The entire theatre – including its two buildings, the mezzanine, forecourt, laneway and steps – will play host to performances, installations and everything in between. We put a call out and said, ‘this is our space, the theme is re-birth, what do you want to do?’ We got inundated with people’s thoughts, dreams and concepts,” she says. So, in the last few months of building, we started to ask what that would look like. “As we were nearing the end, it became clear we needed to mark the moment with our community. Of developing the concept for the festival, Dullard says “it really needed to come from the artists”. “We hope it will bring unexpected delight and give people a long weekend to connect with others and with art, and remember what it was to be in that space.” “You just need to turn up with your double-vax certificate,” Dullard says. Performances inside the theatre require bookings, though the rest (and majority) of the program is free. “There’s an interactive piece with the Federation Bells that fills my heart with joy.” “All the pieces on opening night are very directly personally speaking to our story, involving our staff and community,” says Dullard. The festival will include performances by La Mama veterans such as Lloyd Jones, Sue Broadway and Kevin Summers, as well as opening-night entertainment by South Sudanese musician Ajak Kwai.

“It’s in the spirit of adventure, openness, risk-taking, all sorts of art – we just jumped in! It’s our re-birthing festival, our moment of coming back into the space, welcoming artists and audiences back, and starting our next chapter in our new home.”

“Like most things we do, it’s bigger than it should be, and all over the place,” co-CEO and company manager Caitlin Dullard tells Broadsheet.

Big city adventure sydney full