The Sydney Opera House has one outdoor performance venue: the Outdoor Forecourt.
The Forecourt sits at the base of the Monumental Steps, facing Sydney Harbour and the Royal Botanic Garden. Unlike the building’s enclosed theatres and concert spaces, it is an open-air venue that can be configured for concerts, festivals, community events and other large performances.
Its scale makes it especially distinctive. The Forecourt can accommodate standing audiences of up to about 6,000 people, depending on the event arrangement. Performances may also use the broad steps as part of the audience or staging area, making the space more flexible than a conventional theatre.
The Opera House has several indoor venues, including the Concert Hall, Joan Sutherland Theatre, Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio. Those should not be counted as outdoor venues. The Forecourt is the single purpose-defined outdoor performance venue listed among the Opera House’s principal venues.