Opening tonight – Bell Shakespeare’s world premiere production Mackenzie

Bell Shakespeare’s world premiere production Mackenzie opens tonight in Sydney at The Neilson Nutshell, running until 18 July, before touring to Arts Centre Melbourne from 23 July – 9 August.

This new play, with four original songs, by visionary creator Yve Blake is a dark, camp and satirical reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Twisting the classic tale, the production explores if Macbeth was a child star in the heights of early 2000s TV stardom and Lady Macbeth were her ruthlessly ambitious stage mum. 

Mackenzie is 13 years old and has just landed her first television role with a small part on a major children’s program. It is a modest beginning, but her mother has always believed her daughter is destined for stardom. When Mackenzie and her closest friend on set, Beau, encounter a make-up artist overcome by a vision that Mackenzie will become the world’s biggest pop star, the wheels of ambition are set irrevocably in motion. 

Directed by acclaimed actor and director Virginia Gay, the production stars Kimberley Hodgson (Miss Saigon, FANGIRLS) in the titular role of Mackenzie and celebrated comedian Nikki Britton (How to Stay Married, Deadloch)as her mother Ruth. They are joined onstage by Ryan González (In the Heights, Moulin Rouge! The Musical), Billie Palin (Once, Calamity Jane), Anusha Thomas (Hamilton) and Jane Watt (War Crimes).

Creator Yve Blake said: “The idea for ‘Mackenzie’ came to me like a fever dream — like Macbeth’s witches turning up. I’d always been gripped with fascination about the dark sides of child stardom, and it felt like the perfect lens through which to reimagine Macbeth. The theme of toxic ambition maps perfectly onto what it must be like to be a young woman in the pop world, where you know the system dictates you can only temporarily be on the throne until someone younger and shinier shows up. 

“I wrote the script to maintain all the juiciest moments of ‘Macbeth’ as it’s such a timeless BANGER, and whether you’re 12, 22 or 72, there’s something in this show for you to love! I hope for a whole new generation, it becomes their gateway drug to Shakespeare.”

Director Virginia Gay said: “What’s so genius about Yve’s writing is that she knows exactly how to honour Shakespeare’s play while making it feel joyful, pop-soaked and completely approachable. We want to give audiences a full body experience – there’ll be scares, laughs, incredible dancing and singing, and fabulous costumes. By leaning into a camp, very specific 2006 energy and Yve’s razor-sharp wit, we get all the big moments of Macbeth, but with a completely fresh feel played by an incredible ensemble of performers, with a blistering star turn from Kimberley Hodgson.”

Bell Shakespeare Artistic Director Peter Evans said: “Our commitment at Bell Shakespeare to make Shakespeare accessible to all Australians continues with Yve’s exciting new take on Macbeth, which will bring a new generation of audiences into the theatre. Mackenzie is funny, disturbing and full of pathos, and proves that Shakespeare’s plays are endlessly adaptable, thrilling, and very much alive. I am delighted to have Virginia Gay take the helm as director, bringing all her comedy and drama skills to ushering Yve’s play to stage. While its sure to be a hit with younger audiences, I suspect if you are like me, any age will delight in this mischievous, shocking and hilarious new play.”

The creative team is made up of Keerthi Subramanyam as Designer, Kelsey Lee as Lighting Designer, Tom Lowndesof Hot Dub Time Machine as Sound Designer in his first foray into theatre, and Elle Evangelista as Choreographer. 

Mackenzie was originally developed with the support of Home Grown Australia and had sold-out read-throughs in Sydney, Melbourne and London ahead of this world premiere.

KEY DATES: 
The Neilson Nutshell, Pier 2/3 Sydney | (Previews 6, 7, 9, 10 June) 11 June – 18 July 2026
Arts Centre Melbourne | (Preview 23 July) 24 July – 9 August 2026