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, award-winning performer, director and writer of Songs for the Fallen, Dubbo Championship Wrestling and My Brilliant Career: The Musical.

• Hannah Reilly, writer and co-lyricist of THE DEB, hailed by The Guardian as one of the 15 greatest Australian musicals of all time.

• Jonathan Ware, New Work Development Producer at Sydney Theatre Company and dramaturg on FANGIRLS and Dubbo Championship Wrestling.

• Katherine Thomson, acclaimed playwright (Diving for Pearls) and screenwriter (A Place to Call Home, Back to the Rafters, Answered by Fire).

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.