Education

Book Early

We do our best to accommodate everyone but shows fill fast. Additional performances are not always possible.

1. Reserve your tickets online

To reserve your booking, visit the relevant event page and select the ‘Education Bookings’ or ‘Vacation Care Bookings’ button under the calendar. Click through to confirm the number of tickets, and prices and follow the prompts to complete the reservation.

2. Automatic invoice will be sent

You’ll receive an invoice for the non-refundable deposit amount of 25% with a ‘payment due’ date. It is your responsibility to forward the tax invoice to your Financial Officer for payment by the due date. Once you have paid your deposit, your booking is secure and your numbers can be amended (depending on availability), up until full payment has been received.

3. Final payment

Full payment is required 4 weeks prior to the performance date or your booking will be automatically released. We accept the below payment methods:

EDConnect
If you are making payment through the Department of Education and Communities Finance Shared Services (EDConnect), your payment request must be submitted via EDConnect four weeks prior to the ‘payment due’ date. Please email our Box Office & Education Supervisor your purchase order number so that we can add it to your invoice and forward it to EDConnect.

Please include Riverside Theatres’ Vendor ID (100 118 187) when submitting your payment request.

Credit card/School P-card
To pay online by credit card/School P-card, please use the ‘Pay in full’ link on your invoice or contact our Box Office on 02 8839 3399with your ‘booking reference number’.

Direct Deposit (EFT)
Your tax invoice will contain instructions for Direct Deposit (EFT) payment.

If we do not receive payment OR proof of your Department of Education purchase order we have the right to cancel your booking and your deposit will be forfeited. There are no refunds or decrease in numbers once the final payment has been received. An increase of numbers is possible after the final payment day but is subject to availability.

Please note, all education bookings made within 4 school weeks of a performance date must be paid in full within 1 week of confirmation and are final. There are no refunds or changes to numbers or dates on these bookings. All bookings will incur a transaction fee.

5. Final information sent to schools

Prior to your visit, we will send you detailed information via email to ensure you have a hassle-free excursion. This will include updating you on any possible changes to running times or more detailed information as it emerges from the rehearsal process.

6. Attend and enjoy!

If you have concerns about meeting the terms and conditions, please contact us.

Once booked, an invoice for the deposit amount of 25% will be automatically issued.

Payment of the deposit is due within 10 working days to confirm the reservation. Cancellation of the booking can be made at any time during those 10 working days without penalty.

Once the deposit is paid, it is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total amount due.

Confirmation of final numbers and final balance is required 4 weeks prior to the performance date or we must have received the final purchase order from EdConnect.

If no balance of payment is received, Riverside Theatres reserves the right to cancel your booking and your deposit will be forfeited.

Once full balance is paid, it is non-refundable, and a reduction of numbers is not permitted after the payment due date.

Requests for additional tickets must be submitted in writing and are subject to availability. Riverside will accommodate your preferred performance times if possible but cannot guarantee availability.

Please check your invoice carefully as this is a confirmation of your booking date and time. Bookings are on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have any specific needs/access requests, please let us know at the time of booking or as soon as possible before the performance date.

If you have concerns about your ability to meet these terms and conditions, please contact our Box Office & Education Supervisor.

Looking for a performing arts related workshop for your students? Choose the workshops that work for you in our 2025 Workshops on Demand program!

We can cater a workshop to your students’ needs in a wide range of subject matters and specialties.

For more information and to book a workshop for your students visit our ‘Workshops On Demand’ page.

An On Demand cinema program that offers school groups the opportunity to request screenings of specific titles at a time that suits them.

Contact our Education Bookings Officer to book your screening.

For more information, check out our Cinema program page.

Riverside Theatres has a panel of NSW teachers from a variety of teaching settings to inform and support the programming and promotion of the Education Program.

The panel meets with Riverside Theatres staff once per term. REP members are also invited to attend Riverside Theatres presents opening nights and are given priority bookings for school performances.

If you are interested in being a REP Member, please contact Amy Matthews.

Resources to support you in the classroom

You will find curriculum links and resources under the ‘Education Booking & Resources’ accordion on the relevant show page.

Backstage Tour of Riverside Theatres

Buses – Parking and Drop Off

Bus zones for drop-off are located on Market Street and Marist Place, adjacent to Prince Alfred Square. Buses can park for the duration of the event, however, drivers must remain with the vehicle at all times. Please read all parking signs carefully to check for up-to-date restrictions.

If you require parking for a mini-bus or disabled parking, please contact our Box Office on 02 8839 3399 and arrangements may be made depending on availability. Please note there may be a small administration charge involved.

Download our Bus Parking Information Sheet 

Car Parking
If you are driving a car into Riverside, a number of car parks are located within easy walking distance.

Limited metered street parking is also available. Visit our ‘Your Visit‘ page for more information.

Public Transport
Riverside is a 10-15 minute walk from Parramatta train station and a 10-minute walk from the Ferry Wharf.

For maps or directions, please visit our ‘Your Visit‘ page.

Please check the appropriate timetables and allow plenty of time to arrive at the venue.

School Bags
We recommend that students leave large school bags at school or at home and bring a small bag or satchel to carry essentials.

School bags can become an obstacle in an emergency evacuation.

If a performance is busy or in a smaller space, bags are sometimes prohibited, so in this case students will be asked to leave their bags in a designated place within the Riverside complex.

Toilet Facilities
Riverside has toilets, including accessible toilets, located on both sides of the foyer.

It is recommended that you allow time for students to use these facilities before the show starts, as leaving the auditorium during the performance can be disruptive.

Please see Front of House staff when you arrive and they will be able to direct you to the nearest toilets.

Eating in and around Riverside
We recommend you allow time for students to eat lunch or recess before or after the show to avoid taking food into the theatre, which for some shows may not be permitted.

Riverside’s bar sells soft drinks and light snacks, however, please note it is not always open for school matinees.

Hot food is not permitted inside the theatres.

There are many food outlets within a 10-minute walk of Riverside, mostly along Church Street between Riverside and the Parramatta Train Station.

If your students are bringing a packed lunch, we recommend you head across to Prince Albert Park adjacent to the theatre (on Market Street).

There is also plenty of room to sit and eat along the riverbank. In poor weather, we can accommodate small groups in our Courtyard.

Getting seated
Most daytime school performances are UNRESERVED seating unless otherwise specified.

This means seats are not allocated by row and number, but that we will seat you in school groups.

Please arrive at least 30 minutes before the performance starts and see the Front of House staff in the foyer so that your school group can be seated in an orderly and timely manner.

No tickets will be emailed to you. On arrival, please make your presence known by notifying one of our Front of House staff.

If you are booked in a weekend or evening session, seating is allocated, and you will need to collect your tickets from the box office on arrival.

Download our Guide to Theatre Etiquette

Download our Information for School Groups

Download our:

• Pre-filed WHS Risk Assessment
• Certificate of Placement – Public & Products Liability / Professional Indemnity Insurance

Access points are indicators that let you know aspects of a production that may provide groups with a higher level of engagement related to their needs.

There are 5 access points.

Interactive Performance

High levels of audience interaction creating a less formal environment and requiring less ‘passive’ attention by audience members.

Language: None

No text or dialogue is used in this performance.

Language: Easy

The text or dialogue used in this production is limited or simple.

Music

This production has a strong music focus.

Visual Cues

This production has strong visual cues giving students a different reference point for comprehension of the narrative or subject matter.

For each production we have indicated the venue within Riverside Theatres that the event will take place in.

This helps you understand what the experience of the venue is like for seeing, hearing and entering the space.

All the theatres use the same foyer area.

Riverside Theatre:

761 seats with 534 seats in the stalls (ground level).

This is the biggest space with a high ceiling, balcony seating, red chairs and a raised stage.

Shows in this venue will be the biggest and busiest. There is level seating/ wheelchair access in row P, around the middle of the stalls.

Lennox Theatre:

Seats 213 people and is a large black box theatre space with a high ceiling, black floor and curtains.

The seating is tiered and goes back 10 rows, with stair access to all but the first row.

Wheelchair access is available in the first row.

The black space allows different sets to become the focus of the space.

Raffertys Theatre:

Seats 88 people and is a smaller version of Lennox Theatre.

We believe it is important to ensure all students have the opportunity to participate and enjoy going to the theatre.

Specific accessible performances include Auslan Interpreted, Audio Described and Relaxed Performances.

However, if you have a group requiring any of these access options for an event other than the ones we have on offer, please let us know at the time of booking and we will endeavour to accommodate your request.

To explore all our access features and options, visit our ‘Accessibility & Inclusion‘ page.

Social stories specific to relaxed performances are available to download from the appropriate show pages on our website.

Upon request, we may be able to provide services other than those listed, to help make your groups visit more comfortable.

These could include arranging a meet your seat or meet and greet with the cast, to allow your group time to become familiar with their surroundings.

With notification, arrangements can be made for you to be seated early or near to an exit as an additional support measure.

Download a copy of our social stories.