WARU JOURNEY OF THE SMALL TURTLE
9 – 10 October 2024
In the Playhouse
Kids & Families
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* |
*Audio Described Performance
| Tickets | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | |
| Premium | $35 |
| A Reserve | $30 |
| B Reserve | $25 |
| Insiders | |
| Premium | $32 |
| A Reserve | $27 |
| B Reserve | $22 |
| Groups 6+ Groups of 6 or more save on this performance. Please call +61 9250 7700 for more information. | |
| 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 Performances
Wednesday 9 October 2024 12:30pm
Thursday 10 October 2024 12:30pm
An Audio Describer describes live the visible parts of the show. Those who want to listen to the audio use a headset connected to a FM receiver. These are given out before the show by staff. (Audience can bring their own headset with a 3.5mm headset jack connection.) This service suits audiences who are blind or have low vision. Book using the Audio Description price type. Download the pre-show notes here.
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
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 - 7.
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
Foyer Activation
Join us in the foyer to see impressive ghost net art sculptures, create your own turtle artwork and learn about the rich culture of the Torres Strait Islands.
Create your own turtle artwork and learn about the Torres Strait Islands! These activities will be facilitated by experts from the Australian National Maritime Museum and are available in the foyer from one hour before and one hour after each performance.
Meet the artists
Stephen Page
Director
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.
Elma Kris - Aka Malu
Storyteller, Cultural Creative
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).
Aba Sessie Bero
Dancer
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.
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 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 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. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options.
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.
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.
You may also like
A Forest in the City
Ages 4+ | This interactive performance for kids and families this school holidays uses full scale colourful projections, digital technology and dance, and comes direct to Sydney Opera House from Italy.
The River That Ran Uphill
Ages 8+ | In 2015, Cyclone Pam ravaged the South Pacific. Edgell Junior, a Ni-Vanuatu man from Pentecost Island experienced and survived Cyclone Pam and its aftermath. Based on his lived experience, this moving production emphasises the importance of community cooperation and resilience.
Grug and the Rainbow
Ages 2+ | In a magical adaptation of Ted Prior’s beloved picture books, Grug and the Rainbow sees our grassy little friend embark on an epic adventure to bask in the colours of the illusive rainbow.