The Castle Is Coming to the Stage — And the Original Creators Are Writing It

The news every Australian film fan has been waiting for, whether they knew it or not.

The Castle — the most beloved film in Australian cinema history — is being reimagined for the stage, with a major new theatrical production set to premiere at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre from March 2027, marking 30 years since the film's original release.

And here's the part that should make every fan breathe easy: it's being written by the original creators. Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy — the team behind Working Dog — have penned the new adaptation and join the production as co-producers, ensuring the Kerrigan family's unmistakable Australian voice will be brought to life by the people who know it best.

A Dream Team

The production brings together some of Australia's most exciting creative talent. Paige Rattray — best known for her work on Season 2 and 3 of the Netflix hit Heartbreak High and the world premiere of the acclaimed musical Fangirls, which won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Mainstage Musical and the Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret — will direct.

Set and costume design is by Jonathon Oxlade, the AACTA Award-winning designer whose credits span theatre, film and television, including Girl Asleep, Into the Woods, and Bluey's Big Play.

Producer Michael Cassel — whose Michael Cassel Group has brought some of the biggest musicals to Australian stages, including Hamilton, MJ The Musical, Beetlejuice The Musical, and Les Misérables — said the project was immediately irresistible.

"When the team at Working Dog first approached me about bringing The Castle to the stage, I knew we had to do this," he said. "The film miraculously captures the specificities of Australian life and yet feels so universally true; family love, the challenges change presents, and the warmth and humour and dignity of ordinary people standing up for what matters."

New Laughs, Old Heart

The creators say the stage version won't just be a retelling — it's a celebration.

"Over the best part of 25 years we have never lost our desire to turn The Castle into a live stage show," Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy said in a joint statement. "Not just a retelling of the story but a quarter of a century of funny updates! A celebration of all we love about the Kerrigan family."

"We wrote this new, fully updated show in the same way that we wrote the film screenplay all those years ago — the four of us in a room trying to make each other laugh. Our goal was to capture the warmth and humour (dare we say, 'the vibe'?) of the original story in a way that will hopefully resonate with new and long-term fans alike."

What About Brisbane?

The premiere is locked in for Melbourne — fitting, given the film was set, written and produced there. But Michael Cassel Group has a strong track record of bringing their productions to Brisbane's QPAC, with Hamilton, MJ The Musical, and Beetlejuice The Musical all playing successful seasons at the Lyric Theatre.

A Brisbane season hasn't been announced yet — but given the film's deep cultural resonance and Michael Cassel Group's commitment to national touring, it's a safe bet the Kerrigans will be making their way north.

Casting will be announced in the coming months. Tickets for the Melbourne premiere are on sale now at thecastleonstage.com.au.