From the very first note to the final, radiant tableau, Once On This Island, produced by Curveball Creative in association with Hayes Theatre Co, wraps you in a warm embrace and doesn’t let go. On opening night, the audience was swept away not by spectacle, but by something deeper: soul. Once On This Island is a musical that celebrates love, culture, and community with joy, tenderness, and undeniable spirit.
Premiering on Broadway in 1990, Once On This Island was created by Tony Award-winning duo Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Loosely inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, the story is reimagined through the lens of Caribbean mythology and rhythm.
In 2018, the production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical which solidified its place as a beloved modern classic. Now, with director Brittanie Shipway at the helm, she brings the musical to this island, Australia. And in this setting, it positively soars.
Ti Moune, a spirited peasant girl, saves the life of Daniel, a boy from the wealthy side of the island. As love blossoms across a social divide, the Gods of the island – Asaka, Agwé, Erzulie, and Papa Ge – make a bet: is love stronger than death? What unfolds is a bittersweet story about love, fate, sacrifice, and how stories endure, even when people do not.
In her professional debut, Thalia Osegueda Santos shines as Ti Moune. She balances the innocence and resolve of a young woman who is determined to do what her heart is set on. Santos’ soaring vocals and emotional generosity mark her as a standout. And at just 19 years old, I am sure she is going places.
Opposite her, the earnest and charming Daniel is beautifully portrayed by Alexander Tye. His energy and zeal are contrasted by the privileges he carries. The pair’s chemistry anchors the story’s emotional stakes, making the ending feel all the more poignant.
The ensemble cast impresses and there are several standout performances. Rebecca Verrier as Papa Ge gives a menacing and maniacal depiction of Death. Googoorewon Knox is sensational and stoic as Agwe, the god of the sea.
In Brittanie Shipway’s Director’s Note, she mentions the importance of her connections to the communal roots of the narrative. This comes across with a rawness and immediacy to her staging that suits the intimacy of the Hayes Theatre perfectly.
Leah Howard’s choreography is joyful, pulsing and radiates through the ensemble, particularly memorable in Ti Moune’s dance sequence. Each movement feels connected to the land and spirit of the island, grounded and celebratory.
Dylan Pollard’s musical direction keeps the heartbeat strong, with the ensemble’s tight harmonies and layered vocals bringing depth and colour to the vibrant score.
Set and props designer Nick Fry creates a textured, earthy world that is as practical as it is poetic. The design invites the audience into a world built from what’s around – ropes, driftwood, colour, life – evoking both scarcity and abundance. It’s an ingenious use of the Hayes’ compact space, never overcrowded but always dynamic. The set acts like another character in the tale, constantly shifting and supporting the actors’ storytelling.
Once On This Island transforms the familiar into something deeply personal and proudly reclaimed. Shipway’s culturally conscious lens brings an added resonance to Ti Moune’s journey, reasserting that whose stories we tell, and how, matters. Once on This Island is a celebration of love’s possibilities and limitations, and the power of a community to carry a legacy forward.
Once On This Island runs to 31 August at Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Avenue Potts Point NSW 2011.
Tickets are available here!
Website: https://hayestheatre.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/hayestheatreco_official/
Photo credits: David Hooley
