- Anastasia the Musical will make its Sydney debut on Friday, April 10.
- We caught up with the cast at the Sydney Lyric Theatre ahead of opening night.
- Theatre royalty Nancye Hayes and Rhonda Burchmore are among the stars bringing the show to Australia.
Anastasia the Musical premiered on Broadway in 2017, and nearly a decade later, the sweeping production has finally arrived in Australia. After opening at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre in December 2025, the show now lands in Sydney, with its Lyric Theatre debut set for tomorrow night (April 10).
The story of Anastasia is best known from the 20th Century Fox animated film, itself inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape during the early days of the Russian Revolution.
Featuring an all-Australian cast, as well as some huge names in musical theatre, Anastasia the Musical is set to bring big numbers, decadent costumes and plenty of mystery and romance to Sydney. We dropped by the Lyric for a special preview of the show and a chance to chat with cast members before the excitement of opening night.
Rhonda Burchmore stuns in Land of Yesterday
As Sydney welcomes a new season of incredible musicals, Anastasia stands out for its star-studded cast of Australian theatre royalty.
Actress, artist, and musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore takes on the role of Countess Lily, who leads a dual life as a composed lady-in-waiting to the Dowager Empress (played by the incomparable Nancye Hayes) and a fun-loving, slightly scandalous socialite.
Although her character barely appears in Act One, Burchmore’s Lily sets the stage on fire with her performance of Land of Yesterday, which she treated us to a sneak peek of. Critics in Melbourne raved about her incredible stage presence and powerhouse vocals, all of which were on full display in her short performance.
“It’s very physical, and it’s very busy,” she tells us. In ‘Land of Yesterday’, Burchmore is lifted in the air by the ensemble after a rousing dance break and plenty of belting. She explains that she’s “made Lily completely her own,” which shines through in a performance that’s equally captivating and comedic.
For Burchmore, opening in Sydney is extra special, as it marks a homecoming for her.
“I’m Sydney-born, so it’s wonderful coming back,” she states. “The audiences for the previews have been sensational, more than any other state.”
The arrival of Anastasia also marks the beginning of an exciting new season of musicals in Sydney, with Phantom of the Opera currently being performed on Sydney Harbour and The Lion King headed to the Capitol Theatre next week.
Despite this, Burchmore thinks that Anastasia has the edge.
“This is the first time Anastasia has been in this country. I’ve seen many versions of Phantom and many versions of The Lion King, so I think we’re winning for that reason — we’re unique. We’ve got a brand-new show.”
Nancye Hayes plays the Dowager Countess
Nancye Hayes, one of the leading figures in Australian musical theatre, takes on the role of the Dowager Countess, Anastasia’s grandmother and the matriarch of the Romanov family. Similar to Burchmore, Hayes was also born and raised in Sydney, growing up in the suburb of Manly.
When asked what drew her to the role, Hayes said, “I love being grand, I adore being grand.”
“It’s a wonderful part to play. I have a lovely song to sing, I have a lovely journey to take throughout the show and a lovely scene I look forward to every night with Anastasia.”
Hayes is remarkably humble (despite having a theatre in Sydney named after her), and the whole cast of Anastasia gushed about her work ethic and talent.
Joshua Robson, who plays the villainous character Gleb, tells us, “Nancye leads by example. She doesn’t have to say much; she shows up every day on time. She does her warm-up, she turns up on stage and does the exact same performance every night, and the audience is blessed to watch that.”
Rising star Georgina Hopson shines in ‘Journey to the Past’
Despite a cast packed with seasoned musical theatre stars, the titular role of Anastasia is brought to life by Georgina Hopson, an exciting rising talent on the Sydney theatre scene.
Hopson’s stage credits include playing Rose Dewitt-Bukater in Titanique (Michael Cassel Group) and Christine Daaé in the 2022 Handa Opera production of Phantom of the Opera, which is currently running again on Sydney Harbour.
She sang ‘Journey to the Past’, the musical’s iconic song, and her self-confessed favourite. The number showcased her powerful vocals, with projections swirling around her and transporting the audience to the heart of Paris. She tells us that it’s a “perfectly written song” and “so satisfying to sing.”
“There’s also a song in the show called Stay, I Pray You, which is a beautiful, kind of choral number that the whole cast sings… I’m just obsessed with it; I love the melody of that song.”
Hopson also performed ‘My Petersburg’ with talented co-star Robert Tripolino, who plays her love interest Dmitry. Tripolino recently reprised the role of Jesus in the Perth season of Jesus Christ Superstar, after having played the role at the London Barbican Centre. The highlight of the number came when Tripolino continued belting out lyrics while lying flat on a bench (quite a feat), with Hopson singing alongside him. Their on-stage chemistry is undeniable.
Anastasia the Musical opens at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on April 10, running until July 19. You can book your tickets for the show here.
