Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods
Opening Night Gala
Tishani Doshi, Amani Haydar, Eliza Hull, Joelle Taylor, Jazz Money & Lucia Osborne-Crowley
hosted by Julia Zemiro
Inspired by the movement of survivor testimonies informing social change, All About Women’s Opening Night gala will be a celebration of women turning their experiences into power.
In the Drama Theatre | 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
Saturday 12 March 2022, 6pm
Session runs from 6pm - 7.30pm
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.
The Opening Night gala runs for approximately 90 minutes (no interval)
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Recommended for audiences aged 15+ Content warning: adult themes
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.
Moving from silence into speech: a powerful act
All around the world, women have been speaking out, transforming trauma, discrimination and prejudice, disrupting culture, and agitating for change.
The opening night gala celebrates this movement from silence into speech. Writer and poet Tishani Doshi will perform her haunting poem "Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods" through words and dance. In this evening of song, dance, poetry and storytelling, this poem acts as a metaphor for the often empowering public disclosure of sexual assault and also other kinds of trauma, as well as discrimination, shaming, and prejudice. Women are demanding justice.
Hosted by Julia Zemiro, this event features a vocal performance by musician Eliza Hull, illustrated story-telling by Amani Haydar, author of The Mother Wound, poetry from Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money and T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Joelle Taylor, and an essay reading from Lucia Osborne-Crowley.
Don't miss this evening honouring the courage of countless women who are transforming our world by telling their stories.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Joelle Taylor's performance is supported by the UK/Australia Season Patrons, the British Council and the Australian Government as part of the UK/Australia Season.
Cheat Sheet: Tishani Doshi
When Tishani Doshi speaks, it's hard not to listen. From poetry to journalism, to dance and cricket, Doshi is an artistic powerhouse. Here's everything you need to know about the multi-talented All About Women headliner.
More about...
Tishani Doshi is a writer and dancer of Welsh-Gujarati origin born in Madras, India. After studying in America and working in the UK, she returned to India where she became a dancer with choreographer Chandralekha. She also works as a freelance journalist, with work in The Guardian, The International Herald Tribune, The New Indian Express and The National. Having published several novels and poetry collections, her latest book is God at the Door.
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Amani Haydar is an artist, lawyer, mum and advocate for women's health and safety based in Western Sydney. Amani's writing and illustrations have been published in ABC News Online and SBS Life and her self-portrait Insert Headline Here was a finalist in the 2018 Archibald Prize. Amani uses visual art and writing to explore the personal and political dimensions of abuse, loss, identity and resilience.
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Eliza Hull is a musical artist, writer, journalist and disability advocate – and a contributor to Growing Up Disabled in Australia. Her podcast series on parenting with a disability, We've Got This, was one of Radio National’s and ABC Life’s most successful series of all time.
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Joelle Taylor is an award-winning poet, playwright, author and former slam champion. She is widely anthologised and the author of 4 full poetry collections and 3 plays. Her latest poetry collection C+NTO & Othered Poems was published in June 2021 by Westbourne Press and won the T.S. Eliot Prize. A BBC Radio 4 documentary ‘Butch’ featuring poems from C+NTO and presented by Joelle was broadcast in May 2020, and Joelle has recently been commissioned to develop C+NTO into a spoken word theatre show. Joelle regularly performs across the UK and internationally, touring her work to Australia, Finland, Singapore, Spain, Estonia, Brazil and Portugal.
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Jazz Money is a poet and artist of Wiradjuri heritage, currently based on sovereign Gadigal land. Her poetry has been published widely and reimagined as murals, installations, digital interventions and film. Jazz’s poetry has been recognised with the David Unaipon Award, the Aunty Kerry Reed-Gilbert Poetry Prize, the University of Canberra Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Poetry Prize, a Copyright Agency First Nations Fellowship and a First Nations Emerging Career Award from the Australia Council for the Arts. how to make a basket is her first book.
More about...
Lucia Osborne-Crowley is a journalist, essayist, writer, and legal researcher. Her news reporting has appeared in ABC News, Guardian, Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and Women's Agenda. Her long-form writing has appeared in The Lifted Brow and Meanjin. Her second book, My Body Keeps Your Secrets, was published in 2021.
More about...
French born-Australian, Julia Zemiro is an acting graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts (1993).
Arguably best known as the host of the long-running SBS hit TV program RocKwiz, Julia’s success continues in Julia Zemiro’s Home Delivery for the ABC, now in its eighth series, which she also co-produces. Her co-hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest (2008-2016) lead to an unprecedented success for SBS.
She has been host for international touring artists such as documentary-maker Louis Theroux, author Bill Bryson, Stephen Fry and medical guru Michael Mosley – Australian Tour 2017. Julia was also the BBC UK choice for the exclusive Australian television interview with Peter Capaldi on his worldwide press tour for Dr Who. She also co-hosted Stargazing Live with Brian Cox for ABC/BBC for 3 years.
Guest TV appearances include QI, Room 101, Agony Aunts, Thank God You’re Here, co-hosting What A Year with Bert Newton, and the title of Australia’s Brainiest TV Star.
As an actor, she recently appeared in the ABC series Fisk alongside Kitty Flanagan and Marty Sheargold.
Other credits include the award winning film An Accidental Soldier, directed by Rachel Ward and the acclaimed television series Conspiracy 365.
She served her two-year stint as the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for 2019 and 2020.
Julia is a proud ambassador for Our Watch, the Victorian Actors Benevolent Trust and Together We Can. She is also a proud member of her union the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
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 Kill, Jennette McCurdy, Grace Tame and so many more even if you can't make it to the House on the day.
There's so much more...
facing up
roxane gay & nakkiah lui
Nothing is off limits in this conversation at All About Women 2022 between these two incredible writers whose work challenges us with the hard questions about about racism and misogyny today.
the future for women in afghanistan
zarlasht sarwari, mariam veiszadeh, najeeba wazefadost & diana sayed
The Australian and American troops are gone, the Taliban are back in power. What is life like now for women and girls in Afghanistan and what can we in the rest of the world do to help? Find out at All About Women 2022.
to dye for
workshop with leah giblin
Learn the art of natural dyeing in this workshop in the Yallamundi Rooms at Sydney Opera House for All About Women 2022.
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.
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.
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.
How do I watch the livestream?
- Purchase a livestream ticket. Livestreams are watched through the Sydney Opera House's streaming platform, Stream.
- 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.
- 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.
- The livestream will begin playing automatically or shortly after the designated start time on the Stream event web page.
- 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:
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’.
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.
Open the Stream app and tap ‘Sign In’.
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.