The Necks
Bringing their legendary improv skills back to Vivid LIVE, ARIA-award-winning trio The Necks take to the Drama Theatre for two nights of one-of-a-kind performances.
In the Drama Theatre | Contemporary Music
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.
Dates and times
Tuesday 30 May, 7:00pm
Wednesday 31 May, 7:00pm
Ticket pricing | $8.50 booking fee applies per transaction [$8.95 from 28 March 2023]
| Ticket | Description & price |
| Standard | All tickets |
| All | $59 |
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the FAQ below. 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.
A maximum of six (6) tickets per customer are available for purchase. Tickets purchased in excess of a ticket limit may be cancelled without notice.
On-sale information
Pre-sale timings:
- Insider Member Priority – Tuesday 14 March, 12pm
- What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale – Wednesday 15 March, 12pm
General public on sale Friday 17 March, 12pm
Accessibility
In English
Wheelchair accessible
Audio loop available
No language barrier
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Event information
Run time
The duration of this event is yet to be confirmed.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for ages 15+
“Every concert is a new adventure.”
Sydney Morning Herald
The world’s greatest avant-garde trio return
The Necks are Sydney Opera House legends. In their decade-plus playing the venue, the band the New York Times famously dubbed “the greatest trio on Earth” have never repeated the same performance, delivering stunningly improvised shows that send audiences into an ecstatic trance. The avant-garde hypnotists made their Vivid LIVE debut in 2009 at the special request of curator and super-fan Brian Eno, and have thrilled audiences at the iconic venue ever since. Following their intimate shows at the Utzon Room last year, The Necks return to the Drama Theatre for two nights sure to burnish their already towering reputation.
More than 30 years into their career, pianist Chris Abrahams, drummer Tony Buck and bassist Lloyd Swanton continue to surprise with their transportive mix of experimental jazz, avant-garde rock and Zen-like minimalism. Their storied achievements include multiple ARIA and APRA award wins, film scores, and 22 widely acclaimed studio albums, including this year’s fittingly-named Travel, an adventurous record that discovers new ripples in the band’s sonic journey.
“The Necks are one of the most important bands Australia has ever produced,” Augie March drummer Dave Williams told Rolling Stone in 2020. “They blew my tiny little mind.”
Presented by Sydney Opera House
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, Joan Sutherland Theatre and Utzon Room performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Drama Theatre and Studio 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 by Opera House security?
In line with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs or within the Western Foyers, 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. Please travel lightly and do not bring items that require cloaking e.g. handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks and umbrellas, which are not permitted inside our venues.
Will cloaking be available?
Yes, cloaking will remain available but it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly and leave large, bulky items at home. Cloakroom attendants will use disposable paper tickets and wear gloves to handle items.
Will there be food and beverages available for purchase in the venue?
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre and Utzon Room performances, and two hours pre-show for Drama Theatre and Studio performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre and Utzon Room performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Drama Theatre and Studio 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.
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.
Is there anything I can’t bring?
Please note that BYO alcohol or glass is not permitted onsite. Further information about items that are prohibited onsite can be found on our Conditions of Entry.
Can I bring a chair with me?
Chairs are not permitted at the Opera House. Further information about items that are prohibited onsite can be found on our Conditions of Entry.
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.
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.
Looking for more information?
For more information about attending the Opera House during Vivid Sydney, check this page.
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.
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