Australia’s performing arts scene in 2025 has delivered a spectacular year of stagecraft, with a rich array of productions encompassing theatre, musicals, dance, and opera that have captured critics’ acclaim and captivated audiences nationwide.

Among the most praised was Sydney Theatre Company’s evocative adaptation of Picnic at Hanging Rock, transforming a beloved literary mystery into a haunting theatrical experience that resonated deeply with audiences.

The vibrant and wildly inventive musical Beetlejuice by Eddie Perfect dazzled in Melbourne and is set to tour nationally. Opera lovers were moved by Kaija Saariaho’s intense Innocence at the Adelaide Festival, a contemporary opera tackling profound themes with striking musical ingenuity.

Sydney’s touring rock-opera Jesus Christ Superstar and the nimble stage adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley also earned strong praise for their performances and direction.

The year embraced bold, experimental works such as Garry Starr’s exuberant one-man literary comedy Classic Penguins and the introspective Grief is the Thing with Feathers at Belvoir Street Theatre, each expanding the boundaries of live performance.

Provocative productions like Antigone in the Amazon examined urgent global themes, while the Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Illume offered striking choreography and visual design rooted in Indigenous perspectives. Comedic brilliance continued with Lou Wall’s meta-theatrical Breaking the Fifth Wall and the uproarious One Man Musical.

Theatre for younger and adventurous audiences thrived in innovative pieces like Sistren and POV, and reflective solo performance in William Yang: Milestone celebrated a remarkable artistic life. Classical opera from Opera Australia and West Australian Opera drew audiences with productions of Rusalka and other staples, underscoring the enduring appeal of the operatic canon.

This curated roster of the twenty best stage shows in Australia across 2025 affirms the vibrancy and diversity of the country’s live performance ecosystem and reflects a year of experimentation, excellence and broad cultural impact across cities and festivals nationwide.