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Sydney Opera House Celebrates 50th Collaborates with Tim Minchin

Music Video of the Month: Australian singer Tim Minchin’s song “Play It Safe” celebrates Sydney Opera House 50th anniversary. 

Tim Minchin writes new song celebrates Sydney Opera House Music Press Asia

Celebrating 50 years of brave creativity at Sydney Opera House, Tim Minchin’s song takes courage a little step further in the world of great humour in lyric-writing.

Last October, the Sydney Opera House celebrates its 50th anniversary not only as an architectural marvel, the sail-like shells building symbolizes Australia’s artistic and cultural spirit.

For five decades the Opera House has stood in defiance of that nervous little voice inside that tells them to play it safe and keep it simple.

As a result, the song “Play It Safe” was released eight months ago. This unique composition celebrated the iconic architectural landmark and showcased Tim Minchin’s musical talent.



Australian Tim Minchin wasn’t born when the Sydney Opera House opened on 20 October 1973.

But even on the other side of the country, growing up in Perth, the 48-year-old comic musician and composer of Matilda the Musical, knew about the “big white sails in faraway emerald city”.

With his trademark humour, Minchin’s Play It Safe is an ironic salute to the visionary experiment that became the World Heritage-listed Opera House. He launched the song as a music video ahead of its birthday celebrations in November 2022.

“A big thing about art and a building like the Opera House is it needs to be brave and push boundaries, which is what I hope I do in this little song,” Minchin said.

Tim Minchin Roald Dahl Musical Music Press Asia
[In 2018, GWB Entertainment produced ‘Matilda The Musical’ with Pieter Toerien in South Africa before commencing on an Asian Tour. With lyrics and music written by Tim Minchin, the tour opens in Johannesburg Montecasino in October 2018 before transferring to Cape Town Artscape Theatre Centre.]

The song features Jimmy Barnes, drag performer Courtney Act, Bell Shakespeare founder John Bell, singer Kira Pura, Indigenous singer Ziggy Ramo and didgeridoo player William Barton.

Performers from the eight resident arts companies, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, feature in the clip, which took four days to film, including six hours of dancing on the monumental steps.

The blend of creativity, artistry, and architectural appreciation made it a memorable collaboration.

The four-minute film clip is richly illustrated with events that have occurred over the past half century at the Bennelong Point site: Nelson Mandela’s appearance in 1990, the same year he walked free from 27 years in jail, the time it was daubed with red paint declaring “No War” in 2003, and when photographer Spencer Tunik assembled 5200 bare backsides for an installation for the 2010 Mardi Gras.

Critical newspaper pieces and voice-overs from the 1950s, 60s and 70s, when the prevailing view was that the “uproar house” was a waste of money, are interspersed with Minchin’s playful lyrics.

Tim Minchin with Australian Chamber Orchestra in Sydney Opera House Music Video Music Press Asia
[SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 08: <> at Sydney Opera House on September 08, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. The Sydney Opera House is celebrating its 50th birthday on 20 October. To celebrate 50 years of brave creativity, the Sydney Opera House has made a short music film based on a song written by Tim Minchin. The film, which journeys around the House, features Tim Minchin, Sydney Opera House Resident Companies and a diverse cast of Australian artists. (Photo by Don Arnold/Getty Images for S]

Sydney Opera House chief executive Louise Herron said: “Imagine if the creators of this magnificent building had played it safe. Imagine what we would not have. Their bravery forever changed our nation … this song celebrates what’s possible when you think big.”

Music and lyrics: Tim Minchin
Director: Kim Gehrig
Executive Music Producer/Arranger: Elliott Wheeler
Cinematographer: Stefan Duscio
Creative Agency: The Monkeys, part of Accenture Song
A Revolver X Somesuch Production

Conductor, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Brett Weymark OAM
Choreography: Lucy Guerin
Choreography of Bangarra Dance Theatre: Stephen Page
DirtyFeet Rehearsal Assistant: Sarah-Vyne Vassallo

Presented by Sydney Opera House in partnership with Tourism Australia.

Archival footage and photography courtesy of National Film and Sound Archive, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, British Broadcasting Corporation, Nine Entertainment Co., 10X Media Group, State Library of NSW and Utzon Family

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