My Brilliant Career is an Australian musical based on the novel of the same name by Miles Franklin, with book by Sheridan Harbridge and Dean Bryant, music by Mathew Frank and lyrics by Dean Bryant.
Principal casts Role Workshop Melbourne National tour Sybylla Melvyn Luisa ScrofaniKala Gare Frank Hawden/Bullant M'Swat Alister KingsleyCameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward Horace Melvyn/Jimmy M'Swat Lincoln Elliott Harry Beecham/Peter M'Swat Andrew CoshanRaj Labade Dick Melvyn/Jay-Jay/Mr M'Swat Drew Livingston Lucy Melvyn/Helen/Mrs M'Swat Christina O'Neill Gertie Melvyn/Blanche Derrick/Lizer M'Swat HaNy Lee Melanie Bird Grannie Bossier/Rose Jane M'Swat Anne WoodAna Mitsikas
Musical numbers
Act I "Prologue" "Life As We Know It" – Sybylla "Prince of a Girl" – Sybylla, Lucy, Dick "Turn Away from the Mirror" – Helen "A Girl Who Knows What She Likes" – Jay-Jay "Parlour Songs" – Company "In the Wrong Key" – Sybylla "Brick" – Frank "Good Enough" – Sybylla "Wait With You" – Harry "Make A Success" – Blanche
Act II "Ent'racte" "A Little Bit More" – Sybylla and Harry "The Will (M'Swat)" – M'Swat family "Gargoyle" – Sybylla "Working My Way" – Harry "Goodbye Letter" – Sybylla "Someone Like Me" – Sybylla
Development and production history Bryant and Frank began writing the musical in 2016. It was workshopped in 2019 at Monash University as part of an artist-in-residence program, after which Harbridge joined as a collaborator. The workshop cast featured Luisa Scrofani as Sybylla Melvyn, alongside Andrew Coshan, Alister Kingsley, James Millar, Natalie O’Donnell, and Anne Wood.
My Brilliant Career premiered at the Southbank Theatre for the Melbourne Theatre Company, from 7 November to 21 December 2024. The original production was directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, featuring Kala Gare as Sybylla with an ensemble cast of actor/musicians including Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward, Lincoln Elliot, Victoria Falconer, Raj Labade, Drew Livingston, HaNy Lee, Ana Mitsikas, Christina O'Neill and Jarrad Payne.
An Australian tour ran throughout 2026, with seasons in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Wollongong.
Reception The musical was very well-received including multiple five-star reviews.
Year Award Category Nominee ResultRef. Green Room Awards Outstanding Production Outstanding Ensemble/Featured Ensemble The Company Outstanding New Australian Music Theatre Writing Dean Bryant & Sheridan Harbridge (Book) Mathew Frank (Music) Dean Bryant (Lyrics) Outstanding Choreography Amy Campbell Outstanding Direction – Music Victoria Falconer Outstanding Artist – Leading Role Kala Gare Outstanding Artist – Supporting Role Raj Labade Outstanding Direction – Stage Anne-Louise Sarks Outstanding Design Marg Horwell AWGIE Awards$120,000 David Williamson Prize for Excellence in Writing for Australian TheatreSheridan Harbridge, Dean Bryant, Mathew Frank and Melbourne Theatre Company Best Script In Musical TheatreSheridan Harbridge, Dean Bryant, Mathew Frank
Recording Original Cast Recording
Following the 2019 workshop at Monash University, a cast recording was produced in January 2020, featuring additional performers Jerome Javier and Melanie Bird.
Australian Tour Cast Recording
A sneak peek of the Australian tour official cast album was first presented in a panel talk with Victoria Falconer, Mathew Frank and Kala Gare. The release date is unknown.
References
External links