In 2024, over 22,000 high school students came to Seymour to engage in performing arts experiences that meaningfully complement their syllabus studies and encourage empathy for the complexities of the world around them.
Playwrights and performance makers have a singular objective: to encourage a deep understanding of and empathy for humanity, through the act of creative storytelling. Why is this important? As renowned arts educator Sir Kenneth Robinson said: Being creative is at the heart of being human and of all cultural progress. And 22,000 students can’t be wrong!
At Seymour, our aim is to bring educators and students the best theatrical versions possible of syllabus texts alongside productions, workshops and symposiums that invite students to think critically about our world. Plays are meant to be performed. The performances in our 2025 program reveal how playwrights and theatre makers want us to look at the world when we lift our head from the page and experience the full realisation of the story on the stage. This is what you will get when you bring your students to Seymour.
The stories your students will encounter in 2025 will advocate for understanding the refugee experience, the complex dilemmas of Shakespeare’s villains and heroes and the very timely nuances of the nuclear power debate. It is wonderful for students to feel the joy and magic of theatre which contributes to the essence of being human: coming together and having a great time.
Our 2025 program offers numerous opportunities for your students to visit Seymour for an amazing and educational adventure.
Timothy Jones Artistic Director
Keep the conversation going and connect with our team to receive regular updates and essential information for teachers and students.
Education eNews
Sign up at seymourcentre.com/education/education-overview seymourcentre.com
Box Of fice
02 7255 1561
Cnr City Rd and Cleveland St, Chippendale NSW 2008
Education enquiries education@seymour.sydney.edu.au
School bookings schoolbookings@seymour.sydney.edu.au
Cover and programme designed by Sascha Parbery 2024 @seymoursydney@seymour-centre
Seymour Centre and Sport for Jove present
Introductory Shakespeare Workshops for Primary Years 5 & 6
Join us on Seymour Centre’s big York Theatre stage to experience the world of William Shakespeare led by two experts from our resident company, Sport for Jove.
It is never too early to welcome your students to the world of Shakespeare. All over the globe, schools are seeing the benefits of introducing these plays at a primary level. Let our two highly experienced teaching artists and actors take your class on an immersive, informative and fun journey through the world of William Shakespeare and his incredible works.
These sessions are designed to ignite the imagination, build confidence, work collaboratively and leave your class wanting to know more about one of history’s most prolific storytellers.
Part presentation, part hands-on workshop, our goal is to make the experience fun, fear-free and unforgettable!
Total students per session: 50 (multiple small school groups allowed)
YEARS 5 – 6
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 3 Creative Arts and English
TIMES Mon 26 May: 9am, 11am
DURATION 90 minutes including short breaks
PRICE $15
One teacher free per school group; $15 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Seymour Centre presents
Written & Performed by The Listies 26 – 27 June
“If your kids have never been to the theatre before, do them a favour and make this their first experience.”
The Scotsman
Featuring a poop-load of puns, silly slapstick sight gags and a splash of improvisational idiocy, 110% Ready sees Melbourne’s masters of mirth do what they do best for 55 solid minutes of full school-yard lols.
This brand-new show is all about the joys of the average morning routine: sleeping through the alarm, not having any milk, fishing dirty clothes out of the hamper, burning the toast and then finding the front door is glued shut, the shower won’t switch off and the house is filling with water.
If you and your students are ready for the most hilarious time, then The Listies are 110% Ready to blow your socks off!
YEARS K – 6
CURRICULUM LINKS
Early Stage 1 Creative Arts and English
Stage 1 Creative Arts and English
Stage 2 Creative Arts and English
Stage 3 Creative Arts and English
TIMES Thu 26 Jun: 10am, 12:30pm Fri 27 Jun: 10am, 12:30pm
DURATION Approximately 55 minutes with no interval
PRICE $24
One teacher free per 10 students; $24 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
By Jolyon James, based on the book Imagine, by Alison Lester
Spot a leopard, dive with a dolphin or dig up a dinosaur as this iconic book springs into life before your eyes in an interactive performance exploring themes around creativity, friendship and the natural world, inspiring audiences to see the world around them in new and surprising ways. At its heart, the show reminds us that creativity is a muscle that loves to be stretched – it helps us to become smart and resilient human beings; qualities we need now more than ever.
The show centres on a long-distance video call between a granddaughter and grandmother enjoying a nostalgic connection through their favourite book, Imagine Featuring a stunning original musical score and oversized props, the performers play and sing through the pages, while digital puppetry allows the illustrations to travel seamlessly between real and animated worlds.
IMAGINE LIVE is a celebration of the transformative power of creativity. It encourages young audiences to dream themselves out into the world and see themselves as part of a vast connected space.
Imagine has been a certified bestseller since its 1989 publication. Lester’s body of work is instantly recognisable with a reach that is both global and intergenerational.
YEARS K – 4
CURRICULUM LINKS
Early Stage 1 English, Creative Arts and Geography
Stage 1 English, Creative Arts and Geography
Stage 2 English, Creative Arts and Geography
TIMES Thu 31 Jul: 10am, 12:30pm Fri 1 Aug: 10am, 12:30pm
DURATION Approximately 55 minutes with no interval
PRICE $24
One teacher free per 10 students; $24 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Seymour Centre and Little Eggs Collective present
Seymour welcomes back experienced workshop facilitators, Little Eggs Collective for one week of intensive workshops, designed as a structured introduction to the devising process for the HSC group performance.
Students will cover four key areas:
• Operating as an ensemble
• Celebrating your skill set and embracing improvisation
• Making meaning using the elements of drama
• Forming a structure (using the “big six” as a basic structure)
The workshop will end with a miniature group devising activity using exercises from the day, followed by a showing, discussion and question time.
These three-hour workshops will take place during the annual OnStage/Callback season at Seymour Centre.
Total students per session: 50 (multiple small school groups allowed).
YEARS 10 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 6 Drama (Preliminary and HSC)
TIMES Wed 12 Feb: 9am Thu 13 Feb: 9am Fri 14 Feb: 9am
DURATION 180-minute workshop including a 20-minute break
PRICE $30
One teacher free per school group; $30 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Seymour Centre and Grif fin Theatre Company present
Alana Valentine is an award-winning playwright whose works Cyberbile and Parramatta Girls are recognised on the Stage 6 Drama course prescriptions for 2025 – 2027. She is one of Australia’s most respected playwrights.
Against the enflamed background of one of Australia’s most divisive environmental issues, Alana Valentine’s tender and surprising new play interrogates the intersection of personal ambition and global responsibility.
Gabriel is a nuclear engineer. Cassie is an anti-nuclear campaigner. For nearly 30 years, their lives have collided and entwined, with Cassie’s cause dominating public opinion across the decades. But with political change rumbling underfoot, Cassie’s life’s work could yet be undone – and it’s all led to this explosive night.
Directed by Griffin Theatre Associate Artistic Director Andrea James (swim, Jailbaby), Nucleus tears through long drawn battle lines to reveal what's at our core.
Join Alana for an exclusive post-show Q&A. This will be an invaluable opportunity for students to discuss Nucleus alongside Valentine’s other works as part of the HSC Drama Syllabus incorporating Individual Projects and Verbatim Theatre modules.
YEARS 11 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 6 Drama (Preliminary and HSC)
TIMES Wed 5 Mar: 11am
DURATION Approximately 110 minutes including a post-show Q&A
PRICE $26
One teacher free per school group; $26 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
“The director’s understanding of Shakespeare’s plays and their timeless and universal qualities is evident…”
Lee Wall, English Teacher at Moruya High School
Seymour Centre and Sport for Jove present
Redemption? Disgrace? Honour? Legitimacy? Love? Glory?
What kind of world do the young inherit from the old, and what should we be willing to fight for? What makes a truly great leader?
Henry IV (Part 1) is a play that resonates deeply with our time. Shakespeare looks back at history to imagine the future of his nation, using a vast, kaleidoscopic national perspective to explore the most fundamental and human of relationships – family.
The play is moving, funny, and thrillingly chaotic, balancing on a tightrope of irrational thought and behavior as it tries to maintain some semblance of sanity. It swings wildly between conniving politics and saturnalian madness as individuals across all levels of English society scramble for power, notoriety, fame, and loyalty from those around them. It is Shakespeare reveling in the possibilities of theatre, offering one of the greatest studies of courage, crime, rebellion, and the challenge of living up to our responsibilities.
The production also includes a 20-minute lecture by director Damien Ryan and Q&A with the students to deepen their relationship with the work.
To watch the full production see The Player Kings Part 1.
YEARS 10 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 5 English and Drama
Stage 6 Preliminary Drama
Stage 6 HSC English Advanced Module B: Critical Study of Literature
TIMES Mon 24 Mar: 11:30am Fri 28 Mar: 11:30am Wed 2 Apr: 11:30am
DURATION Approximately 150 minutes including a 20-minute lecture, 15-minute interval and a 15-minute optional post-show Q&A
PRICE $33
One teacher free per 10 students; $33 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
“Damien Ryan and his company have become a key component of our course.”
Cindy Moor, Head Teacher (Rel) English at Glen Innes High School
Seymour Centre and Sport for Jove present
Sport for Jove’s Richard III returns after a hugely successful season in 2024.
The production is an essential tool for students to come to grips with this play’s innate theatricality and plethora of challenging characters when comparing it to Al Pacino’s Looking for Richard.
Peace at last in the land of the free!
While a gruesome war has ended and the world dances, one dangerous mind is still in the trenches, his language weaponised and targeted on every point of weakness around him. He will take no prisoners on his rampage to the top.
The production includes a detailed 20-minute lecture on the play by director Damien Ryan and Q&A with the students to deepen their relationship with the work.
To watch the full production see The Player Kings Part 2.
YEARS 10 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 5 English, History and Drama
Stage 6 Preliminary Drama
Stage 6 HSC English Advanced Module A: Textual Conversations
TIMES Tue 25 Mar: 11:30am Mon 31 Mar: 10am* Tue 1 Apr: 10am*
*These shows do not have a post-show Q&A
DURATION Approximately 150 minutes including a 20-minute lecture, 15-minute interval and a 15-minute optional post-show Q&A
PRICE $33
One teacher free per 10 students; $33 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Seymour Centre and Sport for Jove present
Sport for Jove’s 2025 HSC Performance Symposium Series offers powerful theatrical experiences of major scenes and characters from key HSC texts, coupled with analysis and curriculum-based insights.
Join Damien Ryan, Sport for Jove’s Artistic Director, in exploring the plays’ multiple meanings. In these discussions, students open up diverse critical readings, unlock language and character, and hear actors discuss the plays’ famous ambiguities and challenges. Students will also have the opportunity to ask their own questions.
Don’t miss this complete, hands-on experience that combines the unfiltered relationship students need with the plays’ action and narrative. Each symposium ensures students are ‘watching with understanding’, so they develop the critical thinking skills required to write about each play under exam conditions.
Every aspect of each HSC Symposium is geared towards the curriculum and the specific needs of students studying these plays.
7 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 4 Preliminary English and Drama
Stage 5 Preliminary English and Drama
Stage 6 Preliminary English and Drama
Stage 6 HSC English Standard and Advanced
SHOWS The Tempest/Hag-Seed Symposium
Mon 31 Mar: 1:30pm Thu 3 Apr: 9:30am Fri 16 May: 1:30pm
The Crucible Symposium Tue 1 Apr: 1:30pm Fri 4 Apr: 9:30am Fri 13 Jun: 10:30am
Othello Symposium Thu 3 Apr: 1pm Wed 21 May: 9:30am Thu 22 May: 1:30pm
The Merchant of Venice Symposium Thu 12 Jun: 10:30am
DURATION Approximately 150 minutes including a 15-minute interval and a 15-minute post-show Q&A
PRICE $33
One teacher free per 10 students; $33 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
“…from the clever set design and bold direction of the actors, it was a passionate and powerhouse performance..”
Kristy Styman, Teacher at TLSC Tumbi Umbi Campus
Seymour Centre and Sport for Jove present
Watch the premiere of an all-new production of Macbeth –a treat for teachers and students alike.
An unexpected prophecy at the close of a devastating war sends a national hero and his brilliant wife on a feverish and murderous quest for absolute power. With startlingly beautiful language, Shakespeare’s revered tragedy tears open the thin fabric between the temporal and magical worlds. This muscular, contemporary production looks at today’s world through Macbeth’s eyes – an epoch where doublespeak is rife, violence is a modern ecstasy and true loyalty is our most valuable commodity.
Shakespeare combines Scottish and English history with Greek myth to one simple end – to capture what it is to be human. What happens to us when we sacrifice our humanity to get ahead? We live in such a time, an unprecedented era that idolises fame and celebrity above leadership and morality. In such a time and place, perhaps even nature begins to fight back.
A boldly imaginative, fully contemporary and brand-new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth from Sport for Jove that is true to the text and full of engaging revelations, a wonderful experience for students and teachers.
YEARS 7 – 11
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 4 English and Drama
Stage 5 English and Drama
Stage 6
TIMES
Preliminary English and Drama
Wed 14 May: 11:30am Thu 15 May: 10am Fri 16 May: 10am Mon 19 May: 10am Tue 20 May: 10am Wed 21 May: 1pm Thu 22 May: 10am Fri 23 May: 11:30am, 7pm
DURATION Approximately 120 minutes with no interval plus a 15-minute post-show Q&A for daytime performances
PRICE $33
One teacher free per 10 students; $33 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Seymour Centre presents
By Eleanor Bishop & Karin McCracken
Yes Yes Yes is an award-winning show specifically designed for year 11 and 12 students, dealing with the difficult area of consent. The production intelligently and responsibly opens up the conversation of consent that feeds directly into the NSW PDHPE and Life Ready syllabus.
Part documentary, part confession, part open conversation, Yes Yes Yes is a theatre show created specifically for young adults exploring the knotty and necessary topics of healthy relationships, desire and consent.
Featuring in-depth interviews with teenagers, Yes Yes Yes is empathic, empowering and engaging for young adult audiences. Humorous, witty and moving, it sparks conversation where conversation can be difficult!
"... funny, thoughtful and entirely relatable ... I can't recommend this highly enough; it should be a must for teens and their caregivers." NZ Herald
YEARS 10 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 5 Drama and PDHPE
Stage 6 Preliminary Drama, PDHPE and Life Ready
Stage 6 HSC PDHPE and Life Ready
Focus Areas Consent and Relationships
TIMES Tue 20 May: 10am Wed 21 May: 10am, 12:30pm Thu 22 May: 10am, 12:30pm Fri 23 May: 10am
DURATION Approximately 80 minutes with no interval including a 20-minute postshow Q&A
PRICE $24
One teacher free per 10 students; $24 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Seymour Centre and Treehouse Theatre present
Join us for an unforgettable performance of Treehouse Theatre’s Chasing Freedom – The Incredible Journey of Child Refugees
Experience the powerful narratives of young refugees, now teenagers, as they bravely share their real-life journeys of escaping war and persecution to start anew in Australia. This poignant performance marks the culmination of 13 weeks of group counselling and trauma recovery, empowering participants to find their voices in a safe and supportive environment.
Chasing Freedom invites you to engage and connect with the refugee experience, fostering empathy and understanding. Suitable for ages 12 and up, including families, educators and community workers alike.
Bring your students and support these remarkable young individuals as they express their resilience and hope. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a significant transformative journey.
YEARS 7 – 12
CURRICULUM LINKS
Stage 4 English, PDHPE, Geography and Drama
Stage 5 English, PDHPE, Geography, History, and Drama
Stage 6 Preliminary Drama and Society and Culture
Stage 6 HSC Drama and Society and Culture
All Stages Social Cohesion, Social Justice, and Wellbeing programs
TIMES Thu 13 Nov: 10am Fri 14 Nov: 10am, 12:30pm Sat 15 Nov: 4pm
DURATION Approximately 90 minutes with no interval including a 10-minute post-show Q&A
PRICE $20
One teacher free per 10 students; $20 for each additional teacher
BOOKING INFORMATION
Book online or refer to page 19 for more information.
Join The University of Sydney Student Ambassadors for a free tour of the Camperdown/Darlington campus on the same day as your excursion to Seymour Centre.
Students will get an inside look at Australia’s oldest university and receive answers to any questions they have about the tertiary experience. Tours are usually one hour in length, and highlight popular sites including the Quadrangle, Great Hall, Sydney Nanoscience Hub and the Abercrombie.
Please visit seymourcentre.com/education/planning-your-visit or email schools.outreach@sydney.edu.au for more information about University Tours and availability.
The Chau Chak Wing Museum offers a range of exciting educational experiences and free self-guided tours of The University of Sydney’s museum. The Museum combines the university’s historic Nicholson, Macleay and art collections and features exhibitions of ancient antiquities and archaeology, historical and contemporary art, natural history and scientific instruments, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island art and culture.
Professional educator-led sessions, including object-based learning experiences, cover a range of curriculum areas from K-12, including Ancient and Modern History, English, Visual Arts, Sciences, Geography, Drama and HSIE.
Speak to our team about your school’s needs. We can tailor a two- to three-hour excursion to your requirements, or create a short visit to coincide with your visit to Seymour Centre.
Enquiries and bookings via email museum.education@ sydney.edu.au or phone (02) 9351 8746. Visit sydney. edu.au/museum for more information.
To reserve your tickets, visit our website, select BUY SCHOOL TICKETS and confirm your details. Please note: you will not be asked to pay for your tickets at this stage.
Once the Box Office has reviewed your reservation, you will receive confirmation, a tax invoice and a payment due date. It is your responsibility to forward the tax invoice to your Financial Officer for payment by the due date.
If any member of your group has access needs, please contact the Box Office on 02 7255 1561 to book tickets.
If your preferred performance has sold out, you can add your school group to a waitlist. Visit our website, select BUY SCHOOL TICKETS, choose the sold-out performance, and enter your booking details to reserve your place on the waitlist. The Box Office will contact you if seats become available.
Amendments to your booking must reach the Box Office by the payment due date. Numbers cannot be altered once this date has passed. To amend your booking, please contact the Box Office on 02 7255 1561 or schoolbookings@seymour.sydney.edu.au
Payment must be received by the payment due date or your booking may be automatically released. Our preferred payment method is credit card (Purchase Card) over the phone.
Seymour Centre may also accept payment via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and EdConnect. However, these payment methods must be approved by the Box Office Coordinator at the time of booking.
Subsidised tickets for all 2025 Sport for Jove Arts Education shows are available to low ICSEA and regional schools through Sport for Jove’s Universal Access Program. To confirm your school’s eligibility, please contact Sport for Jove directly at 02 8970 1921 or info@sportforjove.com.au
Subsidised ticket eligibility is determined solely by Sport for Jove and not Seymour Centre. We kindly ask that you contact Sport for Jove directly with any questions that you may have.
On the day of your event, please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your event start time. Late arrivals may be excluded or only admitted at a suitable break in the performance. Please call the Box Office on 02 7255 1561 to notify us if you are running late.
To learn more about your excursion to Seymour Centre, visit seymourcentre.com/education/planning-your-visit
Every effort is made to ensure program information is correct at the time of printing. Program details are subject to change without notice.
For the latest information, please visit our website.