The opening night of Head Over Heels could have been a complete disaster. Days before the season commenced, the air conditioning system broke, the preview was cancelled completely, and one of the main performers was struck down with illness, unable to perform. Having the director announce this before the lights went down makes you wonder what you’re going to be in for.
Well, we needn’t have worried, as the show was polished, full of energy, and had the audience cheering and laughing throughout. Despite everything thrown at the cast and crew of Head Over Heels in the lead up to the opening night, the performance was nothing short of spectacular and utterly professional.
Lucy Lalor stepped in for the night as Pamela, very last-minute with a bejewelled iPad in hand, and didn’t look a fraction out of place. As a matter of fact, the entire cast is incredibly talented and exudes star quality. Including (but not limited to) Philoclea played by vocal powerhouse, Jenni Little, Basilius played by the king of Shakespeare, Thomas Campbell, and Pythio played by the radiant and glowing, Gaz Dutlow.
Head Over Heels is a musical based upon the Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney, adapted by James Magruder, and conceived by Jeff Whitty. Harnessing the songs of The Go-Go’s, the story of the King of Arcadia and his daughters is told through beloved pop songs such as ‘We got the beat’, ‘Heaven is a place on earth’, ‘Our lips are sealed’, and of course, ‘Head over heels’.
From the words of Director, Ellen Simpson, Head Over Heels, “… champions female, alongside queer and non-binary agency, set to the soundtrack of an all-female, 80s pop/punk band and thrown in a blender with all the best (and most absurd) bits of a Shakespearean comedy”. This production is just that – a mad blending of queer, Shakespeare, and pop music hits.
The staging, costuming, and lighting is bright and quirky, in the perfect venue, the Hayes Theatre Co. in Potts Point. Featuring a great band (with music direction by Zara Stanton) and killer choreography (by Assistant Director and Choreographer, Ryan Gonzalez), Head Over Heels is perfectly timed too, for this Mardi Gras season. What better way to celebrate than by go-going to see this joyfully queer musical production.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Reviewer attended opening night on 25 February 2026.
Head Over Heels is playing at the Hayes Theatre Co. until 22 March 2026.
Tickets available here: Head Over Heels | Hayes Theatre Co
Header image credit: Kate Williams
