STELLA Cast Confirmed Ahead Of June Season At Monash
The world premiere of STELLA has confirmed its cast ahead of a limited Melbourne season, placing a new Australian musical into the city’s mid-year theatre calendar. The production will run from 12th June to 20th June at the Alexander Theatre at Monash University in Clayton.
The five-person cast includes Geraldine Hakewill, Johanna Allen, Shubshri Kandiah, Joe Kosky and Kaya Byrne. Each performer will take on multiple roles, with the cast remaining on stage throughout the performance. That approach signals a scaled production model, relying on performance range rather than a large ensemble.
STELLA centres on the life of Miles Franklin, one of Australia’s most recognised literary figures. While her debut novel, My Brilliant Career and associated literary awards remain widely referenced, the production shifts focus to her broader life story, including personal and professional challenges across several decades.
The musical has been in development for seven years. It draws directly from Franklin’s writing, incorporating excerpts from novels, plays, letters and diary entries. As a result, the work positions her voice at the centre of the narrative rather than interpreting it externally.
A live group of seven musicians will perform on stage, supporting a score that moves across Australian and Irish folk, bush ballads, salsa, neo-classical, pop, punk rock and traditional musical theatre. This range reflects a broader push within Australian theatre to blend genres and expand audience reach.
Local production signals and creative direction
Director Julia Robertson leads the production, alongside musical director Vicky Jacobs and book writer, composer and lyricist Monique diMattina. The creative team also includes Nick Fry, Isla Shaw, David Letch and Sidney Younger across design and technical roles.
The decision to stage STELLA at Monash University places the production within an academic and emerging audience environment. It is also included in the VCE Theatre Studies curriculum, which positions it directly in front of a student market during its debut run.
Monique diMattina said: “There is so much inspiration, pride and joy for us in Stella’s story, yet most people know nothing about Stella’s life. Stella Miles Franklin left us so much in her extraordinary body of work – novels, plays and thousands of personal letters and diary entries. Stella has been a juicy companion over the seven years I’ve spent creating this musical. She is witty, courageous, loveable and edgy.”
Director Julia Robertson said: “We are so fortunate to be working with a cast of exceptional calibre. Together, this ensemble will embody the epic sweep of a forty-year journey, bringing scale, versatility and emotional truth to every note of diMattina’s sophisticated score.”
The casting and staging approach reflects a broader shift in Melbourne’s theatre market towards leaner productions with flexible casts and multi-genre scores. At the same time, the inclusion in the VCE curriculum creates a built-in audience segment, aligning the production with education-driven attendance during its limited season.
Dates: Friday 12th June to Saturday 20th June
Location: Alexander Theatre, The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, Monash University, Clayton
Tickets: $40 to $85
Booking: www.stellathemusical.com
