No, you’re not dreamin’ – classic Australian film The Castle is being reimagined for the stage, with a major new theatrical play set to premiere in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s Theatre from March 2027, marking 30 years since the film’s original release.
The announcement came today from major theatre producer the Michael Cassel Group (responsible for bringing Broadway musicals like Hamilton and Beetlejuice! The Musical to Australia) and Working Dog Productions, the iconic Melbourne-based film and television production company behind the original 1997 film.
Regarded as the blueprint for what makes a successful Australian film, The Castle has captivated Australian audiences for three decades and left an undeniable mark on Australian culture, with its humour, heart and unforgettable one-liners firmly embedded within the national vernacular. (Are you even an Aussie if you’ve never uttered the words ‘that’s going straight to the pool room’?)
The Castle stage adaptation – quick links
Welcome news for an industry in crisis
While the early closure of recent touring productions including Waitress the Musical and Beetlejuice! The Musical have raised questions about whether the film-to-stage path is a guarantee for success, the announcement that a theatrical powerhouse like Michael Cassel is investing in a brand-new original Australian stage production – in collaboration with the creators of the much-loved film it’s adapting – is promising news for both theatregoers and an industry in crisis.
This new adaptation has been written by the film’s original creators – Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy – who also join the production as co-producers, ensuring the story of the Kerrigan family and their unmistakable Australian voice will be brought to life on stage by the team who know it best.
Described as ‘joyous’, the new production promises to feature ‘all your favourite scenes and characters from the iconic film’ as well as introducing ‘new laughs and contemporary references ensuring The Castle will delight new and old fans alike’.
The Castle’s creative team
The production will be directed by Paige Rattray, one of Australia’s leading directors across both stage and screen, best known for her work on Season 2 and Season 3 of the Netflix hit Heartbreak High and the world premiere of the acclaimed musical Fangirls which toured nationally, winning the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Mainstage Musical and the Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret.
Set and costume design is by AACTA Award-winning designer Jonathon Oxlade, whose credits span theatre, film and television, including Girl Asleep, Into the Woods and Bluey’s Big Play.
Together, Rattray and Oxlade are the first of a celebrated Australian creative team that will transform The Castle into a stunning live theatrical experience that promises to celebrate the richness, humour and heart of Australian storytelling.
‘When the team at Working Dog first approached me about bringing The Castle to the stage, I knew we had to do this,’ said producer Michael Cassel.
‘The film miraculously captures the specificities of Australian life and yet feels so universally true: family love, the challenges change presents, and the warmth and humour and dignity of ordinary people standing up for what matters. It makes you laugh, and then, before you know it, it makes you cry.
‘That is exactly what live theatre does at its best and why The Castle was always destined for the stage. To sit together in a theatre and feel the laughter, tears and pride in real time will be incredibly special. I cannot wait to share this story with Australian audiences in a completely new way with our extraordinary creative team.’
The creators of The Castle – Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy – also expressed their excitement in a joint statement:
‘Over the best part of 25 years we have never lost our desire to turn The Castle into a live stage show. Not just a retelling of the story but a quarter of a century of funny updates! A celebration of all we love about the Kerrigan family.
‘We wrote this new, fully updated show in the same way that we wrote the film screenplay all those years ago – the four of us in a room trying to make each other laugh. Our goal was to capture the warmth and humour (dare we say, “the vibe”?) of the original story in a way that will hopefully resonate with new and long-term fans alike.’
Casting for the production will be announced in the coming months.
