Canberra Reviews

There is a reason The Sapphires has become one of Australia's most beloved musicals.

More than twenty years after its premiere, Tony Briggs' story of four Yorta Yorta women travelling from country Victoria to entertain American troops in Vietnam continues to resonate. This new collaboration between Canberra Theatre Centre and Queensland Theatre Company, directed by Wesley Enoch, delivers a production that is polished, energetic and entertaining.

The audience around me were completely with it from the outset. From the opening song, there was a palpable sense of joy in the room.

Visually, the production is stunning. Richard Roberts' costumes are beautiful, and the iconic blue sequins do not disappoint. Craig Wilkinson's multimedia design layers history and imagery effectively throughout, and the live band is superb. Yolande Brown's choreography is a particular highlight, executed with precision and infectious energy by a cast of excellent performers.

The show's greatest strength is its accessibility. It celebrates an important chapter of Aboriginal Australian history while wrapping it in music, humour, family and heart. For some audience members, it may be their first encounter with this story, and the production succeeds in making that history both engaging and memorable.

I did find myself wanting to spend more time with the women themselves. While each performer brings warmth and charisma to their role, I longed for a deeper understanding of who these women were beyond the broad strokes of the narrative. Similarly, Dave Lovelace remains something of an enigma throughout; I found myself curious to know more about him and wanted more exploration of his character and why he was so trusted by the group.

These are small observations within an otherwise highly accomplished production. The Sapphires remains a joyful celebration of resilience, sisterhood, music and culture, performed by a remarkable cast and creative team. Judging by the audience response on opening night, this story continues to strike exactly the right note.