Concrete Playground

Gazing out the window at the bleak state of Sydney’s sodden landscape at the moment, the idea of its resplendent porcelain harbour and picturesque surrounds seems a vague, fictional phantasm. But I assure you, it’s all still there, hidden beneath the oppressive greyness of this diabolical low-pressure system — the one that’s predicted to lift any day now, revealing, once more, the near forgotten gem shimmering beneath.

To help us all become re-acquainted with the outdoors this long weekend (and let’s face it, as Aussies, we’d get cabin fever in Buckingham Palace), Vivid — Sydney’s winter festival of lights, music and ideas — presents Fire Water, a luminescent ode to a little-known slice of Sydney Harbour's rich history. With all the glitter and show of a Bollywood extravaganza set against the natural beauty of the harbour and Campbell’s Cove, three free performances will be held over four nights in an epic display of outdoor theatre. Told through the eyes of an 11-year-old Australian-Indian girl, Fire Water is the dazzling portrayal of the perilous voyage of Sydney Cove — the tall ship sent from Calcutta to our shores in 1797 by Australia’s earliest free merchant, Robert Campbell.

A spectacle of light installations, aerialists, fire sculptures and tall ships accompanied by a dramatic soundscape, this is a history lesson of epic proportions. And, with kiddy friendly time slots to choose from, there’ll be plenty of time to explore the Fire Water night markets and their array of food stalls, fire-sculptures, candle-making workshops and winter fashion.