We Come From Far, Far Away
Australian Premiere
Term 2, 15 - 19 May
Flying in direct from Norway, comes an inspiring true story performed in a traditional Mongolian Yurt. This remarkable story uses shadow puppetry, comedy and live music to tell the moving journey of two young boys seeking refuge
In The Studio | Sydney Opera House Presents | Schools
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.
Suitable for Stages 3 and 4
This program is recommended for ages 10+ (Years 5-8)
On-sale information
General public on sale Thursday 27 October, 9am
Program runs in Term 2 between 15-19 May
Monday 15 May: 12.30pm
Tuesday 16 May 10am and 12.30pm
Wednesday 17 May 10am and 12.30pm
Thursday 18 May 10am and 12.30pm
Friday 19 May 10am and 12.30pm
Standard tickets $25
| Ticket | Price & Description |
| Student | $25 |
One complimentary teacher per class. Ratio required for supervision is 1 teacher per 15 students. The only authorised ticket agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below.
Event duration is 55 minutes + a 15 minute Q&A
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change
In English | Wheelchair accessible
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Teacher Resource Pack
A teacher resource pack will be available from 2023.
Learning areas and curriculum links
Exploring themes of migration and displacement, resilience, human experience and connection to place, multidisciplinary theatre and use of simple technologies, representations of diversity in English, Drama, Music, History and Geography
Cast and creatives
New International Encounter - NIE (Norway/Czech Republic/United Kingdom)
Director - Alex Byrne, Kjell Moberg
Dramaturgy - Kjell Moberg
Performers - Václav Kalivoda, Iva Moberg, Robert Orr, Nora Svalheim
Lighting Design - Šimon Kočí
Technical suppport - Lukáš Kalivoda/Jan Sháněl/Jan Kalivoda
Set Design - Kateřina Housková
Music Direction - David Hlaváč
"NIE tells this story with such care, unassuming theatricality and direct engagement with its young audience. Such beautifully pointed work."
The Stage
Stories full of energy and hope for the future
Inside the theatre is a big tent.
Inside the big tent is a smaller tent.
Inside this smaller tent is a boy.
He is called Abdallah, and he comes from Syria. He wants to tell you some things, about life, boats, tents, trains and phones, McDonalds and about Death. He also has a secret about promises that have been made and broken.
From Norwegian/Czech/British company NIE (New International Encounter) comes a tale inspired by true stories. Performed in a traditional Mongolian Yurt, We Come From Far, Far Away uses storytelling, shadow puppetry, comedy, clowning and live music to tell a big story in an intimate way. It tells the true story of one boy and his friend, instilled with humour, energy and hope.
Sydney Opera House presents a New International Encounter production
We Come From Far, Far Away is performed in the immersive setting of a Mongolian yurt! Students and teachers will also sit within this yurt during the performance.
What is a Mongolian Yurt?
A yurt is a portable, circular tent made of flexible wood and covered in felt or skins. Yurts have been the primary style of home in Central Asia, particularly Mongolia, for thousands of years.
If your team have any additional accessibility queries or needs, please reach out to our team when booking at creativelearning@sydneyoperahouse.com
About NIE (New International Encounter)
Award-winning European theatre-makers NIE developed We Come From Far, Far Away working with Hvalstad Transittmottak, a centre that provides a first reception point for young refugees (aged 13 – 18) who have arrived alone to claim asylum in Norway.
The performance is based on a documentary and was shared with NIE through talks and workshops. The participants’ stories are troublesome and unbelievable, but as with most young people, the stories shared are filled with energy, life force and hope for the future.
Formed in 2001, Over the past 20 years, NIE has created 39 shows and performed more than 3500 times in over 1000 places across three continents.
NIE rehearsed its first three shows in the old Sokol gymnastic hall in Mseno, a small town in the north of the Czech Republic. Those three shows – My Long Journey Home, Past Half Remembered and The End of Everything Ever – won numerous awards and were performed all over the world, from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to New York, Mexico City and Seoul. They now form the European Narratives Trilogy, and still tour together for special festivals.
Since creating the Trilogy, NIE has gone on to create new shows in co-production with venues and theatre companies from across Europe, including site-specific work and theatre for younger audiences.
Ticket and Travel Subsidy
The Sydney Opera House is committed to providing the very best national and international performing arts experiences to NSW students as part of their educational studies.
The Sydney Opera House Arts Assist program provides the full cost of the Creative Learning performance ticket and $5 per student toward travel costs. School applications are assessed according to socioeconomic disadvantage, schools with special needs and individual responses regarding the School Profile and School Community.
The Sydney Opera House thanks and acknowledges our generous Arts Assist donors; The Greatorex Foundation and Sydney Opera House Ladies’ Committee.
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 - Schools
What time do I need to arrive before the event?
We recommend your group arrives early at the venue, at least 45 minutes prior to the performance start time.
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, and in some instances late comers won’t be admitted at all.
Please call Front of House on 02 9250 7134 to notify us if your group is running late.
Where is the closest location for bus parking and drop off?
The closest location to disembark from buses and coaches is on Macquarie Street. Please contact City of Sydney to confirm bus and coach set down areas. We recommend allowing an additional 10 minutes for walking from Macquarie Street. There is no bus parking onsite at Sydney Opera House.
What are the transport options to the Opera House?
Circular Quay is the closest station for public transport via train, bus and ferry. We recommend allowing 15 minutes to walk from Circular Quay for school groups. To view timetable information and ensure your public transport needs can be met, please contact Transport NSW. Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on COVID-19 safety measures for public transport.
Is there storage for school bags?
The safety and security of everyone visiting our site is paramount. We require all items larger than the dimensions of an A4 piece of paper to be cloaked. As our cloakrooms have limited space, we request that where possible teachers and students do not bring large bags/backpacks with them to the performance.
Does Sydney Opera House have a Risk Assessment policy?
Download our 2022 Risk Assessment Information here.
Where can I eat nearby?
If your students are bringing a packed lunch, Royal Botanic Gardens adjacent to the Opera House is quite pleasant in fine weather. Or our restaurants offer everything from casual snacks to kid friendly meals. See our Restaurants.
Can I take food and drink inside the venue?
Food and drink are permitted inside the foyers, but not in the venues.
What if our school group can't attend the performance?
Please contact our Creative Learning Ticketing Specialists on 02 9250 7770 as soon as possible to advise if your group can no longer attend. If your group can no longer attend because your school is located in a hotspot, or has had a positive case of COVID-19 symptoms, the Opera House has introduced flexible ticketing options to help you.
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 Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. It is encouraged that you 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.
Ticketholders must comply with the directions of Opera House ushers to assist with contact tracing.
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 line 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 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.
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 to be purchased 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.
- Drinks purchased at our theatre bars can also be taken into venues for most performances.
- The venue doors will be open 30 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. It is encouraged that you take your seats as soon as you arrive.
- 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, House Canteen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
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