Sydney

Day 1 | Thursday 27 November
Arrive & Walsh Bay | Congratulations, Get Rich!
In the early evening we gather in the elegant surrounds of the lobby bar, followed by a lecture in the hotel accompanied by nibbles and drinks. We then transfer to Walsh Bay for tonight’s performance, Congratulations, Get Rich! at the Wharf Theatre. This co-production between the Sydney Theatre Company, Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre and Singapore Repertory Theatre is penned and performed by Merlynn Tong (Golden Blood) under the direction of former STC Resident Artist and La Boite Artistic Director, Courtney Stewart. Unfolding within the vibrant setting of a karaoke bar, this larger-than-life musical comedy will witness three powerful women of very different eras compete, commiserate and confront each other through stories, showmanship and song – this is karaoke after all... Overnight Sydney

Day 2 | Friday 28 November
MCA | Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
This morning we enjoy a comprehensive guided tour of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) with artist and educator Sue Saxon. The MCA’s collection showcases the diversity and dynamism of contemporary Australian and international art, all housed within its striking harbourside location at Circular Quay. Sue will lead us through highlights of the museum’s current exhibitions, offering expert insight into key works and curatorial themes. After our tour, we’ll dine at Canvas, the MCA’s newly opened rooftop restaurant. With panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, this stylish venue offers a seasonal menu that reflects the vibrancy of the gallery below. Returning to the hotel, there is time to relax before our late afternoon transfer brings us to the Sydney Opera House, where Chief Conductor Simone Young will lead the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and a superb all-Australasian quartet of singers through Beethoven’s irrepressible Ninth Symphony. Inspired by the themes in Beethoven’s work, acclaimed First Nations composer William Barton has composed a new piece as a companion to this timeless symphony, which will first provide us with a fresh, contemporary and uniquely Australian perspective. Overnight Sydney (B, L)

Day 3 | Saturday 29 November
Walsh Bay | Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
After a relaxed start to the day, we gather mid-morning for an engaging lecture by Kate, setting the scene for this afternoon’s performance. The remainder of the morning is free for shopping or independent sightseeing in central Sydney. We reconvene after lunch and make our way to The Wharf Theatres for a matinee performance of Edward Albee’s explosive masterpiece, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Presented by the Sydney Theatre Company and directed by Helpmann Award-winner Sarah Goodes (Julia), this searing psychological drama stars Logie Award-winner Kat Stewart (Offspring) alongside her real-life husband David Whiteley, as they draw a younger couple into the heart of their volatile relationship. We conclude our day with dinner at one of Sydney’s top restaurants. Overnight Sydney (B, D)

Day 4 | Sunday 30 November
King Street Gallery on William & Depart
We conclude our time in Sydney with a private morning visit to King Street Gallery on William, one of the city’s leading contemporary art spaces. Situated in Darlinghurst, in the heart of Sydney’s arts district, the gallery represent Australia’s most established prominent artists and our visit will provide us the chance to view current exhibitions in a relaxed, intimate setting, with expert insights from gallery staff. Making our way back to the hotel, our tour concludes at 1.00pm. (B)