Global Creatures Announces UK Premiere of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical
MEDIA RELEASE
A Made at Curve and Global Creatures co-production
in association with Sydney Theatre Company
Book by PJ Hogan
Music & Lyrics by Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall
With additional songs by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson originally written for ABBA
Directed by Simon Phillips
Running at Curve, Leicester 10 April – 10 May 2025
Global Creatures announces today that Leicester’s Curve theatre will stage the UK premiere of its highly acclaimed MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL, with performances running from 10 April to 10 May 2025.
Based on the international cult classic 1994 motion picture ‘MURIEL’S WEDDING’ (written and directed by PJ Hogan, produced by Lynda House and Jocelyn Moorhouse), the Made at Curve and Global Creatures co-production ofMURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL is directed by Simon Phillips (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, LOVE NEVER DIES) and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth (PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT).
Book writer PJ Hogan has updated his own screenplay for the stage, and original music for MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL is written by award-winning multi-platinum selling artists Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, whose work spans the worlds of music theatre, opera, Coachella and Eurovision. The musical includes additional songs by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus & Stig Anderson originally written for ABBA.
Speaking about the announcement, Carmen Pavlovic for Global Creatures, producer of MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL, said:
“We are immensely proud to be partnering with Curve to bring Muriel’s Wedding The Musical to the stage. UK audiences just ‘get’ the wonderfully flawed and quirky character of Muriel Heslop who captures our hearts with her indomitable spirit. We can’t wait to bring this beloved story to life and share it with audiences in such an inspiring venue.”
Director Simon Phillips added:
“I’m thrilled that the team at Leicester Curve have embraced Muriel Heslop with the same open heart as the rest of the world. Muriel’s misguided aspiration has never been funnier or on-the-moneyer, and now that it’s not just ABBA doing the singing, but the whole of Porpoise Spit, Sydney, and even the Olympic swimming team, her self-made journey to stardom has doubled the decibels. Curve has an enviable track record delivering exciting new musicals, and it’s a privilege to be adding Muriel to their list.”
Curve’s Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said:
“We’re euphoric Muriel is leaving Porpoise Spit and coming to Leicester! We are looking forward to welcoming acclaimed Australian director Simon Phillips and his phenomenal team to Curve to create the UK premiere of this iconic film on-stage, in this all-singing and all-dancing celebration of finding the courage to be your authentic self. It’s equally thrilling writer PJ Hogan has adapted his screenplay for the stage and this production, alongside the ABBA hits from the film, includes original music by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall.
“Grab your Tim Tams and book your seats to RSVP for the wedding of the year at Curve in 2025!”
Muriel’s Wedding The Musical received wide critical acclaim when the production launched in Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald commented that: “Muriel’s Wedding feels like the complete package: a beloved film seamlessly updated; a central character who retains all the ambiguities that made you root for her in the first place; and, a conspicuously inventive score peppered with classic pop hits. Adapting his own screenplay to the stage and into the social media present, PJ Hogan’s book amplifies the Cinderella aspects of Muriel’s story without sacrificing the satirical and melancholic elements that gave the film its depth and heart.”
Winner of five Helpmann Awards, seven Sydney Theatre Awards, anAwgie Award, the 2018 David Williamson Prize and an ARIA Award Nomination, MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL celebrated its world premiere in a co-production with the Sydney Theatre Company in November 2017 and returned with an Australian tour in 2019. It was hailed a smash hit by critics and audiences alike.
Undateable. Unemployable. Unstoppable.
Stuck in a dead-end life in Porpoise Spit, Muriel dreams of the perfect wedding – the white dress, the church, the attention.
Unfortunately, there’s one thing missing: a groom. Following her dreams to Sydney, Muriel ends up with everything she ever wanted – a man, a fortune and a million social media followers.
That’s when things start to go really wrong.
MURIEL’S WEDDING THE MUSICAL will run at Curve 10 April to 10 May 2025. Tickets will be on sale to Curve’s Made at Curve Circle, Patrons and Friends Thursday 6 June 2024, to Curve Supporters Friday 7 June 2024, to Curve Members, Groups and Access Register customers Tuesday 11 June 2024 and on general sale Friday 14 June, all at 12noon.
To find out more, visit www.curveonline.co.uk
#murielsweddingthemusical #MadeAtCurve
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, please contact:
CURVE: Fiona Moore on 07808 304633 / press@curvetheatre.co.uk
National and Global Creatures UK : David Bloom for Story House PR on 07980 297 299 / david.bloom@storyhousepr.co.uk
Global Creatures International: Boneau/Bryan-Brown /Adrian Bryan-Brown abrown@bbbway.com
Global Creatures Australia: Peach & Pineapple / Caitlin Irving +61 412 270 124 / caitlin@peachandpineapple.com Zara Bryson +61 418 677 702 / zara@peachandpineapple.com
About Curve
Curve is an award-winning producing theatre with a commitment to ensuring as many people as possible can access great art and culture. Each year, over one million people engage with Curve through performances in Leicester, across the UK and internationally. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster, Curve has developed an international reputation for producing, presenting and touring a bold and diverse slate of musicals, plays, new work, and dance, which sits alongside a vibrant community and learning programme.
Recent Made at Curve productions and co-productions include: My Beautiful Laundrette; Evita; The Owl Who Came For Christmas; Billy Elliot The Musical; Ride; Finding Home – Leicester’s Ugandan Asian Story At 50; A Chorus Line; The Music Of Andrew Lloyd Webber; Giraffes Can’t Dance and West Side Story. Streamed productions include The Color Purple and Sunset Boulevard.
Recent Curve on Tour and West End productions include: The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium, UK and Ireland tour); Sister Act (Dominion Theatre, Eventim Apollo, UK and Ireland tour); Grease (Dominion Theatre and UK tour); 42nd Street (Sadler’s Wells, UK tour and Toronto); White Christmas (Dominion Theatre and UK tour); On Your Feet! (London Coliseum and UK tour) and The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – The Musical (The Ambassadors Theatre). An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical; Cat On A Hot Tin Roof; Metamorphosis; The Color Purple; Beautiful – The Carole King Musical; Sunset Boulevard (UK and Ireland tours) and The Jungle Book (UK and International tour).
Curve is supported by Arts Council England and Leicester City Council.
