Now playing at the Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House, Pirates Love Underpants is a stage show based on the 2013 picture book authored by Claire Freedman and illustrated by Ben Cort. Targeted at kids two years and older, the swashbuckling show has puppetry, singing, and engaging performances.
The performance offers some interactivity for the little ones, asking the kids stand up in their seats and learn a good old-fashioned pirate dance (because we ARGH pirates!). They then get taken on a big adventure, encouraging kids to call out, to find the infamous golden underpants.
There are great props and puppetry, including a parrot, the captain himself, sharks in their own underpants, and some killer crocodiles. Included is also a digital backdrop to really bring the picture book to life. Running for approximately one hour, this show is perfect for younger kids.
A short walk across the hall from the Playhouse is the Centre for Creativity which houses a (free) workshop event titled TOO~B. It is a play space that is brightly coloured, decorated in dress-up costumes, hanging ornaments, fluffy carpets, and squishy mats.
Patrons are allocated 45 minutes to enter and become whoever they want “TOO~B”, using their creativity and personal expression to engage with the space. This workshop is for kids from 0-12 years old, accompanied by their adult guardians, and is a free space to explore.
This space was developed by HOSSEI, a multidisciplinary Australian artist of Persian, Turkish, and Russian decent. HOSSEI is based in Sydney and is the lead artist, co-sound designer, and co-costume designer for this workshop space.
It is worth booking in a session for TOO~B as spaces can fill up as patrons leave the Pirates Love Underpants show to race down the hall and gain access to the staggered entry into TOO~B (most days there are sessions at 11:30am, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm but do check the website to confirm).
With these two events and more running these school holidays (check out the website for more: Kids & Families | Sydney Opera House), there is plenty for the kids to keep entertained this summer at the Sydney Opera House.
Writer attended on 7 January 2026.
Pirates Love Underpants is playing at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House until 12 January 2026.
Tickets available here: Pirates Love Underpants | Sydney Opera House
TOO~B is running at the Centre for Creativity, Sydney Opera House until 23 January 2026
Tickets available here: TOO~B | Sydney Opera House
Header image credit: Daniel Boud / Sydney Opera House
