After captivating more than two million theatregoers across five continents, Australia's beloved blue heeler is finally coming home. Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show will launch its highly anticipated Australian homecoming tour on 30 December in Melbourne, before visiting major cities and regional centres throughout 2026.
The theatrical adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning series has earned considerable acclaim during its global journey, with The Guardian awarding it five stars and calling it "a glorious celebration of everything you love about the show." Similarly, Broadway World's five-star review praised audiences' enthusiastic response, noting "full chair dancing and shrieks of joy."
What sets this production apart from typical children's theatre is its commitment to the source material's authentic voice. Original Bluey creator Joe Brumm has crafted a new story specifically for the stage, while composer Joff Bush provides the musical backdrop. The familiar voices of Melanie Zanetti (Mum) and David McCormack (Dad) from the television series anchor the production, lending continuity that young fans will immediately recognise.
The plot centres on a delightfully relatable domestic scenario: Dad wants some quiet time on his bean bag, but Bluey and Bingo have entirely different plans. As any parent will attest, the ensuing battle of wills provides rich material for both comedy and the kind of gentle life lessons that have made Bluey a phenomenon beyond children's entertainment.
Director Rosemary Myers, working with Adelaide's Windmill Theatre Company, faces the considerable challenge of translating animated characters to live performance. The solution lies in what producers describe as "brilliantly created puppets" operated by a cast yet to be announced. Early reviews suggest this approach successfully captures the energy and charm of the original series while offering something genuinely new.
The production's journey from Australian screens to international stages reflects the broader cultural impact of Bluey since its 2018 debut. The series has accumulated an impressive array of accolades, including BAFTA Children & Young People Award recognition, six AACTA awards for Best Children's Programme, and most recently, the 2025 TV WEEK Logie Award for Best Children's Program.
The Courier Mail's assessment that there's "no better show to inspire a lifelong love of the stage in your littlies" speaks to something beyond mere entertainment. Theatre has always served as many children's first encounter with live performance, and a beloved character can provide the perfect gateway to broader cultural appreciation.
What's particularly encouraging is The Australian Review's prediction that "Bluey's Big Play may be her first theatrical experiment, but I doubt it will be the last." This suggests the production succeeds not merely as licensed merchandise but as legitimate theatre that could pave the way for more sophisticated family programming.
The show's extensive itinerary includes stops in Canberra, Sydney, Wollongong, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, and the Gold Coast, demonstrating a commitment to reaching audiences beyond major metropolitan centres.
Pre-sale tickets become available to Bluey newsletter subscribers from 10am on Wednesday, 10 September, with general sales opening Friday, 12 September through blueylive.com.
For families seeking quality entertainment that respects both children's intelligence and parents' need for genuine engagement, Bluey's Big Play appears to deliver exactly what its global tour record suggests: a theatrical experience that honours its source while creating something distinctly suited to live performance.
(images: supplied)
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