A festival of ideas, action & change.
Rent on demand
In a time when it was needed most, the fifth iteration of Antidote took place (online) in September 2021. Rent any talk or enjoy the entire festival on demand on Stream, the new streaming service from Sydney Opera House.
Racing to the End of the World
Elizabeth Kolbert, moderated by Paddy Manning
Acclaimed environmental writer Elizabeth Kolbert's latest book investigates science's cutting-edge fight against the effects of climate change. After doing so much damage, have we left it too late to save nature?
Alternative Futures
Yanis Varoufakis, moderated by Scott Ludlam
So many facets of our current financial system are unsound - it's time to imagine something new. Yanis Varoufakis, former Finance Minister of Greece, shares theories and hopes for a new world.
End of Empire
Afua Hirsch, moderated by Daniel Browning
It's been more than 200 years since the British laid claim to our country and called it Australia, but the legacy of colonialism lives on. Who gets included and excluded from the privileges of citizenship, and how can we move towards a truly inclusive, decolonised Australian identity?
Uluru Statement from the Heart
Pat Anderson AO, Megan Davies & Thomas Mayor moderated by Bridget Brennan
On the fiftieth anniversary of the 1967 referendum, the Uluru Statement from the Heart called for Australians to stand for real change. Join two of its authors for an urgent discussion about the future of indigenous rights.
Soul Searching in a Post-Truth Age
Amal Awad & Sarah Krasnostein, moderated by Fenella Kernebone
In times of uncertainty, we humans look for answers, and today's seekers have a well-stocked spiritual marketplace at their disposal. From healers to spirit guides to yoni eggs, is the continued appeal of alternative practices pointing to a more fundamental need?
The Myth of the Fair Go
Bri Lee, Sheila Ngoc Pham & Rick Morton, moderated by Laura Murphy-Oates
Racism, family trauma, poverty - social disadvantage comes in many different and often intersecting forms. How do we dispel the idea of "lifters and leaners" to build a society where everyone truly gets a fair go?
Sound and Silence: Deaf Stories
Fiona Murphy, Jackie Leach Scully & Alex Jones
One in six Australians have some hearing loss, and our Auslan-speaking community numbers at more than 30,00. Deaf culture is thriving. Yet in the construction of spaces and social environments, deafness is often overlooked. How do we overcome stigma and exclusion?
“No Lebs”: Anti-Arab racism since 9/11
Dr Michael Mohammed Ahmad, Randa Abdel-Fattah & Ghassan Hage, moderated by Sara Saleh
9/11 gave rise to bigotry, hate speech, and violence against Arab communities around the world. Twenty years after the event, how much have things changed for Australian Muslims?
The Moral High Ground
Jacqueline Maley, Julia Baird & Osman Faruqi, moderated by Edwina Throsby
Morally bankrupt, moral challenges, a moral vacuum - commentary on politics often circles around right and wrong. How does our understanding of ethics influence the way we expect our government to act?