Girl From the North Country

Overview

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.

After playing down south, Girl From the North Country is coming to Brisbane as part of this year's Brisbane Festival. So, block out Thursday, September 8 in your diary, as that's when its season will kick off at QPAC's Lyric Theatre — running through until Sunday, September 18.

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), Peter Kowitz (Janet King) and Helen Dallimore (Wicked, Legally Blonde).

Images: Tristram Kenton.