Major Companies

Australia’s major performing arts companies

Australia’s “majors” are the flagship companies that the federal and state governments recognise as the country’s anchor cultural institutions — with national mainstage seasons, regional touring obligations, and the kind of artistic ambition that warrants flying interstate for. There are roughly thirty of them, and between them they programme several thousand performances a year across opera, ballet, classical music, contemporary dance, theatre and circus.

This is our running guide to who they are, where they perform, and how to plan a trip around them. Each company page covers the season, the home venue, the cities they tour to, and our standing recommendation on which of their programme threads is the easiest entry point.

Opera

• Opera Australia — Sydney and Melbourne, with the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour each autumn.
• State Opera South Australia — Adelaide, with a strong Wagner and contemporary record.
• West Australian Opera — His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth.
• Victorian Opera — Palais Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne.

Ballet and dance

• The Australian Ballet — Melbourne (Arts Centre) and Sydney (Joan Sutherland Theatre).
• Queensland Ballet — Thomas Dixon Centre, Brisbane.
• West Australian Ballet — His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth.
• Bangarra Dance Theatre — First Nations contemporary dance, Sydney based, tours nationally and internationally.
• Sydney Dance Company — under Rafael Bonachela since 2009; the country’s most consistent contemporary dance ensemble.
• Australian Dance Theatre — Adelaide, contemporary repertoire.

Symphony orchestras

• Sydney Symphony Orchestra — Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.
• Melbourne Symphony Orchestra — Hamer Hall.
• Queensland Symphony Orchestra — QPAC Concert Hall.
• West Australian Symphony Orchestra — Perth Concert Hall.
• Adelaide Symphony Orchestra — Adelaide Town Hall and Festival Theatre.
• Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra — Federation Concert Hall, Hobart.

Chamber and contemporary music

• Australian Chamber Orchestra — under Richard Tognetti, the closest Australia comes to a touring concert circuit at international standard.
• Musica Viva Australia — chamber music presenter that takes international ensembles to every state and territory each year, including regional venues.
• Australian Brandenburg Orchestra — period instrument ensemble, Sydney and Melbourne.
• Orchestra Victoria — pit orchestra for The Australian Ballet, Opera Australia (Melbourne) and Victorian Opera.

Theatre

• Sydney Theatre Company — Wharf and Roslyn Packer theatres, Sydney.
• Melbourne Theatre Company — Southbank Theatre.
• Queensland Theatre — Bille Brown Theatre, Brisbane.
• State Theatre Company South Australia — Dunstan Playhouse.
• Black Swan State Theatre Company — State Theatre Centre, Perth.
• Belvoir St Theatre — independent powerhouse, Surry Hills.
• Malthouse Theatre — Southbank, Melbourne — adventurous programming.
• Bell Shakespeare — Australia’s national touring Shakespeare company.

Circus and physical theatre

• Circa — Brisbane based, internationally touring contemporary circus.
• Circus Oz — Melbourne, ensemble-driven circus.

Where they perform

Most majors split their seasons across two or three home venues plus a national tour. Our venue guide covers the main concert halls and theatres they use, and our regional touring guide tracks who’s heading where outside the capitals. If a season announcement matters, we cover it in Seasons as it lands.