A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
16 - 17 August 2025
In the Studio
Kids & Families
Ages 8+ | A magic-realist gem of theatre and storytelling for all ages from Ireland, using a combination of music, puppetry and live video projection. Inspired by the story by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Saturday 16 August 2025 | 4pm, 7pm |
| Sunday 17 August 2025 | 2pm, 5pm |
| Tickets | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | |
| Premium | $45 |
| A Reserve | $39 |
| Insiders | |
| Premium | $41 |
| A Reserve | $35 |
| Groups 6+ Groups of 6 or more save on this performance. Please call +61 9250 7700 for more information. | |
| Premium | $41 |
| A Reserve | $35 |
| Package Tickets | Price |
|---|---|
2025 Kids at the House - Buy 3 Events Buy 3 events and save BOOK NOW | |
| Premium | $40.50 |
| A Reserve | $35.10 |
2025 Kids at the House - Buy 4+ Events Buy 4 or more events and save BOOK NOW | |
| Premium | $38.25 |
| A Reserve | $33.15 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
9am, Tuesday 19 November 2025
Become a Sydney Opera House Insider to receive exclusive pre-sale access
What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale
9am, Wednesday 20 November 2025
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Thursday 21 November 2025
Wheelchair accessible:
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in our theatres. To book accessible seating contact Box Office:
Telephone
+61 2 9250 7777
(Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House.
Run time
The duration of this event is 45 minutes.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Recommended for ages 8+.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Group bookings
Are you an OOSH or day care group? Please contact groupbookings@sydneyoperahouse.com to coordinate a large group booking for this performance.
The Arts ReviewFifty minutes of near theatrical perfection.
Useful information:
A rich exploration of human nature
For lovers of exquisite, beautifully crafted theatre, a magical realist gem inspired by legendary novelist Gabriel García Márquez’s darkly comic fairy tale, Un señor muy viejo con unas alas enormes.
In a kitchen, in a theatre, two storytellers and their audience discover something remarkable – a very old man with enormous wings – and invite us to speculate who he is. A neighbour believes he’s an angel, a priest claims he’s an imposter. Pilgrims flock to see him, hoping to be healed by him. They leave with something different than what they expected.
Winner of Best Design at the Dublin Fringe (2019), talented theatre maker Dan Colley has created a perfect show for all ages gorgeously formed around music, puppetry and live video, but also thoughtful and emotionally rich in its exploration of human nature.
Sydney Opera House presents a Dan Colley and Riverbank Arts Centre production of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, with the support of Culture Ireland
Meets the artists
Dan Colley
Director
Dan Colley is an independent theatre and film maker with a focus on ensemble-devised work and adaptations. He trained as a facilitator with Youth Theatre Ireland.
His shows Lost Lear (premiered at DTF 2022) and A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings (premiered at Dublin Fringe 2019) continue to tour internationally including to New York, the Hague, Stockholm, Wellington, Auckland and all over the UK and Canada. His film The Painted Man produced by Samson Films was in the official selection of Galway Film Fleadh and was nominated for 'Best Arthouse Short' in the Fastnet Film Festival.
As Artistic Director of Collapsing Horse (2013-19) he directed nine original productions, created a series of ten radio plays, and an exhibition in the National Museum.
Dan was Co-Artistic Director of the Kilkenny Cat Laughs comedy festival from 2017-19.
Dan was the Creative Director of Danse Macabre, a large-scale processional street theatre piece for Macnas. Dan directed and co-created TWENTY FIFTY with Fionnuala Gygax, an online interactive theatre piece part of DUETS in Dublin Fringe 2020.
Dan was awarded the Arts Council’s Next Generation Bursary Award in 2016. He is Theatre Artist in Residence in the Riverbank Arts Centre and on the board of the Dublin Fringe Festival.
Plan your visit
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.
You may bring drinks into the venue to enjoy during the performance. Hot beverages, red wine, glassware and food however cannot be brought in due to safety and to help maintain the character of the building. Thank you for your understanding.
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.
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.
Puppetry and Complicity
17 Aug 2025
Local artists are invited to join Director Dan Colley, for an in-depth look into how A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings was crafted.
Mario the Maker Magician
2 – 12 Oct 2025
All Ages | Robots and magic and slapstick… oh my! Contagiously upbeat and full of heart, the ever-endearing Mario leads you through a romping explosion of energy and belly laughs punctuated with moments of heart and emotion that will catch you by surprise.
Where is the Green Sheep?
10 – 21 Dec 2025
Ages 1+ | For the first time on the stage, Monkey Baa theatre brings the theatrical adaption to life of the beloved Australian classic, Mem Fox’s and Judy Horacek’s Where is the Green Sheep?
