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West End Welcomes Global Visualisation Studio Proof Inc

West End is now home to the Australian studio of internationally recognised visualisation company Proof Inc, marking the company’s return to Australia with a permanent local base after years of working with productions across the region.

Read: Star-Studded Past: Historic Kinauld Residence in Highgate Hill and its Hollywood Guests

The Los Angeles-headquartered company has opened Proof Australia in West End, with executive producer Katrina Peers leading the local operation. The studio will support productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region while working alongside Proof’s existing offices in Los Angeles and London.

The move marks a return to Australia for Proof, which has maintained relationships with Australian artists and producers for around two decades. The company first established an Australian presence in Melbourne in 2005 before formally incorporating Proof Australia in Sydney in 2012. It later registered an operation in New Zealand in 2014.

Although its earlier Australian studio closed during the pandemic, Proof continued working with Australian-based artists and production partners. The new West End studio establishes Brisbane as the company’s Australian base, strengthening its ability to support productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific.

Katrina Peers will oversee the Brisbane operation, bringing experience in production, operations and creative development. Her background includes senior development and production roles at Animal Logic, where she worked on films including Happy Feet and Legend of the Guardians. In her new role, Ms Peers will focus on expanding relationships with Australian productions, creative talent and industry partners while overseeing the studio’s regional growth.

The Brisbane office is also intended to improve collaboration across multiple time zones while supporting feature films, television, streaming, gaming and live entertainment projects throughout the region.

About Proof Inc

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Proof Inc. describes itself as the world’s first studio dedicated exclusively to visualisation. The company provides services including pitch visualisation, previsualisation, technical visualisation, stunt visualisation, postvisualisation, virtual production and animation for feature films, television, streaming, gaming and live entertainment.

Over more than two decades, the company has contributed to major productions including the Harry Potter films, Star Wars: Starfighter, Michael, and films within the Jurassic World, Fast & Furious and Avatar franchises.

Proof also has a long history of working on productions filmed in Australia. Its local credits include Charlotte’s Web in Melbourne, The Ruins on the Gold Coast, I, Frankenstein in Melbourne, and The Vatican Tapes, Gods of Egypt and The Age of Adaline in Sydney.

Founder and chief executive Ron Frankel said Australia has been an important part of the company’s international history, with Proof collaborating with Australian filmmakers and artists for many years. He said establishing a permanent Brisbane base would allow the company to better support productions in the region while continuing to expand its international creative network.

Read: Folk-Pop Artist Lucy Gallant Heads Back to Brisbane With LOVEfest Performance

The opening of the West End studio establishes Brisbane as Proof’s Australian base as the company continues supporting screen productions across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Published 12-July-2026

West End Park Death Leads To Unlawful Striking Charge

Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

A Yeronga man has been charged after a 66-year-old West End man died from injuries suffered during an alleged altercation at a park near Thomas Street and Vulture Street.

West End Man Dies After Alleged Park Altercation

A Yeronga man has been charged after a 66-year-old West End man died from injuries suffered during an alleged altercation at a park near Thomas Street and Vulture Street.

Police allege the two men were at the West End park about 12:23 am on 5 July when an altercation occurred. The men were not known to each other.

It will be alleged the 27-year-old man struck the older man, causing him to fall and sustain a serious head injury.

The 66-year-old West End man was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.

West End park death — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Arrest Made In Fortitude Valley

Detectives later arrested 27-year-old Isaiah Andrew Louis Graham at Fortitude Valley on the evening of 5 July.

He was charged with one count of unlawful striking causing death and two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

The charges followed investigations into the alleged incident at the West End park earlier that day.

Court Matter To Return In July

Mr Graham appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 6 July, where the matter was briefly heard.

He will remain in custody, with the matter due to return to court in July.

No exact return date was provided.

Police Seek Information

Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact Policelink or Crime Stoppers.

Information can be provided to Policelink through the online suspicious activity form, which is available 24 hours a day.

Crime information can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

The police reference number is QP2601302298.

Published 6-July-2026

Commercial Rowing Club Celebrates Australian Selection for two Rising Athletes

West End’s Commercial Rowing Club is celebrating the selection of Scott McDonald and Flynn O’Loughlin in Australia’s Under 19 B Team for the 2026 International Rowing Challenge in the United States.

Read: Veteran Sprinter Cameron McEvoy Becomes First Australian Swimmer to Compete in Four Olympics

The pair began their rowing journeys through Brisbane State High School before continuing their development with Commercial Rowing Club. In July, they will join Australia’s emerging rowing squad for the International Rowing Challenge, gaining valuable overseas racing experience as part of the national development pathway.

Years of dedication rewarded

Photo credit: Instagram/@flynnandscott_aus

Selection in the Australian Under 19 B Team follows years of steady development for both rowers, who have built strong reputations through consistent performances and commitment to the sport.

McDonald has been rowing for the past three years, beginning at Brisbane State High School before joining Commercial Rowing Club. His selection for Australia marks another milestone in his rowing journey.

On his Australian Sports Foundation fundraising page, McDonald describes that journey simply: “My name is Scott; I’ve been rowing for the last 3 years. First for Brisbane State High, then for Commercial Rowing Club, and now, hopefully, for Australia.”

That ambition has now become reality. Rowing Queensland has recognised McDonald as one of the state’s dependable young athletes, highlighting his consistency, composure under pressure and team-first attitude. He has also been recognised as a high-achieving student and a leader within his rowing program.

For O’Loughlin, the opportunity also carries family significance. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, Ted O’Loughlin, who represented Australia at the 1974 World Championships.

After five years with Brisbane State High School’s rowing program and two years at Commercial Rowing Club, O’Loughlin has earned recognition for his leadership, composure under pressure and commitment to continually refining his technique. Rowing Queensland has also highlighted his curiosity, problem-solving approach and ability to take ownership of his own development.

His Australian Sports Foundation campaign reflects on another milestone in his rowing career. In 2025, O’Loughlin rowed in Brisbane State High School’s First VIII crew that finished third at the GPS Head of the River, marking the school’s first podium finish in 48 years.

The following year, O’Loughlin and McDonald paired together at the Australian Rowing Championships, where they won the silver medal in the pair event.

O’Loughlin’s fundraising campaign describes his selection for the International Rowing Challenge as the result of years of hard work, discipline and dedication both on and off the water.

McDonald and O’Loughlin were among five Queensland athletes congratulated by Rowing Queensland after being selected in Australia’s Under 19 B Team, alongside Maddi McLaughlin, Oliver Kent and Harriette O’Dwyer.

Read: Brisbane’s Coffee Mentality Puts West End on the World Coffee Map

The International Rowing Challenge will give the athletes valuable international racing experience as part of Australia’s rowing development pathway.

For Commercial Rowing Club in West End, the dual selection highlights the role community clubs can play in supporting young athletes as they progress from school rowing to international competition. As McDonald and O’Loughlin prepare to compete in the United States, they do so with the backing of their club, school and the wider Queensland rowing community.

Published 3-July-2026

Scaffold Helps Sell Rare West End Block for Record $1.94 Million

Ray White South Brisbane

A local family living around the corner ended a six-month house hunt when they paid $1.94 million for a vacant 360-square-metre block in West End, setting a new price benchmark for a non-riverfront lot in the suburb.

The 48 Whynot Street parcel sits in one of West End’s most tightly held pockets, with elevated city and mountain views that drew buyers back to open inspections every Saturday until auction day.

The scaffold that sold the block

Selling agent Luke Croft of Ray White South Brisbane had a simple idea to solve the problem of selling vacant land: build a 10-metre scaffold so buyers could climb up and see exactly what they were getting.

“I suggested they put up the 10-metre scaffold so buyers could walk up the stairs and see what the views were like,” Croft said. “We don’t do open home inspections for vacant land, but we ended up doing one every Saturday for this one and people were physically going up to have a look. It made such a difference.”

The block is one of only a handful of vacant lots to come to market in West End over the past decade, and its rarity was not lost on the buyers. Croft had watched them at open homes for six months as they searched for a house to replace their unit, including a near-miss as underbidders on an existing home.

“They were recently the underbidders on a 20-year-old house. But then when this block became available, they saw the potential,” Croft said. “I think the views got them.”

A fierce auction for a rare block

Three of the five registered bidders made a play for the lot when bidding opened at $1.4 million. The price moved in $100,000 jumps through to $1.8 million before dropping to $25,000 and then $10,000 increments. At $1.925 million, it was called on the market. Two parties then traded $5,000 bids until the hammer fell at $1.94 million.

Croft sold the property to the vendors in late 2024 as part of a larger parcel for $3.2 million. The vendors relocated the existing Queenslander and subdivided before returning the vacant land to market, producing a result Croft described as a win for both parties in a challenging environment.

West End’s inner-city appeal

West End sits two kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, within walking distance of Boundary Street’s restaurant strip, West Village, South Bank Parklands and South Brisbane’s performing arts precinct.

The suburb is also in the catchment for several of Brisbane’s most sought-after schools, drawing owner-occupier demand that has kept competition fierce for well-located land.

Vacant inner-city lots of this calibre rarely surface in the 4101 postcode, and the Whynot Street result reflects how strongly buyers respond when they do.

Published 1-July-2026

Tensions Rise at Kurilpa Commons as Housing Plans Spark Community Protest

Kurilpa Commons has become the centre of a tense standoff after police arrested several people while authorities moved to secure the long-running community garden ahead of plans to prepare the site for future housing.

Read: Kurilpa Commons Protest: Community Resists Closure of Beloved Garden

The inner-south green space, located on the corner of Boundary and Dudley streets near the West End and Highgate Hill border, has been cared for by volunteers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, it has grown into more than a community garden, hosting shared meals, workshops, movie nights and other neighbourhood activities.

The dispute intensified early on 29 June when representatives from Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), accompanied by contractors, arrived to install fencing around the state-owned land. Protesters gathered shortly afterwards, with police later called to the scene as some demonstrators entered the site and climbed trees in an effort to stop the works.

Queensland Police said six people were arrested on 29 June after officers responded to the disturbance. Police alleged trespass offences in relation to several arrests. Officers remained at the site overnight while continuing to engage with protesters who had stayed in trees within the fenced area.

By 30 June, emergency crews assisted in safely bringing down one woman who had spent the night in a tree. She was taken to hospital as a precaution, while another person was arrested during the operation.

Community voices concerns over future of Kurilpa Commons

For many involved in the protest, the issue extends beyond the loss of a garden.

Local supporters say Kurilpa Commons has become a valued meeting place where neighbours grow fresh produce, share skills and build connections. They also describe the site as holding personal significance, with memorials established for community members who have died.

Kurilpa Commons member Shane Cucow questioned both the removal of a space used to grow food and the scale of the police response, arguing that community gardens provide practical support during a period when many households continue to face rising living costs.

Another supporter, Jemika Lancaster, said the space had evolved into an important gathering place where people could connect and remember loved ones. She said losing the garden would also mean losing one of the area’s few freely accessible community spaces.

Cr Trina Massey criticised the fencing of the site without prior notice to users, saying residents deserved greater transparency about the future of publicly owned land. She said the garden had transformed a long-vacant block into a vibrant community hub through the efforts of local volunteers.

Housing plans at the centre of the dispute

Photo credit: Facebook/West End Community Association

EDQ said the site is being prepared for more housing, describing it as meeting a community need. The agency said the land had always remained publicly owned, had never been approved as a permanent community garden, and that users had previously been advised the occupation was temporary.

The agency also said a Brisbane City-approved community garden is located about 200 metres away for local residents to use, and that personal belongings left on the site would be returned to their owners where possible.

The land occupied by Kurilpa Commons is owned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and has recently been transferred to EDQ. The site is expected to be offered for future residential development, although details of any proposed project have not been publicly released.

Read: West End Gardeners Defy Warnings Over Contamination Risk

Police remained at the site as work to secure the land continued, while supporters of Kurilpa Commons said they planned to continue advocating for the future of the community space. EDQ has maintained the site is being prepared for future housing and that users had previously been notified the occupation was temporary.

Published 1-July-2026

West End Parents Seek School Space in Montague Road Precinct

Photo Credit: Economic Development Queensland

West End parents are pushing for part of the 7.1-hectare Montague Road Precinct to be reserved for a new public primary school as the riverfront site is considered for thousands of homes.

West End School Push Turns to Montague Road

West End State School families are calling for education planning to be included in the future of the Montague Road Precinct, a 7.1-hectare riverfront landholding near South Bank and West End.

The school’s P&C has asked for part of the precinct to be reserved for a second public primary school in Brisbane’s inner-south, citing current enrolment pressure and expected growth from nearby residential development.

The precinct is about 1.3km from the Brisbane CBD and includes about 400m of river frontage. It is being considered for more than 4,000 homes in a mixed-use area that may include hospitality, retail and public spaces.

The site remains in the early concept stage, with community consultation available and a preferred proponent selected.

Montague Road Precinct riverfront land — Photo Credit: Economic Development Queensland

Parents Point to West End Enrolments

Parents and students gathered outside West End State School on Monday morning with banners and placards as part of the campaign.

The P&C, which represents about 2700 parents, has pointed to enrolment pressure across the school catchment. It has cited catchment data indicating 94.1 per cent of local primary-school-aged children attend West End State School.

Using 2021 Census data, the P&C estimated that new developments could add another 700 to 800 students to the catchment. That figure includes growth linked to about 8000 apartments already approved.

The group has framed the request as a call for supporting infrastructure, rather than opposition to new housing in West End and nearby suburbs.

West End State School campaign signs — *Caption: Montague Road precinct – Visual for illustration purposes only.*
Photo Credit: *Lendlease*/Economic Development Queensland

Riverfront Precinct Includes Former Industrial Sites

The Montague Road Precinct includes the former Visy site, now publicly owned, and the recently closed milk factory site, which was sold by Lactalis to property developer Stockwell.

The former Visy site had previously been considered for use as a foreign press centre during the 2032 Olympic Games, before later being put forward as a development site open to private housing bids.

In late May, the Montague Road Precinct was named among four provisional priority development areas across Brisbane.

School Site Sought Before Further Growth

The West End State School P&C has argued that the precinct offers a chance to plan education infrastructure before further residential growth occurs across the peninsula.

The group has said a new primary school had previously been planned for Brisbane’s inner-west, but no site had been secured.

Parents and alumni from Brisbane State High School have also sought access to part of the Visy site to support that school.

An education spokesperson said West End State School had sufficient capacity, with strategies in place for existing and forecast enrolments in the short to medium term.

Published 26-June-2026

Free State of Sk8 Exhibition Rolls Into South Brisbane

State Library Queensland

The Edge Screens at the State Library of Queensland‘s Cultural Centre in South Brisbane are running a free digital exhibition celebrating Queensland’s rich skateboarding history, just minutes from West End’s own beloved skatepark.

The exhibition, titled State of Sk8, forms part of a broader winter program at The Edge, the State Library’s creative hub at Stanley Place. It draws on research by 2025 John Oxley Library Honorary Fellow Dr Indigo Willing, whose year-long fellowship explored the stories, spaces and subcultures that have shaped skateboarding across Queensland. The digital display runs throughout the month of June, making it a well-timed cultural stop for anyone in the inner south.

For West End locals, the connection feels close to home. The suburb’s own skatepark, a well-known gathering point on the inner-south skate circuit, was one of the local facilities that the skateboarding community successfully pushed to have upgraded, with works completed in 2025.

The State of Sk8 program puts that kind of grassroots advocacy into broader historical context, tracing how generations of Queensland skaters have shaped their cities, one grey space at a time.

From the streets into the archive

Dr Willing’s fellowship, titled “Queensland Skate of Mind: Subcultural Game Changers to Olympian ‘Roll’ Models,” focused on recovering stories that have largely been left out of mainstream accounts of Queensland’s history. Her research documents how skateboarding evolved from a subculture built around repurposed concrete infrastructure into a globally recognised Olympic sport, while remaining deeply tied to inclusive community-building at the local level.

The Edge Screens, a digital display format previously used to showcase 4ZZZ Radio memorabilia as part of the State Library’s Stranded program, bring this research into a publicly visible format. The exhibition draws on material from the State Library’s own collections, community archives and the photographic work of contributors to Dr Willing’s fellowship.

Beyond the digital screens, a broader State of Sk8 program brings the culture to life at The Edge. A free public panel discussion headlines the lineup, alongside paid hands-on workshops running from 24 to 30 June. Visitors can try their hand at laser etching skateboards or designing 3D-printed mini decks.

A scene bigger than you might think

Queensland’s skateboarding story carries more weight than most people realise. Among those documented in Dr Willing’s research is Arisa Trew OAM, who at just 14 became the youngest Australian to win gold at the Paris Olympics, and holds the record for the most X-Games wins of any woman in the competition’s history.

Photo Credit: Queensland Academy of Sport

World Skate SB competitor Dani Campbell, a member of the Songline First Nations Skateboarding team, is also featured in a newly commissioned digital history added to the State Library’s collection as part of this program.

The research also shines a light on the community builders, the women and queer skaters, the photographers, the zine-makers and the small-business owners who kept the scene alive long before the Olympics came calling.

Getting there from West End

The Cultural Centre sits at Stanley Place, South Brisbane, roughly a five-minute walk or ride from West End’s Boundary Street precinct. The Edge Screens exhibition is free and does not require booking. The State Library is open to visitors throughout the week, and The Edge’s facilities are accessible to anyone holding a State Library membership, which is free to obtain.

For the full State of Sk8 program, including workshops and the panel discussion, click here.

Published 24-June-2025

Folk-Pop Artist Lucy Gallant Heads Back to Brisbane With LOVEfest Performance

Bohemian folk-pop artist Lucy Gallant, who sold out her Love Bubble Tribe Gathering at West End’s Tanuki Lounge earlier this year, is bringing her touring show back to south-east Queensland as momentum continues to build around her alcohol-free live music events.

Gallant will perform at LOVEfest in Mount Samson on 27 June before heading to Fingal Head for another Love Bubble Tribe Gathering at Salt & Stone on 4 July. The West End crowd that packed out the Tanuki Lounge already knows what to expect: a one-woman band blending folk, reggae and soul, accompanied by her chihuahua Lola, and a room that feels more like a gathering than a gig.

For those who missed out, LOVEfest Brisbane at Kupidabin Wilderness in Mount Samson offers another chance to catch one of the more distinctive live acts currently touring the east coast.

A career built on independence

Lucy Gallant is a Cairns and Byron-based singer-songwriter who has spent years carving out her own lane. She has performed in 55 countries and appeared on stages including Glastonbury, Byron Bluesfest, Woodford Folk Festival and Kuranda Roots Festival.

She writes, performs and, on her 2019 album Darkness to Light, produced and played every instrument herself. That kind of independent, uncompromising approach runs through everything she does.

A different kind of night out

The Love Bubble Tribe Gatherings are Lucy’s answer to a live music scene she wanted to reshape. They are alcohol-free, all-ages, family-friendly events built around genuine connection, vegan food and Lucy’s own Love Bubble Elixir Bar of mocktail creations. The format is intentional: a respectful listening atmosphere that puts the music and the people in the room at the centre of the experience.

Lucy launched the gatherings earlier in 2026, starting with a sold-out inaugural event in Manly in April. Every Love Bubble Tribe Gathering since, including Byron Bay and West End, has sold out. The concept has found its audience quickly, drawing people who want to share in live music without the noise of a conventional pub show.

“It is a gathering created to celebrate music, genuine connection and good vibes in a warm and welcoming space,” Lucy has said of the events.

The music behind the movement

Lucy released her latest single Forbidden Love in February 2026, a track that earned her a semi-finalist placing in the International Songwriting Competition. The single was produced by Gold Coast-based Josh Beattie and mastered by Paul Blakey, and is streaming now on Spotify. A follow-up single, Venom, and a new EP are both due for release later this year, with the EP also set to include Bad Boy, Devious and F You.

Her catalogue blends the personal with the political in the way folk music always has. The song Heaven, written during the COVID period when Lucy lost both her parents within six months of each other and was unable to be with her father when he passed, sits alongside the more celebratory, rhythm-driven tracks that define her live show.

Dismissed early in life as someone unlikely to amount to much, she has since composed more than 1,000 songs and built a following of over 100,000 across social media.

Catch her live

LOVEfest Brisbane takes place at Kupidabin Wilderness, Mount Samson on Saturday 27 June. Tickets are available here, and Lucy’s discount code LUCYLOVE10 takes 10 per cent off the ticket price.

The Love Bubble Tribe Gathering at Salt & Stone in Fingal Head follows on Saturday 4 July, with doors at 7pm. Tickets are $30 plus booking fee through Humanitix, and the venue website is saltstonefingal.com.au. A Bellingen date is also in the works, with details to be confirmed.

Lucy’s music is on Spotify, Bandcamp and SoundCloud. Recommended starting points from her catalogue include Forbidden Love, Bad Boy and Devious. For interview requests, contact press representative Kim Queen at kimqueensidaho@gmail.com or 0420 613 612, or reach Lucy directly at lucygallantbookings@gmail.com.

Published 24-June-2026

West End Gains Experienced Constable in Queensland Police Recruitment Boost

West End is among the Queensland communities set to benefit from the latest Queensland Police Service recruitment drive, with an experienced constable assigned to the local station following a recent induction ceremony in Brisbane.

The officer is one of 45 veteran recruits who have joined the QPS after previous policing careers in Australia and overseas. They will now take up frontline duties at stations across the state.

Rather than entering policing for the first time, the new constables collectively bring hundreds of years of operational experience from jurisdictions including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, South Africa and Brazil.

West End is one of five South Brisbane stations selected to receive one of the new officers, alongside Annerley, Calamvale, Carina and Upper Mount Gravatt.

Acting Commissioner Brett Pointing said the experienced recruits would strengthen policing services across Queensland.

“The QPS continues to strengthen its frontline capability with experienced officers committed to serving Queensland communities,” Acting Commissioner Pointing said.

“These new constables bring valuable policing experience from other jurisdictions, bolstering our ability to deliver policing services across the state.

“Their decision to join the QPS reflects the opportunities available within the Service and the strong contribution they will make across Queensland.”

Among the new officers is Constable Antonio Humberto Azevedo Souza Castelo Teixeira, who previously spent eight years with the Military Police of Ceará in Brazil before relocating to Queensland.

“One of the biggest things that brought me here was the decision to start my policing career again from scratch in a new country, for my family and for a better future for my children,” Constable Teixeira said.

He said his previous policing experience had helped prepare him to remain calm under pressure, make quick decisions and work effectively as part of a team while adjusting to life in Australia.

Former Wellington Central Police Station officer Constable Dan-Emil Meszaros also chose to continue his policing career in Queensland after serving in specialist policing roles in New Zealand.

“We were sick of the cold, wet, and windy weather in Wellington and chose to move to Queensland for the lifestyle, beaches, and the relaxing nature of the communities,” Constable Meszaros said.

The officers have joined the Queensland Police Service through its Police Abridged Competency Education (PACE) Program, which allows experienced interstate and international police officers to transition into policing in Queensland.

For West End residents, the latest posting means the local station will be strengthened by an officer bringing extensive frontline experience and skills developed across multiple policing jurisdictions.

Published 30-June-2026

From Brisbane’s Indie Theatre Scene to Mamma Mia! on the Gold Coast

Brisbane performer Juliette Coates is playing Ali in an all-Australian production of Mamma Mia! at The Star Gold Coast, presented by The Very Popular Theatre Company. Coates brings proven independent theatre credibility to the powerhouse 31 member cast after extensive work across the West End and broader Brisbane stage scenes.

The production opens at The Star Theatre on 4 September and runs until 20 September, with the official blue carpet premiere taking place on 8 September. Coates has worked across Brisbane’s independent theatre spaces, including West End’s Metro Arts, the iconic, 40 plus year old multi arts organisation now based in the West Village precinct.

Her recent track record includes a standout performance in Queensland Theatre’s highly praised production of Calamity Jane, alongside her work in Eat, Slay, Zombie.

She joins a select group of local artists, with five Gold Coast and Brisbane performers securing coveted principal roles.

A show that outlasts the trends

Since its 1999 debut in London’s West End, Mamma Mia! has captured the hearts of more than 70 million people worldwide. The 2008 film adaptation starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried went on to become one of the highest grossing movie musicals of all time.

Driven by 22 iconic ABBA tracks, including Dancing Queen, SOS, and the titular Mamma Mia!, the production relies on a live band and an energetic, sing along crowd to deliver an unmatched feel good atmosphere.

A cast built for the big stage

Musical theatre star Erin Cornell (WICKED, CATS) leads the production as Donna Sheridan. Brisbane’s Chloe Rose Taylor (Beauty and the Beast UK Tour) steps into the role of Tanya, while Gold Coaster Jo Anne Jackson takes on Rosie. Together, they form the iconic, 1970s inspired trio Donna and the Dynamos.

Gold Coast local Emily Monsma (WICKED, Hairspray) plays Sophie, the daughter whose upcoming wedding drives the plot. Brisbane born Timothy Aaron Cooper returns to Queensland stages as Harry Bright. Cooper built his early reputation with the Ipswich Musical Theatre Company before touring the US on the Broadway national tour of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Jersey Boys.

An accomplished creative team steers the production. Director Erin James, Choreographer Rachel Stark, and Musical Director Jonathon Gardner collectively bring a wealth of experience from major commercial hits like Wicked and Billy Elliot. Gardner, a prominent Brisbane based conductor and educator, further strengthens the local connection as an alumnus of South Bank’s Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

A substantial contingent of South East Queensland talent bolsters the ensemble cast, including Brisbane performers Laura Garrick and Lucy Ross, ensuring the production maintains a distinctly local flavor.

Getting there from West End

The Star Theatre at Broadbeach sits just over an hour’s drive from West End. Alternatively, theatregoers can catch a train from South Brisbane station and connect directly to the Gold Coast light rail at Helensvale, stepping off at Broadbeach South. For a production packed with this much local DNA, it is a trip well worth making.

Secure your seats at mammamiagoldcoast.com.au.

Published 22-June-2026