THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK Brings Award Winning Cast To Melbourne Next Week
Award-winning producer Drew Anthony Creative is preparing to ship their award winning cast over to Melbourne ahead of the opening of the Melbourne season of the Pulitzer Prize winning play, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK set to open at Melbourne’s historic Athenaeum Theatre from March 4, 2026.
With previous productions taking out a Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award this production comes directly from its own critically acclaimed sell out season at The Heath Ledger Theatre in Perth, this talented cast will debut in Melbourne before moving onto the State Theatre in Sydney.
With just a week remaining until previews begin, preparations are well underway to bring this powerful play to the Athenaeum stage. The award-winning production saw its Perth production debut to critical acclaim winning BroadwayWorld Awards for Best Performer In A Play (Chloe-Jean Vincent), Best Direction Of A Play (Drew Anthony), Best Play and Best Supporting Performer In A Play (Holly Easterbrook).
Chloe-Jean Vincent is returning to the pivotal role of Anne Frank, after her hugely successful debut in Perth.
Joining Chloe-Jean is an exceptionally talented cast of performers that includes dynamic screen and film actor Phil Bedworth as Otto Frank; seasoned UK theatre performer Holly Easterbrook as Edith Frank; comedian and former Perth radio breakfast host Matt Dyktynski, steps into the role of Putti Van Daan; West End theatre stalwart and tv star Asha Cornelia Clueer plays alongside Matt, as Petronella Van Daan; dynamic young 18 year old Perth emerging actor, Nathan Hampson plays the role of Peter Van Daan; versatile performer, Jamie Jewell brings his experience in a rich and varied career to the stage as, Jan Dussell; Perth born actor and singer Grace Tolich will take the role of Miep Gies; with award winning actor, Kingsley Judd stepping into the role of Mr Kraler. Emma Smith plays the role of Anne’s older sister Margot Frank.
Chloe Jean Vincent:
Playing Anne Frank is more than a role. It is an extraordinary privilege. To honour her, to be her voice, to embody her not as a distant symbol, but as the girl she was: bright, vibrant, thoughtful, rebellious, mercurial. She didn’t just define the darkness, she actively defied it by continuing to dream, to question, to fill each page of her diary with observations about identity, love, humanity, and the future she hoped to see.
Each time I step onto the stage, I’m entrusted with the responsibility of giving her life again, allowing her to live beyond death as she so wished – even if just for a brief moment. It’s nothing short of a gift to keep alive the spirit of the girl whose belief in goodness and light, in spite of everything, still reminds us of the hope that’s possible even in our darkest moments.
Drew Anthony’s production allows audiences to step into one of the 20th century’s most inspiring true stories, as it masterfully brings to life the play written in 1955 that Anne’s father, Otto Frank, helped to develop along with playwrights Goodrich and Hackett. The story is that of 13-year-old Anne Frank – a young Jewish girl hiding with her family for two years in occupied Amsterdam during World War II.
Through Anne’s extraordinary diary, audiences are given an intimate view into the challenges, fears, and small triumphs of their life in hiding. Anne’s teenage diary has made her one of the most powerful voices in literature, as a young girl whose hope, humour, and unwavering belief in the goodness of humanity continue to inspire millions even today.
The Diary of Anne Frank will play at the Athenaeum Theatre from Tuesday to Sunday from March 4 until March 21. The show is a deeply moving production that combines brilliant performances and skilled narration to create an experience that will stay with you long after the curtain falls.
It is a life-changing experience, a call to remembrance, and a doorway into empathy, resilience, and the necessity of continuing the fight for human dignity.- OUTinPerth
There is no doubt this is a well-acted and moving piece of theatre that highlights the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of unspeakable barbarity. – Perth Theatre
The Diary of Anne Frank is a testament to the human spirit that continues to resonate and inspire. Don’t miss the chance to witness this story of strength and perseverance.
Season Details
Venue: Athenaeum Theatre
Date: 04 Mar 2026
For more information click HERE
