Jake Speer takes the lead in MRS DOUBTFIRE
Some parents will do almost anything to stay close to their children when circumstances try to pull them apart — and Mrs Doubtfire takes that instinct to its most theatrical extreme.
The musical follows Daniel Hillard, who loses regular access to his kids after separating from their mother and, unwilling to accept the distance, disguises himself as a kindly Scottish housekeeper named Mrs Doubtfire so he can stay in their daily lives. It’s a premise built for big comedy, but the story, first told in the 1993 film starring Robin Williams, has endured because underneath the chaos is something more sincere: a portrait of what parents will do, however drastic, to hold onto their children through a family coming apart. The musical now makes its Australian debut, opening at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre this November before transferring to Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in March 2027.
Taking on the dual role of Mrs Doubtfire and Daniel is Jake Speer.
A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, some of Jake’s stage credits include A Mirror (Belvoir St Theatre), Sweet Charity (Prospero Arts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Timon of Athens (Sport For Jove). Photograph 51, Marjorie Prime and Barefoot In The Park (Ensemble Theatre). Catch Me If You Can, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (The Hayes Theatre), Kinky Boots The Musical (Michael Cassel Group), and Henry V (Kensington House Entertainment). His screen credits also include the series regular role of Oscar MacGuire in Home & Away (Seven Network), Clickbait (Netflix), Backyard Ashes (Crow Crow Productions), Lords of the Soil (Kensington House Entertainment).
As Jake steps into the biggest role of his career in Mrs. Doubtfire, he’s also embracing his newest and most important role: fatherhood.
What was the audition process like, and when did it sink in that you’d landed the part?
Jake: To be honest, it was one of the most gruelling ones I’ve been a part of. I’ve been pretty enthusiastic about putting my hat in the ring from when I knew the show was coming to Australia. I mean, I’m a pretty proud millennial, so Robin Williams and this film mean a great deal to me. Being able to send in a self-tape when they were doing some initial scouting for the Daniel/Doubtfire part led to a gruelling, intense three-day marathon audition, back to back, of scenes, voices, impersonations, improv, singing, dancing, movement calls, tap dancing — all of this. Three days later, filming it all and sending it off to the American team, then going back to that dreaded wait-and-see feeling that all actors know so well. I’m so grateful the team were so enthusiastic about what we’d been working on together in the room, and getting that phone call a few months later, they had to pick me up off the floor when they told me.
Robin Williams’s Doubtfire lives so vividly in people’s memory — how do you honour that without just doing an impression of him?
Jake: I think that’s really the fine line we’re exploring — that you have such a beloved character who’s still so present in the minds of audiences all over the world, and such a unique comic genius and energy of Robin’s all over the film and all over the character. But translating it to the stage, you have the opportunity to put your own flair onto it and, as you say, add that level of authenticity — once the curtain goes up, there’s no second chances. The relationship with the audience is so immediate that you have to believe everything, as much the heightened, farcical comedy as the heart-wrenching emotional scenes about a father trying so desperately to hold on to his children. At the core of the whole story is just family — the love of family, and the preciousness of childhood, and what family means to each other. And here I am, a few days into building my own family for the first time. So I’m approaching this role now with a whole new level of empathy and appreciation and understanding, which has been a real unique gift. Mrs. Doubtfire sort of raised me as a child, and now I’m learning parenting skills from her too.
Mrs. Doubtfire has been loved for decades. What do you think continues to make the story resonate with audiences today?
Jake: We are introducing Mrs. Doubtfire to a whole new generation of people, and nostalgia can only get you so far — it is powerful, but it can only get you so far. What’s so endearing about Mrs. Doubtfire is that she’s so joyous. That’s an anchor point for me from a performance perspective — she always comes from a place of joy. There’s a wink-wink, nudge-nudge, tongue-in-cheek playfulness and buoyancy to the character that’s really infectious, and it’s not a heavy-handed story. It’s a meaningful, deeply emotional, very real story for a lot of families around the world, but it approaches really difficult subject matter through comedy, which I’ve always found to be the most effective way. It’s a great release for people — it gives them permission to laugh and takes the pressure off a little, so we can look at our lives, how busy and complex and emotional and challenging they can be. But there’s something wholesome and homely about Mrs. Doubtfire. She’s a bit of a safe harbour for people, and it’s nice to be reminded that there are people in the world like her who do bring the best out of people — the best out of the kids, the best out of Miranda, and the best out of Daniel as a father too.
Unlike the film’s quick transformation montage, how will you manage the character’s transformation on stage?
Jake: In the movie, there’s just a magical montage where all of a sudden he transforms completely, whereas I’ve been able to dabble in that world and transform into her a couple of times already. It is a bit of a gruelling process, but with the stage version, some of these transformations happen live, in real time, before the audience’s very eyes. I’ve got a whole pit crew following me around backstage, swinging in wigs and glasses and teeth and knitted cardigans and granny heels — a really robust makeup and wig team who’ve gone to great lengths to craft this iconic look. The silhouette of Mrs. Doubtfire is so identifiable that they’ve been very true to her look, but also built a robust piece of equipment that can endure eight shows a week, and all of my sweat.
What was it like seeing yourself transformed into Mrs Doubtfire for the first time?
Jake: It was so bizarre. It was a three-hour process for all the prosthetics for the promo work we’ve been doing, and it’s three main pieces that get glued to my face with medical-grade glue. It wasn’t until that final tiny piece went on, straight over my lips, that I thought, I’m completely gone. I showed my wife a little sneak peek and she said, “Where are you? That’s not you, is it?” It’s pretty remarkable, the sculpting and moulding and manufacturing that’s gone into this, by amazing craftspeople. It’s really flexible too — a lot of the material is responsive, so I can be quite expressive, because she’s got a lot of energy, this woman — there’s a lot of woman there, and a lot of energy, so the material’s got to keep up. And there are different versions of it planted around the stage, because I’m not necessarily in the same place every time — there’s a lot of theatre magic going on, a lot of hidden hands and secret wigs getting passed around to be in the right place at the right time to keep the show going.
Is this the hardest role you’ve ever taken on physically?
Jake: It’s a real marathon — a kind of Herculean role. There aren’t too many roles that put that kind of demand on an actor. As daunting as it is, it’s a real joy as a performer to be gifted a part that demands so much of you, particularly translating it into a stage production, where you’re getting all the best bits of the film that we all love and remember, but also these incredible songs, the tap numbers, the dance sequences, and all the theatricality that comes with live entertainment, which adds a whole other level of spectacle and thrill.
How does the musical stay faithful to the film while bringing it into the present day?
Jake: I think it’s reassuring to fans and people familiar with the film that they’re going to get the best bits — it’s still the story of the Hillard family, but it’s brought into 2026 with a few social and technological adjustments. We’re seeing less landlines, I guess. It’s like an enhanced version of Mrs. Doubtfire, because you get all of those iconic scenes — the voices, the drive-by fruiting, the cake in the fridge and the face — all of those great moments. But they’re really enhanced by an incredible score and book, from Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick — phenomenal, top-of-their-game songwriters who enhance the emotional journey the audience gets to go on with this family: the energy and chaos of Mrs. Doubtfire breaking into an amazing tap number while she’s preparing a nutritious, delicious meal, and then these gorgeous, heart-wrenching songs between Daniel and his daughter Lydia, about what it means to be a father, and that his love is not pretend and will never go away. So I think it really does take the story to a whole other level — people who aren’t familiar with the film will still be deeply invested in the characters and the world of Mrs. Doubtfire.
You’ll be sharing the stage with a talented group of young performers. What are you most looking forward to about working alongside them?
Jake: I’ve had the chance to work with a few child performers in the past, but this is certainly the most, in terms of proximity — and playing a father for the first time. Your career’s taking a bit of a turn when you’re no longer playing high-school kids from Summer Bay and you’re playing a divorced dad of three. But they’re just incredible — the level of intelligence and maturity these performers have is second to none. They’re able to wrestle with really big ideas and big themes about love and family, remember all the choreography, the songs, be in time and in key, and do it eight shows a week — no mean feat for a grown adult, let alone someone who’s seven or eight years of age. It’s pretty extraordinary. I draw a lot of inspiration from the kids, certainly.
Whether audiences grew up with the film or are discovering the story for the first time, what can they expect from the musical?
Jake: I think we spend a lot of time focusing on that nostalgia element, but for someone coming at it with no frame of reference whatsoever — first of all, I’d say shame on them — but really, it is a very wholesome show, certainly something a whole family can enjoy. It’s a great deal of fun. For people coming to it for the first time, I think the underlying themes of the story are really eternal — it’s love of family, and families come in all different shapes and sizes, and as long as there is love, that’s what’s most important. For music theatre lovers as well, the show is directed by Jerry Zaks, a Tony Award-winning director. This is a really premium, top-tier musical — it’s been a sellout around the world. When you come to see the show, you’re seeing one of the great contemporary musicals. So there really is something for everyone. It’s a great night out, full of heart, and you’re going to be rolling in the aisles laughing. It’s just a great show — an all-rounder.
Mrs. Doubtfire opens at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre in November, before touring to Sydney’s Capitol Theatre from March 2027.
For tickets and more information, please visit mrsdoubtfiremusical.com.au
Header photo by John Tsiavis
