The Lovers (musical)

The Lovers is a musical by Laura Murphy based on William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.^[1][2]

The Lovers
Music	Laura Murphy
Lyrics	Laura Murphy
Book	Laura Murphy
Basis	A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Premiere	23 October 2022: The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Sydney

Premise

The Lovers is described as a fresh and magical pop-infused reimagining that refocuses the story with a modern perspective and questions our enduring search for true love.^[3]

Production

The original production was performed from 23 October to 20 November 2022 at the Sydney Opera House, presented by Bell Shakespeare. Directed by Shaun Rennie, the original production featured a live four-piece band. It is the first musical performed by Bell Shakespeare.

A new production, produced by shake & stir and Queensland Performing Arts Centre in association with Brisbane Festival, is scheduled to perform at QPAC's Playhouse from 13 September to 5 October 2025, before transferring to Sydney's Theatre Royal from 31 October 2025. The cast includes Natalie Abbott as Helena, Jason Arrow as Demetrius, Jayme-Lee Hanekom as Puck, Loren Hunter as Hermia, Stellar Perry as Oberon, and Mat Verevis as Lysander.^[4][5]

Reception

The musical was generally well received, being described as "a thrilling piece of theatre" and "a great time".^[6][7]

Awards

It was nominated for Best Production of a Musical and Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Natalie Abbott) at the 2022 Sydney Theatre Awards.^[8]

Cast Recording

An album of the musical was released for streaming in July 2024 featuring the full original cast. ^[9]

Musical numbers

Act I "A Story About Love" – Oberon and the Lovers "Love and Pop and Shakespeare" – Company and the Fairy Band "Happy Be Theseus" – Company † "Perfect Little Princess" – Company "Overfull of Self Affairs" – Company † "Start Over" – Lysander and Hermia "Here Comes Helena" – Lysander, Hermia, and Helena † "Chasing My Tail" – Helena "Down To Love" – Oberon "The Magic Touch" – Puck, Oberon, and the Fairy Band "I Am Invisible" – Oberon † "Helena Follows Her Nose" – Helena and Demetrius "What I Cannot Have" – Demetrius, Helena, and the Fairy Band "Chasing My Tail" (Reprise) – Helena and Oberon † "Hast Thou The Flower There?" – Oberon and Puck "Euphoria" – Oberon "The Magic Touch" (Reprise) – Oberon and Puck † "Wrap Around You" – Hermia, Lysander, and the Fairy Band "Puck's Spell" – Puck "What I Cannot Chase" – Helena and Demetrius "Lysander Is In Love" – Lysander "Keen Mockery" – Helena and Lysander † "Hiss Hiss Bitch" – Snake and Snake Minions "Cruel Prey" – Hermia, Snake, and Snake Minions † "To Die For" – The Lovers

Act II "Down To Love" (Reprise) – Oberon, Puck, and the Fairy Band "Gimme Gimme" – The Lovers "Thou Hast Mistaken Quite" – Oberon, Puck, Demetrius, and Hermia "Euphoria" (Reprise) – Oberon "What I Cannot Have" (Reprise) – Demetrius "Oberon's Spell" – Oberon "Gimme Gimme" (Reprise) – Oberon, Puck, Lysander, and Helena "Demetrius Is In Love" – Demetrius "Gimme Gimme A Boy Fight" – The Lovers "Injurious Hermia!" – The Lovers and Snake "Diss Diss Bitch" – Company "How To Love" – Company "Start Over" (Reprise) – The Lovers "Down To Love" (Finale) – Company and the Fairy Band

† Not included on the original cast recording

Principal cast

Role	Sydney	National tour
	2022	2025
Helena	Natalie Abbott
Demetrius	Blake Appelqvist	Jason Arrow
Oberon	Stellar Perry
Puck	Monique Sallé	Jayme-Lee Hanekom
Hermia	Brittanie Shipway	Loren Hunter
Lysander	Jerrod Smith	Mat Verevis