- The Lovers is a rock take on William Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, and promises to update the lovers’ tales in an age of dating apps.
- It sounds great – and we applaud the idea of bringing the Bard’s great stories up to date.
- Sadly, our reviewer believes this is a case of Love’s Labour’s lost.
According to director Nick Skubij of The Lovers, now showing at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, “The Bard would be bopping in his grave knowing that his classic comedy has received a 21st century remix for the ages”.
And indeed, this musical with a live rock band and a cast of six, promises so much. A pop-infused Australian musical by writer-composer Laura Murphy, it reimagines Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the now.
It premiered with Bell Shakespeare at the Sydney Opera House in 2022- Bell’s first-ever musical. It has now been “reimagined” by Shake & Stir Theatre Co for a new national life.
Murphy has spoken about wanting to make Shakespeare feel immediate and modern so audiences leave comparing their own love-sick follies with the show’s characters. She blends Shakespeare’s poetry with rock music storytelling so first-timers and die-hards can meet in the middle.
She is not the first to try and update Shakespeare.
But Midsummer Night’s Dream is a light-hearted, funny and endearing story, and Muphy’s version is a laboured, repetitive and filled with big musical songs that just don’t quite suit the play.
The story
For centuries, Oberon and his wing-man Puck have been cosmic match-makers. Worried true love is dying in an era of swipes and “situationships”, they meddle with four young Athenians—Hermia, Lysander, Helena and Demetrius—on one wild night in the woods.
It’s classic humour. But does take itself a little too seriously in delivering a message?
The result is a hybrid take on Shakespeare which serves to illustrate why the Bard knew humour, a light touch and how to make you chuckle.
What the critics said about The Lovers
The 2022 premiere drew enthusiastic notices: “a thrilling piece of theatre” (Limelight, quoted in summaries) and four-star raves from independent outlets praising its pop sheen and wit.
Diana Simmonds called it a brilliant catapult for Bell “into the 21st century,” while Cultural Binge deemed it “a hair’s-breadth from perfect… the hit I’ve been waiting for.”
The cast
The cast is thoroughly professional.
Natalie Abbott — Helena
Known for Muriel’s Wedding The Musical, Abbott brings a comic bite and powerhouse vocals; Brisbane critics highlighted her scene-stealing hilarity in this production’s earlier stop.
Jason Arrow — Demetrius
Originated Alexander Hamilton in the Australian company of Hamilton. Here he plays a modern bad-boy Demetrius; reviews note his swaggering presence in the 2025 iteration.
Jayme-Lee Hanekom — Puck
Fresh from TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, Hanekom’s Puck is a kinetic agent of chaos with a big pop belt—frequently cited as an electricity source for the show’s concert feel.
Loren Hunter — Hermia
Seen in SIX the Musical, Hunter supplies crystalline vocals and keen comic timing; she headlined the Brisbane run before Sydney.
Stellar Perry — Oberon
Rock-and-soul vocalist from The Rocky Horror Show, Perry’s Oberon leads the “fairy band,” leaning into glam-pop authority.
Mat Verevis — Lysander
Seen in TINA and known for his pop credentials, Verevis’s Lysander is a romantic lead with chart-ready vocals.
Our verdict: Good for an afternoon’s fun or a bit of entertainment after a night out. But it’s not the main course. The Bard may well be moving in his grave – but bopping? We think not.
Fact file
What: The Lovers
Where: Theatre Royal Sydney.
When: 31 Oct – 16 Nov 2025.
Tickets: Theatre Royal Sydney
