An Enchanting Insight: Brendan Xavier on Becoming The Beast

Disney’s record-breaking musical BEAUTY AND THE BEAST has been enchanting Melbourne audiences since its June debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre—and now, after an incredible run the final performance is slated for Sunday 20 April 2025. The production has sold over 1,000,000 tickets in Australia, smashing records during its earlier Brisbane season (the highest-selling show at QPAC in a decade) and captivating crowds from all walks of life. With the promise of seasons in Perth and Adelaide still on the horizon, fans across the country have plenty of magic yet to come.

This new staging breathes fresh life into the beloved classic, fusing spectacular state-of-the-art technology with the timeless songs of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice—numbers like Belle, Gaston, Human Again, and Be Our Guest remain as enchanting as ever. The all-Australian cast, led by Shubshri Kandiah as Belle and Brendan Xavier as the Beast, brings both nostalgia and novelty to one of Disney’s most cherished fairytales. Add to that the original Broadway creative team returning to reimagine their masterpiece, and you have a show that promises once-in-a-lifetime memories for audiences both young and young at heart. We caught up with Brendan Xavier to get his insight on this timeless classic.

From your perspective, what sets this new production of Beauty and the Beast apart from past stagings, both visually and emotionally?

 I think this reimagined production has done a great job at reflecting the time that we’re in. Past stagings of the show held up in their time, and used the technology available, and we’re doing the same! The giant LED screens, pyrotechnics and special effects have all been revamped with new technology. It has breathed a whole new life into the show.

How have you approached the character of the Beast to make him relatable to modern audiences, while still staying true to the timeless fairytale essence?

The Beast is such a classic character and has many relatable characteristics and layers. I do think I add a lot of myself to the softness of the character; especially in Act Two when he really starts to become more himself around Belle. But the magic is in the script, as long as we honour the script and the story, the character always stays relevant.

Playing such an iconic role often involves a deep dive into character psychology—can you share one aspect of the Beast’s journey that really resonates with you personally?

 I think that feeling of being misunderstood has been huge for me. We all know how frustrating it is to be misinterpreted in our actions, and the Beast’s anger comes from that frustration. I think we can all relate to how he feels in some way.

Disney shows are known for their magnificent spectacle and state-of-the-art technology. How do these technical elements influence or enhance your performance as the Beast?

 The costume and makeup department really bring this character to life. I would say I’m not the most intimidating person, but when we add costume elements such as the Beast’s horns and build his size using prosthetics, it does make me feel intimidating and scary.

The show has not only sold record-breaking tickets but also enjoyed phenomenal runs across Australia. In your view, why does Beauty and the Beast continue to captivate audiences after so many years?

It’s such a classic, nostalgic story. If I wasn’t in the show, I’d be in the audience watching! BEAUTY AND THE BEAST means so much to people who are fans of the animated film and the live action, and seeing it brought to life on stage is truly something special.

Could you walk us through your process of building chemistry with Shubshri Kandiah (Belle)? What steps do you both take to bring that moving, transformative love story to life on stage each night?

I think Shubshri and I work so well together because we really took the time to understand each other – what we appreciate, the boundaries we each have and how we like to operate in a work environment. Learning all of those things, you can really create something safe and genuine with another fellow performer.

With the final Melbourne performance still months away, how do you maintain freshness and excitement in your portrayal, given the lengthy season?

It’s the cast that keeps it fresh. We’re constantly working with new cast members, covers and understudies, which makes it really exciting to come to work, because as an actor you adapt your performance based on what you’re getting from another performer.

You’re stepping into shoes once filled by notable performers around the world. How have their legacies informed—or not informed—your own unique interpretation of the Beast?

I came into playing the Beast knowing how different I was to previous castings, and tried to use that as motivation to really find my own unique version of this iconic character. I love exploring new elements to any role I’m playing, and especially one that audiences already know and love. I didn’t necessarily want to change him in any way, but just bring more to him.

Can you share a particularly memorable interaction you’ve had with a fan or audience member that made you realise the true impact of this classic story on people’s lives?

I think a huge one for me was coming out of Stage Door and seeing a little boy who looked exactly like me when I was a kid, dressed up as the Beast. We didn’t have this kind of representation on stage when I was growing up, and it made me quite emotional seeing that boy and knowing the impact that could have seeing yourself represented on stage.

Looking beyond the final Melbourne performance, how do you think your experience in this production will shape or influence the next phase of your acting career?

It’s encouraged me to challenge myself and my preconceived ideas of a character. It took me a long time to make peace with this character and realise how important it is to embrace the dark as well as the light to tell the truth of a story, so I’ll definitely be taking that into everything I do for the rest of my career.

It’s been such a joy to be performing in Melbourne, and I can’t wait to share BEAUTY AND THE BEAST with audiences in Adelaide and Perth later this year also.