Bringing Strictly Ballroom The Musical to life in Australia felt like the perfect fit – it was a chance to bring the story full circle to where it all began, while also shining a spotlight on local theatre talent.
We were beyond excited to reunite some of the film’s original dream team – Baz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce, Catherine Martin, and John O’Connell – for the stage production. The musical featured all the iconic songs fans loved from the film, plus brand-new numbers written just for the show. To reflect the bold, diverse world of Strictly Ballroom, we collaborated with a powerhouse lineup of artists, including Sia Furler, Diane Warren, David Foster, and Eddie Perfect – each adding their own flavour and flair.
The show premiered at the Sydney Lyric Theatre in April 2014, followed by seasons at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne in January 2015 and QPAC in Brisbane in September 2015.
We then turned our focus to international audiences, refining the production for its UK premiere in Leeds in November 2016, with acclaimed director and choreographer Drew McOnie leading the creative team. From there, Strictly Ballroom The Musical made its North American debut in Toronto in April 2017, before making its way to London’s West End at the Piccadilly Theatre in April 2018.
As the rights holders of Strictly Ballroom The Musical, we support licensed productions around the world, from major international stages to community and amateur performances, ensuring the story keeps dancing its way into new hearts and audiences.
“The ideals of Strictly Ballroom, that a life lived in fear is a life half lived, and creativity triumphing over artistic oppression, are the ideals by which I live to this day.” Baz Luhrmann
From 2022-23 Global Creatures licensed Strictly Ballroom The Musical to Phil McIntyre Live for a UK tour visiting 39 cities. The title has also been licensed and produced in the US, and licensed via Origin Theatrical to make it available to amateur groups and schools across Australia and New Zealand.
Credit Jeff Busby
Creatives
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Credit James Morgan
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Credit Johan Persson
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Credit James Morgan
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Credit Anthony Robling
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Credit James Morgan
| Book | Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce |
| Director | Baz Luhrmann |
| Set & Costume Designer | Catherine Martin |
| Choreographer | John O’Connell |
| Original Score & Arrangements | Elliott Wheeler |
| Lighting Designer | Hugh Vanstone |
| Sound Designer | Peter Grubb |
| Musical Supervisor | Max Lambert |
| Music Designer | Anton Monsted |
| Makeup and Hair Designer | Wendy de Waal |
| Book | Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce |
| Director & Choreographer | Drew McOnie |
| Set Designer | Soutra Gilmour |
| Costume Designer | Catherine Martin |
| Lighting Designer | Howard Hudson |
| Sound Designer | Gareth Owen |
| Musical Supervisor | David Caddick |
| Orchestrator | Simon Hale |
| Music Consultant | Anton Monsted |
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Credit Jeff Busby
Show FactThere are over 1,000 lighting cues in the show, used to illuminate around 4,000 light globes and more than 2 kilometres of string lights throughout the theatre, keeping stage management and the lighting crew on their toes from start to finish! -
Show FactThe show features around 200 costumes designed by Academy Award-winner Catherine Martin, adorned with an incredible 745 metres of coloured ostrich feathers and over 208,800 diamantes. Some of the elaborate ballgowns weighed up to 5 kilograms. -
Show FactBefore it was a movie, Strictly Ballroom actually originated as a stage play that Baz Luhrmann created as a student at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 1984. -
Show FactIt takes a crew of 77 people working behind the scenes, alongside a cast of 43, to bring the magic of the show to life.
Awards & Nominations
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Credit Jim Lee
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Credit Anthony Robling
| Winner – Best Production | |
| Winner – Best Female in a Supporting Role | Heather Mitchell |
| Winner – Best Lighting Design | Hugh Vanstone |
| Winner – Best Set and/or Costume Design | Catherine Martin |
| Nominated for Best Female in a Leading Role | Phoebe Panaretos |
| Nominated for Best Male in a Supporting Role | Drew Forsythe |
| Nominated for Best Ensemble | Best Ensemble |
| Nominated for Betty Pounder Award for Excellence in Choreography | John O’Connell |
| Nominated for Best Musical Direction /Supervision | Daniel Edmonds |
| Nominated for Best Design (Sound) | Peter Grubb |
| Nominated for Best Direction | Baz Luhrmann |
| Winner – Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Heather Mitchell (Shirley Hastings) |
| Nominated for Best Musical | |
| Nominated for Best Direction of a Musical | Baz Luhrmann |
| Nominated for Best Choreography in a Musical | John O’Connell |
| Nominated for Best Female Actor in a Musical | Phoebe Panaretos |
| Nominated for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Drew Forsythe |
| Nominated for Best Costume Design | Catherine Martin |
| Nominated for Best Costume Design | Catherine Martin |
| Nominated for Best Choreography | Drew McOnie |
Australian Production
Social Responsibility
On Strictly Ballroom The Musical we worked to broaden access to the arts by creating meaningful opportunities for people from historically underrepresented communities to experience live theatre. Through community partnerships, targeted outreach, and inclusive programming, Strictly Ballroom The Musical was presented in a way that aimed to reduce barriers, champion diverse voices and perspectives, and build more inclusive audiences across Australia and beyond.
Some highlights included:
- Free public performances by the cast at major community events, including West End Live, Emporium Melbourne, and Midsumma Festival – Victoria’s leading LGBTQIA+ arts and culture festival, bringing the joy of live theatre to new and diverse audiences.
- Competitions offering fans the chance to win exclusive dance lessons with members of the cast, creating unique opportunities for community participation and connection with the show.
- Charity partnerships with the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, supporting children affected by violence, and the Melanoma Institute Australia, raising awareness and funds for vital research and prevention efforts. In Australia, we held a special fundraising preview performance where guests were invited to an exclusive pre-show experience, including a behind-the-scenes talk from director Baz Luhrmann, with proceeds donated to the Melanoma Institute Australia.
- Participating in a float at the 2014 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade which celebrated Strictly Ballroom The Musical and the film that inspired it. Choreographed by the production’s dance captain Steven Grace, the float featured nearly 100 dancers, six drag performers, and a dazzling amount of glitter, making it the largest float ever built for the event at the time.
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Credit C. Moore Hardy
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Credit C. Moore Hardy
- Free public dance lessons, including hosting Australia’s largest outdoor ballroom dancing event, which drew in over 4,000 participants to a mass ballroom dance-off directed by Baz Luhrmann himself.
- Educational outreach, including a curriculum-aligned education kit designed to support student engagement and learning through the arts.
- Discounted tickets for school groups, helping to make the theatre more accessible to students and encourage the next generation of theatre lovers.
- A special performance hosted at Australia House, celebrating Australian talent and fostering international cultural exchange.
- Participating in the Mother’s Day Classic, an annual fun run and walk event held in Australia to raise money for breast and ovarian cancer research.
West End Production
What it was like working on the show
Meet Scott Hastings. Ballroom Dancer. Future champion. Rebel. When Scott’s radical dance moves raise eyebrows with the Australian Federation, he finds himself dancing with Fran, a beginner who has no moves at all. Inspiring each other, the couple find the courage to defy both convention and their families – and discover that to be a winner, your steps don’t need to be strictly ballroom…
Adapted from Baz Luhrmann’s beloved and award-winning film, STRICTLY BALLROOM has been transformed into a glorious stage musical. Combining the story’s heart, comedy and drama with white-hot dance, eye-popping costumes by four-time Oscar® winner Catherine Martin and over 40 classic chart hits including “Time After Time,” “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” and “Love is in the Air,” Olivier Award-winning director and choreographer Drew McOnie has created an unforgettable production that will make your heart soar and your feet want to dance!
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Credit Jeff Busby
Story
KEY DATES
1992 |
10 May - Strictly Ballroom has its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. It is screened at midnight in the Un Certain Regard program where it earns a 15-minute standing ovation. |
2011 |
23 May - Baz Luhrmann announces plans to collaborate with Catherine Martin, Craig Pearce and John O'Connell on the live stage musical of Strictly Ballroom. Bazmark forms an alliance with Global Creatures to bring Strictly Ballroom The Musical to the stage. |
2013 |
5 August - Strictly Ballroom The Musical is launched by Global Creatures and the Creative Team at Sydney Town Hall. |
2014 |
12 April - The curtain rises for the global premiere of Strictly Ballroom The Musical at the Sydney Lyric Theatre! |
2015 |
14 January - The production hits the road, touring Australia with seasons in Melbourne and Brisbane. |
2016 |
30 November - Strictly Ballroom The Musical makes its highly anticipated British premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. |
2017 |
25 April - North American audiences are introduced to the show with a Toronto season at the Princess of Wales Theatre. |
2018 |
24 April - The production lights up London’s West End, opening at the Piccadilly Theatre. |
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