Ed Sheeran returned to Melbourne for a surprise meet and greet with the cast of & Juliet

After record-breaking shows at the MCG, Ed Sheeran has made a brief return to Melbourne as a favour to another pop star.

Lorinda May Merrypor and Ed Sheeran at the Regent Theatre ahead of the opening night of & Juliet. Picture: Supplied

Superstar Ed Sheeran has raced back to Melbourne to do a surprise meet and greet with the Australian cast of the blockbuster musical, & Juliet.

Sheeran jetted back into town on Wednesday, as a favour to pop king Max Martin, after playing a stadium show in Adelaide on Tuesday night.

Martin’s mega hits, including I Want It That Way, Roar, Teenage Dream, Baby One More Time, and I Can’t Feel My Face, are the backbone of & Juliet, a clever reimagining of Shakespeare’s doomed love story, Romeo and Juliet.

Martin, a co-producer on the show, wrote Sheeran’s hits I Don’t Care and Beautiful People.

Sheeran met the & Juliet cast, including Lorinda May Merrypor, Rob Mills, Casey Donovan, and Amy Lehpamer at the Regent Theatre.

Ed Sheeran meets the cast of & Juliet. Picture: Supplied.

Martin said: “Ed Sheeran is one of the most significant artists of this generation and his support of & Juliet has been so humbling.”

Merrypor added: “It was such a thrill to meet Ed … as we embark on this incredible journey. It was really special that he took time out of his hectic touring schedule to … wish us luck.”

Martin, the show’s director Luke Sheppard, and choreographer, Jennifer Weber, have been in town tweaking the show ahead of opening night on Thursday. “It’s been spectacular,” Martin said. “I feel Melbourne and & Juliet has been a love affair.”

Meanwhile, Broadway and West End powerbroker Sheppard said Merrypor is a superstar.

“I have this extraordinary talent crush on her. She finds something in this material that makes it very personal to herself and her own voice,” he said.

Blockbuster musical & Juliet opens in Melbourne on Thursday. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“Every night I hold my breath watching this extraordinary artist own these songs. I think Melbourne is going to take her into their hearts.”

Merrypor, a Kuungkari and South Sea islander woman, performs 20 of the show’s 30 songs. “I’ve been training for this my whole life,” she said. “I think Juliet and I found each other at the exact time I needed her. She’s a strong confident woman in this show, and that’s something I definitely needed in my life.”

Musical theatre favourite Rob Mills, who plays William Shakespeare, agrees. “This show really comes into people’s lives at the right time. I’m in the right frame of mind to push (& Juliet’s) beautiful messages of empowerment, love, connection and the importance of conversation.”

Sheppard said the show looked for “potential” and “glimmer” when casting new talent.

“We didn’t expect perfection in the auditions. We looked for is potential,” Sheppard said. “It’s thrilling for us to see that little glimmer of something in someone.

“They walked into that audition room with a little beat in their heart … and now they’re standing on that stage as fully realised professionals, and lifting the roof off the house.”

Zac Efron living it up in Melbourne

Hollywood star Zac Efron has been seen out and about enjoying Melbourne’s city night-life.

Two sources sent in sightings of the actor, who is in town filming new comedy Ricky Stanicky, at trendy bar Her and also at The George on Collins.

The mail sent to celebrity gossip Instagram account Deux Moi said a minder with Efron was seen buying people drinks. The venue confirmed the star was there in an area on the popular rooftop.

At The George on Collins at the weekend he was seen with co-star Anja Savcic.

Efron has kept a relatively low profile but has also been out playing golf on his weekends off, as well as visiting the Monash Children’s Hospital.

Hollywood star Zac Efron at Melbourne CBD restaurant and bar The George On Collins. Picture: Supplied

Efron meets patients at the Monash Childrens Hospital. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Efron and John Cena on the set of Ricky Stanicky. Picture: Nui Te Koha

Snoop Dogg and Ed Sheeran. Picture: Instagram

He is here filming along with WWE star John Cena who has dined at restaurants including Farmer’s Daughters and Aru.

Along with William H. Macy, Andrew Santino and Lex Scott Davis, they have shot in various spots — Greensborough, Surrey Hills and Crown Casino.

Superstar Ed Sheeran has also been spotted during his Melbourne stay at The Prince Hotel in St Kilda and also dining at Flower Drum.

Sheeran hasn’t wasted time while in town, performing at the Royal Children’s Hospital, visiting St Kilda Football Club and also catching up with Snoop Dogg and Russell Crowe at the weekend.

Sheeran finishes his Australian tour in Perth on Sunday.