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Disney announced on 30 October 2022 that Perth-born performer Shubshri Kandiah would play Belle in a new Australian production of Beauty and the Beast, opposite Brendan Xavier as the Beast. The production was then scheduled to make its Australian premiere at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in June 2023; that announcement was not a current casting notice or a current performance schedule.
When Shubshri Kandiah was announced as Belle
Disney’s 30 October 2022 announcement named Kandiah as Belle and Brendan Xavier as the Beast for the Australian production. At the time, the company said the show would premiere at Sydney’s Capitol Theatre in June 2023. Disney’s casting announcement framed Kandiah as a rising musical-theatre lead, noting her work as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and her role in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
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The production page identifies Kandiah as Belle and lists familiar songs including “Belle,” “Gaston,” “Human Again” and “Be Our Guest.” Disney described this Australian staging as featuring redesigned sets and costumes and new stage technology, while bringing back members of the original creative team. The official production page provides the cast and creative-team details.
Who is Shubshri Kandiah?
Kandiah is a Perth-born performer described in her official cast biography as Brisbane-based. Her credits include leading musical roles as well as work in plays and opera productions, giving her experience across several kinds of stage performance.
Musical-theatre roles
- Princess Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin.
- Ella in Opera Australia’s 2022–23 production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.
- Cinderella in Into the Woods and Brianna in Fangirls, both with Belvoir St Theatre.
Other stage credits
- Ismene in Antigone with Queensland Theatre.
- A role in Opera Queensland’s The Pearlfishers.
These credits are listed in the production’s official cast biography.
How the Australian production reached audiences
The show’s timeline spans more than the original Sydney announcement. In 2023, Disney+ Australia listed a 21-minute behind-the-scenes documentary about the Australian production, with Kandiah among the cast. ABC’s Behind the News also covered the work involved in mounting the production; in that report, Kandiah introduced herself on camera: “My name is Shubshri Kandiah and I play Belle.”
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The production later played Crown Theatre Perth in 2025. Ticketmaster’s Perth listing referred to a season beginning in July 2025, and PerthNow reported on the Perth debut and identified Kandiah as Belle. Those records establish a past Perth season, not present-day availability. The announced Sydney premiere window and the later Perth dates refer to different cities and different moments in the production’s history.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Beauty and the Beast playing now?
The available dates in these records are historical: Sydney was announced as the planned 2023 premiere, and Perth’s Crown Theatre hosted the production in 2025. They do not establish whether or where the show is performing now. Anyone looking for tickets should check a current official production or venue schedule rather than rely on the old announcement or Perth listing.
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