‘Healthy Growth’: ORiGiN’s Philip Mortlock Talks New Wave of Australian Musicals

Away from the glamour of pop, the blare of rock, and the beats and buzz of hip-hop and electronic, Australia’s contemporary musical theatre space is having a real moment.

“There’s definitely a healthy growth in the creation and development of new contemporary Australian-made musical theatre,” explains Philip Mortlock, co-founder of ORiGiN Entertainment Group.

“And musical theatre, generally speaking, has definitely expanded to embrace broader contemporary sounds, genre and style.”

Mortlock knows his stuff. Working alongside business partner Philip Walker, the “two Philips” operate the independent ORiGiN group, whose businesses include ORiGiN Theatrical, ORiGiN Music Publishing, ORiGiN IMPRiNT, POST Production Music and ORiGiN Recordings.

The latter of those, ORiGiN Recordings, will release the original cast recording of the new Australian musical The Lucky Country on August 14th.

A preview of it drops today, the single “It’s a New Day”, performed by Joseph Alhouse.

The studio cast album was produced by orchestrator Heidi Maguire and Michael Tan under the supervision of creators Vidya Makan (Hamilton, SIX) and Sonya Suares (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George).

What Makan, Suares and their team have created with The Lucky Country is “quite unique,” Mortlock adds. The show and its soundtrack dig deep into the themes of identity and belonging for indigenous and new Australians, the result of which is an “optimistic celebration”.

It’s also worth celebrating the notable dominance of women as the creators. This new wave is led by the likes of Kate Miller-Heidke (and Keir Nuttall) with Muriel’s Wedding; Meg Washington and Hannah Reilly with The Deb; Picnic The Musical by Hilary Bell and Greta Gertler Gold; and Zombie The Musical by Laura Murphy.

Following a run at Hayes Theatre in Sydney, a fresh production of the show will open at Melbourne’s Lawler Theatre from October 13th, before heading north to Brisbane Powerhouse as part of MELT Festival, from October 22nd.

“We wanted the music to feel instantly familiar — like flipping through the radio dial of Australia,” explains Makan, the composer and lyricist. “You’ll hear echoes of Baker Boy, Jimmy Barnes, Kylie, The Seekers, Electric Fields plus loads more — all remixed through a contemporary lens that feels uniquely ours.”

Adds Suares, the director and co-creator of The Lucky Country: “This album is more than a document of the show. It’s a musical mixtape of our country’s hopes and contradictions — irreverent, honest and uplifting. It’s for anyone who's ever felt on the outside of the ‘Australian story’ and wanted to be heard.”

Australians love going to the theatre, too.

According to Live Performance Australia’s Ticket Attendance and Revenue Report for 2023, the “Musical Theatre” category generated more than $542 million for the period, up 17.3%, with total attendance of more than 4.2 million, up 14.3% year-on-year.

That’s the highest recorded revenue, attendance and average ticket price for the category, powered by such musicals as Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Beauty And The Beast, TINA - The Tina Turner Musical and Hamilton.

The Lucky Country

October 13 – 18 October - Southbank Theatre, Melbourne

Booking: mtc.com.au

October 22 - 25  -- Brisbane Powerhouse 

Booking: brisbanepowerhouse.org

Pre-save link for cast album