Writing Musicals
How do you actually write a musical — and survive the process?
Join a powerhouse panel of writers, creators and dramaturgs for an unfiltered conversation about the joys, challenges, and creative chaos of writing musicals in Australia today.
In this special Festival of New Work event, hear from artists with wildly different paths and perspectives — from break-out hits to long-haul developments, from cabaret stages to major companies. They’ll unpack the art and mechanics of writing for music theatre in the 2020s: how ideas begin, how collaboration works (or doesn’t), what makes a great musical actually work, and how to stay resilient in an unpredictable landscape.
This year’s panellists include Sheridan Harbridge, Hannah Reilly, Jonathan Ware and Katherine Thomson.
This is not a lecture — it’s an honest, entertaining and illuminating discussion about the inner workings of new musicals from those living it every day. Aspiring writers, seasoned creators, and musical theatre lovers alike will walk away with fresh insight, real talk, and maybe even the spark of a new idea.
Audience questions encouraged.
Prices
Full Price | $32
Passports
Festival Passport 10% off | $29
Festival Passport 20% off | $26
Times
Wednesday 23 July | 7:30pm
Running Time
Approx. 75 minutes
Accessibility
Wheelchair Accessible
Additional Info
Sheridan Harbridge
Sheridan is an award-winning writer, director, and actress, and a graduate of NIDA (2006). She wrote and starred in the musical Songs For The Fallen, which won Best Musical, Best Actress at the New York Music Theatre Festival and a Green Room Award for Best Artist.
Sheridan directed 44 Sex Acts In One Week for Sydney Festival, which recently played the Edinburgh Festival, and Dubbo Championship Wrestling at Hayes Theatre, earning a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Director. She co-wrote and directed Nosferatutu as a Griffin Studio member, which toured Griffin Theatre and Adelaide Festival.
Sheridan co-wrote the musical adaptation of My Brilliant Career for Melbourne Theatre Company and was awarded the 2022 Create NSW Music Theatre Fellowship to develop The Flash Mob, a new musical about the rebellious women of Cascades Female Factory.
Her latest work, A Model Murder, an immersive theatre work, was commissioned by the 2024 Sydney Festival. She is the 2025 Patrick White Fellow.
As a performer, Sheridan won Best Actress at the Sydney Theatre Awards for Prima Facie and A Streetcar Named Desire at The Old Fitz. Screen credits include The Twelve, Rake, All Saints, and The Doctor Blake Mysteries.
Hannah Reilly
Hannah Reilly is an award-winning Gadigal/Sydney-based writer, director and maker of bold comedic work across film, television, and theatre with a “fresh, female first approach” – ELLE Magazine.
Hannah is the writer and co-lyricist of the Australian musical comedy, The Deb, which The Guardian ranked as one of the 15 greatest Australian musicals of all time, and recently made its feature film debut at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Jonathan Ware
Jonathan is currently New Work Development Producer at Sydney Theatre Company, where he drives development of an expansive slate of works for the stage. Recent projects include Into the Shimmering World by Angus Cerini, and upcoming projects for Season 2025 including The Talented Mr Ripley by Joanna Murray-Smith and The Shiralee by Kate Mulvany.
Dramaturg credits include FANGIRLS by Yve Blake (2019/2021/2022 Australian seasons, 2024 London); Dubbo Championship Wrestling by Daniel and James Cullen (2022 Hayes Theatre Co). Positions: Hayes Creative Advisory Panel, Sydney Theatre Awards Independent Panel. Awards: 2021 NSW Music Theatre Fellow (Create NSW/Hayes Theatre Co); for FANGIRLS includes AWGIE, Sydney Theatre, Green Room, and Matilda Awards, also ARIA nomination.
Katherine Thomson
Some of Katherine’s award winning plays include: A Change in the Weather, Tonight We Anchor In Twofold Bay, A Sporting Chance, Darlinghurst Nights, Diving For Pearls, Barmaids, Fragments of Hong Kong, King Tide, Navigating, Kayak, Mavis Goes to Timor, and Harbour.
Katherine wrote and script produced on 4 series of A Place to Call Home as well as associate producer/writer on the 2020 version of Back to the Rafters. Other screenwriting credits: telemovies House of Hancock, Schapelle, Blackjack, Halifax FP, series Killing Time, East West 101, Satisfaction, Wildside, Grass Roots, Fallen Angels, Snowy and GP. Katherine is also the co-writer of the Canadian-Australian Answered by Fire, and two feature documentaries directed by Gillian Armstrong.
Katherine is currently in development on the feature film Helena! for StudioCanal; the feature adaptation of The Way Back, the feature film A Tuscan Cookbook, and is co-writer on the 2025 Irish film Chasing Millions.
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Accessibility
Wheelchair Seating
A limited number of accessible seats are available in the front row of the theatre (A13-A15). These, as well as Companion seats, can be purchased through the ‘Book Now’ link.
Please contact the box office on (02) 8065 7337 or visit our Accessibility Page if you have any questions regarding our accessibility.