The sound of rebellion is shaking Melbourne. One of Broadway’s most electrifying hits, School of Rock The Musical opened on 1st November 2025 at National Theatre Melbourne, presented by Theatrical Inc, and it delivered exactly what you want from this show: noise, cheek, kids being brilliant on stage and a big, warm message about the power of music.
After winning hearts across Australia during its 2018–2020 national tour, School of Rock has made a much-anticipated return to where its Australian journey began. The first production opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne in 2018 before touring to Brisbane and Sydney, earning standing ovations and rave reviews. Seeing it back in Melbourne with a local creative team and a cast that’s clearly put in the hours felt like the right kind of comeback.
School of Rock: A Musical Story That Shreds
What I loved is that the story still lands. Based on the beloved 2003 film starring Jack Black, the musical follows Dewey Finn, a scruffy musician with a big heart and even bigger dreams. When he accidentally lands a substitute teaching job at a prestigious prep school, Dewey has zero intention of following the rules. Instead, he teaches the kids how to turn their instruments up, let go of expectations and build a band that can blow the roof off.
The score is powered by original songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and a book by Julian Fellowes. And the big numbers hit live. “You’re in the Band” got a huge cheer from the audience, “Stick It to the Man” has been stuck in my head since, and “If Only You Would Listen” carried the story with a mix of energy, wit and heart. Every song feels unapologetically bold, catchy, loud, and full of soul – the kind of music that makes you want to get up and move.
An Award Winning Musical Presented By Andrew Gyopar And Theatrical Inc.
When School of Rock first exploded onto Broadway, it earned the label of a New York Times Critics’ Pick and was described as “an inspiring jolt of energy, joy and mad skillz!” by Entertainment Weekly. Reuters said, “Andrew Lloyd Webber has Broadway rocking again.” Those are big shoes to fill, and this staging does a good job of honouring that legacy.
The musical earned four Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, and the West End run went on to win the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music. This Melbourne production leans into that pedigree but makes it accessible for local audiences. You can tell it’s designed to be fun, not intimidating.
Behind the Musical: Creative Team
Powering this Melbourne season is Theatrical Inc, bringing together a standout local creative team determined to capture the wild energy of the original Broadway and West End productions. The show is directed by Cody Riker (a Regional Tony Award winner), with musical direction by Mal Fawcett, choreography by Jaimee White, and executive production by Andrew Gyopar, with Carla Maggio De Leo as Production Manager.
Known for its community-driven ethos and accessible approach to theatre-making, Theatrical Inc has assembled a team that doesn’t just replicate the original but amplifies it with a distinctly Melbourne attitude. Every lighting cue, drum solo and comedic beat is designed to make the stage feel less like a classroom and more like a rock concert.
Watching it live, you can see how much care went into the staging. Sets kept changing smoothly, transitions were clean, the lighting followed the mood of each scene, and the live music from underneath the stage was such a good surprise! For a few minutes I thought they were using a track, then I saw the conductor and loved it even more. So this section deserves to say it clearly: the creative team pulled off a tight, good-looking, high-energy production.
Meet the Cast of School of Rock Melbourne
At the centre of it all is John Yanko as Dewey Finn, stepping into the spotlight for his stage debut after his appearance on ABC’s The Piano. And I need to say this the way I felt it: John as Dewey felt like butter on toast. It was perfect. He had the slightly feral rock energy, he was funny, he bounced off the kids so naturally and he carried the show without making it about him.
Joining him on stage are Anna Dinyes as Rosalie Mullins, Dylan Crawley as Ned Schneebly and Imogen Alexander as Patty Di Marco – all of them adding personality and comic timing, keeping the adult track of the story grounded while Dewey and the kids go rogue.
“School of Rock is a show where people can have a laugh, a great time and enjoy themselves,” says John Yanko. “As a huge fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I am so excited to be playing the part of Dewey Finn in this incredible show with this wonderful cast and production team.”
Students At The School of Rock
This is the part I was most impressed by. The young cast did not look like they were just put on stage to be cute – they looked rehearsed, confident and honestly, very talented.
Ayda Melody Hendricks as Summer deserves more than a passing mention. Summer is the organised, slightly bossy, fully committed student who decides to manage the band, and Ayda played every layer of that. She could snap into “I’m the class topper” mode and then immediately switch to “I’m running this band now” without losing the humour. She brought justice to the character and made it fun.
"Ayda Melody's lead performance was a luminous delight. She commanded the stage, embodying the vibrant spark of Melbourne's independent theatre—a scene that forges raw talent into the spectacular, world-class performers our city is known for."
Roslyn Foo, CEO of Glamorazzi.
Elliot Hayes as Billy was another one I couldn’t stop watching. I actually turned to Roslyn and said he was so adorable I could eat him up – and I meant it in the most wholesome, theatre-aunty way possible. He held his character, stayed present, and every time he was on stage the audience smiled.
And Ethan Nigli as Freddie on drums? That was proper competence. For a moment I genuinely thought the drums were pre-recorded, but no – he was playing, keeping time and looking like he belonged there. Seeing kids perform at that standard made me really appreciate how many hours must have gone into this production.
As someone who has done theatre back in India and once wanted to pursue acting properly (parents had other plans 😅), watching these kids be so free on stage hit me a bit. It’s nice to see young talent actually getting a platform like this.
Live Experience: What to Expect at The School of Rock
When the lights dropped and the first guitar riff growled through the room, the theatre turned into a buzzing concert hall. This isn’t a musical that tiptoes onto the stage. It storms in. And the audience responded. People clapped before scenes ended, laughed at the punchlines from both adults and kids, and really got into the big musical numbers.
Every chord and drumbeat was performed live. There’s no backing track, no safety net – just real musicianship. The pacing was relentless, the humour was deliciously cheeky and the atmosphere stayed electric right till the final anthem.
The Stage: National Theatre Melbourne
The 2025 Melbourne season of School of Rock takes place at the historic National Theatre Melbourne in St Kilda, a venue that has hosted some of the city’s most exciting theatrical events. Known for its grand interior, intimate acoustics and heritage charm, the theatre was transformed into a full-scale concert hall for this production. Guitar solos carried, the set changes were clear from every seat and the classic theatre look matched the “school meets rock show” vibe perfectly.
A Friends and Family Night in St. Kilda
One of the reasons School of Rock continues to strike a chord is because it lets everyone enjoy it at the same time. Parents who loved the original movie get the nostalgia. Kids get to see kids on stage actually playing. Friends get to cheer for their friends. That’s exactly what I saw in the room – families, younger audiences, and theatre lovers, all clapping along by the end.
It’s family entertainment without being sugary. A little rebellious, a little loud and a whole lot of fun. For theatre lovers, music fans and anyone who once dreamt of being in a band, this is an easy recommendation.
“School of Rock is a show about growing up, finding your passion, and also lifting each other up,” says Director Cody Riker. “For a musical that is based on a twenty year old movie, the nostalgia truly elevates this piece.I have loved working with this truly beautiful and chaotic group of kids and adults”
Tickets and Dates for this Melbourne Hit Musical
School of Rock The Musical opened 1 November 2025 at National Theatre Melbourne. Tickets are available via booktickets.com.au. It’s a short, high-energy run, so it’s worth booking while it’s still playing.
Final Bell
School of Rock isn’t a show you watch from a distance. It’s something you feel. It’s funny, loud, cheeky and deeply human. I walked out delighted – partly because it was my first Melbourne musical, partly because it reminded me why I loved theatre in the first place, and mostly because those kids were giving it everything. I’ve already recommended it to my friends here. If you want a light, feel-good night out in Melbourne, You should go too.
Disclaimer: Glamorazzi representatives Mehak Anand and Roslyn Foo attended the opening night of School of Rock The Musical on 1st November 2025 at National Theatre Melbourne, invited by AE Creative Communications. All opinions expressed are our own.
