Princess Theatre

Music theatre fans, hold onto your hats. A new production of a beloved classic is coming our way and it's bringing a revered star soprano, who originated one of the most famous musical roles of all time, to Melbourne.  Sunset Boulevard will shine with the glitz of old Hollywood in a brand new lavish production on the Princess Theatre stage for a strictly limited season this May through August, starring the one-and-only Sarah Brightman. If her name is familiar, it's because she was the original Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on both the West End and Broadway. The international superstar has since gained global acclaim as a beloved soprano and recording artist, and is now returning to the stage to play her first role in a musical in more than three decades – right here in Melbourne.  The British songstress will play the lead role of Norma Desmond, a character made famous by Glenn Close, in the Tony award-winning musical. Based on the 1950s film noir by Billy Wilder, Sunset Boulevard features music by prolific composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (known for a vast array of treasured musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Evita and more) and a book and lyrics by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The full cast for this exciting production has just been announced, with Tim Draxl playing the co-starring role of Joe Gillis. Renowned Australian Soprano Silvie Paladino will also join the cast for select performances in the role of Norma Desmond. Emerging leading lady Ashleigh

River deep, mountain high – this is a comeback story like no other. Grammy Award-winning musical artist Tina Turner is a woman who dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race to become the global Queen of Rock'n’Roll. And finally, the musical inspired by her life story has announced seasons in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne in 2024. Presented in association with Tina Turner herself, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical received its world premiere in April 2018 in London, where it opened to five-star reviews and has broken box office records at the Aldwych Theatre. It has since had three European tours and a Broadway production in November 2019, which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammys and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. When she was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021, Tina Turner became one of only three women in the institution’s history to be inducted twice (she was initially inducted in 1991, alongside Ike Turner). Turner’s Australian connections run deep. Upon its original release in 1973, her semi-autobiographical hit ‘Nutbush City Limits’ spent an entire year in the top 100 of Australia’s single chart (and the Nutbush dance remains a staple at numerous Aussie weddings and social gatherings). Tina’s star turn in the Australian film Mad Max: Beyond