A new production of breakout Australian pop musical The Lovers will include a who’s who of Australian musical theatre with the cast announced today by Shake & Stir Theatre Co and Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in association with Brisbane Festival, for its premiere in QPAC’s Playhouse from 13 September to 5 October 2025.
Brisbane – get set to fall in love!
Romantic, rebellious, and irresistibly fun, this tangled tale of love is written and composed by the acclaimed Laura Murphy. The Lovers catapults Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream into the 21st century with a pulsating pop soundtrack, a powerhouse live band, and a bold new twist on the timeless comedy. It is bursting with energy and heart.
The Lovers’ star-studded cast includes Natalie Abbott (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical) as Helena. Jason Arrow (Hamilton) as Demetrius. Jayme-Lee Hanekom (TINA –The Tina Turner Musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as Puck. Loren Hunter (SIX -The Musical) as Hermia. Stellar Perry (Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocky Horror Show) as Oberon, and Mat Verevis (TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Beautiful) as Lysander.
Rounding out the cast is Indigo Hunt (Hamilton), Jenni Little (Titanique, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical) and Nic Van Lits (Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocky Horror Show).
Shake & Stir’s Artistic Director and The Lovers’ Director Nick Skubij (Frankenstein, Fourteen, Fourthcoming), said he couldn’t be more delighted with the brilliant line-up secured for this must-see theatrical event:
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to take Laura’s addictive pop masterwork to the next level. To do that I needed three things – incredible source material (check), a brilliant creative team (check) and a top-shelf cast (check!). After all, this show requires virtuosic vocalists, brilliant actor/dancers and charisma for days. I can proudly confirm that our cast is nothing short of mind-blowing. One of them would have been a coup. To have ALL of them on stage, at the same time, is extraordinary,” said Skubij.
Supporting them is a team of some of the country’s most revered creatives including Choreographer Yvette Lee (Follies), Music Director Heidi Maguire (SIX – The Musical), Designer Isabel Hudson (Dear Evan Hansen), Lighting Designer Trent Suidgeest (Frankenstein) and current TONY® Award nominee David Bergman (The Picture of Dorian Gray) as Video and Sound Designer.”
Get ready to fall head over heels! The Lovers is a wild ride through love, lust, and lunacy. Where nothing goes as planned, but everything happens for a reason.
The Lovers runs from 13 September to 5 October 2025 at the Playhouse, QPAC as part of Brisbane Festival.
It then transfers to Theatre Royal Sydney from 31 October to 23 November.
Tickets: https://qpac.com.au/whats-on/2025/bf-shakestir-the-lovers
Website: https://shakeandstir.com.au/mainstage/the-lovers
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/atqpac/ and https://www.instagram.com/shakeandstir/
