{"id":3097,"date":"2026-07-13T01:03:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uked.com.au\/?p=3097"},"modified":"2026-07-13T01:13:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:13:34","slug":"sydney-gets-uked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uked.com.au\/index.php\/2026\/07\/13\/sydney-gets-uked\/","title":{"rendered":"Sydney gets UKED!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n

Sydney Premiere 18-28 June 2026, Bondi Pavilion Theatre, presented by The Bondi Theatre Company <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sydney gets UKED!<\/h4>\n

“A joyous new musical<\/em><\/strong>.” \u2013 What\u2019s the Show<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sydney has fallen in love with Uked! <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 Australia\u2019s most interactive, heartwarming musical.<\/p>\n

From the opening night standing ovation to the rave reviews, the Sydney premiere of Uked!<\/em><\/strong>, featuring JOSEPHINE BIRCH as Karla, and IAN STENLAKE as (almost) everyone else, was an absolute hit. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Stenlake and Birch charmed their way into the audience\u2019s hearts in a story that is poignant, uplifting and relevant. As Linda Nathaniel from What\u2019s the Show<\/strong> said: \u2018It brings our reliance on the internet into complete focus.\u2019<\/p>\n

Uked!<\/em><\/strong> is the story of Karla, who is dumped on her 50th<\/sup> birthday by her violin-playing boyfriend Brian. Desperate to belong and to prove her musical worth, she buys a ukulele, learning on YouTube, and joins a dating site \u2013 learning that love and the ukulele have a lot in common.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also about the power of the humble ukulele to connect communities.<\/p>\n

What makes Uked!<\/em><\/strong> unique is that the audience can sing and play along with Karla as she learns the ukulele, as a screen displays all the chords and lyrics.<\/p>\n

Passionate players can also register to play Karla\u2019s fellow ukulele players in the show.<\/p>\n

It was an absolute delight to welcome passionate members of the Sydney ukulele community to the show.<\/p>\n\n\n

In the intimate Bondi Pavilion Theatre the performance of Uked! is a production that brings together music, comedy and a storyline the invokes compassion and genuine empathy from the audience<\/em><\/strong>.\u2018 \u2013 <\/em>Theatre Travels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-stage musicians KRISTIN HARRIS and JAMIE BURGESS, led the audience in the play-along songs, ensuring that even the shiest audience member sang along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris and Burgess also made delightful cameo appearances, while Stage Manager and Assistant Director Roslyn Hicks, who also understudied Karla, grooved her way through scene transitions as she reset the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the director Ali Bendall, said: \u2018At its heart, Uked! is<\/em> a story about connection. It\u2019s about finding community in unexpected places, discovering new passions, and having the courage to start again when life hasn\u2019t quite gone to plan.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uked!<\/em><\/strong> is guaranteed to leave you with a song in your heart with a smile on your face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t take our word for it. \u00a0Read the Sydney reviews below<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to know more about our cast and creatives? Read the program.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

PRODUCE OUR SHOW!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Uked!<\/em><\/strong> is ideal for local theatre companies and ukulele groups to team up to produce in small, intimate settings. Produce it in your local theatre or hall, or for your local festival. Contact David Spicer Productions <\/strong>david@davidspicer.com<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.davidspicer.com.au\/node\/17034<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Speak to the writer: Email <\/strong>jane.cafarella@gmail.com<\/strong><\/a> to book a chat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what critics and audience members are saying about the Sydney premiere of UKED!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

5 stars <\/em><\/strong>A joyous new musical\u2026.  Uked!<\/strong> is a show you could see again and again. It\u2019s that charming.<\/em> \u2026\u2018Uked!<\/em><\/strong> draws parallels with Muriel\u2019s Wedding<\/em><\/strong>, Once <\/em><\/strong>and Mamma Mia.<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em> – Linda Nathanial, What\u2019s the Show<\/strong><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
A Joyous New Musical<\/a><\/blockquote>