Buoyed by their sold-out 2018 shows, UK new wave legends THE THE return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with four decades of potent, politically charged post-punk.
More than four decades into their career, THE THE – the brainchild of mercurial singer-songwriter Matt Johnson – have lost none of their musical power or political urgency. Having reconvened for the first time in 16 years for their sold-out 2018 comeback shows, the band makes its long-awaited return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for two career-spanning performances as part of their Ensouled world tour.
Conceived by a then-teenage Johnson in 1979, THE THE made their debut with 1980’s spiky “Controversial Subject”, before issuing their first album, Burning Blue Soul – under the singer’s name – in 1981. THE THE’s official debut Soul Mining – with its dance-flavoured pop classics “This is the Day” and “Uncertain Smile” – followed in 1983, while the band’s politically charged 1986 album Infected and1989’s smoldering Mind Bomb (featuring The Smiths’ Johnny Marr on guitar) cemented the band’s status as post-punk greats. 1993’s bleak, pared-back Dusk marked another artistic peak.
Since 2000, Johnson had largely focused on soundtrack work, but in 2017 he reformed the band for a series of triumphant comeback performances across 2018, including sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House. With a storied career that runs the gamut from new wave and dance pop to social-political alt rock, country and existential blues, THE THE are post-punk royalty not to be missed.
Run time
The duration of this event is yet to be confirmed.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Suitable for all ages.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
Concert Hall
One of the world’s most sought after venues, the Concert Hall is a performance space like no other. With its cathedral like ambience and unrivalled majesty, standing on this very special stage will see you deliver a performance to remember.
In July 2022, the Opera House completed extensive upgrades to the Concert Hall. The multi-million-dollar project delivered extensive improvements to the venue, including: better acoustics for artists and audiences, enhanced access for people with mobility needs, new state-of-the-art theatre machinery and staging systems, and a more flexible and safer working environment for staff behind-the-scenes.
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars. Please remember to maintain physical distancing whilst consuming drinks in our foyers.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer consistent with COVID-safe rules.
