Australia is definitely in the mood for a morbid teen coming-of-age story at the moment given the runaway success of Heathers over the past few months across the country and now the Hayes Theatre is capitalising on this with We Are the Tigers, which feels very similar in tone, although perhaps a little more upbeat for most of the runtime. Originally written by Preston Max Allen in 2015, this production by Cheers Productions is making its Australian premiere after premiering off-Broadway in its initial run and brings zany songs and comedic dialogue to the stage in a very nouveau-musical theatre styling.

The musical follows the cheerleading team of Giles Corey High, who are attending their annual sleepover before the season begins however, the night is thrown into chaos by an apparent serial killer leaving the cheer squad fighting to keep their season alive. As the murders continue, the squad must look amongst themselves to find the killer with the usual high school rivalries adding to the chaos.

The show really begins to find its feet as the musical descends into a rather dark farce. The beginning is quite slow with a slightly laboured setup but it becomes increasingly interesting as the story progresses, with several very funny moments. The acting in this show is exceptional, with Brianna Bishop as the preppy cheerleader Riley doing a fantastic job leading the cast with powerful acting and some strong vocals. The rest of the group is also strong, with Chelsea Dawson, AJ Betts and Anabel Jamieson particular highlights among the cast, using great skill to bring out their archetypes to the audience. That said, the whole cast performs very well, making good use of the humour in the book and bringing plenty of energy to the characters to bring a cohesive performance to the stage.

The cast also do a good job with the songs but the music in this show is a little more inconsistent, with some real clangers amongst some fun numbers. This is a bit of a shame as it means the music does not quite live up to the script in the way that a musical like Heathers does, although the cast do their best with the material they are given. Topaz Marlay-Cole’s lighting is also exceptional, leaving the audience in suspense when the murders occur and helping to build the atmosphere as the story becomes darker. Chiara Assetta’s choreography is similarly strong, making good use of the ensemble, while Lily Mateljan’s costuming feels appropriate for the high school setting and the characters’ different personalities. The musical works well on the Hayes stage, with the cast’s performances and the dark humour making for an entertaining night out.

Overall, this is a strong show, with an exceptional cast and execution from Hayes, meaning that this is a very enjoyable watch. It is just a shame that some of the music does not quite live up to the acting and the story as there is really something quite special about this musical otherwise and the cast really do make the most of what it has to offer.

Rating: ★★★★

We Are The Tigers plays at the Hayes Theatre until 8 November 2026. For more information, click here.

Photo credits: Jessie Jay Watt