With the final weeks of Mary Poppins being performed at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, where will be beloved musical travel to next? Well the winds will soon be blowing north, with Australian producers Disney Theatrical Productions Australia, Michael Cassel Group and Cameron Mackintosh confirming that Mary Poppins the Musical will be performed at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) from 22 October 2022 for a strictly limited season. How limited? Well according to indications from the QPAC website, it will run beyond 10 December 2022 according to the pricing schedules.
The stage adaptation of Mary Poppins was co-created by Cameron Mackintosh, with a book by Julian Fellowes, and original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. Much like all of Disney’s film to stage adaptations, although certainly retaining much of the charm that we grew up watching ourselves, Mary Poppins the Musical features new plotlines and I would argue has a more broader appeal to teenagers and adults than their source material.
The new Australian cast of Mary Poppins the Musical features Stefanie Jones in the titular role, and Jack Chambers as the lovable Bert. While subject to change between Sydney and Brisbane, other cast members include Tom Wren as George Banks, Lucy Maunder as Winifred Banks, Nancye Hayes as the Bird Woman, and presumably a cast of young local children to take on the roles of Jane and Michael Banks.
Pre-sale tickets for the QPAC season will commence on Monday 1 August 2022 at 10.00am, with general public onsale commencing a week later on Monday 8 August 2022 at 9.00am. Prices will be set at $59.90 to $189.90, with increased prices indicating better seat locations, more popular sessions and/or other details. Separate pricing will be made available for schools and groups of more than 10.
