Taylor Square has its own theatre, that’s for sure. But tonight it had the staging, seating and lights to go with it.

Approaching Taylor Square, I heard screams – which is fairly typical – but louder than normal, amplified, and as I rounded the corner, I realised it was a couple of actors. They’re in out of focus picture above, sitting on those round seat like objects.

It’s Milk Crate Theatre – based in Darlinghurst since opening in 1999, and working with homeless people.

It has one of the most striking sets in the inner city. With the background of bustling Oxford Street, and, in the distance, the sandstone courts, it’s set design taken to the limits. Something funny happens when you put actors in front of the scene, it does actually become a set.

My pictures don’t do the scene justice, it was hard to tear your eyes away from the actors.

This photo was taken while waiting for the lights to go green – looking from behind the actors to the audience.

I walked in half way through, and I couldn’t stay, so I can’t say too much about the plot. I would love to be able to next time.

Look about near the corner of Kippax and Lacey Streets, Surry Hills, and you will see this unlikely pair.

An Angus Young kind of school boy, below a manic looking Max Headroom (thanks, Zac). They’re both looking out, though not together. Seems arbitrary, I guess, but you never know.

I spotted this object glued to the kerb of Taggarts Lane, Surry Hills – a stone remote control that says “FEAR.”

It’s by Will Coles, whose cute teddy bear and mobile phone appeared on Crown Street in February. The bear said “Culture,” while his other work says things like “Nothing” and “Burden” and “unfinished.”

This new bus stop chair appeared on Crown Street, Surry Hills, just up from the library.

It was so surprising I did a double take, and then watched everyone walking by do the same – including the man in this picture, who tapped on the arm rest and sat down.

This bizarre object is on a bus stop on Crown Street, Surry Hills. At first I guessed it was this guy.

But I spotted an unmolested version on Devonshire Street, on the other side of Surry Hills, today.

It’s a promo for Richard In Your Mind‘s new record, My Volcano. Look we’re not usually partial to this kind of guerilla advertising. But it is a brilliant record.

He’s on a stool and peering around the corner.

I found him on Jesson Lane, Surry Hills. It’s the back of a restaurant, which is really on Crown Street. I love how this cute chap with his stubbly facial hair and long nose shows himself as you walk down the (dead-end) lane.

What he’s trying to see, I don’t know.

Did you see the bright lights in Potts Point and Kings Cross over the past few months?

It was the tail end of a sustainable lighting trial by the council – they swapped 200 street lights to LEDs in Circular Quay, Martin Place, Alexandria Park, and on Darlinghurst Road between Bayswater Road and Macleay Street, plus another 50 street lights at Bourke Street, Surry Hills, with Energy Australia.

Energy savings of 30-40 per cent have been touted, which is a big deal considering the council reports spending a third of its electricity on street/public lighting. No results yet, but the council plans to install the energy efficient lights in all 8500 of its street and public domain lights over the next three years.

This legal by two of our favourite Sydney street artists, Numskull and Beastman, went up on Foveaux Street, Surry Hills, two weeks ago.

The pair’s sharp couplet: “they keep painting, we keep painting.”

“They keep getting rid of our stuff and we keep doing it again. It’s a pointless process,” said Numskull – the piece was triggered by yet another campaign against street art.

There’s a tree halfway up Crown Street, Surry Hills, on the wall of the Salvation Army shop building.

It seems such a metaphor for the stories inside that place. Clutching on for dear life, but reaching out for this glorious sunshine above. It gives me a lift just walking past.

This appeared outside Surry Hills Library on Crown Street, and I couldn’t help thinking guerrilla marketing.

Look closer though. It’s actually nothing of the sort.

Bizarrely enough, it’s a research project. Part of the Visualising Research class at UTS, Poster: More Than A Gaze aims to “examine the potential of the poster as a ‘public and communicative’ medium in a public space.” They’re blogging too.

It’s 12 A4 pages pasted up alongside the typical band and club posters – and, although I used to have a radar for those things, I wonder how many people are tuned in? I’d be interested to see what, if any, reaction it got.