

She has featured at the United Nations as well as Forbes Magazine and is affectionately known as “Aunty” by her younger queer peers of colour.

Amao Leota Lu

Catch the livestream

A selection of ten talks at All About Women will be livestreamed from our stages in 2023, meaning you can catch keynote talks from Bikini KillJennette McCurdyGrace Tame and so many more even if you can't make it to the House on the day.

Explore livestream program

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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, Utzon Room and Forecourt. Please note that you will be seated directly alongside other ticketholders.

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. 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

  • We encourage you to use private transport options to minimise crowding on public transport (in line with NSW Government advice). 
  • 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 6 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. 

frequently asked questions – livestreams

How do I watch the livestream?

  1. Purchase a livestream ticket. Livestreams are watched through the Sydney Opera House's streaming platform, Stream
  2. We recommend you sign in to Stream at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the livestream to ensure you log in smoothly and aren’t experiencing any issues. 
  3. Once you’ve signed in, navigate to the Stream event webpage where you purchased the ticket, by searching the event title in the search function. You will also receive an email notification ahead of the livestream commencing, with a direct link to this same web page where you’ll watch.
    Note - Depending on the livestream, you may find two livestream options in your purchase. An accessible livestream option may appear, which includes both closed captions and Auslan interpretation. 
  4. The livestream will begin playing automatically or shortly after the designated start time on the Stream event web page. 
  5. You will have a chance to re-watch the livestream for an indicated length of time, which will be made available on your Stream account following the event. Note, the archived recording will be available approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the livestream.

Can I watch the livestream on any device?

The Stream app is now here! Turn your living room into a theatre or watch on the go. The Stream app allows you to livestream from wherever you are. Alternatively, watch the livestream from your preferred browser. 

How to use the Stream app:

  1. Create a free Stream account here.

    To be first in the know when new Stream releases are announced, be sure to tick the box to confirm you’re interested in receiving ‘newsletters and product updates from Stream - Sydney Opera House’.

  2. To watch on a TV or an Apple phone or tablet, download the Stream app from the Apple Store. To watch on an Android phone or tablet, download the app from Google Play.  

  3. Open the Stream app and tap ‘Sign In’.

  4. Start watching on any device!

Can I share my livestream account with a friend?

You can only watch livestreams on one device at any one time.

Can I use my Sydney Opera House account login when purchasing a livestream ticket?

The streaming platform is managed by our platform partner Vimeo. You will need to create a seperate account on the streaming platform to purchase a livestream ticket.

Once I have watched the livestream, can I watch it again later?

A recording of the livestream will be available to watch on your account for 3 days following the event. Note, the archive recording will be available approximately 90 minutes after the conclusion of the livestream.

What happens if there is a technical issue with the livestream?

The quality of your live playback experience is largely dependent on the download speed you have from ISP (Internet Service Provider) or mobile provider. Keep in mind that your overall Internet speed can vary depending on many factors, including but not limited to: time of day, Wi-Fi performance, other devices/users utilizing your connection, and the strength of the signal provided by your ISP.

Visit the Help section of our streaming platform at https://stream.sydneyoperahouse.com/help to troubleshoot your issue. 

You may also wish to verify that you are using a supported web browser - you can find a list of supported browsers here.

If you have continue to have issues with the livestream during the duration of the event, note you will be able to watch a recording of the Livestream via your account for 30 days following the festival.  

If your issue persists, please contact Support at https://stream.sydneyoperahouse.com/contact/support.  

Note, support is managed by our streaming platform partner Vimeo.