Acclaimed Bob Dylan Musical 'Girl From the North Country' Is Coming to Brisbane This Year

Head interstate to see a big show, or cross your fingers that it comes to Brisbane? When it comes to huge theatre productions, that's the regular dilemma. Thankfully, the musicals and plays that don't premiere on our turf tend to make their way here eventually — and West End and Broadway hit Girl From the North Country is about to become one of them.

For Bob Dylan fans, that name will be familiar. It's the title of one of the legendary folk singer's 1963 songs — a tune that features in this musical, naturally. Indeed, the entire show uses Dylan's tracks, including everything from 'Like a Rolling Stone' and 'Hurricane' to 'Slow Train' and 'I Want You', all weaved throughout a story of American life during the Great Depression.

Girl From the North Country enjoyed its Australian premiere at this year's Sydney Festival, and is also headed to Melbourne from April; however, to save you the trip interstate, it's coming to Brisbane as well as part of Brisbane Festival 2022. So, block out Thursday, September 8 in your diary, as that's when its season will get started at QPAC's Lyric Theatre.

Story-wise, the musical is set in a guesthouse in the US state of Minnesota in 1934. The narrative revolves around owner Nick, who is deeply in debt; his wife Elizabeth, whose mind is fraying; and their pregnant daughter Marianne — as well as a bible-slinging preacher and a boxer endeavouring to make a comeback.

Overseas, Girl From the North Country has enjoyed sell-out seasons since it first debuted in London in 2017 — heading from The Old Vic to West End, next leaping to the US for an off-Broadway run, and then hitting up Toronto, returning to West End and premiering on Broadway before the pandemic in early 2022.

And locally, the debut Aussie season stars Lisa McCune (The King and I, South Pacific), Terence Crawford (Escape From Pretoria, 1984) and Helen Dallimore (Wicked, Legally Blonde).

Girl From the North Country will play at QPAC's Lyric Theatre from Thursday, September 8–Sunday, September 18 as part of Brisbane Festival 2022. For further information or to buy tickets, head to the QPAC website.