Following a successful debut season at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre, the new Australian musical The Lucky Country is set to return to the stage with performances at Melbourne’s Southbank Theatre, The Lawler, from 13 October 2025. The production will then travel to Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the MELT Festival.
A 60-minute chamber musical, The Lucky Country blends humour, reflection, and music to explore themes of identity and belonging in contemporary Australia. With an original score inspired by some of the country’s most iconic musicians, the show promises audiences a dynamic and emotionally resonant theatrical experience.
At the heart of the story is Boy, a 13-year-old Thiitharr Warra kid whose view of his place in Australia is challenged after a confrontation with his teacher about ‘our shared history’. His personal journey of rediscovery becomes the thread that connects a range of diverse Australian characters — from grey nomads falling in love on a Contiki tour, to a Byron Bay nudist hopeful, to a WWII veteran and a refugee settling in Mingoola.
The Lucky Country is the work of composer and lyricist Vidya Makan (Hamilton, SIX) and director Sonya Suares (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George), who seek to reframe the national narrative through a contemporary musical lens. The production features a live five-piece band – including yidaki – and a six-member ensemble cast. Casting for the Melbourne and Brisbane seasons will be announced in the coming months.
Reflecting on the creative direction, Vidya Makan said:
We wanted the music to feel instantly familiar — like flipping through the radio dial of Australia. You’ll hear echoes of Baker Boy, Jimmy Barnes, Kylie, The Seekers, Electric Fields plus loads more — all remixed through a contemporary lens that feels uniquely ours.
Director Sonya Suares added that the show aims to give voice to those often sidelined in mainstream Australian narratives:
This is a show that claims space for the voices and perspectives that tend to be overlooked when Australia tells its story. It’s cheeky, it’s irreverent, at times it pops off like a rocket. But at its core, it’s an invitation to gather, reflect, rethink where we’ve been and how we might move forward together.
The Lucky Country will run in Melbourne from 13 to 18 October 2025, with preview and matinee sessions available. Tickets range from $44.50 to $69, with concession and group rates on offer. Meanwhile, the Brisbane season will run from 22-25 October 2025 across four performances, with tickets available from $42 to $55 excluding transaction fees.
