Queensland Theatre Company | Bille Brown Theatre | April 28 – May 24, 2026
There is a particular kind of theatre that doesn’t let you stay at a comfortable distance. The Sapphires, in Queensland Theatre Company’s vibrant new production at the Bille Brown Theatre, was exactly that kind of show.
The front seats sat at stage level — close enough to feel the energy of every performance, every move, every moment of stillness. And the crowd responded in kind. This was an audience fully invested, visibly moved, and by the finale, on its feet.
Tony Briggs’ story follows four Yorta Yorta women — the McCrae sisters — whose Supremes-inspired harmonies carry them from a country Victoria dance hall to the stages of Vietnam at the height of the war. It is based on real events, including the experiences of Briggs’ own mother Laurel Robinson, and that truth runs through every scene.
Ruby Henaway, Aurora Liddle-Christie, Tehya Makani and Taeg Twist were extraordinary in their QTC debuts. Together they created something far greater than the sum of its parts — four distinct voices, four distinct personalities, finding their way into a shared legacy with evident pride and joy. Jack Bannister brought warmth and wit to Dave Lovelace, and the romance at the heart of the show was handled with real delicacy — human, courageous, quietly poetic.
Director Wesley Enoch — returning to a production he first helmed over twenty years ago — brought the same understanding of why this story exists and why it continues to resonate. The staging was beautifully crafted, with Richard Roberts’ set and costumes, Ben Hughes’ lighting and Craig Wilkinson’s video design all working in seamless service of the story.
Musical Director Nathaniel Andrew’s live band did more than provide accompaniment — they were woven into the fabric of the show itself. Soul classics including Respect and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough arrived with genuine power, the performers soaring through material that felt entirely their own. Choreographer Yolande Brown’s movement work was joyful, grounded and alive.
The Sapphires is a show about sisterhood, music and resilience. But it is also a show about a moment in Australian history when First Nations women chose ambition over silence — and changed what was possible.
This production honoured that legacy completely. A magical night, and one that will keep audiences both engaged and coming back to local theatre.
“This production honours the spirit of courage, joy, and imagining beyond limitation. Because these stories are not just about the past. They are about who we are becoming.”
— Wesley Enoch, Director
The Sapphires was presented by Queensland Theatre Company and Canberra Theatre Centre at the Bille Brown Theatre, South Brisbane. Written by Tony Briggs. Directed by Wesley Enoch. Media contact: Chelsea O’Brien, Aruga — chelsea@aruga.com.au.
