Bangarra Dance Theatre WARU JOURNEY OF THE SMALL TURTLE
9 – 10 October 2024
In the Studio
Kids & Families
School Holiday Performance | Ages 3+ | In Bangarra’s first dedicated work for children, join our heroine Migi as she undertakes a journey of discovery and survival. A contemporary saltwater Lagaw Kazil (Island Children) story inspired by the totemic system of the green turtle, Waru – journey of the small turtle is an interactive and immersive introduction to Torres Strait Islander culture and dance for ages 3+.
Date |
Time |
---|---|
Wednesday 9 October 2024 |
10:00am & 12:30pm |
Thursday 10 October 2024 |
10:00am & 12:30pm |
Tickets | Price |
---|---|
Standard | |
Premium | $35 |
A Reserve | $30 |
B Reserve | $25 |
Insiders | |
Premium | $32 |
A Reserve | $27 |
B Reserve | $22 |
Groups 6+ |
|
Premium | $32 |
A Reserve | $27 |
B Reserve | $22 |
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
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
Audio described performance
10am Thursday 21 December 2023
An audio description service to enhance the experience of customers who are blind or have low vision is offered for selected performances at the Sydney Opera House. This is a live commentary of the visual elements of a performance, by trained audio describers. Audio description is relayed via a free headset and receiver linked to the FM radio system.
Pre-show Tactical Tour
9am Thursday 21 December 2023
Tactile tours allow patrons who are blind or have low vision to have a hands-on experience. Patrons are given access to costumes, props and stage set in order to capture the atmosphere of the work. Tactile tours occur before the performance. Book online using the Audio Described price type, call 02 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com.
Read our frequently asked questions (PDF) about access for the show.
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House
Run time
Waru – journey of the small turtle runs for approximately 45 minutes.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Suitable for all ages 3+.
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
Director
Stephen Page
Cultural Creatives
Sani Townson and Elma Kris
Writer
Hunter Page-Lochard
Composers
Steve Francis and David Page
Featured Songs By
Helen Anu, Leonora Adidi and Peggy Misi
Set and Costume Design
Jacob Nash
Lighting Design
Matt Cox
Language Consultant
Leonora Adidi
Artists
Aka Malu - Storyteller
Elma Kris
Performer
Aba Bero
ArtsplorersBangarra has thoughtfully created a fully immersive experience.
Also on this page
Seating map
A journey of discovery and survival
Under the star-illuminated skies of the Torres Strait, a green turtle navigates her way back to the beach where she was born. The season has started, the turtles are returning to nest, and soon the island will welcome a new generation of hatchlings – amongst them, our small turtle friend, Migi!
In Bangarra’s first dedicated work for children, join our heroine Migi as she undertakes a journey of discovery and survival. A contemporary saltwater Lagaw Kazil (Island Children) story inspired by the totemic system of the green turtle, Waru – journey of the small turtle is an interactive and immersive introduction to Torres Strait Islander culture and dance for ages 3+.
Created by former Bangarra Artistic Director, Stephen Page, together with Hunter Page-Lochard and Bangarra alumni Dancers and Choreographers Sani Townson and Elma Kris, Waru provides teachers, parents and care-givers with a unique opportunity to open up conversations about climate change, caring for the environment and the traditional cultural values of respect and reciprocity.
Sydney Opera House presents a Bangarra Dance Theatre production

Meet the artists
Born in Brisbane, Stephen is a descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation from SE Queensland.
Stephen was Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre from 1991 - 2022 and has developed a signature body of works that have become milestones in Australian performing arts.
Stephen continues to reinvent Indigenous storytelling within Bangarra and through collaborations with other performing arts companies. He directed the Indigenous sections for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies and created a new dance work as part of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Stephen has choreographed over 25 works for Bangarra. His most recent works include the Helpmann Award winning work Bennelong in 2017 and the work Dark Emu in 2018, choreographed together with former Bangarra dancers Daniel Riley and Yolande Brown, and which went on to become one of the most successful productions in the history of Bangarra.

Hunter Page-Lochard recently completed production on the highly anticipated ABC/NBCUniversal series FIRES, and will next be seen in Daniel Askill’s debut feature film and Tyson Wade Johnston’s feature STREAMLINE. He is also one of the regular hosts of Playschool on ABC.
Hunter also starred as “Cleverman” in ABC's ground breaking series CLEVERMAN, which premiered at the 2016 Berlin Film Festival, aired on SUNDANCE TV in the US, for which he was nominated for the Graham Kennedy Most Outstanding Newcomer Logie Award.
Hunter made his feature film debut in Rachel Perkins' award winning film, BRAN NUE DAE. His other feature film credits include SPEAR, which premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, THE SAPPHIRES, which screened in Official Selection at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and AROUND THE BLOCK which screened at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

Elma was raised on Thursday Island (Waiben) in the Torres Strait. Her clan is from the North Western and Central Islands of the Torres Strait.
Elma has had a rich and rewarding career as a dancer, choreographer, actor and teacher. She studied at NAISDA and joined Bangarra in 1999.
Her many choreographic credits include Bupau Ipikazil and Bupau Mabigal (NAISDA, 1994) Malu (Bibir dance company, 1998), the Torres Strait Island element of the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony (2000), Emeret Lu (Bangarra, True Stories, 2007) and About (Bangarra, Belong, 2011). Elma’s film credits include Oscar and Lucinda, Reef Dreaming, Farscape and SPEAR (2016).
In 2007, Elma won a Deadly Award for Dancer of the Year and in 2017 she was Nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Female Dancer for her title role in Stephen Page’s Nyapanyapa, part of Bangarra’s triple bill OUR land people stories (2016).
In 2015, she was one of five artists who took part in Unsettled, an exhibition at the National Museum of Australia.

Proud Meriam, Erubian and Kaantju woman from Far North Queensland, Aba comes from both Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal roots. Born in Townsville, Queensland, she completed her primary schooling in Darwin and Daley River, Northern Territory, before moving back to Townsville to complete her secondary schooling. Being raised and immersed in cultural traditions of both First Nations backgrounds is where the strength of her core is founded.
Aba trained at NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association) for three years before moving back to Townsville in 2015 to take care of a family member.
She has performed in events and festivals, including the national AIDS Foundation, Qantas, Message Stick (SOH), 5 Land’s Walk, schools, universities, NAIDOC Week, Mabo Day, NPA (Northern Peninsula Area) Cultural Festival, restaurant, museum and gallery openings, Yarbun and Australia Day (SOH).

Steve is a composer and sound designer originally from Adelaide. An opportunity to produce and mix David Page’s work on Alchemy for The Australian Ballet in 1996 led to an ongoing collaboration with Bangarra.
As composer and sound designer, Steve has worked with Australia’s premier theatre companies, including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Belvoir and Griffin. He has composed for a number of films, including The Turning, the multi award- winning dik, Leah Purcell’s She Say, the Dendy Award-winning film Black Talk, Berlin Festival winner Djarn Djarns, the MMF Award-winning documentary Mr Patterns, the AFI Award- winning short film Box and the documentaries Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra, How the light Gets in, Macumba and Picture the Women.
For television, Steve has scored for the Channel Nine series Cops LAC, the mini-series Dangerous for Fox and the internationally released series Double Trouble. With David Page, Steve also composed and produced music for the Sydney Olympic and Rugby World Cup opening ceremonies.
As well as two nominations for sound design, Steve has won two Helpmann Awards for Best Original Score for two Bangarra productions (Walkabout, 2002 and Belong, 2011 with David Page). He has also won two Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Music and Sound Design.
Jacob is a descendant of the Daly River people, west of Darwin, and has spent the last 20 years living, working and creating in Sydney on Eora country. He graduated from the NIDA Design Course in 2005. In 2010, he designed the set for of earth & sky for Bangarra and received a Green Room Award for Best Design in Dance. He was appointed Artist in Residence at Bangarra the following year and was Head of Design from 2011 – 2023.
Jacob’s designs for Bangarra include Dark Emu, Bennelong, Patyegarang, lore, OUR land people stories, Terrain, Blak, and Warumuk – in the dark night. In 2018 was awarded a Helpmann Award for Best Scenic Design for his set design in Bennelong.
In 2019 for Sydney Festival, Jacob created the work ALWAYS, a large scale artwork that became the backdrop for The Vigil and the Wugulora Ceremony.
Jacob was also the Production Designer and Co-Creature Designer for Cleverman Season 2; was the Production Designer for Stephen Page’s 2015 film SPEAR; and has been the Design Director for Bangarra’s five Vivid Sydney video installations on the Harbour Bridge Pylon. He is a Board Director of Belvoir St Theatre and a Creative Artist in Residence at Sydney Festival. His other theatre credits include Ruben Guthrie, Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train and Yibiyung (Belvoir St Theatre); Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare); Wonnangatta, The Long Forgotten Dream, The Removalists, Tusk Tusk/Like a Fishbone (Sydney Theatre Company), Black Ties (Ilbijerri Theatre Company).
Matt’s career in theatre has spanned 15 years designing lighting in both Australia and the UK. During his time in London, Matt worked with student directors attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and John Stahl’s solo show Blindman.
Since returning to Sydney, he has designed numerous theatre productions including for: Bangarra Dance Theatre (Blak, Belong), Carriageworks (Lake Disappointment), Australian Chamber Orchestra (Reflections on Gallipoli), Musica Viva (Goldner String Quartet), Bell Shakespeare (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet), Monkey Baa (The Unknown Soldier), Sydney Theatre Company (Ruby Moon), Louise Withers and Associates (The Mousetrap, A Murder is Announced), Company B (The Seed), Legs on the Wall (Symphony, for Sport for Jove, The Libertine, Othello), Sydney Festival (The Famous Spiegeltent 2016/2015, The Aurora Spiegeltent 2014) and Sydney Chamber Opera (His Music Burns).
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. Please remember to maintain physical distancing whilst consuming drinks in our foyers.
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 consistent with COVID-safe rules.
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 their website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel and COVID-19 safety measures. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min 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 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.
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.
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.
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Face masks are strongly recommended for all patrons while inside our theatres and foyers, including during the performance. Please bring your own mask.
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.
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.
Children under the age of 12 are not required to wear a face mask.
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. 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 about flexible ticketing options.
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 consistent with COVID-safe rules.
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.
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