Surfing at the Opera House: An Unexpected History

On a warm Friday night in late 1973, the Sydney Opera House’s sails glow as the sun sets. Elegantly dressed patrons in tuxedos and evening gowns ascend the Monumental Steps, ready to witness performances in the controversial new building that had captivated Sydney (and the world) for over a decade during its dramatic construction.  

In between the gowns and Galilean binoculars, another crowd was gathering at the Opera House that evening. Surfers. Hundreds of young people clad in desert boots, sun-bleached hair, and ripped jeans, descend on the Opera House. Skateboards in hand, they head to the Cinema, now known as the Playhouse. 

Inside, over 400 surf enthusiasts cheer as Albe Falzon and David Elfick’s Crystal Voyager lights up the screen. Music by G. Wayne Thomas and Pink Floyd flows through the space, blending the Opera House’s grandeur with the vibrant, rebellious spirit of 70s surf culture.  

But why were they there?

The introduction of a cinema that played counterculture surf films was part of a broader evolution of the Opera House. Following Jørn Utzon’s resignation as the lead architect in 1966, his original vision for the Concert Hall was drastically reworked. The redesign left significant, unused spaces below the stage, which were repurposed into the Rehearsal and Recording Hall (now The Studio) and the Cinema, known interchangeably as the Music Room. 

Recognising the need for a versatile venue, planners created this latter space for chamber music, solo recitals, film screenings, and small conventions. This venue, with a capacity of 450, became a crucial hub for film, with the National Film Theatre of Australia choosing it as their primary venue for three nights a week. 

The 1970s saw the Opera House becoming a nexus for Australian surf films. From December 1973, Surf Film Nights took over every Friday during the summer, transforming the Opera House into a haven for surfing enthusiasts. Films such as Morning of the Earth (1972), celebrated for its portrayal of surfing as a ‘transcendental experience’, became staples. Other notable titles included Rolling Home (1973), Crystal Voyager (1973), Tales from the Tube (1975), Drift Away (1976), Highway One (1977), Free Ride (1977), Wizards of the Water (1981), and Storm Riders (1982). 

Some fifty years later, Crystal Voyager returns to the Opera House for the world premiere of its remastered version on August 9, 2024. The film’s director David Elfick reminisced, “Fifty years ago Crystal Voyager opened at the Opera House. It was touch and go. In those days 16mm surf movies were shown in two 40-minute halves. At the interval, I was trying to keep the audience happy while Ably Falzon was speeding across the harbour bridge in his Kombi with the second half of the film. We made it …just. Today the audience will see a digital Crystal Voyager, a 4K fully restored image and hear the Pink Floyd soundtrack for the first time in 5.1 sound." 

Book tickets to the world premiere of the new restoration of Crystal Voyager on 9 – 10 August or see our First Wave program as we welcome back surf films to the Sydney Opera House 9 – 11 August.