Accessibility

For people with limited mobility

To book wheelchair positions, wheelchair companion seats and/or level access seats, please contact our customer service team in Sydney on 02 9318 8200, Melbourne on 03 9685 3700 or by emailing customerservice@opera.org.au.

Visitors and patrons with limited mobility arriving by taxi or private vehicle can be dropped off at Macquarie Street Gatehouse. Sydney Opera House staff are on hand to arrange transfers to the building via a wheelchair-accessible shuttle service.

During the evenings, there is also an accessible drop off and pick up area at a designated underground point, accessible from the Macquarie Street Gatehouse. Sydney Opera House staff will then arrange transfers through the building and provide lift access up to the theatre.

To reach the Sydney Opera House from Circular Quay, a complimentary wheelchair accessible Courtesy Bus is available for patrons.

For more information visit the Sydney Opera House website.

For people with vision impairment

For people who are blind or have low vision, Opera Australia, in association with Vision Australia schedule Audio Described performances where a description of key scenic, costume and lighting elements as well as pivotal action, entrances and exits of the cast are broadcast by professional audio describers to a small radio headset, supplied prior to the performance.

Bookings for this service are essential and can be done by calling Opera Australia in Sydney on 02 9318 8200 or Melbourne on 03 9685 3700.

Upcoming Audio Described performances

Madama Butterfly on Sydney Harbour | 11 April 2023, 7:30pm
Miss Saigon at Sydney Opera House | 13 September 2023, 1pm
Miss Saigon at Her Majesty’s Theatre | 8 November 2023, 7:30pm
Aida at Queensland Performing Arts Centre | 16 December 2023, 12:30pm

For people who are deaf and hard of hearing

Surtitles allow those with hearing limitations to follow the libretto (text) in real time. Surtitles are a translation of the text, often sung in a language other than English which can be seen on one or more screens (depending on the venue) and can be seen from most seats in each of our resident theatres. On our website, seats which do not have a view of the surtitle screens are marked with 'No Surtitle View'. If booking in person or over the phone, please be sure to request a view of the surtitles if you require it.

Some of our performances (mostly musicals) are not performed with surtitles. For those musicals, we offer some captioned performances via the GoTheatrical app. Upcoming performances with closed captions will be published on this page.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Opera Australia in Sydney on 02 9318 8200 or Melbourne on 03 9685 3700.

Upcoming Closed Caption performances

Miss Saigon at Sydney Opera House | 20 September 2023, 1pm

Relaxed performances

A relaxed performance is designed to ensure guests with disability and their families, or anyone who may benefit from a more relaxed environment, can more fully enjoy the performance experience together. This can include people on the autism spectrum, anyone with sensory or cognitive considerations, families, or any individuals who prefer to watch the performance in a more flexible setting. Anyone can benefit.

Guests are welcome to come and go from their seats during the performance to make the evening more accommodating for persons with disability to facilitate any accessibility considerations they may require .

A guide will be available prior to the performance with performance timings, detailed descriptions and images of the venue if you’d like to be more informed about what to expect when you visit. A ‘Quiet Space’ is available if a break from the show is needed.

Opera Australia would like to thank Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) for their assistance in making this accessible performance possible.