Following its sold-out 2024 premiere, Melbourne Theatre Company has announced the return of its smash-hit musical My Brilliant Career for a special five-week encore season in 2026.
The 2024 run captivated audiences and critics alike, scoring five-star reviews and picking up five Green Room Awards, including Outstanding Production—no small feat given it was up against some of the year’s biggest commercial musicals.
Leading the cast once again is Kala Gare (SIX) as Sybylla Melvyn, joined by much of the original ensemble of actor-musicians. Set in 1890s Australia, this bold reimagining by Sheridan Harbridge, Dean Bryant and Mathew Frank reframes Miles Franklin’s heroine as a headstrong singer-songwriter, unapologetically chasing her own path in defiance of society’s expectations.
“We’re passionate about making live theatre – stories that inspire, delight, and stay with you long after the curtain falls. My Brilliant Career was as much fun to create as it is to experience,” says Anne-Louise Sarks, Artistic Director and Co-CEO of MTC.
“We’re thrilled to be kicking off our 2026 season with a special encore of this joyous and utterly unmissable show.”
Audiences can expect a powerhouse score that fuses contemporary pop with bush ballads and pub rock, alongside breathtaking set and costume design from Tony Award-winner Marg Horwell. The production runs for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including interval, at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner.
The return of My Brilliant Career is set to be one of the standout events of MTC’s upcoming program, with the full Season 2026 announcement dropping Tuesday 21 October.
