- Peter Lynch uncovers the ultimate Indigenous evening under the sails of the Sydney Opera House.
- A dance company of women performs traditional stories.
- A meal at an Indigenous restaurant completes the experience.
Sydney has a habit of dazzling when you least expect it. Even when you think you know the city—the sweep of the sails, the shimmer of the harbour – it still finds a way to surprise you.
My latest reminder came in the form of an Indigenous evening at the Sydney Opera House: a Sydney Festival performance in the Drama Theatre, followed by dinner on the Western Broadwalk.
It was an extraordinary way to experience the best of indigenous culture with a dash of Sydney glamour.
Garrigarrang Badu (Sydney Festival, Drama Theatre)
The evening began with Garrigarrang Badu, a Sydney Festival production staged in the intimate atmosphere of the Opera House Drama Theatre. Developed first as a celebrated Sydney Festival showing in 2023, the work returns in 2026 in full flight—performed by the all-female Jannawi Dance Clan under the leadership of Dharug choreographer and artistic director Peta Strachan.
This is a performance that draws you into its world. The work is designed to tell the story of the women who sustain daily life, who carry knowledge, and who do so much of the work – fishing, farming, gathering, caring, teaching – often quietly and behind the scenes.
The dancers are remarkable: nimble and supple, their bodies moving with a kind of precision that is contemporary and ancestral. The vocal and musical soundscape is mainly evocative tribal songs and rhythms that hold the space and keep the story moving and is surprisingly contemporary.
Visually, the staging is beautifully conceived: cloth screens transform the background into shifting environments, creating a sense of place without ever distracting from the performers. It’s a rare design approach that feels is minimal yet expansive – suggesting Country rather than illustrating it.
Sadly, this 80-minute work has such a brief season – just two days, with limited performances during the festival.
But the Jannawi Dance Clan performs more broadly; they’re an active company centring Indigenous storytelling through dance, with a strong commitment to community, identity, culture and language revitalisation.
Jannawi Dance Clan – ‘with me, with you’
Part of what makes Garrigarrang Badu so strong is the company behind it. Jannawi Dance Clan is an Aboriginal dance collective whose name—Jannawi—means “with me, with you” in Darug language. Their practice centres Indigenous storytelling through dance and performance, celebrating Aboriginal strength and resilience in NSW while contributing to cultural continuation and revitalisation.
That spirit—with me, with you—is tangible on stage. You leave feeling like you’ve witnessed something still part of the community – a work of culture but relevant and moving forward in real time.
Midden by Mark Olive, Sydney Opera House
And then – Sydney does what Sydney does best – we step out of the theatre and into that harbour air, the Opera House sails towering above us, the Bridge lit up just a few hundred yards away.
Right outside the door is Midden by Mark Olive, the restaurant led by celebrated Indigenous chef Mark Olive, located on the Opera House’s Western Broadwalk.
The name “Midden” is a nod to the harbour’s deep Indigenous history: the oyster-shell middens formed over thousands of years along these shores, a reminder that this place has always been rich with food and gathering.
We began with the Indigenous platter—crocodile, emu and kangaroo—alongside a mild-but-spicy native hummus, three cheeses, and bright pickled vegetables. It’s a plate that feels generous and contemporary – a confident introduction to flavour, texture and tradition.
We followed with a lean kangaroo steak, served rare, with mash – the kind of dish that makes you wonder why kangaroo isn’t a staple in more Sydney kitchens. The menu at Midden draws deliberately on native ingredients and Indigenous heritage, spotlighting Australian flavours with a produce-first confidence.
Outside, overlooking the Harbour Bridge under the Opera House sails, the boardwalk filled with visiting families, the whole city felt turned up a notch. Those lights that make Sydney look like a place designed for postcards – and the harbour was doing its nightly magic trick.
Across the water, the Bridge Climb was still running—tiny figures moving high above the city like constellations. The views from the summit would have been magnificent (and if you’ve never done it, this is the kind of night that nudges you closer to saying yes).
A habour postcard brought to life
Walking back past the Opera House restaurants—teeming with tourist families, couples, groups of friends taking in the lights—was a reminder of just how beautiful Sydney really is. But it also reminded me of something else: the deeper truth beneath the gloss.
This city is stunning, yes. But it’s also layered: with stories older than the skyline, with languages that belong to Country, with artists and knowledge holders who make the place more meaningful when we take the time to listen.
Garrigarrang Badu and Midden aren’t just great “things to do”. Together, they create a night that feels like Sydney at its best—world-class, culturally alive, and connected to where it stands.
Fast Facts
- Show: Garrigarrang Badu (Sydney Festival 2026), Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre
- Season: 9–10 January 2026 (short run, limited performances but check out where else the company is paerforming – Google Jannawi Dance Clan)
- Can’t make the two-day Opera House season? Jannawi Dance Clan’s work Garrigarrang Badu is listed for touring and may appear at other venues beyond Sydney Festival, with updates likely through Arts on Tour and FORM Dance Projects. Ctheir event listings and follow @jannawidanceclan for the latest
- Dinner: Midden by Mark Olive, Western Broadwalk, Sydney Opera House
