8 shows, 8 Arugans, 1 extraordinary season

Queensland Theatre Company (QTC) has unveiled its 2027 season, and there’s plenty to get excited about. From Broadway sensations and beloved literary classics to epic family sagas, murderous barbers and a certain fabulous detective, we’re sharing the shows our team can’t wait to see. 

At Aruga, we’re rather fond of a night at the theatre. Even better when the theatre in question is one of Queensland’s most treasured cultural institutions. 

QTC has officially launched its 2027 season and Artistic Director Daniel Evans is turning up the volume with eight productions spanning centuries, continents and just about every human emotion imaginable. 

There’s a record-breaking Broadway hit, a razor-sharp musical thriller, a high-seas mystery and some of the most enduring stories ever written. Throw in extraordinary Australian storytelling and a few theatrical surprises and our calendars are already looking considerably more interesting. 

As QTC’s communications partner, we’ve had the privilege of getting to know the stories, artists and creative ambition behind the season. Naturally, everyone has a favourite. 

So, in the spirit of spirited office debate, we’ve asked eight of our team members to nominate the one show they simply refuse to miss. 

Donna’s pick: Sweeney Todd 

For the drama, the darkness and a devilishly good score. 

A murderous barber, a resourceful pie-maker and one of musical theatre’s most thrilling scores. What’s not to love? 

Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd is a deliciously dark tale of revenge, obsession and some deeply questionable culinary practices. It’s a musical theatre masterpiece that demands extraordinary performers and an audience willing to embrace its wicked sense of humour. 

Adam’s pick: Stereophonic 

For the music, the creative chaos and the magic of making something together. 

It’s the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history and it’s coming to Brisbane. 

Set inside a 1970s recording studio, Stereophonic follows a rock band on the brink of something extraordinary as they attempt to record their next album. Artistic ambition, bruised egos, complicated relationships and the pursuit of the perfect sound collide in a play that blurs the boundaries between theatre and live music. 

Adam says: “I’m fascinated by the creative process, particularly what happens when talented, passionate people are locked in a room together trying to make something brilliant. Add the soundtrack, the 1970s aesthetic and all the interpersonal chaos and I’m completely sold. This is the one I’d book twice.”  

Claudia’s pick: Romeo & Juliet 

For the romance, the heartbreak and a classic that never gets old. 

Some love stories are simply immortal. 

Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers return in Romeo & Juliet, a story of youthful passion, family rivalry and the devastating consequences of a world determined to keep two people apart. 

Centuries after it was written, the play still has the power to make audiences fall hopelessly in love, even when everyone knows how it ends. 

Claudia says: “I’m a sucker for a love story, especially one with this much emotion and drama. There’s something wonderful about seeing a classic reimagined for a new generation, this time through a First Nations lens. We all know the story, but I love the anticipation of discovering how a new production will bring it to life and expect two star-making performances from young leads Ruby Henaway and Likiki Millett.” 

Nat’s pick: Little Women 

For the sisterhood, the nostalgia and a story that feels like coming home. 

Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March have been winning hearts for generations and their story remains as irresistible as ever. 

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved novel, Little Women follows four sisters navigating family, friendship, ambition, love and the sometimes-messy business of growing up. 

It’s a story filled with warmth and wit, but also one with plenty to say about independence, identity and the expectations placed on women. 

Jacob’s pick: Counting and Cracking 

For the extraordinary storytelling and the sheer scale of the experience. 

Some productions become theatrical landmarks. Counting and Cracking is one of them. 

Written by S. Shakthidharan, this sweeping family saga travels across generations and continents, tracing the experiences of a Sri Lankan-Australian family against a backdrop of political upheaval, migration, love and loss. 

Featuring 19 performers portraying more than 50 characters, the internationally acclaimed production has captivated audiences from Australia to London and New York. Now, a partnership between QTC and Brisbane Powerhouse brings it to Brisbane. 

Jacob’s says: “I love the idea of a theatre experience that completely immerses you in another world. The scale of Counting and Cracking is extraordinary but it’s the personal stories at its heart that really interest me. There’s something powerful about a production that can take you through decades of history and make it feel deeply human.” 

Samara’s pick: Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries: Death by Deckchair 

For the fabulous fashion, fearless heroine and a little high-seas mischief. 

Champagne, intrigue and impeccable outfits? Samara’s already packing. 

Australia’s favourite glamorous sleuth is setting sail in Miss Fisher, bringing her signature combination of intelligence, independence and fabulous style to a new theatrical adventure. 

Expect mystery, mischief and a heroine who has never been particularly interested in following the rules. 

Samara says: “The fashion alone has me interested! I love a strong female lead who is clever, confident and completely unapologetic about who she is. Throw in a mystery, a glamorous setting and some fabulous costumes and you’ve got my ideal theatre outing.” 

Chelsea’s pick: My Roman Empire 

For the family dynamics, cultural identity and a distinctly Australian voice. 

What happens when the stories, traditions and expectations you inherit begin to shape the person you’re becoming? 

My Roman Empire is a new Australian work exploring family, cultural identity and the complicated, often hilarious business of belonging. 

Drawing on the experience of growing up within an Italian-Australian family, it promises an intimate, funny and deeply recognisable exploration of the ties that bind us. 

Jarrod’s pick: An Iliad 

For the epic storytelling and the power of a performer to hold an entire room. 

Three thousand years after the Trojan War, Homer’s epic still has plenty to tell us about the world we live in. 

An Iliad brings one of humanity’s oldest stories roaring into the present, confronting the timeless impulses of rage, pride, violence and grief. 

It’s a reminder of theatre’s extraordinary ability to make ancient stories feel urgently contemporary. 

Jarrod says: “I love theatre that takes something enormous and finds a really inventive way to tell it. The idea of bringing a 3,000-year-old epic to life for a contemporary audience is fascinating, and who would pass up the chance to see Australian legend David Wenham live?! I’m excited to see how the production uses performance and storytelling to make something ancient feel immediate.” 

See you at the theatre! 

Eight shows. Eight very different favourites. And a season with something for just about everyone. 

From the intimate to the epic, the hilarious to the heartbreaking, QTC’s 2027 season is shaping up to be a spectacular celebration of what live theatre can do. 

We’ll be there, quite possibly in the front row. 

Explore the full 2027 season and book your tickets at queenslandtheatre.com.au