Our Theatre Matters team of editors, writers and reviewers were asked which musicals they would most like to see have their Australian premiere.
10. Hercules
Hercules is a musical based on the 1997 Disney film, with music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel, and a book by Robert Horn and Kwame Kwei-Armah. The musical is loosely based on the Greek mythology story of Hercules, the son of Zeus.
The musical first opened in an off-Broadway tryout at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in August 2019. A revised version then played at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey in 2022.
Following further revisions, the first international production and world premiere of Hercules opened at the Neue Flora in Hamburg, Germany in March 2024. The following year Hercules opened in London’s West End. The musical features the toe-tapping songs from the Disney film along with some new works.
Could this be the next Disney musical to head down under?
9. The Outsiders
Adapted from S E Hinton’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, this musical adaptation features a book by Adam Rapp, with Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, and music supervision, orchestration and arrangements by Justine Levine.
The Outsiders opened in 2023 and went on to win four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and two Drama Desk Awards.
8. The Great Gatsby
Based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby is a 2023 stage musical with music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen, and a book by Kait Kerrigan.
The show made premiered at the Papermill Playhousein Millburn, New Jersey in 2023, then transferred to Broadway in March 2024. It debuted in London’s West End the following year.
A South Korean and US tour followed, with a Polish production announced for 2027.
7. Maybe Happy Ending
Maybe Happy Ending is a South Korean musical with lyrics by Hue Park, music by Will Aronson, and book by both Park and Aronson. The story follows two human-like helper-bots, Oliver and Claire, who discover each other in Seoul later in the 21st century. They develop a connection that challenges what they believe is possible for themselves, exploring relationships, love and mortality.
Maybe Happy Ending premiered in Seoul in 2016 to positive critical reviews. It opened on Broadway in 2024, earning ten Tony Award nominations and winning six, including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score.
6. Death Becomes Her
Death Becomes Her is a stage adaptation of the 1992 film. With a book by Marco Pennette and music and lyrics by Julia Mattison and Noel Carey, Death Becomes Her had its world premiere in May 2024 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, before transferring to Broadway in November that year, receiving great critical acclaim and receiving 10 Tony Award nominations.
5. Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada is a musical based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger, which also inspired the 2006 film with a screenplay by Aline Brosh McKenna.
The musical adaptation features music by Elton John, lyrics by Shaina Taub and Mark Sonnenblick, and a book by Kate Wetherhead.
4. Pride
With a book and lyrics by Stephen Beresford, Pride is a musical stage adaptation of the film Pride, which tells the true story of the ‘Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners’ campaign during the British coal miner’s strike in 1984. The musical premiered in Cardiff, Wales in March 2026 before opening at the Dorfman Theatre at the Royal National Theatre in London in June 2026. The show will transfer to the Bridge Theatre from November.
3. Operation Mincemeat
Operation Mincemeat is a musical comedy with book, music and lyrics by David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson and Zoë Roberts. The musical is based on the true story of Operation Mincemeat, a WWII British deception operation.
Operation Mincemeat features a small gender-bending cast who take on numerous roles through the fast-paced and zany show. The musical received six Laurence Olivier Award nominations and won two, including Best New Musical. A Broadway production followed, earning four Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. The show now boasts more than 100 five star reviews.
An Australian tour has been announced for 2027 on the production’s website, with a sign up available, but no specific location details or dates yet. https://operationmincemeat.com/tour/aus/
2. Deathnote the Musical
Death Note: The Musical is a musical based on the 2003–06 manga series Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, with a score by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy, and book by Ivan Menchell.
Originally premiering in Tokyo in 2015, the musical has been performed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Russia and Brazil before a concert version in London in 2023. A fully staged production, with a revised book and additional songs ran at London’s Barbican from July to September this year to great critical and audience acclaim. A return season at the Barbican has been announced for 2027.
1. Paddington The Musical
Paddington The Musical opened in London’s West End last November to great critical acclaim. With music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher, and a book by Jessica Swale, the musical is based on the 1958 children’s book A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond.
The PADDINGTON The Musical Original Cast Recording was released by Decca Records in March 2026, and on collectible vinyl edition in May 2026, recorded with the complete West End cast and full orchestra at Abbey Road Studios.
The musical has been so well received it is now booking as far as February 2028 at the Savoy Theatre in London’s West End. A Broadway production will open at the Al Hirschfield Theatre in March 2027.
Paddington is well-loved around the world, so the big question is where will the bear travel to next?
Cover photo from Paddington the Musical by Johan Persson
