After sold-out seasons in Melbourne and Sydney and a powerful reception from audiences and students alike, Looking for Alibrandi is back—this time on a highly anticipated national tour. The stage adaptation of Melina Marchetta’s iconic novel brings the fierce, funny and deeply emotional story of Josie Alibrandi to new audiences across Australia sparking conversations around identity, racism, belonging, and womanhood—issues that remain as vital today as they were when the novel first hit shelves in 1992.
Adapted for the stage by Vidya Rajan and directed by award-winning theatre-maker Stephen Nicolazzo (Loaded, Merciless Gods), Looking for Alibrandi brings to life the story that first gave voice to a generation of young migrants navigating culture, class, and identity in 1990s Australia.
At the heart of the story is Josie Alibrandi, a whip-smart, ambitious teenager in her final year of high school. A third-generation Italian-Australian navigating scholarship pressures, strict family expectations, romance, and the long shadow of inherited trauma, Josie’s journey is both timeless and urgently relevant.
The production was originally commissioned by Malthouse Theatre and co-presented with Belvoir, where it became one of Belvoir’s top-selling shows of the past decade. With over 20,000 audience members across Melbourne and Sydney, including more than 2,200 students and five sold-out education matinees, Looking for Alibrandi proved its enduring power and cultural resonance.
Audiences can expect a theatrical feast: from live pasata sauce-making to traditional Italian music and a nostalgic soundtrack of Australian pop hits, the production is rich with sensory detail and Mediterranean flair. The cast includes original stars Chanella Macri, Lucia Mastrantone, and Jennifer Vuletic, joined by South Australian performers Ashton Malcolm, Riley Warner, and Chris Asimos.
The production contains mature themes including references to suicide, domestic violence, and discriminatory language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Looking for Alibrandi is supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
