The magical comedy Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is getting a pop-musical makeover

It's part major-pop musical, part Shakespearean comedy and full of heart and humour – enter The Lovers. This spectacular remix of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is about to ignite the Theatre Royal Sydney from 31 October, for a strictly limited season.

Billed as Australia’s next mega musical (we gave it five stars, just saying), The Lovers updates the Bard’s tale of bickering fairies meddling in the love lives of mortals with swipes, situationships and ghosting. And yes, there’s a killer original pop score to match.

The show is produced by Shake & Stir Theatre Co and composed by Laura Murphy (The Dismissal, Zombie! The Musical), with direction by Nick Skubij (Frankenstein, Fourteen). The tale traces Oberon and Puck, centuries-old matchmakers worried that true love is on the brink of extinction. Enter four messy, modern lovers and one unforgettable night.

The cast is stacked: Natalie Abbott as the hopelessly romantic Helena, Jason Arrows as Demetrius, Jayme-Lee Hanekom as Puck, Loren Hunter as Hermia, Stellar Perry as Oberon and Mat Verevis as Lysander. 

Murphy brilliantly decodes Shakespeare’s language and universal lessons in the era of emojis and selfies – add in a catchy score, empowering messages and an unexpected queer subplot (all on a Shakespearean scale) and you’ve got one helluva show.  

Catch The Lovers during its limited two-week season at Theatre Royal Sydney from October 31 to November 16. 

Tickets start from $89 and you can get yours here.