If you’re after something warm, rhythmic, and full of soul, Once On This Island is your next must-see. This feel-good, heart-holding musical wraps you in colour, community, and connection, all while asking one of life’s biggest questions: what wins, love or death?

With Moana-like magic, this Australian adaptation bursts with life. The choreography is bubbly and impeccably timed, joyous, passionate, and full of heart. There’s a deep sense of soul in every movement, made even more powerful by the show’s cultural richness. Set against a backdrop of minimal staging, the performers use every inch of space creatively, inviting the audience into the world of Ti Moune, a dreamer with childlike wonder and fierce hope.

At its core, Once On This Island is a coming-of-age story about sacrifice, betrayal, and the deep spiritual journey of a girl who dares to want more. Ti Moune isn’t just waiting for love, she’s waiting for life to begin. Guided by the gods of her island, she steps into a destiny that transcends romance.

Director, Brittanie Shipway, a proud Gumbaynggirr woman, brings something truly special to this Australian staging:

“As a Gumbaynggirr woman with Aboriginal roots, I really wanted Ti Moune’s story to feel like a dreaming story,” Shipway shared. “In bringing Once On This Island to Australia, I didn’t want to copy the American version, I wanted to honour the many cultures that make up this country. Some of the cultures reflected in this production include Tongan, Samoan, Māori, Brazilian, Salvadoran, Filipino, and of course First Nations. I wanted the cast to represent who they are authentically, to bring their own languages, cultural dances, and costumes into the show, rather than pretending to be from the Caribbean.”

That commitment shines. There are beautiful hints of Indigenous dreaming, natural connection, and ancestral rhythm. The show becomes not just a story from one place, but a celebration of many cultures meeting beautifully in cultural harmony, a rare and powerful thing on Australian stages.

And at the centre of it all is Ti Moune. Actor Thalia Osegueda Santos, who plays her, reflected:

“Getting to know Ti Moune has been a real journey. For a long time, I was trying to figure out who she was, and then it finally clicked. We’re so alike. We’re both naturally curious, and we share a deep love for healing, family, and culture.”

That love radiates. You feel it in the songs, in the sway of the dancers, in the stillness of the moments between joy and heartbreak. This isn’t just a boy-meets-girl story. It’s a god-guided journey through the thickets of destiny, class, culture, and spirit. And maybe—just maybe—it asks us to redefine love itself.

Once On This Island is full of rhythm, full of culture, and full of heart. And while romance drives the story, by the end, you may find the most powerful kind of love isn’t romantic at all.

Once on this Island is playing at Hayes Theatre Co. until the 31st of August 2025