Transforming a beloved film into a stage musical is no small feat — but for Global Creatures, Muriel’s Wedding was a story worth reimagining. Nearly two decades after the cinematic debut, producer Carmen Pavlovic approached Director PJ Hogan with the idea of adapting his iconic film for the stage. As fate would have it, PJ was already in discussions with acclaimed theatre Director Simon Phillips about a theatrical version. That serendipitous alignment set in motion a creative journey that brought Muriel’s Wedding to life for a whole new generation of theatre-goers.
As an Australian company, it was a thrill for our team to bring “Muriel’s story” to live audiences. A story that reflects aspects of our own culture right back at us. Global Creatures and Sydney Theatre Company formed a co-producing partnership to bring Muriel’s Wedding The Musical to the stage, premiering in 2017 for a 10-week season. It was a commercial and critical hit.
The film’s original writer PJ Hogan updated his screenplay into a dazzling stage show, bringing the story into the present but keeping all the irreverence and naughtiness of the film along with its dark edge. The production was helmed by the brilliantly gifted Simon Phillips, and Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nutall created a unique and complex score, deftly weaving the music of ABBA throughout their contemporary, original songs which span ballads created from inner monologues and production numbers that evoke Porpoise Spit and Sydney and the colourful inhabitants of each.
Global Creatures fully produced a return season in 2019, playing in Melbourne before embarking on a national tour in Sydney and Brisbane. The creative foundations established in the original STC co-produced production remained, with PJ Hogan (book), Simon Phillips (Director) and Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttal (music and lyrics) continuing their involvement.
WORLDWIDE
Credit Jeff Busby
Creatives
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Credit James Green
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Credit Hon Boey
| Book | PJ Hogan |
| Music and Lyrics | Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall |
| Director | Simon Phillips |
| Choreographer | Andrew Hallsworth |
| Set, Costume & Projection Designer | Gabriela Tylesova |
| Lighting Designer | Trent Suidgeest |
| Sound Designer | Michael Waters |
| Music Supervisor, Orchestrations, Arrangements & Additional Music | Isaac Hayward |
| Associate Director & Choreographer | Ellen Simpson |
| Set Design Associate | Charles Davis |
| Costume Design Associate | Alicia Clements |
| Musical Director | Daniel Puckey |
| Hair, Wigs & Make-up | Campbell Young Associates |
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Credit Jeff Busby
Show FactsThe Harbour Bridge set piece was the heaviest of all, weighing 1092kg -
Credit Jeff Busby
Show FactsMuriel's wedding dress weighed 16kg and was suspended in a bag above the stage until worn -
Credit Jeff Busby
Show FactsThere were 32 radio mics used on the cast every night with Muriel having 2 microphones. Even the waterloo competition wigs have a microphone each in them -
Credit Jeff Busby
Show FactsThere was 411 Costume ‘looks’ made up of 139 wigs and more than 1200 costume items
Awards & Nominations
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Credit Jeff Busby
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Credit Jeff Busby
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Credit Jeff Busby
| Best Choreography in a Musical | |
| Best Original Score | |
| Best Music Direction | |
| Best Costume Design | |
| Best Sound Design |
| Best Direction of a Musical | Simon Phillips |
| Best Female Actor in a Musical | Max McKenna (Muriel Heslop) |
| Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Christie Whelan Browne (Tania Degano) |
| Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Madeleine Jones (Rhonda Epinsall) |
| Best Musical | Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures |
| Best New Australian Work | PJ Hogan, Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall |
| Best Original Score of a Mainstage Production | |
| Best Production of a Mainstream Musical | |
| Best Direction of a Musical | |
| Best Performance by A Female Actor in A Supporting Role in A Musical | Madeleine Jones |
| Best Choreography in a Musical | |
| Best Musical Direction of a Musical | |
| Best Newcomer | Maggie McKenna |
| Best Costume Designof A Mainstage Production | Gabriela Tylesova |
| Best New Australian Work | |
| Judith Johnson Award For Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical | Max McKenna (Muriel Heslop) |
| Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role In A Musical | Justine Clarke |
| AWGIE Award for Music Theatre | PJ Hogan with Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall (lyrics) and Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson (lyrics) |
| David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian Theatre | P.J. Hogan with Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall |
| Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album |
| Original Australian Writing | PJ Hogan (Book), Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall (Music & Lyrics) |
| Betty Pounder Award for Excellence in Choreography | Andrew Hallsworth |
| Set Design | Gabriela Tylesova |
| Costume Design | Gabriela Tylesova |
| Lead Role | Natalie Abbott (Muriel Heslop) |
| Supporting Role | Stefanie Jones |
| Production | |
| Direction | Simon Phillips |
| Lighting and Multimedia Design | Trent Suidgeest |
Gallery
Social Responsibility
Through community partnerships, targeted outreach and inclusive programming Muriel’s Wedding The Musical supported a range of social engagement initiatives and created opportunities for students to engage with the production through dedicated educational resources.
To coincide with the Melbourne premiere and return Sydney season, Muriel’s Wedding The Musical partnered with Dress for Success, a not-for-profit organisation that supports unemployed and underemployed women to achieve economic independence by providing no-fee programs, development tools, and professional attire to help them thrive in work and in life.
To support this partnership, the production organised a clothing donation drive, hosted ‘Empower Hour’ Speaker Sessions featuring company members, and spotlighted Dress for Success during the ticket purchasing process on Ticketek and Ticketmaster platforms to encourage audience donations.
Other initiatives during the season included:
- Hosting a free pre-season briefing event, offering audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of transforming the iconic Australian film into a new stage production.
- Accessibility programs, including Auslan-interpreted and audio-described performances, to ensure the production was inclusive and welcoming to all.
- An education study guide for secondary students aged 16 and over, featuring lesson plans and discussion topics centred on the production’s key themes—such as identity, self-worth, and belonging—as well as insights into elements like characterisation, music, and staging.
What it's Like Working on the Show
KEY DATES
2017 |
18 November - We celebrated opening night at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in Sydney, launching a 10-week season with Sydney Theatre Company. |
2019 |
12 March - Our national tour kicked off at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne. |
2019 |
28 June - The production returned to Sydney for its second season, this time at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. |
2019 |
19 September - We arrived at QPAC in Brisbane for the final stop of the Australian tour. |
