Phar Lap The Musical gallops into Hayes Theatre, and we got a sneak peek

• We were among the first to see songs from Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical, which will debut at Hayes Theatre on October 17.
• I spoke to Steven Kramer, who wrote the show’s script, lyrics and music about this wacky new show.
• We also discussed The Hayes Theatre, and how it is one of the few institutions that would put on a show like this.

The Sydney Fringe Festival may be over; however, wacky and wonderful theatre is here to stay. Enter Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical. Written by award-winning music director and composer Steven Kramer, this comedy explores the life of Phar Lap, Australia’s most famous racehorse, in what Kramer calls “the true underdog story”.

Phar Lap is a legend of Australian sporting history, winning 37 races from 51 starts, including the iconic Melbourne Cup. Many know him for his huge heart, which weighed 6.35 kilograms, more than 1.5 times the weight of an average thoroughbred racehorse’s heart. You can actually see the legendary organ yourself, which is on display at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.

“He was this weedy, gangly horse that no one thought was going to be a star,” said Kramer, “and he ended up absolutely dominating the Australian racing scene.”

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The making of Phar Lap: The Musical

Many might be puzzled as to how the famous racehorse’s life can be turned into an electro-swing musical. So how did Kramer come up with the idea?

He came up with the plot of Phar Lap five years ago, during “peak COVID”. He was sifting through websites showcasing famous Australians, looking for some inspiration through various pieces of history. “I wanted to write an Australian story because I think it’s important that we tell them,” he said.

“You’re looking through those lists of famous Australians, and it kept popping up with Cathy Freeman and all these famous people. But then, there would always be this horse, Phar Lap, that would keep popping up on these lists, and I thought, why on earth has a horse got equal standing to these incredible artists and politicians and cultural icons?”

It was only when Kramer started looking into the story of Phar Lap that he realised how “dramatic” it was.

“It’s greed and gambling and a murder plot and attempted shooting — really theatrical stuff.”

Kramer then pitched the idea for Phar Lap on a Zoom call, and five years later, the show is set to make its debut at the Hayes Theatre.

When I asked how the cast got into their horsey roles, Kramer stated, “It’s not like CATS. They don’t have to earn their tail.”

Don’t expect the actors to fully transform into horses. Kramer explains there will be “little mannerisms… just these little touches and tastes of horse in amongst it. But we’re not sitting around every day doing horse animal exercises.”

Although the show is a comedy, Kramer assures me there will be real moments of heart (pardon the pun) throughout. Phar Lap’s story unfolds during the Great Depression, when he became a powerful beacon of hope for many. “People were starving, and they would go and bet their last penny on Phar Lap, because they knew he would win. He was a real source of hope and inspiration at the same time.”

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Cast and performances

The role of Phar Lap is being played by Joel Granger, who you may recognise from Australian productions of The Book of Mormon, Hairspray and West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. He also played Benny Southstreet alongside Cody Simpson at the recent Hand Opera performance of Guys and Dolls.

Granger’s casting is an example of how Hayes Theatre often brings in a variety of established Australian theatre stars, as well as new and emerging talent. Kramer explained that Joel had completed one of the theatre’s workshops, and as well as being extremely talented, he’s “very charming and lovable… perfect for the horse with the biggest heart.” It doesn’t hurt that Granger, like Phar Lap, is also from New Zealand.

The show doesn’t just revolve around the famous horse, however. Other characters include Madam X (played by Amy Hack), a woman who would post her gambling tips in the paper and bristle with the bookies, as well as the trainer, Harry Telford (Justin Smith), who had never had a successful horse in his life.

We got a sneak peek at Harry and Phar Lap’s duet, titled “We’ll Stick Together Like Glue”. The jazzy and jaunty number was made hilarious by the pair’s chemistry and horselike (yet surprisingly graceful) dance moves.

The cast also performed “The Race That Stops The Nation”, which includes Amy Hack, Nat Jobe, Joey Phyland, Justin Smith, Jim Pike and Manon Gunderson-Briggs. Reminiscent of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, which Kramer stated was a source of inspiration, the upbeat, swinging song is full of hilarious dance moves using cardboard hobby horses and groovy, bold vocals by Gunderson-Briggs.

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Hayes Theatre and nurturing Aussie creativity

Not only is Kramer a long-standing collaborator with the Hayes Theatre, but he also performed at the second-ever show that was staged there, The Drowsy Chaperone, back in 2014. Laughing, he told us, “I played a pastry chef, and then I never performed again after that. I became a musical director.”

The Hayes itself is a very special place for Kramer. He calls it “a little jewel in the Australian arts scene” and emphasises that “there’s not really another space like it.”

“They produce really interesting, different works, things you’re not going to see on a commercial stage. It’s a space for emerging artists, emerging writers and emerging producers. It’s just this little creative hub of art and imagination, and I really love the things you’re able to do there in a way you can’t do anywhere else in the country.”

“It’s so rare that new Australian musicals get up and get seen by the public. We’re so quick to import our art and our culture from overseas, but to create something here, and to tell our own stories in the way that we like, which I think has that natural Larrikanism to it and that humour to it. I think that’s really special and something that is very Australian, and it’s really a gift to be able to do that here with this show.”

The Hayes Theatre Co. was created by a group of independent producers of music theatre works in 2012, looking to create a permanent home for music theatre and cabaret in Sydney. They now occupy a vital space in the Australian music theatre industry, providing opportunities for both emerging and established Australian artists to refine their skills, take creative risks and progress their careers.

Their message echoes that of what Kramer mentioned: “We are committed to changing the dominant narrative: that with rare exceptions, only imported productions of musicals can be commercially successful in Australia.”

Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical hits the stage on October 17, running until November 22. You can get your tickets here.

Phar Lap: The Electro-Swing Musical

Where: Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011.
When: October 17-November 22.
Price: From $60 per person.