If you need any evidence that history repeats itself, look no further than this 1960s rock musical, HAIR. Celebrating an age of freedom, rebellion against war, and experimentation, tackling issues of race, sexuality and gender identity. HAIR takes us back to the 1960s/70s counterculture hippie movement whose obstacles are not so dissimilar from those we face in today’s political landscape.
As director, Glenn Elston OAM reveals, “The hunger for transcendence is no less urgent today than it was in the 1960s. That’s why, when choosing to direct this production, I felt compelled to bring HAIR to the stage – not just as nostalgia, but as a conversation starter for our world right now.”
And that is how the stage musical begins, even before the house lights dim, projected historical footage appears on stage of the decade that some of us remember, and the rest of us have only heard about. Scenes from the Vietnam War, the Summer of Love, protesting, art, music, and everything in between. This really sets the scene for the musical which is a psychedelic rollercoaster through the lives of the people that experienced it all.
The performers bring the era to life in a high energy stage presence that feels like a crowd-inducing acid trip. The central character, Claude (Alex Cooper) is conscripted into the war in Vietnam and experiences inner turmoil, leaving his free-loving life behind. Cooper is a real stand-out, bringing depth to a character who is more than just a free-wheelin’ hippie. Claude shares a love with Berger (Maxwell Simon) and Sheila (Elizabeth Brennan), who, in their own way, celebrate their hippie-dom by protesting and generally being free.
There is a good dose of interaction between these characters (alongside many others) and the audience, which keeps up the engagement and involves audiences in the experience (minus the illegal substances, of course). The staging is epic, with good use of space, levels, and an incredible amount of colour. The musical numbers that will also sound familiar to most, include opening number “Aquarius”, “Hair”, and “Be-in Hare Krishna”, and in Act Two, “Good Morning Starshine”, concluding with, “The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)”. HAIR is quite the audio-visual explosion, taking audiences on a journey through the minds and hearts of its characters.
A small note of warning: this show does contain nudity, and features language and imagery that may be considered offensive. This is a reflection of the era and has remained key to the musical’s impact. HAIR unashamedly shows the counterculture that existed in a time of political and social unrest. And it is a wild, wild trip.
THREE AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Reviewer attended the opening night on 12 June 2026.
HAIR is playing at the Theatre Royal Sydney until 12 July 2026.
Tickets available here: Hair – Theatre Royal Sydney
Photo credit: Daniel Boud
