All of the shows opening in Australia in 2021

After months of theatres being closed throughout Australia, the performing arts industry is slowly getting back on its feet. Live theatre in Australia is currently subject to everchanging Covid-19 regulations, but Australia really is the best place in the world to be if you’re a theatre lover. Across the country, theatres are finally reopening after an eight month hiatus, with plenty of nationwide premieres as well as productions resuming for live performances once more. 

Here’s all of the shows that are currently opening in Australia in 2021. We’ve listed shows opening in Melbourne and Sydney respectively, with productions listed below also set to entertain Brisbane and Perth audiences.

Find out what’s playing in Sydney and Melbourne, and get tickets now!

Melbourne Shows

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a new play by Thorne playing exclusively at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre. It is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. 

The magic of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child returns to the stage from 25 Feb. 2021. Friday Forty tickets to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are available exclusively on TodayTix, here’s how you can be in with a chance of getting Friday Forty tickets in Australia.

Come From Away 

Audiences are coming back to the rock! Performances of Come From Away are resuming at Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from 19 Jan.2021, where audiences can travel (albeit at the theatre and not in real life) to Newfoundland. Recounting the inspirational stories of travellers forced to land in Canada, Come From Away is the heartwarming musical you need to lift your spirits.

Come From Away will then transfer to the Lyric Theatre, QPAC in Brisbane from March 2021, and will play at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from June 2021.

Moulin Rouge: The Musical

Based on Baz Luhrmann’s glamourous movie, the Moulin Rouge is finally coming down under! The Australian premiere of Moulin Rouge: The Musical will begin from August 2021 at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne. The upcoming production will mark the first international production of Moulin Rouge: The Musical, following a Broadway premiere in 2019.

Chess

After Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit became one of the most watched television series of the year, chess has become a popular pastime. For one night only, Melbourne audiences can watch 1980s musical Chess, created by Tim Rice. Chess is at the Regent Theatre for one day only on 24 April 2021.

Alice in Wonderland 

Don’t be late for this very important theatre date! Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s fantasy novel, escape through the rabbit hole to see Alice in Wonderland, playing at the Athenaeum Theatre playing now until 23 Jan 2021.

Friends: The Musical Parody

When theatres were shut for months on end, no one told us life was gonna be this way… but thankfully Friends is here to cheer us up. As part of the show’s national tour, Friends: The Musical Parody is at the Comedy Theatre in Melbourne from 16 – 19 June 2021 before transferring to Brisbane, Parramatta, Adelaide and Perth.

Sydney Shows

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House has now reopened. Opera Australia will return for live performances this summer, with shows including The Merry Widow and Tosca as well as Great Opera Hits. 

Check out all the Opera Australia shows at Sydney Opera House in 2021.

FANGIRLS

After a hugely successful debut season by Belvoir St Theatre in 2019, FANGIRLS is back at the Seymour Centre. The poptastic musical sees a 14-year-old fall in love with a global popstar, doing all it takes to catch his attention. Think Beyonce meets Sia in this sell out show, back for more from 30 Jan – 20 Feb2021.

Hamilton 

We’ve been willing to “Wait For It” but not for much longer now. Hamilton will make its Australian premiere at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre from 17 March 2021. The Australian production of Hamilton will be the first worldwide production to reopen since theatres were shut down globally.

Frozen

The Disney hit Frozen has launched in Australia. Join Elsa, Anna and Olaf in the winter paradise of Arendelle and imagine you’re in a Disney dream. Performances are currently running at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre, with scheduled dates until 2 May 2021.

Pippin

Following eight months of suspended performances in Sydney, Pippin was the first musical to reopen, beginning performances in November 2020. Pippin will complete its scheduled run at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney, playing its final night on 24 Jan 2021.

Magic Mike Live

Magic Mike made its Australian premiere on 20 Dec 2020 at The Arcadia, following productions across the United States and in London. Performances of Magic Mike Live are currently in Sydney until  4 Apr  2021, before an Australian tour.

Magic Mike is at Melbourne’s Arcadia from 8 June 8 – 6 August, with performances in Brisbane and Perth yet to be announced.