Bondi Pavilion show postponed amid terror recovery efforts
A planned Sydney Festival event at Bondi Pavilion has been postponed following the recent deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach, as organisers prioritise community healing over cultural programming.
The free outdoor spectacle, ‘Waverider’ by acclaimed physical theatre troupe Legs On The Wall, was set to kick off a 10-day season in the Pavilion’s Garu Courtyard on 8 January. But Waverley Council and festival bosses have cancelled the performances for now, citing the site’s critical role as a recovery hub.
Waverider performers (supplied)
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh explained the difficult call stemmed from the NSW Government’s Community Hub occupying the exact spot. “Relocating this vital resource was not appropriate,” he said. After talks with artists, the festival, and Pavilion staff, alternatives fell flat because the show was tailor-made for the courtyard.
“Regrettably, there was no alternative but to postpone ‘Waverider’, with a plan to stage this production next summer in the space it was designed for,” Nemesh added.
The Bondi Community Hub, offering round-the-clock support for attack victims and locals, will remain until month’s end. On-site services include NSW Health, Service NSW, Lifeline, the Salvation Army, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, Australian Red Cross, Legal Aid NSW, the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Multicultural NSW, and the Service NSW Business Concierge.
“Right now, the Pav is at the heart of our community’s collective grief and healing,” Nemesh said. “Council’s focus remains on the wellbeing and recovery of the many people touched by this tragedy.”
Legs On The Wall artistic director Joshua Thomson backed the move, putting community needs first. “We wholeheartedly support that a focus on the needs of the community at this time is paramount,” he said, extending condolences and eyeing a return next summer as part of Bondi’s rebound.
Sydney Festival director Kris Nelson echoed the sentiment. “Our priority is unequivocally the wellbeing of our community and ensuring that Bondi Pavilion remains a place of support and sanctuary for those who need it most,” he said, looking ahead to rescheduling the show next year.
For more on the Bondi Community Hub and support services, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/bondibeachattack.
For more on Legs on the Wall, see: https://www.legsonthewall.com.au/
