Stage Briefs

Magical Mary Poppins Boosts South Australian Economy

Image: Adelaide Festival Centre 2022 - Supplied by Adelaide Festival Centre.

In addition to the huge impression it made on the hearts of South Australians, the hit musical Mary Poppins had a flow on impact to the state’s economy, generating expenditure of an estimated $23.4 million for the state.  

Candide in Concert Collaboration in Adelaide.

In May 2024, South Australia’s flagship theatre and opera companies will come together for the first time in more than a decade. State Theatre Company South Australia and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra will join forces to present a concert version of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved comic operetta and existential vaudeville, Candide.

Adelaide Premiere of A New Brain

David Gauci and Davine Productions celebrate 10 years of music theatre with another Adelaide debut show, a musical comedy about gratitude and fresh beginnings. 

Producer/Director David Gauci performed in the professional production of A New Brain in Melbourne and has wanted to bring this quirky musical to South Australian audiences ever since.

Seasons 2024

Theatre companies around Australia are now announcing their 2024 seasons. Read on for brief season introductions, and links to our more detailed coverage of each indiividual season.

Sydney Theatre Company

West Side Story Returns to Sydney Harbour in 2024

Opera Australia (OA) has announced that West Side Story will return to the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour stage in 2024, along with renewed partnerships with Dr Haruhisa Handa’s International Foundation for Arts and Culture and Destination NSW.

This production of West Side Story opened in 2019 remains the most successful of all Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour productions, having attracted record audience numbers, selling more than 65,000 tickets.

Miss Saigon for Adelaide

GWB Entertainment has announced Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Miss Saigon is headed to Adelaide for a summer season. Featuring an extraordinary cast of talented performers from across the Asia-Pacific region, Miss Saigon will play at the Festival Theatre from January 2, 2024 for a strictly limited season. 

Final Grease Casting Announced

The producers of the upcoming production of GREASE have revealed the final performers joining the gang at Rydell High. The production opens at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne on 31 December 2023 and Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from 24 March 2024. 

Key cast members announced include Keanu Gonzalez (Hamilton) in the role of bad boy Kenickie, Lucy Fraser (Hairspray) as the perky Patty Simcox and Gareth Isaac (Mary Poppins) as nerdy Eugene. 

West End Veterans Lead Sydney Jewish Comedy Premiere

Veteran West End theatre couple Linal Haft and Buster Skeggs will return to the stage together for the Australian premiere of the legendary musical sketch comedy revue You Don’t Have To Be Jewish, coming to the Bondi Pavilion Theatre from October 25.

Beetlejuice for Melbourne

Australian composer, writer and actor Eddie Perfect says he is "very excited to announce this morning, along with Michael Cassel Group, that Beetlejuice: The Musical The Musical The Musical will have its Australian premiere at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in 2025! Sucks-Yes!"