Australian film classic The Castle comes to Melbourne theatre with new stage adaptation

Tell them they’re not dreaming: the Kerrigans are officially back!

Australia’s favourite battlers are set to take over the theatre next year, with beloved film The Castle set to swap the silver screen for the stage in a new play adaptation.

The 1997 classic, which follows the Kerrigan family on a David and Goliath battle to save their Strathmore home, has cemented itself as one of Australian’s favourite local films

While the movie has gained a cult-like following in the 29 years since its release, there has never been a sequel or adaptation made —until now.

The new stage play was written by the same creators behind the 1997 film — Australian comedy legends Rob Sitch, Tom Gleisner, Santo Cilauro, and Jane Kennedy — with the quartet also signing on as the play’s co-producers.

The Michael Cassel Group will produce the Melbourne-only performances alongside Working Dog, the company behind the original film.

Cassel revealed on Tuesday that he had first been approached about producing a theatrical version of The Castle two years ago, with the MJ: The Musical producer immediately agreeing to the offer.

“I just knew we had to do this,” Mr Cassel told Australian media about the new show.

“The film miraculously captures the specificity of Australian life and yet feels so universally true: family love, the challenges change presents, and the warmth and humour and dignity of ordinary people standing up for what matters. It makes you laugh, and then makes you cry.

“This is exactly what live theatre does best and why The Castle was always destined for the stage.”

While limited information has been revealed about the play so far, the announcement said the new staging would retain “all your favourite scenes and characters from the iconic film” while also introducing “new laughs and contemporary references” – teasing that the story may occur in a more modern setting.

Paige Rattray has been slated to direct the new production, following her success working on the Netflix reboot of Heartbreak High.

Comedian, writer and actor Rob Sitch said the plan to adapt the film into a theatre production has been privately unfolding for decades.

“Over the best part of 25 years we have never lost our desire to turn The Castle into a live stage show — not just a retelling of the story, but a quarter of a century of funny updates,” he revealed in a statement.

“We wrote this new, fully updated show in the same way that we wrote the film screenplay all those years ago — the four of us in a room trying to make each other laugh.

“Our goal was to capture the warmth and humour of the original story in a way that will hopefully resonate with new and long-term fans alike.”

The new theatrical play will make its Melbourne debut at Her Majesty’s Theatre from March 2027 — with the show’s premiere marking 30 years since the movie first won the nation’s heart.

Tickets for The Castle On Stage are available for purchase now.