Due to Overwhelming Demand, the 8-Time Tony Award Winning Musical ONCE Extends Run Before Opening This Week

The smash hit Irish musical Once, opening in Melbourne this week at Chapel Off Chapel, has announced an extension to its strictly limited season until June 6th, following phenomenal demand at the box office.

This highly anticipated production is helmed by the critically acclaimed new Melbourne theatre company, AG Theatre, and renowned Melbourne director Pip Mushin.

 

 

AG Theatre has quickly established itself in the Melbourne theatre scene, enjoying a stellar 18 months of sell-out successes, including Avenue Q 2025 and Mamma Mia 2026. Dedicated to nurturing and promoting new Melbourne talent both on and off stage, AG Theatre is known for its innovative approach to classic and contemporary works, promising to captivate audiences again with a fresh, intimate, deeply moving, and cleverly reimagined take on this eight-time Tony Award-winning musical.

The show evolved from Irish filmmaker John Carney’s low budget indie film in 2007, into a critically acclaimed global stage production that has captivated theatregoers worldwide – solidifying its distinguished position within the history of Western musical theatre. Its popularity is deeply rooted in its refreshingly grounded approach, focusing on two ordinary people – a busker and an immigrant who connect through music in the grimy streets of Northside Dublin.

The production also showcases the spell-binding score composed by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, which notably features the Oscar-winning song, “Falling Slowly.” Once possesses the unique distinction of being the sole Broadway production whose musical composition has garnered the Academy Award, Grammy Award, Olivier Award, and Tony Award.

 

 

The production boasts a stellar cast, featuring Green Room Award-nominated creative Mark Taylor in the lead role of Guy. Taylor, who recently garnered acclaim for his direction of the nominated production of American Psycho, brings both acting prowess and deep musical understanding to the role of the heartbroken Irish street musician.

Sharing the stage with him in the role of Girl is the phenomenally talented Sian Fuller, a finalist from the 2021 season of The Voice. Fuller’s compelling vocals and dynamic stage presence are expected to bring a powerful new dimension to the Czech immigrant who challenges Guy to rediscover his passion for music and life.

 

 

Playing alongside Mark and Sian is the highly respected performer, Donald Bridges as Da – who has just been announced as the recipient of The MEAA Equity Foundation’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. The production also stars Western Australian actor and multi instrumentalist, Frazer Shephardson as Billy; VCA student, vocalist and violinist, Rose Chambers as Reza; actor, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, James Frampton, as Andrej; star of ABC TV’s The Piano and up-and-coming theatre performer, John Yanko as Svec; seasoned international performer of stage and screen, William Lopez as the Bank Manager; talented recent graduate of Federation University, Misha Gordon takes on the role of Ex-Girlfriend; seasoned Melbourne musician, actor and composer, Bridget a’Beckett, plays the role of Baruska; young performer and violinist, Felix Star, plays Eamon; young child stars, Lila Colombi, Imogen Young and Emersyn Orchard will play the role of Ivonka.

The rest of this talented cast includes Kaiyeesha Kim Tambakau (Kye Tamm) as Emcee; and Jackson Cross and Belinda Jenkin as swings.

 

 

Once is truly a production that combines the infectious rhythm of Irish céili, an incredibly talented cast of actor-musicians, an Academy Award-winning soundtrack and a heart-warming story, following a Dublin-born busker and vacuum-fixer as he meets a young Czech mother with a faulty vacuum cleaner who reinvigorates his passion for music.

Once The Musical will play at Chapel Off Chapel from Wednesday to Sunday from May 8th, 2026 until May 30th, 2026.

---

For more information click HERE