The twice sold-out West End production of Fiddler on the Roof opens in Sydney this week, with an all-star Australian cast set to take to the stage. Could this be the revival that Sydney’s theatre scene needs?
Sydney’s theatre industry has endured a difficult year, with three major musical setbacks fuelling concerns about the future of large-scale productions in the city. The early closure of Back to the Future: The Musical in January signalled a rocky start to 2026, while the cancellation of Beetlejuice The Musical and Waitress in June cast a further shadow over the city’s performing arts scene.
There’s no doubt that the industry is in search of a much-needed success story. Enter Fiddler on the Roof, which takes to the stage at Theatre Royal for previews this Friday, with its official opening set for August 5.
The musical arrives with impressive West End credentials, having become the Barbican Theatre’s best-selling musical of all time before breaking box office records during its UK and Ireland tour. Yet despite its success, a musical that premiered more than 60 years ago may seem an unlikely contender for getting Sydney’s thirst for theatre back in shape.
Set in the small Jewish village of Anatevka, Fiddler on the Roof follows milkman Tevye, a devoted father determined to uphold the traditions that have shaped his family’s life for generations. When each of his five daughters challenges those customs by choosing her own path, Tevye is forced to confront his beliefs. As antisemitism intensifies and the world around him begins to change, he must learn whether to hold onto the past or embrace the unfamiliar.
Although its story unfolds in 1905, producers believe Fiddler on the Roof is just as relevant to audiences today. They describe this revival as “a contemporary lens on a great classic musical”, bringing timeless themes of family, identity, tradition and change to a new generation.
Director Jordan Fein stated, “Fiddler on the Roof gives you everything. It is so funny, the dancing is glorious, the music is spectacular, every song you hear, you think, ‘oh, that’s where this is from’… ultimately, it’s piece about love in the truest sense.”
A star-studded, all-Australian cast
In a bid to make Fiddler on the Roof a success, producers have rounded up a group of Australian stage heavyweights.
The cast is led by seasoned Australian and West End star Troy Sussman, who will play Tevye. With a career spanning over 40 years, he’s starred in shows including Back to the Future, Sunset Boulevard, Les Misérables and Disney’s Aladdin. He expressed his excitement in starring in the musical, stating that Fiddler on the Roof has “all the wonderful songs and dances and stories that we’ve always loved, which is what made it the longest running musical of its time.”
Sussman will be reunited with decorated Australian icon Sigrid Thornton, who will step into the role of gossiping village matchmaker, Yente.
This will be Thornton’s first starring role in a musical in over a decade, and will also mark her reunion with John Waters, who joins the cast as wealthy village butler, Lazar Wolf. The duo starred together in the beloved 1983 historical miniseries All the Rivers Run.
Waters is a household name on the Australian stage and screen, with theatre credits including Jesus Christ Superstar, The Rocky Horror Show and The Sound of Music, alongside television and film roles in Offspring, All Saints, Breaker Morant and Play School.
Fresh from her award-winning tour of Anne Being Frank, Alexis Fishman stars as Golde, alongside rising talents Freya Boltman (Yiddish Divas) as Tzeitel, Ellen Ebbs (Head Over Heels) as Hodel and Caity Plummer (Sunset Boulevard) as Chava. Acclaimed violinist Ben Adler completes the cast in the titular role of the Fiddler.
The next chapter for Sydney’s stages
Fiddler on the Roof isn’t the only production hoping to reignite Sydney’s theatre scene. A fresh wave of musicals is set to hit the city’s stages throughout the rest of 2026 and into 2027, signalling a more promising second half of the year for Sydney’s theatres. Here are all the productions on our radar.
Heathers The Musical
Direct from London and New York, Heathers The Musical will head to the Roslyn Packer Theatre this September. Based on the iconic movie starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, Heathers The Musical is dark, hilarious and set to a killer classic that is loved by musical fans. The musical had its Australian premiere at the Hayes Theatre in 2015, and has since returned twice in 2016 and 2022. The 2026 production will mark the fourth time the musical has played in Sydney.
Emma Caporaso will take on the role of Veronica Sawyer, Conor Beaumont will play J.D., and Calista Nelmes will be belting out as the main school bully, Heather Chandler.
SIX The Musical
Tudor Queens turned pop icons, the wives of Henry VIII take to the stage to tell their side of the story in the global smash-hit phenomenon, SIX The Musical. The retelling of history through a high-energy pop concert, filled with humour, killer vocals and sparkling costumes is seen by over 3.5 million fans each year, and has won 38 major international award.
The 2026 production will star Sarah Murr as Aragon, Mia Paris Scalise as Boleyn, Cara Bessey as Seymour, Kadesa Honeyhill as Cleves, Angela Brischetto as Howard, and Lorinda May Merrypor as Parr.
Where: Theatre Royal, 108 King St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Run starts October 9.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
Perhaps Sydney theatres think the key to attracting audiences is putting on productions about huge male singers, because the Neil Diamond Musical will also make its Sydney premiere at the Lyric in November.
Created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself, the musical tells the true story of how a shy kid from Brooklyn became one of America’s biggest music icons. Featuring 23 of Diamond’s biggest hits, it stars Broadway performer Will Swenson alongside Australian actor Ashleigh Rubenach as Marcia Murphey.
Again, early signs seem promising, with the production already extending its Sydney season by three weeks due to “incredible demand”.
Where: 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009.
When: Run starts November 12.
Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical
Late last year, Sydney’s theatre and music lovers celebrated the announcement that Australian icon John Farnham would be the subject of a brand-new stage musical.
Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical tells the remarkable story behind the album that transformed Farnham into a household name. Inspired by the creation of Whispering Jack (still the highest-selling Australian album of all time), the production charts one of the greatest comeback stories in Australian music history.
The musical will make its world premiere at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in November, marking 40 years since the release of Farnham’s iconic 1986 album. A green flag has already been waved by the production, with Sydney Theatre Company has already announcing that due to “overwhelming demand”, the season has been extended, with a final week of performances now on sale from December 28 until January 3.
Where: 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay NSW 2000.
When: Run starts November 15.
Bell Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Bell Shakespeare’s acclaimed 2023 production of Macbeth will return to the Sydney Opera House this November for a limited three-week season. Hailed as “utterly compelling” by The Sydney Morning Herald, the revival marks the return of one of the company’s most celebrated recent productions.
It follows the success of Mackenzie, Yve Blake’s camp and satirical reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragedy, suggesting audiences still have a strong appetite for fresh interpretations of the Bard, although this production follows a more traditional script. Directed by Peter Evans and starringAnthony Taufa as Macbeth, this is set to be a thrillling, intense and compelling journey, set in the 1920s, post-World War I.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Run starts November 18.
The Castle Stage Adaption
Nearly 30 years after its release, iconic Australian film The Castle is heading to the stage, with its world premiere set for Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in March 2027.
Written and co-produced by the film’s original creators (Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy), it’s been announced that the stage version will retain the Kerrigan family’s iconic story while introducing new jokes and contemporary references.
While it’s yet to be confirmed whether the production will tour beyond Melbourne, early signs are promising. The adaptation has already broken the theatre’s record for the highest first-day ticket sales for a play, raising hopes that the overwhelming demand could see the beloved story make its way to Sydney.
Where: Will premiere at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne, with hopes that it will make its way to Sydney.
When: March 2027.
