A New Kind of Night
I didn’t know what I was walking into last night at the Hedwig and the Angry Inch Melbourne premiere. It was my first RISING Melbourne event, my first red carpet, and definitely my first “trash glam” moment. Dressed in a black suit with a gold chain, I felt almost too polished for the chaos and creativity around me. However, as soon as I stepped inside the Athenaeum Theatre, I realised none of that mattered. Everyone was there to celebrate something louder, braver, and far more human than any dress code.
From my seat in the dress circle gallery, I looked down at the circular glitter curtain hiding the stage and felt this buzzing anticipation. Indeed, I didn’t know then that I was about to become a forever fan of someone who, until now, I’d only heard about.
Seann Miley Moore: A Star in Every Sense
When the curtain dropped and Seann Miley Moore walked out as Hedwig, everything shifted. His voice—fierce, wounded, playful, powerful—grabbed the entire room from the first note of Tear Me Down. I’d heard Roslyn Foo call his performance in Miss Saigon “spellbinding.” However, what he did as Hedwig went beyond spellbinding. It was fearless.
Moore didn’t just perform the role. He lived it. He gave Hedwig a heartbeat that pulsed through every beat of the show. Every glance, every lyric, every monologue felt pulled from somewhere real. And as much as it was about Hedwig’s story, it started to feel like ours too. There was a battered door on stage, kicked again and again throughout the night. It became a kind of release, a symbol of the stories we carry, the versions of ourselves we try to leave behind but never fully can.
Laughter, Longing and the Loud Bits in Between
The show runs straight through—85 minutes with no interval—but not once did I look at the time. For example, I laughed properly when Moore slipped on a Trump campaign cap mid-rant, a moment that felt both hilarious and weirdly spot-on. But I also found myself blinking back tears during The Origin of Love, sung with such tenderness alongside Adam Noviello’s beautifully layered Yitzhak.
The German accent was on point. The sass, the stings, the longing—they all landed. Directors Shane Anthony and Dino Dimitriadis created something so tightly held yet emotionally loose that the show never felt scripted. It felt lived in.
This Wasn't Just Theatre
Ultimately, by the end, when the final number hit and the crowd stood up together, clapping and cheering and fully in it, I didn’t feel like an audience member anymore. I felt like part of something. The band, the lights, the choreography, the voices—it was overwhelming in the best possible way.
It reminded me why live performance matters. Not just for the spectacle or the escape, but for the way it lets us recognise parts of ourselves through someone else’s story.
More Than a Performance, A Personal Turning Point
Furthermore, there were familiar faces in the crowd—Georgia Love, Will Conyers, Pettifleur Berenger, Jesse Simpson, Bayley Turner, Chiara Mascaro, Milo Hartil, Mitchell France—but none of that outshone what was happening on stage.
For me, this night marked something personal. I walked in unsure of what to expect and walked out completely changed. Seann Miley Moore didn’t just win me over—he left me wanting more. I’ve never said this about a performer before, but I would watch him read a weather report if it meant seeing him bring that same truth and presence. He has that rare quality you can’t teach or fake. You just feel it when it’s there.
Cast & Creative Line-up
Here’s who brought this gloriously audacious production to life:
- Hedwig: Seann Miley Moore
- Yitzhak: Adam Noviello
- Lead (Keyboards): Amy Hack
- Musical Director & Keyboards: Victoria Falconer
- Guitars / Associate Musical Director: Glenn Moorhouse
- Drums: Jarrad Payne
- Co-Directors: Shane Anthony & Dino Dimitriadis
- Set Designer: Jeremy Allen
- Costume Designers: Nicol & Ford
- Lighting: Geoff Cobham
- Choreographer: Amy Campbell
- Sound Designer: Jamie Mensforth
- Soundscape Designer: Jason Sweeney
- Consent & Community: Bayley Turner
- Producer: David M. Hawkins (Showtune Productions)
- Band Name: The Angry Inch
Plan Your Visit
- Where: Athenaeum Theatre, Collins Street, Melbourne
- When: Until 29 June (part of RISING Melbourne)
- Duration: 85 minutes, no interval
- Age Recommendation: 15+ (strong language, strobe lights, theatrical smoke, loud music)
Tickets: Secure yours through Rising Melbourne site
Why Hedwig and the Angry Inch Melbourne is Unmissable
This wasn’t just my first RISING Melbourne event—it was a moment that changed how I see theatre, largely thanks to Hedwig and the Angry Inch Melbourne. It reminded me how live performance can break down barriers and forge unexpected connections. Seann Miley Moore gave everything. He gave Hedwig life. And I walked out not just a satisfied audience member, but a lifelong fan.
This is the kind of show that stays with you. Take it in, let it move you, and don’t be surprised if it changes you, too.
Editor’s Note:
“I last saw Seann Miley Moore’s spectacular performance at Miss Saigon and he remained the most memorable cast from the outstanding show. Seeing Seann again on stage is a real treat, the way he connects to the audience through raw emotions has now turned me into his forever fan. And his voice? More spectacular than I remembered. Congrats Seann and co!” Roslyn Foo
“I last saw Seann Miley Moore’s spectacular performance at Miss Saigon and he remained the most memorable cast from the outstanding show. Seeing Seann again on stage is a real treat, the way he connects to the audience through raw emotions has now turned me into his forever fan. And his voice? More spectacular than I remembered. Congrats Seann and co!” Roslyn Foo
Disclaimer: This was an invited experience by Good Humans PR, attended by Roslyn Foo and Akash Sutar on Wednesday 18th June 2025. As per Glamorazzi’s editorial policy, our reviews remain honest and independent
