Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Madama Butterfly

Pre-sale timings:

• Insider Member Priority – 10am, Tuesday 9 August
• What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale – 9am, Wednesday 10 August

General public on sale 10am, Tuesday 16 August

Friday 24 March, 7:30pm
Saturday 25 March, 7:30pm
Sunday 26 March, 7:30pm

Tuesday 28 March, 7:30pm
Wednesday 29 March, 7:30pm
Thursday 30 March, 7:30pm
Friday 31 March, 7:30pm
Saturday 1 April, 7:30pm
Sunday 2 April, 7:30pm

Tuesday 4 April, 7:30pm
Wednesday 5 April, 7:30pm
Thursday 6 April, 7:30pm
Saturday 8 April, 7:30pm
Sunday 9 April, 7:30pm

Tuesday 11 April, 7:30pm
Wednesday 12 April, 7:30pm
Thursday 13 April, 7:30pm
Friday 14 April, 7:30pm
Saturday 15 April, 7:30pm
Sunday 16 April, 7:30pm

Tuesday 18 April, 7:30pm
Wednesday 19 April, 7:30pm
Thursday 20 April, 7:30pm
Friday 21 April, 7:30pm
Saturday 22 April, 7:30pm
Sunday 23 April, 7:30pm

Sunday to Friday Performances

Saturday Performances

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 agencies for this event are Sydney Opera House, Opera Australia, Today Tix and Ticketmaster. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below.

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

If you are no longer able to attend due to COVID-19, please contact our Box Office 02 9250 7777 or bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com no later than two hours before the event begins to exchange your tickets.

Options for you may include:

• Exchanging your tickets for a different future performance of the same production, subject to availability. If you exchange for a lower value ticket, we will refund you the difference in the ticket price. If you exchange for a higher value ticket, we will charge you the difference in the ticket price, subject to availability.
• Exchanging your tickets for a different Opera Australia production, subject to availability. If you exchange for a lower value ticket, we will refund you the difference in the ticket price. If you exchange for a higher value ticket, we will charge you the difference in the ticket price.
• If a ticket exchange is not available, we may issue a credit note for the value of your ticket to be used towards the purchase of tickets to a future Opera Australia event.

And remember…

Unless required by law, refunds will be considered at our discretion on a case-by-case basis. We may require reasons and/or evidence supporting your request for a refund, and we appreciate your understanding.

Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is an open-air and all-weather event

The venue, audience seating, and the stage are completely uncovered. The event is an all-weather experience and we’re committed to going ahead with a performance of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour – The Phantom of the Opera even in doubtful or unfavourable weather conditions. Please come prepared so that you are as comfortable as possible, and ready to support the performers, who will carry on singing and dancing in the rain.

Bring warm and waterproof clothing

Sydney weather is full of surprises so we recommend that you dress with this in mind and bring warm, weatherproof clothing. Please note that although umbrellas can be brought to the venue, out of consideration for other members of the audience they cannot be used during the performance.

Ponchos

Ponchos will be available to purchase at the event for $5. We'll be selling the Biowear Eco Poncho. Made of corn, soy, and sunflower starches, these ponchos are biodegradable. Once disposed of, the poncho takes about a year to break down and become a protein of the ecosystem. We'll be donating any profit from the sale of ponchos to Clean Up Australia.

Performance pauses and cancellations

We will only cancel a performance during electrical storms (within 10km radius) or during times of extremely high winds and/or rain. We will not cancel a performance until 7.30pm or later. We may decide to cancel a performance once the show is underway. Please plan to travel to the venue for a 7.30pm performance start time even in unfavourable weather conditions.

In some weather conditions, we may delay the start time of Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour or pause for up to 50 minutes at any point throughout the performance.

Auxiliary expenses including travel, accommodation or hospitality which you have arranged in conjunction with the performance are at your own risk and Opera Australia cannot refund these.

Yes! You can exchange your tickets up to two working days before the performance you hold tickets to. To arrange an exchange please contact the Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 (Monday to Saturday 9am – 8:30pm and Sunday 10am – 6pm). 

The authorised agencies for this event are Sydney Opera House, Opera Australia, Today Tix, TIX and Ticketmaster.

Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable.

The Sydney Opera House is the only authorised ticket seller for Events at the Sydney Opera House, unless we specify on our website that there are other authorised ticket sellers for a specific event.

Tickets purchased from Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised re-seller may be cancelled without notice and/or the holder may be refused admission to the event.

It’s a great idea to arrive early, grab a drink and soak up the view.  The venue opens at 5.30pm every evening. 

If you are collecting your tickets from the on-site box office on Mrs Macquaries Road at Fleet Steps, we recommend doing this at least 1 hour before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before the event to give you time to find your seats.

If you are late, we will seat you as soon as possible, but please be aware that some events have lock out periods where late comers cannot be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.  Occasionally this is not until the interval, or if there is no interval, late comers may not be admitted at all. Latecomers may not be admitted to their allocated seats.  Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.

The site opens at 5pm. Plan to arrive early and savour a drink and something delicious while you watch the sun set over the harbour. Five different restaurant and bar areas on site serve a range of foods to suit every appetite and budget.

Please don't bring a picnic. Only food and beverages purchased on site can be consumed within the venue.

You can't bring your own food or drink into this event, but don't worry - there'll be plenty of options within the venue.

Handa Opera in Sydney Harbour has wheelchair locations, companion seats and level access seats available. 

Wheelchair accessible seats

Customers requiring wheelchair and/or companion seating should contact the Ticketing Services Office on +61 2 9318 8200, Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm. Wheelchair locations and companion seats are in sections F, G and H, Row JJ.

Level access seats

The best seats for mobility impaired audience members (who are not bound to a wheelchair) are in the first 5 rows of sections A-E. The path to these seats is downhill to seats in row 1 and then up a few stairs to seats in higher rows. On the way out, the path is back uphill and mobility impaired patrons should consider requesting the use of a wheelchair (subject to availability) and assistance in exiting the venue.

Please also note that whilst Front-of-House do their very best to move patrons promptly, patrons requiring assistance exiting the venue may experience delays. 

Mrs Macquaries Road, leading into the venue, is likely to experience traffic congestion. We highly recommend avoiding this road by catching public transport or parking in surrounding car parks and then catching our free shuttle bus. 

Public transport

When walking from the train/bus remember that access to the venue via the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is only possible prior to 6pm. After this time, the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney is closed from all entrances and not possible to walk through.

The nearest train stations are:
St James: approximately a 16-minute walk* (1.3 km)
Martin Place: approximately an 18-minute walk* (1.5 km)
Circular Quay: approximately a 29-minute walk* (2.3 km)

*These linked maps and estimated walk times use routes outside of The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. If you're walking before the Garden gates close (prior to 6.30pm in March and 6pm in April), using a route through the Garden will save time.  

Bus route 200 stops on Macquarie Street. 

All schedules, times and dates can be viewed at the transportnsw.info.

Water taxi

Water taxis run a special service during the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour performance season.

Water taxis will depart regularly from  Man O’War Jetty (near the Sydney Opera House) from 5pm until 7.30pm* and drop off at The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool wharf in Woolloomooloo Bay, which is a 3-minute walk to the venue. Please note there is a number of stairs leading up from the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool wharf to the performance venue.

After the performance, taxis will recommence for the return trip and make a drop-off stop only at Circular Quay. Tickets are $15 one way or $30 return.

* This is a latecomers service and will get you to the venue AFTER the start of the performance. Note that patrons arriving late will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance. This break may not be until interval. Patrons who are late may not be seated in their allocated seat.

Parking

The Domain Car Park is the closest car park. From 4:30pm, a flat rate of $10 applies. The carpark will be open until 1am during the performance season. A free shuttle bus is available to guests who park in the Domain Car Park (see details below). Parking spots for those with disability parking permits are located at the northern end of the ground floor.

There is metered parking along Mrs Macquaries Road, Hospital Road and Macquarie Street. Meters accept cash, credit card or payment by mobile phone. You need to register to pay with your mobile phone at https://www.parkmobile.com.au.

Art Gallery Road, leading into the venue, is likely to experience traffic congestion. We highly recommend arranging an alternative drop off/meeting point.

Shuttle bus 

The pre-performance shuttle service starts at 4:30pm and runs on a loop from the Domain Car Park (departing from Sir John Young Crescent on the ground floor) to the venue entrance on Mrs Macquaries Road. The shuttle ride takes approximately 5 minutes, depending on traffic.

The post-performance shuttle service starts from 10:15pm and runs until midnight, or until the last patron has left, and stops at both the Art Gallery of NSW and the Domain Car Park.

View shuttle bus drop-off and pick-up points (pdf)

View shuttle pick-up point at the Domain Car Park (pdf)

The Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour shuttle bus departs from the ground floor of the Domain Car Park and is wheelchair accessible.

You’re welcome to take photos of the site and venue before and after the performance, however, no photography is permitted during the performance.