Bell Shakespeare today announced the cast for the upcoming world premiere of Mackenzie, a new play by visionary creator Yve Blake, including five original songs.
The production will open in Sydney at The Neilson Nutshell from 6 June – 18 July, before touring to Arts Centre Melbourne from 23 July – 9 August.
A dark, camp and satirical reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Mackenzie twists the classic tale to explore if Macbeth was a 13-year-old child star in the heights of early 2000s TV stardom and Lady Macbeth was her ruthlessly ambitious stage mum.
Directed by actor and former Artistic Director at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival Virginia Gay, the production will star 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 Gonzalez (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. I wanted to maintain all the juiciest moments of the original because it’s such a timeless BANGER of play, but I also wanted to make it fun and CAMP and super accessible, especially for young audiences. I’m so excited to have this perfect cast bringing this story to life. I wrote the script so that whether you’re 12, 22 or 72 – there’s something in this show for you to love!”
Director Virginia Gay said: “What’s so genius about Yve’s writing is that she knows exactly how to honour Shakespeare’s original play while making it feel joyful, pop-soaked and completely approachable. By leaning into camp, a 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.”
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 Lowndes of Hot Dub Time Machine as Sound Designer in his first foray into theatre, and Ella Evangelista as Choreographer.
You can watch the trailer for the cast announcement below.
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
| CAST: | CREATIVE TEAM: |
| Kimberley Hodgson MackenzieNikki Britton Ruth Ryan Gonzalez Beau Billie Palin Gayle Anusha Thomas DahliaJane Watt ProducerGenevieve Goldman UnderstudyTom Rodgers Understudy | Yve Blake Script and Songs, and Consulting ProducerVirginia Gay DirectorKeerthi Subramanyam DesignerKelsey Lee Lighting DesignerTom Lowndes Sound DesignerElle Evangelista Choreographer |
ABOUT BELL SHAKESPEARE
Bell Shakespeare is Australia’s national theatre company specialising in the works of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries. Founded in 1990 with the aim of sharing Shakespeare’s plays in a way that was relevant and exciting to all Australians, the company has evolved further than its visionary founder, John Bell AO, could have hoped.
Today, Bell Shakespeare tours major theatre productions, education programs and outreach initiatives to every state and territory in Australia. Performing and teaching in theatres, schools, juvenile justice centres and regional and remote communities, the company enjoys unrivalled reach and impact, further extending its influence through innovative digital programs.
ABOUT YVE BLAKE
Yve Blake is a multi-award-winning playwright and composer. Her musical FANGIRLS was awarded the 2019 Sydney Theatre Award for Best Mainstage Musical, 2019 Matilda Award for Best Musical or Cabaret, 2020 AWGIE award for Music Theatre, 2021 Green Room award for New Australian Writing for Musical Theatre, and has since been added to high school curriculums in three Australian states. In 2024 the UK premiere of FANGIRLS produced by Sonia Friedman Productions saw Yve awarded The Stage x Netflix Debut Award for Best Composer, Lyricist or Book Writer. In 2026, Yve’s newest show MACKENZIE will premiere in Sydney and Melbourne, produced by Bell Shakespeare.
ABOUT VIRGINIA GAY
Internationally acclaimed, Logie nominated actress Virginia Gay is one of Australia’s most beloved performers and creatives across both stage and screen. She served as Artistic Director of the Australian Cabaret Festival in 2024 and 2025.
Recent projects include Cyrano, a gender-flipped retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand at the Melbourne Theatre Company in 2022 and Black Swan Theatre Co x Melbourne Theatre Company for Perth Festival in 2023. In 2024, Virginia reprised Cyrano for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, winning her the Scotsman First Fringe Award for Outstanding New Writing, and in London’s Park Theatre (2024-25) produced by Roast Productions.
Virginia has written and created several productions, including Mama Does Derby for Windmill Theatre Company (South Australia) which was performed as part of 2026 Sydney Festival, The Boomkak Panto for Belvoir St Theatre, and her half hour TV comedy series Wild Jill has been optioned in 2024 by Princess Pictures.
Select film and television acting roles include, Mother and Son, Colin from Accounts, We Interrupt this Broadcast, After the Verdict, Savage River, Safe Home, Judy & Punch, Winners and Losers and All Saints.
Select theatre acting roles include, Calamity Jane, The Wharf Revue, Vivid White, On the Production of Monsters, Minnie and Liraz, Gaybies, The Producers, High Society, Mame, Cautionary Tales of Children and Death of A Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf.
