The Olympic Games are over – you may now leave the couch.
Here's all the great stuff going down for the back end of August...
Theatre and Dance
Fascinating stories are being told in theatres this month including award-winning mystery, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time staged at Belvoir, and the beautifully designed Arlington at Seymour Centre. Dance and music fans will not want to miss the final performances of Silence and Rapture at the Sydney opera House Concert Hall this weekend, where the music of Bach and Arvo Pärt directed by Richard Tognetti inspires the choreography of Raphael Bonachela. Also with Sydney Dance Company, the annual INDance series returns to showcase independent dance companies.
Finally – in unsurprising news to anyone that has walked the Sydney CBD lately – the powerhouse modern musical Hamilton is back in town at Sydney Lyric Theatre.
Music
Aussie pop icon Vera Blue plays three free dates at Pleasure Club this weekend, whilst City Recital hosts a slice of Nordic electronica with Ben Frost. Next week at Recital jazz legend Robert Glasper hits the keys, and for the alt rock tribe – Teenage Dads play the Enmore and The Buoys take over Factory Theatre.
Plenty at the Opera House for classical fans this month, including Mozart's incredible opera Così fan tutte, Trio Gaspard debut in the Utzon Room and the sounds of the Sydney Philharmonia Choir will fill St James King St for Voices of the Italian Baroque.
Looking for a late night dance floor? Carousel celebrates 30 years of Peppermint Jam Records with a headline slot from Mousse T.
Event Fruit Salad
The hilarious Arj Barker returns to Sydney for a spot of stand up at the State Theatre this weekend, and just a few streets away at Customs House Square you'll find a fantastic free photography exhibition, Australian Life.
If you're of the DIY-persuasion and keen to contribute to the sustainability movement, Redfern's Bower – Festival of Repair is teaching achievable ways to give more longevity and new purpose to your belongings.
A PSA for inner-westies and westies, Flavours of Blacktown Multicultural Festival is shaping up to be a fab free event in Nurragingy Reserve this weekend, with a stellar local music line-up including Moussa Diakite and Wassado, True Vibe Nation and Stiff Gins, plus delicious food stalls and a cultural smorgasbord of dance performances including K Pop and traditional Korean Fan, Ghanian, Filipino, Cook Islander, Flamenco and Indian troupes.
Finally, Carriageworks hosts the always-illuminating, often-incendiary series of fascinating talks and panels – Festival of Dangerous Ideas.