Sutherland Shire Arts & Culture

The Sutherland Shire arts and culture scene has a great line-up, from the annual Cronulla Jazz and Blues Festival to live theatre and art trails. Here are 8 ways to enjoy the arts and culture in the Sutherland Shire.

Shrek the Musical @ Engadine Community Centre

Fans of the Shrek franchise will enjoy seeing the ogre in the spotlight at Engadine Community Centre in May 2023. The musical is based on the William Steig book of the same name as well as the film. It tells the story of the swamp-dwelling Shrek who embarks on a quest to reclaim ownership of his land. Along the way, he is joined by a wise-ass donkey, fights off a fire-breathing dragon and rescues a feisty princess.

When: 19-28 May. Where: Engadine Community Centre. Cost: Adults: $55. Concessions: $45

Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival @ Cronulla

Ray Beadle, Alex Lloyd, The Allniters, King Tide, Lloyd Spiegel and Frank Sultana are just some of the acts that will perform in and around Cronulla for the annual Cronulla Jazz & Blues Festival. Grab a coffee and a quick breakfast before venturing to the many venues and parks hosting live music throughout the four-day event.

When: 1-4 June. Where: Dunningham Park, Cronulla Park, Cronulla Mall and participating venues. Cost: There are more than 100 free performances and special ticketed events.

The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre @ Sutherland

The Sutherland Entertainment Centre has been reimagined as The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre after a $41 million transformation. And the program of entertainment for 2023 is befitting of the new state-of-the-art multi-purpose 686-seater space with everything from theatre, to comedy, musicals and dance in the spotlight. While Hard Quiz Live with Tom Gleeson is sold out, circle May 19 on your calendar for The Umbilical Brothers and check the website to plan your visit.

When: May 19. Where: The Pavilion, 30 Eaton St, Sutherland. Cost: From $49

Vision Splendid @ Hazelhurst Arts Centre & Café

A new University of Wollongong Art Collection exhibition at Hazelhurst Arts Centre includes a collection of paintings, prints, textiles and ceramics that reflect various creative practices and social issues in Australia through the decades. Vision Splendid includes works by Lloyd Rees, Arthur Boyd, Tracey Moffatt, John Olson and Djerrkngu Yunupingu. Do yourself a favour and linger longer over lunch at Hazelhurst Café, one of the best restaurants in the Sutherland Shire.

When: Until June 18. Where: Hazelhurst Gallery, 782 The Kingsway, Gymea. Cost: Free.

The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race @ Cronulla Arts Theatre

See the characters in Melanie Tait’s book come to life in a performance of The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race, a comedy about five women living in country Australia and their relationship to history and change. The Cronulla Arts Theatre production will invite audiences to reflect on the past while contemplating a brighter future.

When: Until June 17. Where: Cronulla Arts Theatre, 6 Surf Rd, Cronulla. Cost: $27, Wednesdays and matinee; $30 Fridays and Saturdays.

Ceramic workshop @ Mont Ceramic Cronulla

Mont means mountain in French and it’s the terracotta tones of Europe that inspired the name of this boutique studio. Those keen to learn how to make ceramic wares will enjoy visiting this calm oasis off Cronulla Mall, which gives potters a taste of throwing and shaping wet clay. It’s a very therapeutic thing to do. The classes accommodate everyone from beginners to advanced potters and range from wheel workshops to classes focused on hand-building pots. Mont Studio is powered by 100 per cent carbon-neutral energy.

When: Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. Where: Mont Ceramic, 17A-17-19 Cronulla St. Cost: From $77.

Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail @ Bundeena Maianbar

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is to follow the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail, which is held on the first Sunday of every month. Meet acclaimed artists such as Jiawei Shen, Liz Borghero and Peter Mulder in their studios in the back streets of Bundeena and Maianbar, which borders the Royal National Park. Award-winning interior designer Kelly Ross, of Kelly Ross Design, also runs workshops in-store at her cool general store. Extend your time in Bundeena with a visit to Little French Heart which draws its design inspiration from France.

When: First Sunday of every month. Where: Bundeena Maianbar Cost: Gold coin donation

Walk the Walls Cronulla @ Cronulla

Some of Sydney’s best street art can be found in Cronulla. An all-star cast of graffiti artists have descended on Cronulla in recent years. And they’ve made their mark with art that continues to brighten up the cityscape. Look for the iconic works of local Shire-based artist @mulga (Joel Moore), appreciate the collab between @awolcreations and @saltwaterdreamtime rainbowing up one of the back alleys. Start near Cronulla Train Station and make your first stop Cony’s for coffee, which features a giant mural by Krimson and Scott Nagy on the café’s exterior. The ever-changing outdoor gallery continues to evolve.

When: Permanent display. Where: Cronulla. Cost: Free