★★★★★
The thunderous applause that filled the theatre on opening night in Sydney was testament to just how eagerly Australian theatre lovers had been waiting for Heathers: The Musical to hit our shores.
The national tour’s opening at the Roslyn Packer Theatre was made even more eventful by falling on 1 September, known among fans as ‘Heathers Day,’ the date of Veronica Sawyer’s first Dear Diary entry.
To mark the occasion, an exclusive video was released that night across social media, bringing together the iconic Heathers trio from the Australian, New York and UK & Ireland productions. Filmed across three continents, their performance of Candy Store offered an extra thrill for fans, and a fitting way to celebrate the day.
Heathers: The Musical is adapted from the 1988 film written by Daniel Waters, with music, book and lyrics written by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe. This black comedy explores the dark and twisted side of popularity, and leaves us wondering what we would sacrifice in order to ‘fit in.’
Heathers follows Veronica Sawyer as she aligns herself with the popular ‘Heathers’ in a desperate bid to survive her final years at Westerberg High School. As she sacrifices more of herself in the pursuit of social security, she finds company in the mysterious and deeply damaged newcomer, Jason ‘J.D.’ Dean. Multiple deaths are quickly to follow, and Veronica is left asking herself: at what point is it enough?
I went into this production completely unfamiliar with the story, apart from the song Candy Store popping up regularly in my musical theatre playlists. For those in a similar situation, I will warn that the production does feature a lot of potentially distressing themes and crude language. So keep this in mind when deciding whether to bring younger people along.
Director Andy Fickman has staged a phenomenal production that captures all of the high-energy, deeply emotional and preposterously funny beats of the story. The cast as an ensemble truly bring so much life and energy to every single scene. This is just a delightfully fun show, and audiences will be entertained no matter where they look on stage.
Emma Caporaso immaculately embodies Veronica Sawyer. Her vocals and physicality are truly delightful, and she conquers the emotional range of the role flawlessly. Conor Beaumont is charmingly vicious as ‘J.D.’ He draws the audience in so intensely that you can see where his arc is leading but desperately hope it might end differently.
Calista Nelmes is an absolute superstar as she portrays the iconic role of Heather Chandler. She brings a perfect ‘popularity incarnate’ energy to the stage.
Heather Chandler is accompanied by her partners in crime, Heather Duke and Heather McNamara, portrayed by Amélia Rojas and Abigail Sharp. Both performers are incredible, and it is delightful to watch them transform from subservient cronies to women in their own right.
Nic Van Lits and David Cuny play the stereotypical jocks Kurt Kelly and Ram Sweeney, and their dynamic is an absolute treat. Despite the characters being so desperately unlikeable, they light up the stage with their energy and physical comedy.
Mel O’Brien beautifully portrays the role of Martha Dunnstock. As the moral compass of the show, it is so wonderful to see how she remains sincere amongst the carnage.
As additional highlights, Zoe Gertz delivers an outstandingly funny performance in Shine a Light, while Ellis Dolan and Brodie Masini, as Ram and Kurt’s dads, are tremendous in Dead Gay Son.
Choreographer Gary Lloyd and stunt director Lyndall Grant have done a fantastic job of making the intense physicality driving this story slick and visually striking.
From the opening bars, you can immediately tell why this musical has gained such widespread adoration. Musical director Martine Wengrow masterfully guides the band and cast through the genre rollercoaster that is this production’s soundtrack.
Designer David Shields has created a visual masterpiece of costumes and set that immediately transports us back in time and perfectly captures the emotional journey of each and every character. Ben Cracknell’s lighting design makes the story feel so immersive.
As the audience left the theatre on opening night, a true sense of connection could be felt. We are all in this lifeboat together, and only together can we weather the storm. Heathers: The Musical absolutely lives up to the hype and truly showcases our extraordinary local talent.
Heathers: The Musical runs to 19 September at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney as part of its national tour.
See full dates below.
Tickets: https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/2026/productions/heathers-the-musical
Website: https://heathersthemusical.com/australia/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/heathersmusicalaunz/
Photo credits: Cameron Grant
2026 Remaining Australian Tour Dates:
Sydney 1 – 19 September, Roslyn Packer Theatre Tickets
Perth 30 September – 11 October, Regal Theatre Tickets
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