Iconic Australian move The Castle has been transformed into a stage play, to be launched next year.
Michael Cassel Group and Working Dog announced today that the reimagined story would premiere at Melbourne’s Her Majesty’s Theatre from March 2027.
This is 30 years after the film’s original release.
The film is a very Australian story of the Kerrigan family and their battle to save their cherished home from development.
Its quirky script fed the Aussie vernacular with phrases like “it’s the vibe of the thing”, “straight to the pool room”, “what do you call that love?” and “tell them they’re dreaming”.
The stage adaptation has been written by the film’s original creators, Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy.
They will join the production as co-producers, “ensuring the story of the Kerrigan family and their unmistakable Australian voice will be brought to life on stage by the team who know it best”.
In a statement, the producers said the play would feature all of the favourite scenes and characters from the film.
It will be directed by Paige Rattray, best known for her work on the Netflix hit Heartbreak High and the musical Fangirls.
Producer Michael Cassel said that when the team at Working Dog first approached him about bringing The Castle to the stage, “I knew we had to do this”.
“The film miraculously captures the specificities of Australian life and yet feels so universally true; family love, the challenges change presents, and the warmth and humour and dignity of ordinary people standing up for what matters,” he said.
“It makes you laugh, and then, before you know it, it makes you cry. That is exactly what live theatre does at its best and why The Castle was always destined for the stage.”
Creators of The Castle, Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro and Jane Kennedy said:
“Over the best part of 25 years we have never lost our desire to turn The Castle into a live stage show.
“Not just a retelling of the story but a quarter of a century of funny updates! A celebration of all we love about the Kerrigan family.”
The team said they wrote the new show in the same way they wrote the film screenplay – the four of them in a room trying to make each other laugh.
Tickets are available to purchase now at www.thecastleonstage.com.au.
