The cast of Strong is the New Pretty. Image credit: Morgan Roberts

Strong is the New Pretty by Suzie Miller – Where the testosterone-filled boardroom collides with the mighty resilience of Australian women, fighting for a fair go in the Australian Football League.

Judging by what has passed through the doors of Australian theatres in 2026, this is shaping up to be a remarkable year for Australian theatre. It is particularly pleasing to see Australian stories written and executed so well, including Suzie Miller’s brand-new play, Strong Is the New Pretty. Drawing on a relatively recent chapter in the history of women’s sport, the production shines a light on the indomitable spirit of Australian women and their fight for change.

The cast of this production is stacked, with the particularly exciting inclusion of Tara Morice, known for her iconic performance as Fran in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom. Having grown up watching the film, as well as enjoying Morice’s performance as Miss Raine in the Australian children’s television series Dance Academy, it was a particularly poignant experience to see her perform on stage. In this play, Morice portrays Jane Hooper, a key champion of the AFLW, alongside Lucy Bell as female commissioner Alison Newton and Amber McMahon as federal police officer-turned-AFLW coach Bev Heath. The play begins and ends with all three women at the centre of the narrative, while the ensemble takes on numerous roles throughout.

Strong Is the New Pretty is a living, breathing organism, with each scene choreographed with clear intention to draw the audience further into the narrative. What is particularly effective about Sarah Giles’ direction is the continual movement on stage, which gives greater impact to those moments of stillness. From corporate conga lines to dancing footballs, the show is full of pleasant surprises, matched by equal levels of heartbreak.

This is particularly powerful in the recreation of Carlton player Tayla Harris’ famous kick during the 2019 AFLW televised match. A moment in women’s football that should have been one of celebration is quickly turned into something ugly by the misogynistic online commentary that followed. The theatre screamed with powerful silence as real-life comments were plastered across the digital screen projection on stage.

The lighting design by Paul Jackson and video design by Craig Wilkinson are incredibly effective, with bulb lights facing inward from both sides of the stage, expertly crafted to create the illusion of a football stadium within the confines of a theatre. Video is also used to great effect, providing contextual markers that establish where the audience is situated within each scene, while incorporating comments from AFL board members to emphasise the absurdity of their views.

My one critique and perhaps a less conventional opinion within what is clearly a strongly feminist voice, is of the continual male-bashing dialogue, to the effect of ‘boys bad, girls rule’. For me, this raises questions about the potentially alienating nature of the production for male audiences, as made evident by the half-asleep gentleman in front of me. This is not to diminish the very real pain experienced by women in the pursuit of equality and respect across the workplace, nor the importance of creating opportunities that were previously unavailable to female professionals. Rather, I believe it is possible to confront and portray the role men have played in female oppression without allowing that frustration to overshadow the production’s broader purpose of uplifting and celebrating women. If we want men to appreciate the difficulties Australian women faced in reaching milestones of recognition in the AFL, making them sit through 80 minutes of negativity directed towards their own sex is perhaps not the most effective way to go about it. Or perhaps I am wrong, and this is a performance made by women, for women. Either way, this is a solid new piece of theatre that is worth seeing.

Strong is the New Pretty shines a spotlight on the injustices faced by women in sport, empowering young girls to fight for what’s right, even if the road to equality takes a little longer.

Now playing at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre until 19 September.

Book now at qpac.com.au