World premiere: Muriel’s Wedding the Musical announced for Sydney 2017!

Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures have come together for one of the more exciting announcements we’ve heard in a while: a brand new Australian musical based on a beloved Aussie film. The country’s premier theatre company is staging the world premiere of Muriel’s Wedding the Musical.

Writing for the Guardian, critic Luke Buckmaster said “Muriel’s Wedding may be remembered as funny, spunky and spirited, and that’s true to a point. It’s also something dark and unusual.”

The film’s original writer-director, PJ Hogan, will adapt the script for the stage (updated to today!) with music and lyrics by award-winning singer-songwriters Kate Miller-Heidke (The Rabbits) and Keir Nuttall. Not to mention those ABBA numbers, which will remain intact.

Hogan said,  “I’ve been asked many times to put Muriel’s Wedding on stage and I’ve always said no – mainly because the film seemed to do what I wanted it to do, and has somehow resisted the obscurity that time and changing fashions are apt to visit upon everything and everyone. So why tempt fate and invite Muriel (and a singing Muriel, at that) to cavort in 2017?

“Back in 1994 Muriel had a problem that seemed peculiar to her… how do you become famous (that is loved/admired/envied by all) when you have no discernible talent, no achievements, and when no one believes in you except you? The new millennium has provided the tools for dreamers afflicted by obscurity: Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, You Tube, not to mention that Hogwarts for the irrelevant, Reality TV.

“Muriel was born to be a Millennial. So a Millennial she has become. Who sings.”

If you haven’t seen the movie (it’s a local comedy classic!), you should hop to it. But for the unitiated, here’s the story: Stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit, Muriel dreams of the perfect wedding – the white dress, the church, the attention. Unfortunately, there’s one thing missing. A groom.

Following her dreams to Sydney, Muriel ends up with everything she ever wanted – a man, a fortune, and a million twitter followers. That’s when things start to go really wrong.

Directed and designed by Simon Phillips and Gabriela Tylesova (Love Never Dies, Ladies in Black, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) and boasting a huge cast (TBC), this could be the music theatre event of the year.

Kip Williams, Interim Artistic Director said “At Sydney Theatre Company we’re thrilled that one of Australia’s greatest cinematic gifts to the world will now find new life on stage as Muriel’s Wedding The Musical. This will be a fantastic opportunity for STC to revisit a much-loved form of theatre, the musical.”

Global Creatures’ Carmen Pavlovic said “When the film of ‘Muriel’s Wedding’ was released in 1994, it was an immediate global sensation.  The humour, emotion and heart of Muriel Heslop’s story are the perfect ingredients for a live musical!

“I can’t imagine a better opportunity than partnering with Australia’s leading theatre company, STC, to ensure the best possible creative development and presentation of this brand new musical. STC is an industry leader in creating new work and together our two organisations can bring significant creative resources to bear.”

Muriel’s Wedding the Musical will play from 6 November – 30 December 2017 at the Roslyn Packer Theatre. 2017 STC season tickets are available from Tuesday 13 September at sydneytheatre.com.au/2017.