Powerful love story takes centre stage in Once

You can’t help but admire the talented performers in the musical Once, currently being staged at Melbourne’s Chapel Off Chapel, who all play musical instruments while singing, acting and dancing.

Set in an Irish pub in Dublin, the story is set around Guy, a disillusioned busker struggling to find meaning to his life, and Girl, a spirited Czech migrant who walks into his life and is determined to revive his music career.
With the support of an unconventional group of friends and musicians, they embark on creating an album together.

Premiering on Broadway in 2012, Once went on to win eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, and has been staged in Australia many times since premiering in Melbourne in 2014.

This production by Andrew Gyopar’s AG Theatre is directed by Pip Mushin – well known for directing theatre productions over many years including Fiddler on the Roof and The Book of Mormon – with a talented cast of rising stars led by Mark Taylor as the laconic singer-guitarist Guy and Sian Fuller as the sharp-witted singer-pianist Girl.

As their friendship grows through jam sessions and late-night conversions, it becomes more complicated as former loves and family relationships are revealed.