Polar Bear & Penguin by Paul Curley & John Currivan
20 – 24 April 2024
In the Studio
Kids & Families
School Holiday Performance | Ages 5+ | Direct from Ireland, this charming play for young audiences follows the tale of an unlikely encounter between a Polar Bear and a Penguin. This is the story of polar opposite characters meeting for the first time, getting to know one another and learning how to survive in a world that is melting beneath their feet...paws...flippers.
| Date | Time |
| Saturday 20 April 2024 | 10am, 12pm, 6pm |
| Sunday 21 April 2024 | 11am, 2pm |
| Monday 22 April 2024 | 10am, 12pm |
| Tuesday 23 April 2024 | 10am, 12pm, 6pm |
| Wednesday 24 April 2024 | 10am, 12pm |
Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
Premium | $45 |
| A Reserve | $35 |
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 agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders
9am, Tuesday 14 November 2023
Become a Sydney Opera House Insider to receive exclusive pre-sale access
What’s On e-newsletter on-sale
9am, Wednesday 15 November 2023
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Thursday 16 November 2023
Wheelchair accessible
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations available.
To book accessible seating contact Box Office via email or telephone on:
+61 2 9250 7777 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House
Run time
Polar Bear & Penguin runs for approximately 45 minutes.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Suitable for all ages 5+
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy
Polar Bear
John Curivan
Penguin
Paul Curley
Writers
John Curivan & Paul Curley
Director
Ian Cameron
Set Design
Ger Clancy
Stage Manager
Meabh Crowe
Lighting Designer
Sarah Jane Shiels
Composer
Denis Clohesy
Digital Design/Projection
Sadhbh Lawlor & Gareth Gowran
Costume Designer
Ciara Fleming
Production Manager
Lisa Mahony
Illustrator
Philip Kennedy
Set Construction
ArtFx Ltd
Chief LX
Orla Kelly Smith
Producer
Claire O’Neill
Production Photographer
Ste Murray
Also on this page
Seating map
Humour, friendship and fish
Polar Bear & Penguin, a charming play for young audiences written and performed by John Currivan & Paul Curley.
The tale of an unlikely encounter between a Polar Bear and a Penguin. This is the story of polar opposite characters meeting for the first time, getting to know one another and learning how to survive in a world that is melting beneath their feet...paws...flippers.
Paul Curley (THE DIG and Bake!) and John Currivan (The Bockety World of Henry & Bucket), bring this quirky and relevant play for young audiences to life. Award-winning director Ian Cameron (White) joins the team along with designers Ger Clancy and Sarah Jane Shiels and composer Denis Clohessy.
Polar Bear & Penguin is a tale of our time, infused with humour, friendship and fish.
Sydney Opera House Presents Polar Bear & Penguin, originally developed by Paul Curley & Draíocht with the support of The Arts Council YPCE Project Award & Meitheal CPS, a Branar Initiative and is presented with the support of Culture Ireland.
Irish ExaminerOne of the sweetest events for young audiences... the tale of polar opposites meeting for the first time, getting to know each other and learning how to survive in the modern world.
2pm, Monday 22 April 2024
Artist to Artist Masterclass
Join Paul Curley and John Currivan, creators of the magical children’s show Polar Bear and Penguin for an illuminating Artist to Artist workshop, exploring their creative process and artistic practice. This workshop will explore the guiding principles they apply when making a piece for young audiences, the pivotal role director Ian Cameron plays in the process, the importance of collaborative practice and integration of design elements and, most importantly, how children contribute to the story.
Paul Curley
Penguin
Paul Curley is a performer and theatre-maker with particular expertise in making theatre for young audiences. As an actor, devisor and collaborator he has worked with a wide range of companies in Ireland, the UK and Europe. Paul has performed at festivals in France, Germany, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Scotland, USA, and Canada, and is an active member TYA Ireland (ASSITEJ).
John Currivan
Polar Bear
John Currivan is a theatre artist, writer and youth theatre facilitator from Dublin who trained at Trinity College Dublin. He has worked with companies all over Ireland including The Abbey Theatre, Barnstorm Theatre Company, Fíbín Teo and Polish Theatre. He has also written and produced plays and comics with his own company Little Room including the critically acclaimed If Only I Was A Waterproof Watch.
Gallery
of
13 - 14 & 17 - 28 April 2024 Free Creative Play
Creature Costumes
Western Foyers creative free play
At the Sydney Opera House these April School Holidays, we have three papercraft costume making activities inspired by the animals of our current shows Polar Bear & Penguin and RATBURGER. All creatures great and small are welcome, whether you want some fancy dress to wear during the shows or to wear while you wander around the Opera House. Each day will feature one of these three activities: Polar Bear Mittens, Rockhopper Penguin Headbangers, or Rat Schnozes – make one, two, or all three!
Other information
Venue information
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.
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.
Getting here
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 the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six minute walk to the Opera House.
Covid-safe 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 remind our audiences and visitors to 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.
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety 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. While face masks are no longer required, we ask all our patrons and visitors to practise good hygiene.
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Frequently asked questions
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. 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.
In accordance 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 Concert Hall and 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.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children 2 years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
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.
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
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.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue 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.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and Western Foyers. The public lift to the 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.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
The Opera House has also developed a Child-friendly Code of Conduct to engage with our youngest visitors.
You may also like
Pirates Love Underpants
4 – 12 Jan 2026
Ahoy, mateys! Set sail on a hilarious quest for the legendary Pants of Gold in Pirates Love Underpants, based on the bestselling book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort. It’s a swashbuckling, underpants-loving adventure for the whole family!
Moss Piglet
26 – 28 Sep 2025
Playful and thrilling, Moss Piglet is an epic new work for families about how even the tiniest of things can be the strongest. Prepare to embark on an extraordinary journey through the microscopic world of the tardigrade… perhaps you’ve heard of them? There are also performances of Moss Piglet for Schools.
Murmur
1 – 8 Oct 2025
Direct from Europe, Murmur is both circus and sound theatre for families. Daringly, it plays with all the senses - with rustling sound backpacks, a landscape of speakers and an acrobatic composer!
