For the very first time, Adelaide will be enchanted by the magic of Mary as the critically acclaimed new Australian production of MARY POPPINS flies into the Festival Theatre in July 2023, complete with its dazzling stars; Stefanie Jones as Mary Poppins and Jack Chambers as Bert. The full cast will be announced in 2023.
Following a celebrated premiere season in Sydney and hot on the heels of an incredible reception in Brisbane, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh are delighted to introduce the world’s most famous Nanny to the people of South Australia. Based on the beloved stories by Australian author PL Travers and the original Disney film, the Tony and Olivier award-winning production of MARY POPPINS is a theatrical spectacular that has delighted tens of millions of people around the globe.
“Practically perfect in every way” ★★★★★ Time Out
“I’ve never experienced the audience react like this… a riotously uplifting, bewitching show that’s impossible not to enjoy.” The Courier Mail
Co-creator and Producer Cameron Mackintosh said of the announcement:
“I was entrusted by Pamela Travers herself with the rights to reimagine Mary Poppins as a stage musical in 1993. It was a dream come true to see it premiere in London in 2004, a vision I shared with Disney’s Tom Schumacher. When Mary Poppins first flew into Australia in 2010, the response was simply marvellous. Twelve years later, it has been a delight to watch this brilliant company introduce a new generation of Australians to this wonderful story. Mary Poppins has been a huge success in every city she has visited, having wowed audiences in Sydney and Brisbane, I am thrilled to be able to bring this Spit Spot production to Adelaide for the very first time.”
Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, shared the excitement.
“Over its 18 years on stage, each new production of Mary Poppins has managed to speak to us in new, resonant ways—and never more than in this jewel of a production under Richard Eyre’s loving oversight. As they continue playing in productions around the world, Mary, Bert, and the entire Banks family still have much to share—as Mary herself says, ‘with a good deal of love’.”
The magical story of the world’s favourite Nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane has been triumphantly brought to life on-stage with dazzling choreography, incredible effects, and unforgettable songs.
As Mary Poppins, Stefanie Jones has been lauded for her performance which holds true to the character as she appears in the original beloved stories by PL Travers. Born in Maryborough, Queensland before moving to Bowral in New South Wales at a young age, Travers published 8 books featuring the quintessentially English and loveable Nanny, shaped by the author’s love of mysticism and magic.
“A wonder from beginning to end… What a gift!” - The Guardian
“A rare treasure but in truth there’s bewitchment everywhere you look… The kind of spectacle that gets people to their feet, but also has a huge heart. That’s its real magic.” - The Australian
“Takes the breath away… you won’t believe your eyes” - Sydney Morning Herald
The stage production of MARY POPPINS originally opened in the West End in December 2004, running for over 1,250 performances. During this time, the production won two Olivier Awards and an Evening Standard Award. Subsequently the Tony Award® winning Broadway production ran for over six years. The original Australian production was the winner of a record breaking 8 Helpmann awards in 2011.
The original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman include the classic songs Jolly Holiday, Step in Time, Feed the Birds, and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. New songs and additional music are by the Olivier award-winning British team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Book is by Academy Award®-winning screenwriter and Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, and this production is co-created by Cameron Mackintosh. The producer for Disney Theatrical Productions is Thomas Schumacher.
This production of MARY POPPINS has orchestrations by William David Brohn with dance and vocal arrangements by George Stiles. It has a new sound design by Paul Gatehouse and new lighting by Hugh Vanstone and Natasha Katz. Co-choreography is by Stephen Mear. The reimagined set and costume designs are by Bob Crowley. Co-direction and choreography is by Matthew Bourne and direction by Richard Eyre.
MARY POPPINS is produced in Australia by Cameron Mackintosh, The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand, and Michael Cassel Group.