The Empire Announce 2026 Major Production
Following the incredible success of 2024’s Come From Away, The Empire is thrilled to announce the next in-house mainstage production, award-winning smash-hit coming of age jukebox musical, & JULIET.
Featuring the iconic nineties and noughties music of Swedish pop songwriter Max Martin, & JULIET premiered in 2019 on the West End, making its Australian debut in Melbourne in 2023 before touring to Perth and concluding in Sydney in 2024.
Coming to the stage in March 2026, The Empire is now taking expressions of interest for the & JULIET creative team, including the roles of Director, Choreographer, Music Director and Scenic Designer with auditions expected to be held later in 2025. Ticket buyers can join the waitlist now at empiretheatre.com.au.
#What’s New
The Empire faces the future with a clear vision and renewed direction following the appointment of a new Chair and four additional Directors to its Board.
The Empire celebrates a million-dollar milestone this month, with the Friends of The Empire having donated more than $1M to the theatre since the group’s formation in 1997.
The Empire has lowered the curtain on a dazzling season of the global pop musical & JULIET, with the hit production wrapping up its sensational six-show run on Sunday 22 March.
The Empire today announced that Mr Andrew Wielandt will retire from the Board of Empire Theatres Pty Ltd and step down as Chair on 17 April 2026, marking the conclusion of 19 years of dedicated service to the organisation and the arts community.
An all-singing, all-dancing, all-star cast of more than two dozen young performers will bring the worldwide smash-hit musical, & JULIET, to Toowoomba’s esteemed Empire Theatre in 2026.
The Empire Foundation has once again demonstrated its dedication to nurturing the next generation of performers, presenting the 2025 Youth Bursaries to outstanding young artists from across the region.
