Hype Republic and Parkway Drive make history with world-first Sydney Opera House stunt

Hype Republic has made history at the Sydney Opera House executing a daring aerial stunt that saw Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall rappel from a helicopter onto the venue’s famous sails.

The dramatic moment unfolded at dawn, as McCall descended onto a 60-centimetre platform perched 65 metres above the ground – a cinematic feat captured for the band’s upcoming feature film, HOME, set for worldwide theatrical release in 2026.

Says McCall: “Every Aussie grows up seeing the Sydney Opera House on postcards and TV, but never in a million years did I think I’d be standing on it, let alone dropping onto it from a helicopter. That’s an experience I’ll never forget. There’s nothing quite like it.”

The record-setting stunt follows Parkway Drive’s sold-out, career-defining Opera House concert in June 2025, a one-night-only, black-tie event that transformed the Concert Hall with native Australian flora and a full symphonic orchestra. Both the performance and the dawn stunt will feature in HOME, a film that celebrates the band’s twenty-year journey from Byron Bay to the global stage.

“This was one of the most ambitious projects we’ve ever tackled,” says Allan Hardy, director at Hype Republic. “Parkway Drive doesn’t shy away from challenges, and neither did our team.”

Produced by Hype Republic, directed by Allan Hardy (Viva The Underdogs) and Macario De Souza (Bra Boys), and distributed by Mushroom Studios (Australia & New Zealand), the film blends raw musical power with cinematic storytelling.

“This is more than a concert film,” adds De Souza. “It’s a cinematic celebration of twenty years of Parkway Drive. The film is a love letter to Australia, honouring its rich Indigenous heritage and the band’s extraordinary rise to global stages.”

As one of Australia’s most accomplished creative studios, Hype Republic continues to redefine what’s possible in film and live production, merging technical excellence with emotional storytelling to create unforgettable experiences.

HYPE REPUBLIC
Director : Allan Hardy
Director : Macario De Souza
1st AD : David Normand
Producer : Kate Arrowsmith
Field Producer – Autumn Loveday
Editor: Jarred Lammiman

PARKWAY DRIVE
Talent: Winston McCall
Stage Manager: Ben Fenwick
Band Manager: Luke Kilpatrick
Assistant to Parkway Drive: Emma Gardner

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Creative Producer, New Business Partnerships: Ellie McRea
General Manager, Event Operations and Planning: Conor Farrell
Head of Account Management: Daniel O’Connell
Production Managers: Chris Burn & Barry Searle
Safety: Chris Turner & Peter North
Building Operation: Dean Jakubowski, Nayan Debnath & Nicholas Hansen
Legal Counsel: Danielle O’Doherty
Head Photographer: Ben Wrigley
Photographer: Matt Dunbar
Photographer: Sarah Ebbett
Photographer: Emily Hendry
Photographer: Declan Blackall
Camera Op: Lachlan Russell
Camera Op: Ben Heidrich
Camera Op: Tyson Lloyd
Camera Op: Elliott Sauvage
Camera Op: Damon Banning
Camera Op: Josh King
Camera Op: Lance Russell
BTS Filmer: Miki Simans
Drone Pilot: Ben Mortensen
Drone Pilot: Rudi Browning
Drone Spotter: Zac Freuden
Music Producer: Joel Farland
Arranger: Tim Davies
Conducted by: Alec Roberts
Orchestral Mix: Craig Beckett
Orchestra: Luxe Strings
WTC Talent: Brock Tutt
Safety Diver: Daniel Quilter
Safety Diver: Steven Topping
MEAA/SAG Stunt Coordinator: Jimmy Christiansen
Safety Coordinator / Rigger: Patrick Garty
MEAA Key Stunt Rigger: Richard Cotta
MEAA Safety Supervisor: Talayna Nikora
Medic: Kat Liston
Medic: Nick Benson
Equipment Certification Engineer: Gerard Blacklock
Aerial Production Services provided by: Specialist Helicopters Pty Ltd
Helicopter Pilot: David Adamson
Aerial Coordinator / Head of Safety & Compliance: Jen Bewes
Training Location Manager: Dean Coxall
Helicopter Wrap: Bear Designs