Best of Brisbane was lucky enough to be invited to the Brisbane premiere at the Lyric Theatre, and ANASTASIA delivers the kind of big-stage musical that suits the room. The costumes are lavish, the staging moves between Imperial Russia and 1920s Paris, and the cast have the voices to handle songs many people in the audience have known for years.
If Once Upon a December has been tucked away somewhere in your brain since childhood, hearing it inside QPAC’s Lyric Theatre is a particularly good way to bring it back.
From Imperial Russia To 1920s Paris
Inspired by the beloved animated film, ANASTASIA follows Anya, a young woman trying to uncover the mystery of her past.
Her search takes her from the final years of Imperial Russia to Paris, with conman Dmitry and former aristocrat Vlad helping her along the way. Following closely behind is army officer Gleb, who has his own reasons for wanting Anya’s journey stopped.
The musical features Journey to the Past and Once Upon a December, with the stage production created by Tony Award-winning Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens and Darko Tresnjak.
There’s plenty here for people who grew up with the film, but you don’t need to arrive knowing every lyric. The scale of the production, the period settings and the strength of the cast give it plenty of life beyond the nostalgia.
Queensland’s Georgina Hopson Takes Centre Stage
Brisbane audiences also have a local reason to get behind this production.
Queensland’s own Georgina Hopson leads the company as Anya. A graduate of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Hopson has built a substantial Australian stage career with credits including, The Phantom of the Opera, Titanique, Bananaland and Singin’ in the Rain.
She’s joined by Robert Tripolino as Dmitry, Joshua Robson as Gleb and Rodney Dobson as Vlad, while Rhonda Burchmore takes on Countess Lily and Australian theatre legend Nancye Hayes AM plays the Dowager Empress.
It’s a sizeable cast and an equally sizeable production, but some of the best moments come when all the spectacle gets out of the way and the voices are allowed to take over. That was particularly true on opening night, when the familiar musical numbers landed without needing much embellishment.
Meet Queensland’s Little Anastasias
The Queensland connection doesn’t stop with the leading lady.
Four young local performers are sharing the role of Little Anastasia during the Brisbane season: 10-year-old Eva Boldery from Townsville, nine-year-old Harvey Rose McClelland from Mackay, nine-year-old Kalina Kita from the Sunshine Coast and 10-year-old Holly Murray from Brisbane.
All four are making their professional debuts, stepping onto the Lyric Theatre stage as part of a major international production alongside Australian theatre names including Nancye Hayes and Rhonda Burchmore.
For Brisbane audiences, it’s a lovely local detail: whichever Little Anastasia you see, she’s one of our own.
Anastasia Must Leave Brisbane October 18
There’s not much time left to procrastinate on this one.
ANASTASIA is playing a strictly limited season at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC, with its final Brisbane performance on 18 October 2026. The production runs for approximately two hours and 25 minutes including interval and is recommended for audiences aged eight and over.
For fans of the original film, seeing Anya’s story unfold on a full-scale theatre stage is reason enough to book. But the Brisbane season also has something extra going for it: Queensland talent is right at the centre of the production, from its leading lady to its youngest cast members.
We went along to opening night expecting the nostalgia to do some of the heavy lifting. It didn’t need to.
ANASTASIA The Broadway Musical
Where: Lyric Theatre, QPAC, South Brisbane
Final performance: 18 October 2026
Running time: Approx. 2 hours 25 minutes, including interval
Recommended age: 8+
Tickets: Book ANASTASIA at QPAC