Airdate: Inside the Sydney Opera House

ABC takes viewers Inside the Sydney Opera House in October, in a new three part series.

For the first time in its history, the Sydney Opera House has welcomed cameras behind-the-scenes to reveal what it takes to run one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres.

Filmed over a challenging year and narrated by Marta Düsseldorp, the series shines a spotlight on the people beneath the sails and tells a surprising story about what it takes to bring the iconic building to life.

Throughout the series, we meet CEO Louise Herron AM and the many colourful characters who go to extraordinary lengths to stage thousands of shows and experiences for the millions of audiences and visitors who come to the Opera House each year. From theatre directors, organ tuners, ballerinas, musicians, dancers and opera singers, to stage and prop designers, ushers, production crews and building maintenance experts, viewers will be given front row seats as the staff battle daily deadlines and go above and beyond to make the magic happen.

Filmed over the past year during one of its most challenging periods, this is the inside story of how the Opera House re-emerged from lockdowns to the triumphant reopening of its largest venue – the Concert Hall – after the venue was closed for two and a half years as it underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation.

As the Opera House approaches its 50th anniversary year in 2023, the series goes behind-the-scenes for a dramatic look at preparations for New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and VIVID Live, as well as staging everything from ballet, opera and First Nations dance, to rap and children’s shows.

Production credits: 3 x 60 mins. Principal production investment from Screen Australia and Screen NSW. A Barking Mad Productions and Fremantle production for ABC. Executive Producer, Steve Bibb. Series Producer, Ronan Sharkey. ABC Commissioning Editor, Kalita Corrigan. ABC Acting Head of Factual & Culture, Richard Huddleston. Narrated by Marta Dusseldorp.

7:30pm Sunday, 23 October on ABC.