Opera House open to all

For the first time, Sydney's most famous building will be in reach for people from Sydney's less-well-heeled suburbs.

With ticket prices subsidised by the Balnaves Foundation, the Opera House plans to take the scheme to the far reaches of the city in the next three years.

"I've never seen the inside of the Opera House", said Win Long, of Redfern, who is looking forward to her next concert on Thursday night.

"Nobody can afford to go. So many people are very excited," she said.

To qualify for the scheme, grass roots arts patrons have to prove they need a hand getting in the door by showing a welfare or pension card.

The Opera House has left it up to local community centres to promote the scheme and manage the ticket sales.

The next show, one of eight for the year, is So Rock – by world-renowned comedy cabaret singer Tim Minchin.

Neil Balnaves, the media mogul behind the scheme, said the Opera House was the "natural home" for the cause.

"We are making it accessible to people who wouldn't normally get the chance, open it up to the people of NSW, whose house it really is", he said.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21646782-5001021,00.html

[REDWatch - For more information in Redfern Waterloo contact The Factory Community Centre on 9698 9569 or drop in and see them.]