Stoddart Entertainment Group is proud to announce the commissioning of a new Australian musical, Clancy of the Outback, for development. Renowned for staging productions such as The Play That Goes Wrong, Evil Dead The Musical, and Heathers The Musical, the company will present this uniquely Australian story exploring identity, family, community, and acceptance through a uniquely Australian lens. The production is scheduled for its premiere in 2027.
The production is based on Phil Kettle and Bob Andersen’s beloved children’s book series, Clancy of the Outback, which drew its inspiration from Clancy of the Overflow, one of Banjo Paterson’s most famous poems, which is told from the perspective of an urban dweller who encounters the legendary drover and shearer, Clancy, and comes to long for the idealized pleasures of his outback lifestyle.
This original, one-act theatrical adventure will bring one of Australia’s most iconic children’s outback heroes to the stage, creating a fresh homegrown production that promises to captivate both young audiences and families.
Stoddart Entertainment Group CEO/Producer Daniel Stoddart said, “Australian stories deserve to be told on our stages, especially for young audiences. Clancy is adventurous, funny and deeply heartfelt, but what excites me most is that it doesn’t talk down to children. It treats them as intelligent, thoughtful audiences and invites families to experience all the hallmarks of a full-scale musical together.”
“At a time of significant change for Australia’s theatre industry, we’re incredibly proud to be investing in new Australian musical theatre. Original work is the lifeblood of our industry, and Australian stories deserve to be created by Australian artists and shared with audiences across the country. Clancy of the Outback is more than a new production – it’s an investment in Australian creativity, in emerging talent, and in the future of home-grown musical theatre.”
The production will feature book and lyrics crafted by an all Australian team led by Green Room Award-nominated writer Dylan Marshall, with an original score by Earl Marrows, a celebrated Australian composer and alumnus of New York University’s esteemed TISCH School of the Arts.
Writer/Lyricist Dylan Marshall said, “Clancy is a story about finding where you belong. While it’s wrapped in adventure and humour, at its heart it’s about connection – to people, to place and to community. Those themes feel incredibly relevant today.”
Composer Earl Marrows added, “The score draws inspiration from the Australian landscape itself. We wanted the music to feel big-hearted, emotional and distinctly Australian while still delivering the excitement, humour and spectacle audiences expect from musical theatre.”
Bursting with humour, heart and thirteen original songs, Clancy of the Outback will follow a city kid who finds himself thrust into the heart of regional Australia. At The Overflow Station, Clancy learns to fit in with the lively dust-covered community, raises a baby kangaroo, discovers the beauty and hardship of life in the outback, and faces an environmental emergency that challenges his courage, resilience and sense of belonging.
The production forms part of Stoddart Entertainment Group’s ongoing commitment to championing Australian stories and investing in the future of new Australian musical theatre.
Further details, including premiere dates, creative team and casting, will be announced in the coming months.
