Hearts explode as musical theatre returns to the stage Weâre sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss By Harriet Cunningham Save Normal text size Seymour Centre, January 22 The show must go on, they cried, but when border closures and restrictions on public gatherings arrived, just in time for Christmas, Sydney Festival 2021 very nearly didnât. Several shows were delayed or cancelled, and the audience numbers, limited by public health directives, wonât break any records. This yearâs festival will, however, be remembered for its bloody-minded resilience and celebration of something missing from our lives in 2020: live performance.