Let me set the scene: It’s golden hour on Sydney Harbour. The skyline’s bathed in gold, glasses are clinking at the waterfront bars, and just ahead of you — through a semi-transparent, Broadway-style ‘One Way’ sign which sparkles — a full live orchestra begins to warm up. The stage, perched so close to the waterline it almost appears to hover, comes to life as the sun slips behind the Opera House. And suddenly, you’re transported to 1950s Manhattan — where gangsters gamble, showgirls shimmer, and every number lands like a firework.
This is Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour — and tonight is your last chance to see it.
Presented by Handa Opera as part of their annual open-air season, this production of the five-time Tony Award-winning musical isn’t just a show — it’s a spectacle. With the Harbour Bridge and city skyline as your backdrop and nightly fireworks illuminating the stage, it’s one of the most visually arresting theatrical experiences you’ll find anywhere in the world.
The musical itself is a fizzy, high-gloss joyride. With toe-tapping choreography, velvet tailoring, and songs that have earned their place in the musical theatre canon: Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, A Bushel and a Peck — all performed live with style and a velvet swagger.
Cody Simpson delivers a standout turn as Sky Masterson — confident, charismatic, and vocally strong. I spoke to him ahead of the finale, and it’s clear he brought an athlete’s discipline to the role. (Scroll his TikTok and you’ll see — he trained for this like it was the Olympics, and it shows.) His performance anchors the production, balancing smooth-talking charm with something softer and more sincere.
He’s joined by an all-star cast — Annie Aitken, Bobby Fox, Angelina Thomson and Jason Arrow — all magnetic in their own right. And, as a born-and-raised Tasmanian, it was a quiet thrill to spot Tassie talents John X and Sarah Bourke holding their own among the show’s most standout moments. The cast simply homes some of the best talent in Australia.
The staging is razor-sharp, the choreography crisp and tightly wound, and the energy electric. It’s the kind of production that reminds you just how transporting theatre can be when it’s done at this scale, and with this level of polish.
But the performance is only part of it. The full Handa Opera experience begins long before curtain. There are five onsite bars and food options — from fine dining at the HSBC Platinum Club to happy hour cocktails at the Qantas Garden Bar ($12 from 5–6pm — you’re welcome). You can arrive early, grab a spritz, watch the sunset melt over the harbour, and settle into your seat feeling like you’ve stepped into a scene.
This is theatre that goes beyond performance — it’s a full-sensory, only-in-Sydney kind of night. If you’ve been meaning to catch it, consider this your last, sparkling sign.
Tickets: Here
Venue: Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquarie Point
Final performance: Tonight, Saturday 20 April
