This new Australian musical played to sold-out houses when it premiered at Melbourne Theatre Company in 2023. The fact that Tom Gleisner of Working Dog fame (The Castle, The Dish, Utopia, Have You Been Paying Attention?) wrote the book and lyrics was doubtless part of the appeal. Bloom (with music by Katie Weston) is set in an aged care home where the greedy owner decides to cut costs by offering free bed and board to uni students in exchange for unofficial shifts as care workers. But things don’t go according to plan. Directed by Dean Bryant, the heartwarming, uplifting musical is performed in Sydney by a cast including Vidya Makan, John Waters and Christie Whelan Brown.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

From the comedic genius of Working Dog’s Tom Gleisner, co-creator of Aussie classics The Castle, Frontline, The Dish and Utopia, comes Bloom – a cheeky, heartwarming and cross-generational musical that will have you dancing in the aisles and crying with laughter.

Beloved by audiences and critics alike, Bloom was the hottest ticket at Melbourne Theatre Company last year when it premiered to sold-out houses. Now having its Sydney premiere, Bloom features comedic icons Mandy McElhinney (No Pay? No Way!) and John Waters (Talk) along with returning cast members Evelyn Krape, Vidya Makan, Maria Mercedes, Eddie Muliaumaseali’i, John O’May, Christina O’Neill, Jackie Rees and Slone Sudiro.

The ambitious and greedy owner of Pine Grove Aged Care, Mrs MacIntyre (McElhinney), thinks she’s struck gold when she comes up with a brilliant plan to cut costs: offering free room and board to uni students in exchange for unofficial shifts as care workers. But the arrival of Finn Bailey (Sudiro), a layabout twenty-something with a heart of gold, throws her plan into disarray.