The cast of a new national production of “Steel Magnolias” has been revealed, made up of some of Australia’s most recognisable screen actors.
Directed by Lee Lewis and produced by Neil Gooding and Alex Woodward, the production brings together Lisa McCune, Belinda Giblin, Debra Lawrance, Mandy Bishop, Jessica Redmayne and Lotte Beckett, marking a rare chance to see a cohort of television favourites sharing the stage.
The touring show will open at Brisbane’s QPAC in April 2026 before making its way to Sydney in May, Wollongong and Canberra in June, and Perth and Melbourne in July. Tickets are available now – see here for details.
Gold Logie winner Lisa McCune will take on the role of M’Lynn, with “Home and Away” alumni well represented: Belinda Giblin as the sharp-tongued Ouiser, Debra Lawrance as the elegant Clairee and current cast member Jessica Redmayne as Shelby. Mandy Bishop will play salon owner Truvy, while Lotte Beckett rounds out the ensemble as Annelle.
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Lewis said the casting process was driven by a desire to honour the emotional weight and cultural legacy of the play. “Asembling a magic cast for this very special play has been a real joy,” she said. “This story means so much to so many people and I can’t wait to bring everyone together to revisit all the love, laughter and tears that fill Truvy’s salon. A dream cast for a play that lives in all our dreams.”
Set almost entirely inside Truvy’s beauty salon, Steel Magnolias centres on a group of women in a small Southern town as they navigate the milestones and setbacks of everyday life. Through weddings, births, break-ups and loss, the salon becomes a refuge where humour, honesty and friendship offer resilience in the face of tragedy.
The play has a long history in Australia, first opening at Sydney’s Seymour Centre in 1988 before touring yo Melbourne. That original production featured a cast including Maggie Dence, Nancye Hayes, Melissa Jaffer, Genevieve Lemon, Pat McDonald and a then-unknown Nicole Kidman in her professional stage debut.
Nearly four decades on, Steel Magnolias continues to resonate, combining sharp dialogue, emotional depth and a celebration of female friendship. This new Australian production aims to introduce the story to a new generation while offering longtime fans a fresh take on a modern classic.
For more information, see here.