For many years, when you thought about the best musical theatre in the world, you only thought of Broadway and London’s West End. But Australia is fast developing a reputation – and a deserved place amongst that list – for hosting the best musicals in the world. 

Australians are spoiled for choice when it comes to theatre content with our world-class theatres regularly being chosen to host the most popular and sought-after musicals around the globe. 

Only recently it was announced Beautiful – the hugely successful musical based on the life and tunes of Carole King – will perform a run at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre from September 2017.  

The announcement adds to the already impressive list of musicals that are headed to our shores in the coming weeks and months. The Book of Mormon will open its Australian season at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in early 2017 and it has also been reported that Hamilton – Broadway’s hottest hip hop musical – will come to Australia in the coming years. 

Disney’s Aladdin the Musical will open at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in August. It is currently enjoying a successful run in Broadway and the opening in Australia coincides with a production in London’s West End. 

Another coup for the Australian theatre landscape is the long-awaited arrival of My Fair Lady, under the direction of the legendary Julie Andrews, at the Sydney Opera House in late August.  

Over recent years Australia has attracted major musicals such as The Lion King, Matilda the Musical, Wicked and Once. On top of that, King Kong made its worldwide debut in Australia in 2013. 

And happily for all of Australia, it isn’t just Sydney and Melbourne that are enjoying the spoils of our country’s success in the theatre world. Many of the major musicals that are coming to Australia’s east coast are also performing seasons throughout Australia, notably at Crown Theatre Perth. 

The West Australian venue has just enjoyed a massive season of The Lion King and it was recently announced that Matilda the Musical will head west as well. 

Perth theatre fans are lapping up the arrival of the musicals. Tickets for The Lion King were in hot demand with the WA theatre fans taking full advantage of their opportunity to see one of the world’s best musicals live. 

The demand for Matilda tickets will no doubt be just as fierce, particularly given the phenomenal reviews the musical is already getting from critics and fans. 

Australia’s reputation as a key destination for the world’s best musical and theatre productions didn’t happen by accident. The enthusiasm for producers to bring productions to Australia is largely due to the propensity for Australians to attend the theatre. Our theatre-goers are savvy attendees of live events and they know a good thing when they see it.

On top of impressive ticket sales is the quality of our theatre venues and the professionalism of the entertainment industry as a whole. 

The Australian theatre industry is in good hands and it should be very proud of its achievements. 

With more and more productions placing Australia high on their ‘go-to’ lists, it is safe to say the Australian theatre lovers will continue to have the opportunity to see the world’s best musicals and theatre productions for many years to come. And we have no doubt the live events lovers will continue to lap it up and demonstrate their love and appreciation of remarkable musicals.