The Lovers (musical)

The Lovers
Music	Laura Murphy
Lyrics	Laura Murphy
Book	Laura Murphy
Basis	A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Premiere	23 October 2022: The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Sydney

The Lovers is a musical by Laura Murphy based on William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream . ^{[1] [2]}

Premise

The Lovers is described as a fresh and magical pop-infused reimagining that refocuses the story with a modern perspective and questions our enduring search for true love. ^[3]

Production

The original production was performed from 23 October to 20 November 2022 at the Sydney Opera House, presented by Bell Shakespeare. Directed by Shaun Rennie, the original production featured a live four-piece band. It is the first musical performed by Bell Shakespeare.

A new production, produced by shake & stir and Queensland Performing Arts Centre in association with Brisbane Festival, is scheduled to perform at QPAC's Playhouse from 13 September to 5 October 2025, before transferring to Sydney's Theatre Royal from 31 October 2025. The cast includes Natalie Abbott as Helena, Jason Arrow as Demetrius, Jayme-Lee Hanekom as Puck, Loren Hunter as Hermia, Stellar Perry as Oberon, and Mat Verevis as Lysander. ^{[4] [5]}

Reception

The musical was generally well received, being described as "a thrilling piece of theatre" and "a great time". ^{[6] [7]}

Awards

It was nominated for Best Production of a Musical and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Natalie Abbott) at the 2022 Sydney Theatre Awards. ^[8]

Cast Recording

An album of the musical was released for streaming in July 2024 featuring the full original cast. ^[9]

Musical numbers

Act I "A Story About Love" – Oberon and the Lovers "Love and Pop and Shakespeare" – Company and the Fairy Band "Happy Be Theseus" – Company † "Perfect Little Princess" – Company "Overfull of Self Affairs" – Company † "Start Over" – Lysander and Hermia "Here Comes Helena" – Lysander, Hermia, and Helena † "Chasing My Tail" – Helena "Down To Love" – Oberon "The Magic Touch" – Puck, Oberon, and the Fairy Band "I Am Invisible" – Oberon † "Helena Follows Her Nose" – Helena and Demetrius "What I Cannot Have" – Demetrius, Helena, and the Fairy Band "Chasing My Tail" (Reprise) – Helena and Oberon † "Hast Thou The Flower There?" – Oberon and Puck "Euphoria" – Oberon "The Magic Touch" (Reprise) – Oberon and Puck † "Wrap Around You" – Hermia, Lysander, and the Fairy Band "Puck's Spell" – Puck "What I Cannot Chase" – Helena and Demetrius "Lysander Is In Love" – Lysander "Keen Mockery" – Helena and Lysander † "Hiss Hiss Bitch" – Snake and Snake Minions "Cruel Prey" – Hermia, Snake, and Snake Minions † "To Die For" – The Lovers

Act II "Down To Love" (Reprise) – Oberon, Puck, and the Fairy Band "Gimme Gimme" – The Lovers "Thou Hast Mistaken Quite" – Oberon, Puck, Demetrius, and Hermia "Euphoria" (Reprise) – Oberon "What I Cannot Have" (Reprise) – Demetrius "Oberon's Spell" – Oberon "Gimme Gimme" (Reprise) – Oberon, Puck, Lysander, and Helena "Demetrius Is In Love" – Demetrius "Gimme Gimme A Boy Fight" – The Lovers "Injurious Hermia!" – The Lovers and Snake "Diss Diss Bitch" – Company "How To Love" – Company "Start Over" (Reprise) – The Lovers "Down To Love" (Finale) – Company and the Fairy Band

† Not included on the original cast recording

Principal cast

Role	Sydney	National tour
	2022	2025
Helena	Natalie Abbott
Demetrius	Blake Appelqvist	Jason Arrow
Oberon	Stellar Perry
Puck	Monique Sallé	Jayme-Lee Hanekom
Hermia	Brittanie Shipway	Loren Hunter
Lysander	Jerrod Smith	Mat Verevis

References

1. Morris, Linda (21 October 2021). "Shakespeare gets the Gaga treatment in new Australian musical". The Sydney Morning Herald . Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
2. Maher, Alannah (22 October 2021). "Bell Shakespeare to turn A Midsummer Night's Dream into a magical pop musical". Time Out Sydney . Time Out Group . Retrieved 23 October 2021.
3. "The Lovers". Bell Shakespeare . Retrieved 12 April 2022.
4. Newsroom (2025-06-23). "Announcing The Lovers For Sydney This October • The Scoop" . Retrieved 2025-06-28.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
5. Writers, Staff (2025-04-30). "Shakespeare Gets Remixed In Aussie Pop Musical The Lovers". scenestr.com.au. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
6. Litson, Jo (29 October 2022). "The Lovers (Bell Shakespeare)". Limelight . Limelight Arts Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
7. Tongue, Cassie (29 October 2022). "The Lovers review – Shakespeare musical charms, but doesn't always deliver". The Guardian . Retrieved 31 October 2022.
8. Blake, Jason (1 January 2023). "2022 Sydney Theatre Awards nominees announced". Limelight. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
9. "'The Lovers' Original Cast Recording now available to stream". 20 July 2024.