Home and Away Star Returns to the Stage in Musical Theatre Classic

A well-known face from the Australian soap Home and Away is preparing to step into an iconic musical theatre role—and she will be sharing the spotlight with a very special castmate. Angelina Thomson, who has portrayed Kirby Aramoana on the long-running television drama, is set to star as Miss Adelaide in Opera Australia’s forthcoming production of Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour.

This new staging of the classic Broadway musical marks a significant homecoming for Thomson, who has extensive experience in musical theatre. Before joining the TV soap, she performed in shows such as A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Rent, Beautiful (the Carole King musical), Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Ragtime, following her training at Griffith University’s Queensland Conservatorium. The role of Miss Adelaide, originally made famous by Hollywood legend Vivian Blaine, allows Thomson to return to her theatre roots and showcase her vocal talents. The production also brings her personal and professional lives together, as her partner, Lachlan Dearing—fresh off touring with Hamilton—joins the ensemble.

Set in 1950s Manhattan, Guys & Dolls tells a story of gamblers, showgirls, and unexpected romance. Now, Opera Australia has announced the extended, all-star cast of supporting and ensemble performers who will join Thomson, Dearing, and the previously confirmed principal leads Cody Simpson (as Sky Masterson), Annie Aitken (as Sarah Brown), Jason Arrow (as Nicely Nicely Johnson), and Bobby Fox (as Nathan Detroit). According to Opera Australia, many of these additional cast members have graced the stages of recent smash-hit productions including Hamilton, West Side Story, Rent, The Phantom of the Opera, Elvis, and Cinderella, while several have also appeared on popular TV programs such as The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent, and Strictly Come Dancing.

Some of the returning performers—Doron Chester, Emma Feliciano, Joel Granger, Ewan Herdman, and Bronson Pfeiler—previously took the stage at Mrs Macquaries Point during West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. They will be joined by a host of other talented artists making their Guys & Dolls debuts, bringing the total number of cast members to 35. Four will mark a special milestone by launching their musical theatre careers in this production: Michelle Leung, Maddie Owen, Julian Seguna, and Billy Wilson.

Award-winning director Shaun Rennie leads this ambitious new venture, set to open on 21 March next year. The creative team features Brian Thomson, who has designed a larger-than-life sliver of New York City to float over the waters of Sydney’s Farm Cove, and Jennifer Irwin, whose costumes will evoke the glitz and glamour of 1950s Manhattan. Against the backdrop of the Sydney Opera House and the city skyline, audiences can expect a vivid spectacle of song and dance, complete with instantly recognizable tunes such as “Luck Be a Lady” (sung by Simpson’s Sky Masterson) and “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat” (performed by Arrow’s Nicely Nicely Johnson).

Regarded as one of Broadway’s finest musicals, Guys & Dolls first opened in 1950, running for more than 1200 performances and winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It was later adapted into a 1955 Hollywood film starring Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando, and most recently enjoyed a smash-hit revival on London’s West End. For this Opera Australia production, the unique open-air setting—complete with a floating stage—adds an extra layer of excitement to an already celebrated show.

Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour, which will run until 20 April. Supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, and with the International Foundation for Arts and Culture as Naming Rights Partner, the production promises to deliver an unforgettable evening of timeless melodies, high-stakes adventures, and vibrant choreography—an experience that should excite newcomers and musical theatre devotees alike.

Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour will play at Mrs Macquaries Point from 21 March to 20 April.

A well-known face from the Australian soap Home and Away is preparing to step into an iconic musical theatre role—and she will be sharing the spotlight with a very special castmate. Angelina Thomson, who has portrayed Kirby Aramoana on the long-running television drama, is set to star as Miss Adelaide in Opera Australia’s forthcoming production of Guys &…