Grand Soft Day
Four seasons – one day
Event details
| Date | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, 8 October 2026 | 10:30am | |
| Thursday, 8 October 2026 | 12:30pm | |
| Friday, 9 October 2026 | 10:30am | |
| Friday, 9 October 2026 | 12:30pm |
Post-show artist talk will run for approx. 20 mins after this show |
| Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 10:30am | |
| Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 12:30pm | |
| Sunday, 11 October 2026 | 10:30am | |
| Sunday, 11 October 2026 | 12:30pm |
| Standard Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | $49 |
| A Reserve | $45 |
| B Reserve | $39 |
| SOH Insiders Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | $44 |
| A Reserve | $40 |
| B Reserve | $35 |
| Groups 4+ | Price |
|---|---|
| Premium | $44 |
| A Reserve | $40 |
| B Reserve | $35 |
$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 7 July 2026
Become a Sydney Opera House Insider to receive exclusive pre-sale access
What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale
9am, Wednesday 8 July 2026
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Thursday 9 July 2026
For those requiring assistance, wheelchair or companion seating, accessible seating locations are available. Bookings can be made by calling the Box Office on 1300 764 849 or by email.
Recommended ages 2-6
Babes in arms (free on the knee) under 2 years.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
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.
The Irish TimesThis joyful show… Fizzes with invention
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Why the Wild Things Festival Curator loves this showIt’s not often that we get two giants of theatre-making for children from Europe in the one project, but with Grand Soft Day we do!
Meet the cast
Alex is the Co-Artistic Director of New International Encounter (NIE), the company that he founded in 2001. Based in Cambridge, UK, NIE produces national and international touring theatre for children, families and young people, along with exciting co-creation and creative learning projects. Alex’s work for NIE has been invited to appear at young audience festivals all over the world and has won prizes at numerous international festivals.
Originally from Northern Ireland, Helen Gregg trained in theatre there at the University of Ulster, and at École Jacques Lecoq in France. She is a regular collaborator with Branar, devising new work for young audiences, and touring nationally and internationally with them for the past decade. Based in the west of Ireland, she was the co-founder of two theatre companies there as well as being a core ensemble member of internationally renowned street and spectacle theatre company Macnas for over twenty years. An actor, writer, singer, improvisor and voice-over artist, Helen has performed all over Ireland, the UK, Europe and beyond, on stage, screen, street, radio and TV.
Jonathan is an actor and writer from Galway. He began his career as an award-winning stand-up comedian. He subsequently trained at École Jacques Lecoq and has worked with The Abbey Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Macnas among others. His shows with Branar include Spraoi, Maloney’s Dream and Grand Soft Day. Jonathan’s film and television credits include Andor, Game of Thrones, Vikings and Dune Part II.
Greg Hall is a composer, musician, performer and sound designer.
Theatre credits include Beauty & The Beast (NIE), I Will Be Everything (NIE), Cupboard Of Surprises (The National Theatre), Snow Mice! (The Egg/NIE), Peter Pan (The Northcott Theatre), Elegy For A Lady (The Salisbury Playhouse), My Brother, My Sister and Me (Polka Theatre) and Luna (Theatr Iolo/Theatre Hullabaloo).
He is a member of Minima, one of Europe’s leading silent film accompaniment bands.
As co-founder of the music production company Monotwin, Greg has had numerous work featured on film and television, including on Shane Meadow’s Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee (Warp Films).
He has also worked for the British Library as an ethnomusicologist.
Linda is an actor and singer who graduated from St Mary’s University Twickenham in 2021. Her recent theatre credits include Snow Mice (2025, The Egg) and Once Upon Time in Fenland (2026).
Her screen work includes commercials for Vitality, Moving Forward and the This Summer BBQ Range campaign. Linda has also collaborated extensively with Unfinished Histories, an organisation dedicated to documenting and educating audiences about the history of alternative theatre, appearing in productions including Reading Twice Over, Any Woman Can and Chiaroscuro.
She also appeared in the comedy sketch That’s Hot, written by Laura Power and directed by Valentina Ceschi, which was submitted to a number of international comedy short film festivals.
About Branar
Branar is one of Ireland’s leading theatre companies making work for children. Based in the West of Ireland, Branar is renowned for creating highly imaginative and beautiful work. The company tours nationally and internationally, bringing its work with equal enthusiasm to leading arts venues such as the South Bank Centre, London as to a local school in Galway, Ireland. Branar is committed to reaching its audience, wherever they are. Branar’s aim is to install not just wildness inside us but wonder, joy, curiosity and compassion.
About New International Encounter (NIE)
Established in 2001, New International Encounter (NIE) is an international theatre company that creates award-winning shows and participation projects with young people through a mix of physical theatre, multiple languages, live music, storytelling and a European ensemble. The core of the group is made up of 20 artists from Norway, the UK, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and France. NIE create spellbinding theatre, which has been performed over 25 countries spanning 4 continents, from New York to Shanghai, Berlin to Sydney.
Credits
Director Alex Byrne
Director Marc Mac Lochlainn
Composer Greg Hall
Set Design Orla Clogher
Lighting Design Trui Malten
Costume Design Elaine Mears
Technician Michael Foley
Stage Manager Debbie Wright
Set Builder Ciaran Kelly & Tony Read
Line Producer Niamh Ní Fhlatharta
Marketing and Admin Assistant Noel Minogue
Producer Joanne Beirne
Producer Cat Moore
More for crawling cubs (ages 0-2)
Attending this event
Practical information about this event, ticketing and visiting. If you have questions or need help, see our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact us.
Ticket information
If you have further questions or need help, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events or contact a member of our team on 1300 SOH TIX.
A resale restriction is in place, meaning it is unlawful for a person to resell their ticket for more than 110% of the face value. In all cases, it is advisable that tickets are only purchased from authorised channels, to protect your rights should the event be cancelled or postponed and to be sure you receive all necessary communications.
The authorised agency for this event is listed under ticket pricing. 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.
A booking fee of $8.95 applies per transaction. Prices are 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. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children two years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
Please contact Box Office on 1300 SOH TIX as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.
eTicket or postal delivery should be used wherever possible. Tickets will be emailed three days prior to the event. Download your e-Ticket and have it ready on your mobile device for scanning before you queue to enter the venue.
At the venue
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. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lift access to the main and western foyers.
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.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House is a smoke-free site. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
The safety and security of patrons, visitors and staff is our highest priority. Entry to venues inside the Opera House including theatres, the Utzon Room, the Centre for Creativity and Bennelong Restaurant is via a single entry point located under the Monumental Steps.
In line with our venue security procedures, all ticketholders must present their bags and personal belongings for visual inspection or x-ray screening prior to entering the building.
We hope all our audience members, including those children with us, have a wonderful time. Please keep disturbances to a minimum. Ticketholders who interfere unreasonably with another’s enjoyment may be asked to leave.
If your child becomes unsettled during the performance, we ask that you step outside with them until they settle. Note that you may not be readmitted until there is a suitable break in the performance.
Filming and photography is not permitted inside the venue, unless expressly authorised by us. You must switch your mobile phone off or to silent while in the venue.
Refreshments are available to purchase from our theatre bars, with foyers open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
The Opera House has a range of restaurants and bars on site. Explore our venues.
Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show. It is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly. Larger items – including handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks, umbrellas, suitcases and prams – are not permitted inside the venues and must be cloaked.
Yes, pram parking is available outside our theatres. All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers.
Foyer doors are usually open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 120 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Theatre doors will open 30 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 15 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
If you’re collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts.
We’ll aim to 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.
Where an event has a lock-out period, 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.
Location and access
Playhouse
The Playhouse is located in the north-western corner of Sydney Opera House, best accessed through the Western Foyers.