ANASTASIA NOW ON AT QPAC
From the grandeur of Imperial Russia to the glamour of 1920s Paris, ANASTASIA delivers a lavish theatrical experience filled with beautiful detail, music and a cast that brings this much-loved story to life.
ANASTASIA has always been one of my favourites. Growing up, I loved the story and, of course, the film starring Ingrid Bergman was one that stayed with me. So, seeing ANASTASIA brought to the stage at QPAC was always going to be something special for me.
What I wasn’t quite prepared for was just how much detail has gone into this production.
From the moment the show begins, there is a real sense of scale and theatrical richness. The costumes, sets, lighting and overall production design transport you into another time, moving from the final days of Imperial Russia through to the excitement and glamour of Paris in the 1920s. It is the kind of production where you can find yourself looking beyond the performers and taking in all the little details that make the world of the story feel so complete.
At the centre of it all is Georgina Hopson as Anya, and she is simply glorious. Her voice is beautiful, giving Anya both vulnerability and strength as she searches for answers about who she really is and where she belongs.
Alongside her is Robert Tripolino as Dmitry, the charming conman whose chemistry with Anya brings another dimension to the story, while Joshua Robson as Gleb provides the darker edge as the antagonist determined to stop Anya from pursuing her past.
Rodney Dobson as Vlad brings plenty of warmth and humour, while the much-loved Rhonda Burchmore as Countess Lily is exactly the kind of presence audiences love seeing on stage.
But for me, it was really the second act where ANASTASIA kicked into another gear.
Seeing theatre icon Nancye Hayes AM as the Dowager Empress, alongside the dynamic Rhonda Burchmore, added a wonderful sense of occasion. The emotional heart of the story comes into focus as Anya must convince the Empress that she really is the woman she has been searching for.
That relationship gives the second act some beautiful emotional weight, and watching Hayes command the stage is a reminder of what a remarkable Australian theatre career she has had. There is something rather special about seeing an icon such as Nancye Hayes sharing the stage with such a strong contemporary cast.
The production itself is lavish without losing sight of the story. Inspired by the mysterious tale of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov’s rumoured escape during the Russian Revolution, and the 1997 Oscar-nominated animated film of the same name, the stage musical was brought to life by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.
Directed by Tony Award-winning director Darko Tresnjak, ANASTASIA premiered on Broadway in 2017 and has gone on to receive international recognition, including major musical awards in Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.
The ensemble also deserves recognition, with Sophia Bae, Elliot Baker, Billy Bourchier, Nicholas Cunningham, Davis Giotopoulos Moore, Todd Goddard, Stephanie Kurlow, Keian Langdon, Bella Minniti, Nathan Stafford, Alexis Van Maanen, Annie Wilson, Deone Zanotto and Andrea Zappacosta, along with the Swings team of Manon Gunderson-Briggs, Iosefa Laga’aia, Nathan Pinnell and Emma Russell.
With its beautiful production values, strong performances and a story that continues to capture the imagination, ANASTASIA is a theatrical experience that can be enjoyed across generations.
And with the production now on while school holiday period is on, this is certainly one that families can share together — whether you already know the story or, like a new generation of audiences, are discovering Anastasia for the first time.
For me, it was a lovely reminder that some stories really do stand the test of time — and seeing this one come alive on stage at QPAC made it feel new all over again.
Presented by Opera Australia and Crossroads Live Australia Tix at Qpac from $79.50
Caroline Russo review
