The Spirit of Churaki
Catch an epic wave of celebration in this musical tribute to an Aboriginal surf lifesaving legend, featuring extraordinary First Nations, Australian and international performers, evocative visuals, and a joyous mix of rock, oceanic grooves and First Nations culture.
Find out more about First Nations at Sydney Opera House.
In the Playhouse | View Seat Map
Pre-sale and on-sale information
- Insider Member Priority – 12pm AEDT, Tuesday 19 March
- What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale – 12pm AEDT, Wednesday 20 March
- General public on sale – 9am AEDT, Friday 22 March
- To be part of the What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale sign up by 11.59pm AEDT Tuesday 19 March
One performance on Monday 27 May, 2019
Monday 27 May 2019, 8.30pm
Standard tickets from $35.00 | $8.50 Booking Fee applies per transaction.
Ticket Prices
Standard
Premium $40.00
A Reserve $35.00
Australian Pensioners and Australian Full Time Students
Premium n/a
A Reserve $30.00
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. Children aged 0-23 months at the time of a performance may be seated on a parent’s lap free of charge. All children occupying a seat or aged 2 years of age must hold a valid ticket.
Note: A maximum of six (6) tickets per customer are available for purchase. This maximum applies per performance. Tickets purchased in excess of prescribed limits may be cancelled without notice.
To help reduce unauthorised resale for profit, tickets for this event will not be issued immediately. If you select Print at Home, they will be emailed on the morning of the performance. If you elect to collect them, you may visit our box office any time from 9am, Friday 10 May 2019. If your tickets are being sent by post, they should be received in your post box by Tuesday 21 May 2019.
This show run time is yet to be confirmed.
Should ticket holders arrive late, they will be let in at an appropriate moment.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change
Suitable for all ages
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Children aged 0-23 months at the time of a performance may be seated on a parent’s lap free of charge. All children occupying a seat or aged 2 year/s of age or older must hold a valid ticket.
“…a sense of generosity, of connection, that anyone who’s ever slipped into saltwater can feel. It was something truly outstanding.”
ABC Gold Coast
A musical celebration of a surf lifesaving hero
At the start of National Reconciliation Week and on the anniversary of the 1967 Australian Referendum, Sydney Opera House Head of First Nations programming, Rhoda Roberts, co-curates an evening of music, multimedia and dance titled The Spirit of Churaki during Vivid LIVE. Find out more about First Nations at Sydney Opera House.
An inspiring musical production that brings together a host of Australia’s most extraordinary performers, this vital cultural celebration takes the audience on a journey through the amazing life of Churaki, an Aboriginal hero heralded as one of the nation’s very first surf lifesavers in the early 1900s. Originally commissioned by Bleach* Festival in partnership with Banaam, this Helpmann Award nominated musical, enriched by a spirit of generosity and connection to the land and its people, comes to life at the Playhouse Theatre for one night only.
Under the musical direction of Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes) and cultural collaborator Kyle Slabb (Banaam), experience the joy of this event as it brings together unique First Nations, Australian and international performers – including singer Emily Wurramara, bassist Sam Pankhurst, percussionist Greg Sheehan, classical virtuoso Veronique Serret and traditional Bundjalung dance by Darren Crompton from the Muggera Dancers. Share in a night of traditional Aboriginal dance, transcendent surf rock, and mellow Oceanic beats, set to a backdrop of richly evocative visuals that pay deep respect to our country’s First Nations pioneers.
This work was originally commissioned by Bleach* Festival in association with Banaam.
Photographs by Art Work Agency
The Spirit of Churaki ensemble...
Brian Ritchie - Acoustic bass, cajon, conch, shakuhachi Flute, ensemble percussion
Kyle Slabb - Lead guitar, vocals, ensemble percussion
Colin Usher - Vocals, ensemble percussion
Darren Compton - Dancer
Fred Leone - Percussion, didgeridoo, vocals
Greg Sheehan - Lead percussionist
Josh Slabb - Boomerangs, vocals, ukulele, dancer
Jarulah Slabb - Vocals, ensemble percussion, dancer
Kaleb Slabb - Electric bass
Emily Wurramara - Vocals, ukulele, ensemble percussion
Sam Pankhurst - Double bass
Veronique Serret - Electric violin
Make the most of your experience...
Add a drinks voucher or drinks with a cheese platter to your purchase and redeem it at any of the foyer bars inside the Opera House – perfect for a pre-show or interval refreshment.
Join us for a meal at Opera Bar before or after your guided Sydney Opera House Tour. We’ve picked our favourites - beer battered fish & chips, rump steak or a seasonal vegetarian meal option*. No reservations needed.
Sweep back the curtains and explore behind-the-scenes with an intimate small-group Vivid LIVE Backstage Tour. Dine in the exclusive domain of our performers, journey through rehearsal spaces not open to the public, and be tantalised with insider secrets from our expert guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the authorised ticket sellers for this event?
The only authorised ticket agencies for this event are Sydney Opera House, Ticketek and Moshtix.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered 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.
If you purchase tickets from 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 time do I need to arrive before the event?
It’s a great idea to arrive early, relax and soak up the atmosphere.
If you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 30 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before the event. This should allow enough time for the mandatory visual inspections and/or cloaking of bags and personal belongings by Opera House security staff before entering the venue and finding your seats.
We recommend leaving all large bags at home, any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper is required to be checked into the Cloak Room.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as possible, but 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.
Can I take photos during the event?
Unfortunately, you can't take photos during this event.
What are the transport options to the Opera House during Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney is one of the busiest times in the city. As large crowds are expected and extensive road closures are in place around the Opera House, Sydney Opera House patrons are encourage to plan ahead and allow plenty of extra travel time when arriving for your show. Public transport should be used wherever possible.
To find out more about access to the Opera House and up-to-date travel information during Vivid Sydney, visit: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/visit-us/vivid-sydney.html
Will there be strobe or haze during the performance?
Yes, the performance may include the use of strobe lighting and haze.
What can I bring with me?
All ticketholders must present their bags and personal belongings for visual inspection or x-ray screening by Sydney Opera House security staff before entering the venue as a safety precaution and condition of entry. Valid photo ID must be presented to purchase a drink from the theatre bar.
To avoid delays, please leave anything larger than an A4 sheet of paper at home.
Larger items – including handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks, umbrellas, suitcases and prams – are not permitted inside the venues and must be cloaked.
Find out more about venue security at Sydney Opera House.
When do I get my ticket?
If you select Print at Home, they will be emailed the morning of the performance.
If you elect to collect them, you may visit our box office any time from 9am, Friday 10 May 2019.
If your tickets are being sent by post, they should be received in your post box between Tuesday 11 May 2019 and Tuesday, 21 May 2019.
What should I wear?
So long as you’re wearing shoes and a shirt, whatever you like. We’re pretty informal here at the Opera House.
Where can I eat nearby?
Satisfy your hunger at one of the many restaurants and bars here at the Opera House. Our restaurants offer everything from casual snacks to award-winning fine dining. Find what you’re after, see our Restaurants
Can I take food & drink inside the venue?
Food is not allowed in this event, however you are invited to buy a drink and take it inside to enjoy.
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