“Wildly silly and littered with obscenity: this show will make you laugh until it hurts.” That was the verdict from The Age reviewer, and it has been ringing true inside the Princess Theatre since The Book of Mormon returned to Melbourne on 6 February 2026.
The musical comedy, created by South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone alongside EGOT-winning composer Robert Lopez, runs through 19 July. And for those who haven’t yet caught it, there is a financial incentive to act fast: $89 tickets remain for select performances until 17 May.
The show follows two mismatched Mormon missionaries dispatched to Uganda, where their earnest evangelism collides with poverty, warlords and a deep cultural mismatch. It won nine Tony Awards, a Grammy and an Olivier. The New York Times called it “the best musical of this century.”
The SMH reviewer posed a sharper question: “Still offensive, still selling: How does The Book of Mormon stay relevant?” Critics answer that question with a verdict on execution. This 2026 outing, they say, is in some respects better than the blockbuster 2017–18 season that sold out for an entire year. The satire lands harder, the pacing is tighter, and the ensemble breathes new life into Parker and Stone’s famously irreverent material.
Reddit threads tracking the Melbourne run are full of audience members reporting packed houses and the kind of laughter that leaves a theatre buzzing through the interval. The shock value has not mellowed. If anything, the shorter five-month season has concentrated the urgency.
That compressed window reflects a broader theatre trend. Unlike the year-long Melbourne residency of the first Australian tour, this engagement is capped at just over five months. Industry observers point to shifting attention spans and post-pandemic booking patterns that make extended runs riskier. For audiences, that means less time to wait.
The decision isn’t complicated. If you love South Park’s brand of satire wrapped in show-stopping musical numbers, book now. If profanity and a wholesale skewering of organised religion make you uncomfortable, sit this one out. Don’t mistake the missionary theme for a family-friendly outing. The show is packed with explicit language and content, and it’s rated for mature audiences. Bringing children or anyone easily offended will lead to an awkward night.
Weekend performances are already thin on the ground. The $89 offer covers only a handful of May dates, and with the production’s track record of sellouts, procrastination is the fastest route to overpaying on a resale site. Buy direct from Ticketek, the authorised seller. Unauthorised outlets are a known source of counterfeit or invalid tickets.
Public transport is the simplest way to reach the Princess Theatre. Parliament Station is a two-minute walk down Spring Street. Trams on routes 86 and 96 stop at Nicholson Street, and the City Circle tram 35 loops nearby. Driving into the East End Theatre District means CBD traffic and parking costs that rival a second ticket.
Before or after the show, Hochi Mama does brisk Vietnamese with a 4.6-star reputation, while Lupino Bistro and Longrain offer sit-down options within a short stroll. Parliament House sits next door, and Fitzroy Gardens is a 10-minute walk if you want to dissect the more outrageous moments under the elms.
The missionaries pack up on 19 July. After that, there is no word on when they’ll be back.
Quick Facts
Princess Theatre
Historic theatre in Melbourne’s East End, opened in 1854 and rebuilt after 1880 fire. Managed by Marriner Group, hosts major musicals and productions. Known for Phantom of the Opera’s long run and ghostly legends.