Currently playing at Melbourne’s Gasworks Creative Precinct (Gasworks Theatre), Urinetown: The Musical arrives with all the irreverence and anarchic humour that has earned it cult status. Under the steady hand of director David Miles, this production proves both entertaining and unexpectedly affecting, complemented by some excellent performances.
Winner of three Tony Awards, Urinetown (with music and lyrics by Mark Hollmann and book and lyrics by Greg Kotis) is no ordinary musical. Its premise, a dystopian city where a 20-year drought has outlawed private toilets, sets the stage for a gleefully subversive satire.
Corporate greed, political spin, and social inequality are all squarely in the firing line, yet the show never loses its sense of fun. This production leans confidently into that tonal balancing act, delivering laughs while letting the story’s sharper edges land.
At the centre is Mackinnley Bowden’s earnest and compelling Bobby Strong, a reluctant revolutionary whose journey anchors the chaos with genuine heart. Opposite him, Elise Kurvink brings warmth and clarity to Hope Cladwell, while Sam Pearce relishes every moment as the delightfully villainous Caldwell B. Cladwell.
Particular praise must go to Adam Wojcik as Officer Lockstock, whose charismatic narration keeps the audience in on the joke, while Declan McGavin’s Officer Barrel provides a strong and often very funny foil. Alexandra Sutherland’s Penelope Pennywise is commanding and vocally assured, and Tara Cunneen’s Little Sally offers a perfectly pitched blend of innocence and knowing wit.
Daniel Beratis brings a quirky edge to Hot Blades Harry, Lucy Rosenblum is delightfully earnest as Little Becky Two-Shoes, and Isaac Lane’s Senator Fipp injects a sly comedic sensibility into the political satire. The supporting cast is impressively well-rounded, ensuring that even its most absurd moments feel grounded and engaging, whether as downtrodden citizens or riotous rebels.
Musically, the show is in excellent hands under Charlotte Black, whose band delivers a vibrant and well-balanced score, supported seamlessly by Steve Cooke’s crisp sound design.
Lena-Jean Lamshed’s choreography is playful and inventive, executed with polish by the cast, while the cohesive visual world, shaped by Robbie Carmellotti’s set, Clare Hampson’s costumes and Josh Trippett’s lighting, captures the show’s dystopian environment with flair.
What makes this production of Urinetown truly stand out is how it embraces the show’s meta-theatrical humour and biting satire without losing sight of its humanity. The production is thought-provoking as it is entertaining, one that leaves the audience laughing one moment and perhaps just a little unsettled the next.
Urinetown: The Musical
Gasworks Theatre – Gasworks Creative Precinct, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park
Performance: Friday 20 March 2026
Season continues to 28 March 2026
Bookings: www.gasworks.org.au
For more information, visit: www.bottledsnail.com for details.
Images: The Cast of Urinetown: The Musical – photo by Tongue & Groove Entertainment | Adam Wojcik and Mackinnley Bowden in Urinetown: The Musical – photo by Tongue & Groove Entertainment | Daniel Beratis, Elise Kurvink and Lucy Rosenbaum in Urinetown: The Musical – photo by Tongue & Groove Entertainment
Review: Rohan Shearn