There’s a particular kind of electricity Loren Hunter brings to the stage. Brisbane audiences will be very familiar with her as Jane Seymour in the powerhouse musical sensation SIX, a role she performed on tour for five years. She’s a performer who commands attention the moment the lights hit her, blending powerhouse vocals with heartfelt vulnerability. Even over email, her enthusiasm for her new show—Shake & Stir’s new production of The Lovers—bursts through every word, proof that Loren’s stage magic starts long before opening night.
Written by Laura Murphy, this relatively new musical isn’t your high school Shakespeare. The Lovers is a fizzy, glitter-dusted reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring a killer live band, jaw-dropping video design, and a pop score so catchy it could power an entire summer playlist. In this world, Oberon and Puck are cosmic matchmakers facing a modern crisis: true love is on the endangered species list. Enter four young lovers—including Hermia, played by Loren—whose chaotic night in the forest might just save romance itself.
Directed by Nick Skubij and featuring an all-star cast (Jason Arrow from Hamilton, Natalie Abbott from Muriel’s Wedding, and Stellar Perry of The Rocky Horror Show, to name a few), this is Shakespeare remixed for the age of swipes, situationships, and ghosting. It’s playing for a limited season only from September 13 to October 5 as part of Brisbane Festival.
For Loren, it’s a full-circle homecoming. “It feels right! Brisbane is becoming a buzzing hub for theatre and creativity, any opportunity I get to perform in my home town is something I jump at. This show in particular is packed full of talent and Brisbane won’t know what hit ’em.”
Her five-year run as Jane Seymour in SIX shaped her as a performer and a person. “It taught me so much! Where do I even begin?” she says. “Reflecting back on my time it was clear to me that I was a different person from when I started it to when I finished. Performing a role for so long became such an endurance challenge, and I learnt that regardless of how I felt along the way, I had to remember that it was less about me and more about the people who were experiencing the show.
“Also [from a performers’ perspective], I learnt cooling down is just as important as warming up for longevity!”
But what drew her to Hermia—and this pop-powered production—was personal. “Let’s just say Hermia and I have a lot in common,” she laughs. “She’s front-footed, fights for what she believes in, loves fiercely, and I get to be a pop princess every night. Need I say more?” Loren enthuses.
“Playing that kind of role in a show that is the definition of spectacle that combines music, love and magic. Sign. Me. Up!”
In rehearsals, Loren has been unafraid to honour Hermia’s timeless fire. “For hundreds of years Hermia has been a beloved role for women to not only express sensitivity and vulnerability, but also a rage and fury that at a time may not have been considered ‘acceptable’. So if it ain’t broke…don’t fix it. Approaching this role has me wanting to show all facets of this incredible woman who’s just trying to keep afloat in a man’s world.”
And the music? Prepare to have your heart (and your Spotify) hijacked. “I am obsessed with the Down To Love finale song,” she says when asked which song is her favourite in the show. “It has so much heart!
“The score all over is just banger after banger, and ear worm after ear worm. Our stage manager came up to me and asked if I had any tips for how to get songs out of my head cause he kept waking up singing them. I did not!” she confesses.
“Knowing that, it is a thrill and a joyous experience knowing audience members will have a similar experience.”
Loren believes younger audiences will feel Shakespeare speaking directly to them. “Murphy’s version takes these timeless storylines and molds them towards a perspective more relevant today. Shakespeare hit the nail on the head when it comes to the fire of emotion and love, but Murphy directs it in a way that feels real and relevant to the people of today.
“Young audiences will feel like Shakespeare is speaking directly to them versus being daunted by text that they feel might be too complex, helped by pop music that reflects a lot of the pop icons of today.”
Loren says working with Shake & Stir has only amplified that magic. “Shake & Stir fosters a work environment that is playful, full of joy and possibility … You feel free to be bold and try new things. To walk into a space where you feel supported to bring your best, never feels like I’m going to work! And they do not shy away from spectacle, watch this space!”
Her goosebump moment in The Lovers? “I love watching Natalie Abbott singing the song Chasing My Tail. What a masterclass in story telling. That’s what I love about her. She draws you in.”
And when the curtain falls on each performance of The Lovers, Loren hopes the audience leaves humming. “I’d love them to say god, that was a good night out!” or “Man, how do I listen to all those songs again?”
WHAT: The Lovers
WHERE: QPAC Playhouse, Brisbane
WHEN: 13 September–5 October 2025
TICKETS: Through QPAC here or Brisbane Festival box here
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
