★★★★☆
I am a theatre guy, not a sports guy. I did, however, grow up in an NRL household (insert eye roll). My memories include Broncos flags hanging out the front of the house and my parents yelling at the TV. I never understood the hype.
I am, however, always open to a new experience, so when I was asked to attend Strong Is The New Pretty, the new play revolving around the Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW), I went. And GURL, I am so glad I did!
This story is everything. It highlights the fight women faced to establish a professional league of their own, particularly at a time when women weren’t necessarily in the decision-making rooms, and the industry was dominated by men.
The story follows three key heroes: The Commissioner (Lucy Bell), The Godmother (Tara Morice) and The Sergeant (Amber McMahon). These three women were integral to the commencement of the AFLW, and each brought a real sparkle to their characters.
Women who wanted more. More representation in sport. The same respect afforded to men. And, perhaps most importantly, a world where young girls could see that there was a place in sport for them to belong.
Bell’s portrayal of The Commissioner is diplomatic and fascinating to watch as she navigates the politics of the AFL board. Morice brings a determination to the stage that demands the audience listen and has us cheering for the cause. McMahon commands attention with every word, while also showing the Sergeant’s more tender moments with her team.
The rest of the cast is also top-notch, with everyone getting their standout moments while playing a multitude of characters. This was particularly true during the drafting of players into the league. I particularly loved the costuming choices. Each cast member was dressed individually, with some costumes representing the multitude of professions and backgrounds that make up the women in the sporting world.
The cast is also responsible for creating the sound effects throughout the show, adding another layer of fun and keeping the production feeling incredibly dynamic.
The staging is equally clever. A banner-like screen displays match scores, scene titles and commentary from the public about women playing AFL. This moment reinforces just how much these women had to fight just to be recognised as deserving a place in the game.
On opening night, there were a couple of moments where microphones weren’t turned on in time for line deliveries. There also appeared to be a moment where a line prompt was given from offstage. These are things you wouldn’t expect at a production of this calibre. Thankfully, neither detracted from the story, and ultimately, that is what we came for.
One thing I loved was seeing such a predominantly female-led creative team behind the production. Playwright Suzie Miller, who is also the genius behind RBG: Of Many, One, is a personal favourite of mine.
She leads an incredible creative team alongside director Sarah Giles, designer Christina Smith and choreographer Kelley Abbey, just to name a few. Yes, you read that right: choreographer. I think more plays should have a fun little dance break.
The production team, paired with the stellar cast, makes for an incredible night of theatre. To think that the play is based on relatively recent events proves we still have so much more growing to do as a society.
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give Strong Is The New Pretty is this: I walked in as someone who knew very little about sport. I walked out with a new sense of community, team spirit and maybe, just maybe, even a desire to go and see an AFLW game.
Watch this space.
Strong Is The New Pretty runs at the Playhouse, QPAC from 1 – 19 September 2026 as part of Brisbane Festival.
It then tours to Canberra, Geelong and Sydney.
Tickets: https://www.brisbanefestival.com.au/events/strong-is-the-new-pretty
Website: https://strongisthenewprettyplay.com.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/sitnp_play/ and https://www.instagram.com/brisbanefestival/
Photo credits: Morgan Roberts
Strong is the New Pretty is a Brisbane Festival, Sydney Theatre Company and Trish Wadley Productions co-production, originally commissioned by Trish Wadley Productions.
2026 Australian Tour:
Brisbane 1 – 19 September, Playhouse, QPAC
Canberra 24 September – 3 October, Canberra Theatre Centre
Geelong 8 – 11 October, Geelong Arts Centre
Sydney 22 October – 5 December, Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
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