'The Castle' film classic heads to the stage 30 years later

A stage adaptation of the classic Australian film 'The Castle' is set to premiere in March 2027, marking 30 years since the movie first captured audiences' hearts. The beloved tale of the Kerrigan family's fight to save their home from an airport expansion will be brought to life at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre.

“

We wrote this new, fully updated show in the same way that we wrote the film screenplay all those years ago, the four of us in a room trying to make each other laugh.

The stage adaptation is penned by Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro, and Jane Kennedy, the original writing team behind the film from the Working Dog production company. They expressed their long-held desire to transform the movie into a live stage show, describing the writing process for the new production as similar to crafting the original screenplay – a collaborative effort focused on making each other laugh.

Producers promise the stage show will be more than a simple retelling; it will be a celebration of the Kerrigan family, incorporating a quarter-century's worth of humorous updates. The adaptation will explore how Darryl Kerrigan and his family might react to modern advancements like the internet and mobile phones, and the prospect of a third runway at Melbourne Airport.

“

When the team at Working Dog first approached me about bringing The Castle to the stage, I knew we had to do this.

Producer Michael Cassel shared his enthusiasm for bringing 'The Castle' to the stage, recognizing the film's unique ability to capture specific Australian life experiences while resonating universally. He highlighted the film's themes of family love, the challenges of change, and the dignity of ordinary people standing up for what they believe in. The production will be directed by Paige Rattray, known for her work on 'Heartbreak High' and 'Fangirls,' with set and costume design by Jonathon Oxlade.

“

The film miraculously captures the specificities of Australian life and yet feels so universally true; family love, the challenges change presents, and the warmth and humour and dignity of ordinary people standing up for what matters.