Jekyll and Hyde: Australian production ‘postponed’

Disappointing news this morning for the Australian cast and crew of Jekyll and Hyde, with confirmation that Opera Australia and GFO have ‘postponed’ the production. 

In March this year, Lyndon Terracini and John Frost released a statement announcing the reworked version of Frank Wildhorn’s musical would be co-produced by the two companies and a full cast list was released just four weeks ago, on June 13. Twenty five performers were contracted to work on the show, including Opera Australia star Teddy Tahu Rhodes, WICKED’s leading lady Jemma Rix and musical theatre star Lucy Maunder.

The show was set to open at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from 8 December and was scheduled to transfer to Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in March 2016.

This is the third time a production of Jekyll and Hyde has been announced to have an Australian season, and as yet, no professional productions have made it to the stage.

A statement on the official Jekyll and Hyde website implies that the show will be produced at a later date:

With building interest from international co-producers and the incredible scale of the production now evident, the producers have made the decision to delay the Australian season to ensure that this most magnificent reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde is given the time required for both its Australian Premiere and future international exposure.

However, a quick search of all the ‘postponed’ shows of late including Strange Bedfellows, Ghost, Rock Of Ages – Sydney season, Next To Normal, Here Lies Love, the situation does not look good for Jekyll and Hyde.

Other cast members included Keala Settle as Nellie, Barry Langrishe as Danvers, Jennifer Vuletic as Lady Beaconsfield, Philip Dodd as Spider and Poole, Annie Aitken, Bianca Baykara, Damien Bermingham, Andrew Broadbent, Tony Farrell, Courtney Glass, Georgina Hopson, Joe Kosky, Andrew Kroenert, Adam Lyon, Noni McCallum, Adele Parkinson, Chris Scalzo, Karla Tonkich, Dean Vince and Sophie Wright.

It remains to be seen if the show has a future on Australian stages.

Ticket holders should contact Ticketmaster or Opera Australia for a refund.