Pretty Woman: The Musical is coming to Australia
Based on the iconic film, Samantha will play the role made famous worldwide by the much-loved Julia Roberts.
Samantha Jade has been a household name in Australia for many years since winning Channel 7's X Factor in 2012.
She has amassed a collective 91 million streams and 2.3 million sales worldwide, released a single with Pitbull (Shake That) and released her album NINE in 2015 which hit #2 on the ARIA charts.
The multi-talented Samantha has been a regular fixture on Australian television, starring as Kylie Minogue in the TV Miniseries INXS: Never Tear Us Apart, as well as an ongoing guest-starring role in Home & Away.
She has also toured with One Direction and Westlife and has headlined the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras twice.
In 2023, Samantha toured nationally with the Backstreet Boys and joined the cast of the second season of Celebrity Apprentice.
Most recently, Samantha danced her way to the top as the runner-up of Channel 7's 2024 Dancing With The Stars and released her infectious single Peachy.
The Broadway and West End smash hit musical PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical features music and lyrics by singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, alongside Jim Vallance.
The musical broke box office records at the Nederlander Theatre when making its Broadway debut in 2018 and has also wowed audiences in Spain, Italy, Poland and Germany as well as an extended West End season.
Once upon a time in the late '80s, Vivian met Edward and her life changed forever. Be swept up in their romance in this dazzlingly theatrical take on a love story for the ages – and get to
know these iconic characters in a whole new way – in a sensational show that took London's West End by storm, guaranteed to lift your spirits and light up your heart.
With a blazing rock score from GRAMMY® winners Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Summer of '69, Heaven), direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) and a book by the original movie's director Garry Marshall & screenwriter J.F. Lawton, a powerhouse creative team representing the best of music, Hollywood and Broadway ensures you'll have a pretty magical time at PRETTY WOMAN: The Musical.
Book your tickets for a trip to Rodeo Drive and get ready for a big night out. Big. Huge!
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
From 5 October 2025
From 30 November 2025
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Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
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'Gentle and generous' film critic David Stratton dies
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"He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks paid tribute to the prodigious film critic. "Incredible insight, a love of the craft of movie making and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry," he said. "He made an enormous contribution to the ABC that we will remember fondly. We are thinking of his family and friends at this time" Stratton's family issued a special request to movie goers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon. Veteran film critic David Stratton, whose partnership with Margaret Pomeranz made him a beloved figure on Australian TV screens, has died aged 85. His family announced his death on Thursday, telling the ABC he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," his family said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks paid tribute to the prodigious film critic. "Incredible insight, a love of the craft of movie making and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry," he said. "He made an enormous contribution to the ABC that we will remember fondly. We are thinking of his family and friends at this time" Stratton's family issued a special request to movie goers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon. Veteran film critic David Stratton, whose partnership with Margaret Pomeranz made him a beloved figure on Australian TV screens, has died aged 85. His family announced his death on Thursday, telling the ABC he died peacefully in hospital near his home in the Blue Mountains. "David's passion for film, commitment to Australian cinema, and generous spirit touched countless lives," his family said. "He was adored as a husband, father, grand and great grandfather and admired friend." Stratton retired in 2023 because of ill health, after a celebrated career as a film critic, writer, educator and historian that spanned 57 years. An English migrant who arrived in Australia as "ten pound Pom" in 1963, Stratton worked for SBS from 1980 as their film consultant and introduced the SBS Cinema Classics on Sunday nights. His best known role was co-hosting the long-running SBS TV program The Movie Show with Margaret Pomeranz, from 1986 to 2004, when they moved to the ABC to co-host At the Movies with Margaret and David. They retired from the show in 2014. He wrote six books and lectured in film history at the University of Sydney's Centre for Continuing Education until 2023. He also served as a jury member at many prestigious international film festivals throughout his career. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese celebrated Stratton as someone who had shared his love of film with the country "with dry humour and sharp insight". "All of us who tuned in to At the Movies respected him for his deep knowledge and for the gentle and generous way he passed it on," he posted on social media. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks paid tribute to the prodigious film critic. "Incredible insight, a love of the craft of movie making and a respect for his audience, David was a credit to our industry," he said. "He made an enormous contribution to the ABC that we will remember fondly. We are thinking of his family and friends at this time" Stratton's family issued a special request to movie goers, asking that they celebrate his "remarkable life and legacy" by watching their favourite movie, or David's favourite movie, Singin' In the Rain. "David's family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from friends, colleagues, and the public recently and across his lifetime," his family said. Details of a public memorial service are expected to be announced soon.
