2 hours and 10 minutes, including interval
Reviewed by Frank McKone
May 31
Creatives
Writer Tony Briggs; Director Wesley Enoch
Musical Director Nathaniel Andrew; Choreographer Yolande Brown
Set and Costume Designer Richard Roberts;
Lighting Designer Ben Hughes; Video Designer Craig Wilkinson
Sound Designer and Sound System Designer Isaac Ogilvie
Assistant Director Chenoa Deemal; Fight Choreographer NJ Price
Intimacy Coordinator Andrea Moor; Vocal Coach Naomi Andrew
Stage Manager Yanni Dubler; Assistant Stage Manager Lialize du Plessis
Stage Management Secondment Tara Kenn
Cast
Dave Lovelace - Jack Bannister; Cynthia McCrae - Ruby Henaway
Robby - Cameron Leonard; Kay McCrae - Aurora Liddle-Christie
Jimmy/Dance Captain - Garret Lyon; Julie McCrae - Tehya Makani
Joe - Chris Nguyen; Gail McCrae - Taeg Twist
Band
Bass - Eli Badger; Drums - Dimple Bani; Keys - James Feagai
Full Program at https://canberratheatrecentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/CTC_The_Sapphires_program.pdf
The Sapphires is a truly iconic Australian theatrical wonder; and this production coming from Meanjin, Queensland, is wonderful.
In its way, it’s equivalent to Alan Seymour’s The One Day of the Year (1960), which I remember well for its contentious view that enjoying playing two-up in the pub was completely inappropriate considering the immorality of sending Australian (or anyone’s) soldiers to war. As theatre it was strong, despite objections – and now it is iconic in the proper sense.
Sending young Indigenous women, in 1968, to entertain Australian soldiers, sent completely inappropriately to battle in Vietnam, was worse than playing two-up, with the same intention to make warfare acceptable.
Turning this venture into a musical, on stage in 2004, and as a movie (2012) written and directed by First Nations men was a brilliant move – as significant as The One Day of the Year for its critical view, and even more entertaining.
The stage show (Melbourne Theatre Company) was directed by Wesley Enoch, and written by Tony Briggs; the movie was directed by Wayne Blair and written by Keith Thompson and Tony Briggs.
Today’s 2026 Queensland Theatre Company production, again directed by Wesley Enoch, has the standing of a commemoration of a first nations tradition, in recognition of the first women stage actors,
Deborah Mailman, Rachael Maza, Ursula Yovich and Lisa Flanagan;
the movie actors,
Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell;
and now
Ruby Henaway, Aurora Liddle-Christie, Tehya Makani and Taeg Twist.
And do these women sing, and dance, and play out their family differences – and tremendous togetherness – not just with gusto, but with clarity of characterisation that brings out the truth of their situation, while indeed succeeding in the dream of professional recognition – no longer “unseen” as women, nor as Indigenous.
They perform, too, in a closely knit team with Jack Bannister, Cameron Leonard, Garret Lyon, and Chris Nguyen who bring to life the white Australian and black American, and local Vietnamese aspects of the war.
And all perform brilliantly with a live band, and quality sound – and not forgetting quality costuming – which make this valued musical a thoroughly satisfying joy to behold.
Definitely Not To Be Missed.
