The dazzling new Australian tour of Steel Magnolias is well underway, following a successful Brisbane season and now playing in Sydney. Jessica Redmayne stars as Shelby, the iconic role that marked Nicole Kidman’s professional stage debut and later earned Julia Roberts her first Academy Award nomination in the film adaptation.
The Scoop sat down with Jessica ahead of opening night of the tour. Jessica talks all things Steel Magnolias including working alongside such an incredible cast and what audiences can expect. Read the full interview below.
Can you tell us a bit about Steel Magnolias for people who may not know about the story or Shelby’s role in it?
Okay, well, it’s a cult classic film from the 80s, but it started as a play. Robert Harling wrote it, and it’s a true story about his sister, which is even more…it’s beautiful, without giving too much away.
It’s an extraordinary story about women and female friendship, which is the reason it’s such a cult classic, because it’s so relatable to so many people. There are so many different characters that are relatable. And it’s just a glorious piece of writing.
Is the production providing tissues, or do audience members need to bring their own?
(Laughs) That’s actually a really good question. Do you know what? Maybe we should think about at the bar, when you buy a drink or some popcorn, you’ll get some tissues as well, because people in general are really going to need them.
Take us into the rehearsal room. What have been some of the highlights of making this production a reality?
We had a lot of fun. We laughed a lot. We have to be careful on stage that we don’t laugh too much at each other, because it is genuinely so much fun with these women.
But in the rehearsal space, Lee Lewis, our extraordinary director, gave us so much freedom to play, and that’s such a luxury as an actor, because you really just get to test things and take risks and see what works and what doesn’t. And that’s really just given us such a comfortable foundation to create this show and put it on stage.
And what’s it been like working with people like Lisa McCune?
From the minute that I met Lisa, she was just so warm and incredible. I genuinely knew that I would have such an extraordinary time doing this show for this period of time.
And Debra, Belinda, Lotte and Mandy, we get along so well, we have so much fun. And I think that resonates on stage as well, the friendships that we’ve actually, genuinely created. It will resonate to our audience.
What’s your favourite line in the show?
That’s so hard, because there are so many really good ones. I would have to say…I really don’t want to choose one, but I’m going to say: I’m not crazy. I’ve just been in a bad mood for 40 years. Ouiser says that, and I just love it so much!
But there are so many great lines in this show, and a lot of them are just so funny. And I think the best part about it is that it is a true story. And Robert heard these things said by these women. A lot of them are real quotes from real women, and that’s what makes it so great.
What do you want audiences to walk out of the theatre talking about? What conversations do you want to start?
Well, first and foremost, that they run home and they tell everyone, their friends, their family, to come and see this show, because I think they will genuinely walk out of the theatre feeling…full is not the right word. But I think people will genuinely leave the auditorium feeling an immense sense of joy.
And finally, is there anything that you haven’t been asked yet? I’ll open the floor to you about this production. What do you want audiences to know?
I want audiences to know that at a time like this in 2026, this show gives so much optimism and hope and love. And Shelby in particular is such an optimistic, beautiful character. I think that we could all be a little bit more like Shelby.
Jessica Redmayne appears in Steel Magnolias, presented by Woodward Productions and Neil Gooding Productions. It runs in Sydney until 31 May at the Theatre Royal as part of its national tour.
Tickets: https://www.steelmagnoliasplay.com/tickets
Website: http://www.steelmagnoliasplay.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/steelmagnoliasau/ and https://www.instagram.com/jedmayne/
Photo credits: Brett Boardman
2026 Australian Tour Dates
Brisbane 30 April – 10 May, Playhouse QPAC
Sydney 13 – 31 May, Theatre Royal
Wollongong 3 – 11 June, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
Canberra 17 – 21 June, Canberra Theatre Centre
Perth 7 – 18 July, His Majesty’s Theatre
Melbourne 23 July – 9 August Athenaeum Theatre
