Hit Aussie musical ‘The Sunshine Club’ announces star cast!
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and Queensland Theatre have revealed the stars of The Sunshine Club, a revival of the “unashamedly feel-good musical” (The Australian) that will swing into the Playhouse from 9 to 30 July 2022.
First performed by Queensland Theatre in QPAC’s Playhouse in 1999, The Sunshine Club launched the career of artists that are now household names including Wesley Enoch, David Page, Roxanne McDonald, Stephen Page, Ursula Yovich, Wayne Blair, Elaine Crombie, Tessa Rose and Christen O’Leary.
The hit Australian musical follows Frank Doyle, an Aboriginal serviceman who spent years fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with troops from all over Australia only to find race relations hadn’t changed at all when he returned home to Brisbane after World War II.
Brimming with hope and defiance Frank sets up his own ballroom, The Sunshine Club, where everyone is invited to meet, mingle and sway the night away.
Singer-songwriter and actor Marcus Corowa will fill the boots of Frank Doyle, Soprano and The Voice alumni Irena Lysiuk will play Rose Morris, and Celebrated actor Roxanne McDonald will reprise her role as Aunty Faith.
Internationally acclaimed Nunukul and Ngugi playwright and director Wesley Enoch AM will direct the revival.
Several other original creatives will return, including Composer John Rodgers, Musical Director Wayne Freer and Costume Designer Richard Roberts, to combine forces with a new generation of talent comprising Choreographer Yolande Brown, Set Designer Jacob Nash, Lighting Designer Ben Hughes and Sound Designer Derek Wilson.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said The Sunshine Club was a joyful, local First Nations story that shone a light of warmth, love and marvellous music with a diversity of voices.
“It is wonderful to see two major arts organisations, QPAC and Queensland Theatre, work together to spread some sunshine at the Playhouse Theatre in presenting a fresh new production of this popular theatre production,” Minister Enoch said.
Inspired by the Boathouse dances that were held in Brisbane in the late 1950s and early 1960s, The Sunshine Club is an examination of Australia’s relationship with its First Nations People through humour, optimism and toe-tappin’ music.
The musical received wide acclaim during its initial run, with a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Choreography in a Musical, a Deadly Award for Excellence in Film or Theatrical Score and Matilda Award for book, lyrics and direction.
For more information or for tickets visit the QPAC website.
Media Release supplied.
