Brief
New Cast Announced for ‘The Castle On Stage’ at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre
Justin Smith, Christie Whelan Browne and Ed Oxenbould lead the adaptation of the 1997 film.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Producers Michael Cassel and Working Dog announced Monday the principal cast of The Castle On Stage, the theatrical adaptation of the 1997 Australian film, to open at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne in March 2027, according to SMH.
What happened
The announcement, made at a press event, listed veteran actor Justin Smith as Darryl Kerrigan, Christie Whelan Browne as Sal Kerrigan, Ed Oxenbould as narrator Dale, Marcus McKenzie as Steve, Joel Jackson as Wayne, Roman Delo as Con Petropoulous and Stephanie Graham as Tracey. The production will run from its March 2027 world premiere through at least mid‑May 2027 after an early extension due to strong ticket sales.
What the reports add
The article notes that the show broke a box‑office record for first‑day sales at Her Majesty’s Theatre, achieving the highest debut in the venue’s history. It also mentions that the original film was voted Australia’s favourite movie of all time by the outlet’s readers in May 2026, and that Working Dog partnered with Michael Cassel in July to bring the story to the stage.
What was said
Christie Whelan Browne said, “The hardest part about playing Sal is playing a woman whose family enjoys her cooking,” and added, “I think they both feel like they’ve got the better deal. It’s quite simple: everything she does, he thinks is amazing, and vice versa.” Ed Oxenbould explained, “Dale still resonates with audiences because his optimism never goes out of style.”
How it came about
The adaptation follows a wave of high‑profile Melbourne productions, including the State Theatre’s recent $15 million renovation and the Melbourne Fringe’s revival of a banned 1930s play. Working Dog’s decision to update the story for a modern setting—replacing landlines and newspaper headlines with Wi‑Fi, smartphones and electric vehicles—reflects a broader trend of re‑imagining classic Australian works for contemporary audiences.
Key facts
- Justin Smith will play Darryl Kerrigan in The Castle On Stage (smh.com.au)
- Christie Whelan Browne will play Sal Kerrigan (smh.com.au)
- The production will premiere in March 2027 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne (smh.com.au)
- First‑day ticket sales set a record for any play at Her Majesty’s Theatre (smh.com.au)
- The season has been extended to run at least until mid‑May 2027 (smh.com.au)
Sources
- [1] smh.com.au — originally reported as “The Castle On Stage at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne: Kerrigan family cast revealed”
