Book, Music and Lyrics by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe
Directed by Andy Fickman
Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney | Opening Night, 1 September 2026
Review by Damien Barrett @_helloshoppers
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Heathers, and I’d forgotten just how dark it really is. Beneath all the big musical numbers, outrageous one-liners and gloriously exaggerated high-school archetypes, this is a surprisingly bleak story about teenage insecurity, social hierarchy, bullying, suicide and the desperate need to belong. In fact, of all the high-school musicals (Mean Girls, Bring It On, Carrie and the like), Heathers is probably the darkest and, in many ways, the most insightful.
Thankfully, this production understands that darkness needs light, and it balances the two beautifully. There is plenty here that is genuinely uncomfortable, but there is also an enormous amount of comedy, delivered with such precision that the opening-night audience was regularly in stitches.
And what a production it is. The production values are world class, with a slick, polished design that gives the show the scale and energy it deserves. Everything feels beautifully put together without ever overwhelming the performances, which are really the heart of this production.
Emma Caporaso is an absolute standout as Veronica. Vocally, she is extraordinary – the sort of voice that could comfortably hold its own alongside any major Broadway star. There is power, range and an emotional quality to her singing that makes the big numbers genuinely thrilling. She also captures Veronica’s vulnerability and desperation well, although my one real criticism of the production is actually the book itself. I don’t think it develops Veronica’s character quite enough, particularly given that everything ultimately revolves around her. Caporaso does an enormous amount with what she’s given, but I found myself wanting a little more depth and development in the character.
The Heathers themselves are an absolute delight.
Calista Nelmes’ Heather Chandler is wonderfully vicious – sharp, biting and completely unapologetic. She has exactly the right combination of menace and comic timing, and she commands the stage whenever she appears.
Amelia Rojas and Abigail Sharp round out the trio beautifully, with both delivering hysterically funny performances and powerhouse vocals. Together, the three have fantastic chemistry and absolutely nail the heightened, almost cartoonish nastiness of these characters without ever losing the humanity underneath it.
Zoe Gertz as Ms Fleming deserves a special mention too. She completely stole the opening of the second act, particularly during her interaction and ad-libbing with musical theatre favourite Rob “Millsy” Mills in the audience. It was one of those wonderfully spontaneous opening-night moments where you could see the cast enjoying themselves as much as the audience was.
Mel O’Brien’s Martha Dunnstock provides the emotional counterpoint to much of the comedy, and her performance is beautifully heartbreaking. Martha is perhaps the character who most clearly represents the kids who never quite find their place, and O’Brien brings a lovely vulnerability and sincerity to her.
The male cast are equally as solid. Conor Beaumont’s JD is wonderfully tormented and obsessive, but there are moments when he becomes genuinely frightening, and that’s exactly as it should be. JD isn’t simply the brooding romantic lead; he’s increasingly disturbed, and Beaumont does a great job of allowing that darkness to emerge gradually.
Nic Van Lits and David Cuny as Kurt and Ram are the epitome of obnoxious high-school jocks. They are gloriously boorish, ridiculously self-important and, admittedly, not unattractive to look at! Their performances get the balance between caricature and genuine unpleasantness just right.
Ellis Dolan and Brodie Masini provide some much-needed comic relief in the second act as Kurt and Ram’s dads, and they make the most of every opportunity.
What really struck me walking out of Heathers was how much the story still resonates. Anyone who never quite fit in at high school will recognise something of themselves in this story. That peculiar teenage feeling that the world you’ve been dropped into is everything – that the social hierarchy, the friendships, the rejection and the insecurities are permanent, and that you simply cannot see a life beyond graduation.
Of course, we know as adults that high school isn’t the end of the world. But when you’re in it, it absolutely can feel that way.
That’s what makes Heathers more than just another high-school musical. Beneath the satire, the dark humour and the spectacular vocals is a story about people trying desperately to find where they belong.
This is a terrific production, with outstanding performances, superb production values and just the right mix of darkness, comedy and heart. If you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite fit in at high school, there’s a very good chance Heathers will hit a little closer to home than you might expect.
Heathers is produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd, Paul Taylor-Mills, GMG Productions and Stoddart Entertainment and play’s Sydney’s Roslyn Packer Theatre through 19 September 2026.
In his past lives, Damien was a drag queen and musical theatre actor. He made his stage debut as a fat cow in a school production of Joseph in 1984. He holds a BA with a major in drama from the University of Newcastle. He is completely obsessed with musical theatre – especially Broadway divas.
Since relocating to Sydney at the beginning of 2024, he attends every musical he can get to and lives with his partner and grumpy 12-year-old poodle.
His claim to fame is that he once met Patti Lupone in New York and she was nice to him.