The toe-tapping musical is set in the midst of celebrations for the end of World War II, in the summer of 1946, with swing tunes taking over the Playhouse from July 9 to 30.

Tickets are now on sale for the QPAC Queensland Theatre co-production of this unashamedly feel-good, locally produced show.

The story follows Frank Doyle, an Aboriginal serviceman, who finds on his return to Brisbane after serving in World War II that while his world is forever changed, race relations in his home-town haven’t changed much at all.

So in pursuit of a better life, music and laughter, he sets up The Sunshine Club, where he can dance with the beautiful girl next door Rose, and invite everyone to meet, mingle and sway the night away.

Award winning singer songwriter and actor Marcus Corowa takes on the pivotal role of Frank, coming straight from his recent hit as one of the Drifters in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, as well as other acclaimed performances in Opera Australia’s Bran Nue Dae and Sydney Theatre Company’s The Secret River.

Internationally acclaimed Nunukul and Ngugi playwright and director Wesley Enoch AM is directing the revival – returning to the Queensland Theatre where he was artistic director from 2010 to 2015 to remount the work he was commissioned to write and create at just 28 years of age.

The joyous musical was first performed at the Playhouse in 1999, launching the careers of artists such as Wesley, David and Stephen Page, Roxanne McDonald, Ursula Yovich, Wayne Blair, Elaine Crombie, Tessa Rose and Christen O’Leary.

Roxanne will reprise her role as Aunty Faith, returning to the stage that launched her stellar career starring in more than 50 mainstage plays around the country.

Several other creatives from the original production will also return, including composer John Rodgers, musical director Wayne Freer and costume designer Richard Roberts, who will combine forces with a new generation of talent including choreographer Yolande Brown, set designer Jacob Nash, lighting designer Ben Hughes and sound designer Derek Wilson.

This time around soprano and The Voice alumni Irena Lysiuk will play Rose Morris, the girl of Frank’s dreams and the Reverend’s daughter. She is a Queensland Conservatorium graduate and has worked extensively with Opera Queensland and The Little Red Company.

Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Lee Lewis said the timing of the revival of the Sunshine Club couldn’t be sweeter, with audiences in need of a feel-good local show to help recover from recent floods and the pandemic.

“The love story between Christen O’Leary as Rose and David Page as Frank lit up Brisbane hearts 20 years ago, and now we are poised to fall in love with Irena and Marcus, new young voices to fill us with hope for a new future,” she said.

“The huge heart inside this musical will burst onto the stage reminding us all that resilience is made up of generosity, community, laughter and love. This will be a celebration of great talent, great ambition and the power of music and dance to bring us all together.”

It’s the first major co-production for QPAC and Queensland Theatre since last year’s smash hit of the world premiere of Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe.

QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas said it was particularly special seeing The Sunshine Club return to where it all began at the Playhouse, to continue its journey of bringing together generations of Queensland and First Nations artists.

“This season will showcase a wealth of homegrown Queensland talent,” Mr Kotzas said.

“More than 20 years later, we hope The Sunshine Club will encourage reflection but also make us to look to the future. The sharing of knowledge and truth across generations will be powerful, distilled through First Nations storytellers like Jacob Nash and Yolande Brown, who have worked closely with original choreographer Stephen Page at Bangarra Dance Theatre.

“We hope it is just as powerful for our audiences.”

The musical received wide acclaim during its initial run, with a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Choreography in a Musical, a Deadly Award for Excellence in Film or Theatrical Score and Matilda Award for book, lyrics and direction.

Queensland Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch said The Sunshine Club was a joyful First Nations story with music that shines a light on a diversity of voices.

“It is wonderful to see two major arts organisations, QPAC and Queensland Theatre, work together to spread some sunshine at the Playhouse Theatre in presenting a fresh new production of this popular theatre production,” Ms Enoch said.