WAVERIDER at BONDI PAVILION Postponed to JANUARY 2027

Joint Statement and Media Release

Waverley Council and Bondi Pavilion have announced the postponement of the planned production WAVERIDER by Legs On The Wall as part of Sydney Festival.
The free outdoor performance was scheduled to commence its 10-day run on 8 January in the Garu Courtyard of the Pavilion. However, following the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December, practical and community considerations mean it is no longer the right time for this production to proceed.

“The NSW Government’s Community Hub is located in the very same spot, in the heart of Bondi Pavilion, and relocating this vital resource was not appropriate,” Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said. “Discussions between Council, Legs On The Wall, Sydney Festival and Bondi Pavilion sought to explore alternatives, but as the work was commissioned for and designed to be performed in the Garu Courtyard, it is felt a different venue would not offer a suitable experience. Regrettably, there was no alternative but to postpone WAVERIDER, with a plan to stage this beautiful production next summer in the space it was designed for.”

The Bondi Community Hub will operate at the Pav until the end of January and offers a range of important services to those affected by the terror attack. These include NSW Health, Service NSW, Lifeline, The Salvation Army, Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, Australian Red Cross, Legal AID NSW, NSW Reconstruction Authority, Multicultural NSW and Service NSW Business Concierge.

“Right now, the Pav is at the heart of our community’s collective grief and healing,” Cr Nemesh said. “Council’s focus remains on the wellbeing and recovery of the many people touched by this tragedy. The Community Hub’s role in that healing process is critical, which is why its stay was extended. The Pav has a cherished and historic purpose as a creative and cultural beacon for Waverley and Greater Sydney, providing a space for people of all backgrounds and ages to connect through joyful creative experiences. We look forward to resuming that activity as soon as it is appropriate for our community.”

Legs On The Wall Artistic Director Joshua Thomson said: “We wholeheartedly support that a focus on the needs of the community at this time is paramount. We extend our deepest sympathies and strength to all who are bereaved and making progress with healing. Through our plan to bring WAVERIDER back to the Pav next summer we hope to play our role in the already clear story of the return of light, joy and community to Bondi."

Kris Nelson, Festival Director of Sydney Festival, said: “Sydney Festival is built on a foundation of community and shared experience, and Bondi Pavilion has always been one of the festival's and our audiences' most cherished hubs. Our thoughts remain with the victims of the recent tragedy, their families, and all those across the Jewish and wider Bondi communities who have been impacted during this deeply difficult time. We fully support the decision by Waverley Council and our long-time collaborators, Legs On The Wall, to postpone WAVERIDER. Our priority is unequivocally the wellbeing of our community and ensuring that Bondi Pavilion remains a dedicated place of support and sanctuary for those who need it most, and we look forward to presenting this work next year.”

For information about the Community Hub and other support services and resources, visit nsw.gov.au/bondibeachattack

Click here to return to information about WAVERIDER and our season at The Art House, Wyong

Image by Lucy Parakhina: J Twist and Johnas Liu outside Bondi Pavilion