A John Farnham musical is set to open in Sydney this November to coincide with the 40th anniversary of his album, Whispering Jack.
The show, titled Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical, will star Michael Paynter – a songwriter, producer and theatre star known for his role in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Speaking on his casting in the musical, Michael admitted, “I’m never gonna be Farnham. No one is; he is the greatest. So, if you’re looking for someone that’s exactly John Farnham, that’s singing in exactly the same way that he does, chuck on his records.”
He added, “All I can do is bring whatever gift I have been given and bring it to the table and hopefully people enjoy the way that this show chooses to honour his legacy.”
The musical will focus on the ‘Burn For You’ singer’s comeback from 1980 until 1986, when he released the now classic Aussie hits ‘You’re The Voice’ and ‘Pressure Down’ and the rest of the album Whispering Jack.
Initially the musical was going to feature 22 of John’s songs to tell the story of Australia’s Rum Rebellion of 1808, when governor William Bligh was overthrown.
“Yes we did a U-turn with the storyline and it’s now biographical, 1980 to 1986,” Gaynor Wheatley told the Herald Sun.
“The songs have been worked in beautifully with the story. It’s really good. I am hoping it will be ready for 2026 to celebrate 40 years of Whispering Jack.”
Speaking about Michael’s casting, Gaynor revealed, “Finding the right person to step into John’s shoes and bring this story to life has been a meticulous and considered process.”
“When Michael Paynter performed the material for the first time, there was an immediate sense of recognition in the room, not just of his remarkable vocal ability, but of the respect, understanding and care he brings to John’s story.”
In August 2023, John announced he had been given the all-clear from his medical team after undergoing mouth surgery to remove oral cancer.
“It’s been a year since my first surgery and to be honest I’ve lost count as to how many other procedures there’s been since then,” he said at the time. “I’m sure someone’s kept track of them all — let’s just say, there’s been a few.”
“But, I’m home now and I’m a very grateful and happy man. I’m sitting here in my living room lapping up the attention from my beautiful wife, Jill, my boys Rob and James and my mini schnauzer, Edmund.”
In his memoir that came out the same year, the legendary Australian performer revealed that he may never sing again.
“My facial disfigurement from the surgery means I can’t open my mouth wide enough for a strip of spaghetti, let alone to sing a top C,” he wrote in The Voice Inside. “At this stage I can’t get the movement to make the sounds I want to make, and that’s where the vibrations and my voice come from.”
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