Hugh Sheridan puffs away on cigarette during play rehearsals

Hugh Sheridan was recently hospitalised following backlash over casting in a Sydney production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, where he was set to play a trans character. 

But after a difficult time, the actor was back to work this week.   

The 35-year-old was spotted in Sydney on Monday, rehearsing for his new show for the Adelaide Fringe Festival. 

The Packed To the Rafters star was seen strolling the street shirtless, barefoot and covered in rainbow paint.  

Hugh wore just a tight pair of colourful boardshorts and a smile as he chatted to a redheaded co-star or male pal.

Perhaps after particularly stressful rehearsals, at one point Hugh puffed away on a cigarette while chatting to another man. 

He also sipped on a glass of champagne while the pair likely discussed the much anticipated show.  

Hugh will debut the show ‘Hughman’ during the acclaimed creative festival.     

In November, the TV star was admitted to hospital and was understood to have been undergoing mental health treatment following the controversy surrounding the Hedwig casting.

The musical was pulled from the 2021 Sydney Festival after an LGBTQIA+ group, Queer Artist Alliance Australia, wrote an open letter slamming producers for casting Hugh to play a transgender character.

‘We would like to express our profound sadness and disappointment that trans performers are still fighting for equal opportunities and representation,’ the open letter read.

‘The choice to cast a cisgender male as a transgender character is offensive and damaging to the trans community, and continues to cause genuine stress and frustration amongst trans- and gender- nonconforming performers all across Australia.’

The alliance agreed that Hugh was a talented and deserving actor, but said it was not appropriate for him to ‘be the gatekeeper of a trans story’.

‘While we understand the box office appeal in having a famous and commercially successful actor such as Hugh Sheridan headlining the show, our problem is that marginalised groups have been excluded from participating in a significant opportunity to tell our story because we are not as “well-known” or may not “sell enough tickets,”‘ the alliance said.

Hugh was left ‘heartbroken’ after he was inundated with messages from trolls on social media over his casting as Hedwig, a close friend of the actor told Daily Mail Australia.

The source revealed that Hugh now hopes to raise awareness of the effects of online bullying, and encourages others to seek mental health treatment when they need it.

The friend said: ‘All this did was break his heart. There comes a point where enough is enough and you need to ask for help. There is only so much you can take before you ask for help, so he asked for help.’