Once upon a December night in Melbourne, the polished production of Anastasia finally made its long-awaited Australian premiere at the Regent Theatre. As a fan of the 20th Century Fox Animation film of the same name, I was excited to see this seminal work from my childhood come to life on the grandest of stages.
A sweeping tale of adventure, romance and finding your way back home, Anastasia feels destined to deliver theatrical magic. And in many ways it does – the costuming, particularly the opulent ball gowns and Russian court-style ‘fits, are gorgeous. The songs, catchy in the film, are given real oomph with the backing of a ten-strong orchestra. And the charming cast is undeniably talented.
But – spoiler alert! – this is not a wholly faithful adaptation, with the most notable change being the erasure of the deliciously wicked Rasputin (justice for the criminally underrated banger ‘In the Dark of the Night’). Here, he’s been replaced by Gleb (Joshua Robson) a Bolshevik general who develops conflicted feelings for our titular heroine, but doesn’t quite incite the same fear as the original, supernaturally-gifted animated villain.
What’s the premise of Anastasia?
Offering a romanticised take on Russia’s last imperial dynasty, the Romanovs (heavy on the romanticised part – this is by no means a historically accurate take on the infamously unpopular family), Anastasia follows the story of Anya, a young street sweeper with a convenient case of amnesia. With rumours swirling that the Grand Duchess Anastasia survived her family’s brutal execution and is alive in Leningrad (aka St. Petersberg), Anya is caught up in a brazen scheme by a young con artist and ex-member of the Imperial Court who plan to present her to the Dowager Empress in order to claim a mighty reward.
The trio embark on a thrilling journey to Paris, with the Bolsheviks in chase, while Anya tries to piece together the fragments of her past to figure out who she truly is. It’s all set to a dazzling soundtrack of memorable musical numbers, including ‘Once Upon a December’, ‘A Rumour in St. Petersberg’, ‘Paris Holds the Key (To Your Heart)’ and ‘Journey to the Past’.
Who are the stars of Anastasia in Melbourne?
The Australian production of Anastasia is led by rising star Georgina Hopson, who brings a sweet-but-strong energy to Anya. Her clear, soaring vocals are lovely – especially in the Act I finale ‘Journey to the Past’ – and she’s matched in charm by the dashing Robert Tripolino as Dmitry (who’s serving a kind of Russian-era Steve Harrington from Stranger Things vibe here). Rodney Dobson as Vlad provides the comic relief, Joshua Robson is suitably domineering as Gleb, while Nancye Hayes AM lends an unrivalled gravitas to her role as the Dowager Empress.
But it’s Rhonda Burchmore – icon of the Australian theatre industry – who steals the show as Countess Lily and manages to elevate every scene she’s in. This is most obvious during ‘Land of Yesterday’, set in the Neva Club. With an overall minimal set design that relies heavily on an ever-changing backdrop of digital projections, this sequence feels particularly electric thanks to Burchmore’s comanding stage presence.
Directed by Darko Tresnjak, the original Anastasia book was written by Terrence McNally, with music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynne Ahrens.
Highlight of Anastasia in Melbourne?
A special shout-out must be made to costume designer Linda Cho for those aforementioned ball gowns (complete with sequins, fur trims and luxe folds of velvet), while lighting designer Donald Holder also does a great job at setting an atmospheric tone from the prologue.
Of the musical numbers, the dreamy ‘Once Upon a December’, with ghostly dancing figures and Hopson’s shimmering voice, nails the song’s emotional impact. The train sequence is an example of clever stagecraft, while the mesmerising ballet performance of Swan Lake deserved its extended and enthusiastic applause.
Who will like Anastasia in Melbourne?
Whether you’re a child of the ‘90s who grew up on a diet of animated films or simply a fan of feel-good musicals the whole family can enjoy, Anastasia makes for a charming theatre experience. And while some of the historical references (however glossed over they may be), will probably go right over the heads of any little ones, it won’t distract from magic of this captivating tale.
Anastasia is on now at the Regent Theatre until February 20, 2026. You can purchase tickets via the website.
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