It’s the last year of high school for 17-year-old Josephine Alibrandi and she can’t wait for her life to begin – if only she could escape the expectations of her migrant Italian family, now living in Sydney. Melina Marchetta’s beloved coming-of-age novel was published in 1992 and turned into a popular film in 2000. This theatrical adaptation by Vidya Rajan, originally produced by Brink Productions, arrives in Adelaide after sold-out performances in Melbourne and Sydney in 2022. Directed by Stephen Nicolazzo, the production stars Chanella Macri as Josie, Lucia Mastrantone as her loving mother Christina and Jennifer Vuletic as her Nonna.

Limelight Editor’s Choice

An iconic Australian coming-of-age novel takes centre stage.

It’s the last year of school and 17-year-old Josephine Alibrandi can’t wait for her future to begin – if only she can get past the world of her Nonna, holding onto the values of the old country and the world of her Mum, full of care and secrets. It’s time to take her place in the real world, beyond her family, beyond being an Alibrandi.

But this is the year Josie gets to know her father. This is the year she falls in love. And this is the year she uncovers the truth – and finds the Alibrandi she has been searching for.

Three generations of women. The Italian-Australian experience. A trip back into the 1990s. A theatrical adaptation of the beloved iconic Australian novel and groundbreaking film, fresh from sold out seasons in Sydney and Melbourne will have its Adelaide premiere in 2025. Directed by the new Artistic Director of Brink Productions, Stephen Nicolazzo, there’s a new Josie coming this way!