When Veronica Sawyer – a self-described nobody – trudges into Westerberg High, she’s just hoping to survive the social apocalypse that is senior year. Then the Heathers arrive: three impossibly perfect, wickedly savage teen tyrants who run the school like a tyrannical dictatorship. As Veronica’s popularity rises and her disillusionment with the Heathers grows, in strides J.D., a brooding, Baudelaire-quoting outsider whose disdain for the school’s hierarchy soon turns into something far sinister.
The 1989 cult film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater has long been beloved for its jet-black humour and anarchic take on the trials and tribulations of being a teenager – and now it’s a full-throttle musical with a soundtrack to boot. After blockbuster seasons across the UK, Ireland and the US, Heathers The Musical finally hits Australian stages, with Melbourne as its first stop.
Running from April 8 to May 3, 2026, this high-octane, rock musical delivers killer one-liners, scrunchie-spangled nostalgia and all the charm of the original film, now reimagined with a full Australasian cast and a catchy score.
Expect powerhouse vocals and songs that burrow into your brain long after curtain call, courtesy of Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives) and Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde: The Musical). With Andy Fickman at the helm, this “twistedly heartfelt” production promises to strike a balance of anarchic comedy with surprising heart.
The Playhouse at Arts Centre Melbourne is the first stop on a national tour that includes Sydney, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, Canberra and Perth. You can now buy your tickets here.
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