My Brilliant Career (musical)
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- Sheridan Harbridge
- Dean Bryant
| My Brilliant Career | |
|---|---|
| Music | Mathew Frank |
| Lyrics | Dean Bryant |
| Book |
|
| Setting | Rural New South Wales; 1895–1899 |
| Basis | Novel My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin |
| Premiere | 7 November 2024: Southbank Theatre, Melbourne |
| Productions |
|
My Brilliant Career is an Australian musical based on the novel of the same name by Miles Franklin, with book by Sheridan Harbridge and Dean Bryant, music by Mathew Frank and lyrics by Dean Bryant.
| Role | Melbourne | National tour |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2026 | |
| Sybylla Melvyn | Kala Gare | |
| Frank Hawden/Bullant M'Swat | Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward | |
| Horace Melvyn/Jimmy M'Swat | Lincoln Elliott | |
| Harry Beecham/Peter M'Swat | Raj Labade | |
| Dick Melvyn/Jay-Jay/Mr M'Swat | Drew Livingston | |
| Lucy Melvyn/Helen/Mrs M'Swat | Christina O'Neill | |
| Gertie Melvyn/Blanche/Lizer M'Swat | HaNy Lee | Melanie Bird |
| Grannie Bossier/Rose Jane M'Swat | Ana Mitsikas | |
Musical numbers
|
Act I
|
Act II
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Development and production history
Bryant and Frank began writing the musical in 2016. It was workshopped in 2019 at Monash University as part of an artist-in-residence program, after which Harbridge joined as a collaborator.[1] The workshop cast featured Luisa Scrofani as Sybylla Melvyn, alongside Andrew Coshan, Alister Kingsley, James Millar, Natalie O’Donnell, and Anne Wood.[2]
My Brilliant Career premiered at the Southbank Theatre for the Melbourne Theatre Company, from 7 November to 21 December 2024. The original production was directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, featuring Kala Gare as Sybylla with an ensemble cast of actor/musicians including Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward, Lincoln Elliot, Victoria Falconer, Raj Labade, Drew Livingston, HaNy Lee, Ana Mitsikas, Christina O'Neill and Jarrad Payne.
A new Australian tour in 2026 will have seasons in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong.[3]