- Sydney’s new John Farnham musical makes its world debut this Sunday, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Whispering Jack.
- Michael Paynter takes on the role of Farnham, bringing his legendary music and story to the stage.
- The production has already extended its Sydney run, and there’s already talk of touring Australia.
A musical celebrating the life and legacy of one of Australia’s most beloved performers, John Farnham (“The Voice”), will take to the stage at the Roslyn Packer Theatre this Sunday.
Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Whispering Jack, the highest-selling Australian album of all time, the brand-new production will feature the tracks that made Farnham an Australian icon.
Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical will run for seven weeks in Sydney, with the final show set for January 3, 2027. It was originally meant to be six weeks, but due to “overwhelming demand”, an extra week was added. It’s an encouraging sign for the production, and makes us ask the question: could the musical eventually extend its run beyond Sydney?
Here’s everything you need to know about Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical ahead of its world premiere this weekend.
Sydney’s very own John Farnham
The musical takes audiences back to a suburban Melbourne garage in 1986, where John Farnham and his manager, Glenn Wheatley, are at a defining crossroads in the singer’s career.
Facing financial uncertainty and approaching middle age, Farnham embarked on recording an album that would not only turn his fortunes around but cement his place in Australian music history.
Taking on the coveted role of Farnham is 40-year-old Australian singer-songwriter Michael Paynter, whose casting was announced earlier this year.
The rising star actually has a few coincidental connections to Farnham: he recently played the same role as the singer in Jesus Christ Superstar, 30 years after the legendary vocalist starred in the original Australian production.
Paynter has also included several of Farnham’s iconic hits in the setlist for his upcoming The Great Australian Songbook national tour, meaning he is no stranger to Farnham’s glittering catalogue.
The performer is well aware of the enormity of taking on such an iconic role. He stated,
“For me, John Farnham is the absolute zenith of male singers in all of history. The gold standard that I have spent my entire life being blessed and instructed by. After the whirlwind of the last year, being chosen to be a part of this musical, on the Sydney Theatre Company stage, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
It helps that the star is a huge fan of Farnham and his discography.
“We’re all here to honour his music and his story,” Paynter told The Australian. “We’re all just in the John Farnham slipstream: we’re lucky enough to be behind his speedboat, enjoying bringing people’s attention to his greatness.”
Could John Farnham be the answer to Sydney’s theatre struggles?
A lot is riding on Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical, not just for Paynter, but also for Sydney’s theatre industry, which has had a difficult run of late.
This past year, several major productions have struggled to get off the ground, with the Sydney seasons of Waitress and Beetlejuice: The Musical recently cancelled, while Back to the Future: The Musical ended its run early in January.
While rising touring costs and more cautious consumer spending have been blamed for recent cancellations, Whispering Jack is hoping to buck the trend by appealing to both regular theatregoers and die-hard John Farnham fans, bringing new audiences through the doors and giving ticket sales a boost.
Written by Australian filmmaker Jack Yabsley, creator of the ABC comedy series Gold Diggers, the production is also a celebration of homegrown talent.
With an Australian creative team and a story centred on one of the country’s most beloved musical icons, there’s hope it will rally audiences just as readily as the biggest international blockbusters. And with the Sydney season already extended, there’s reason to be optimistic about Whispering Jack’s future.
Will the musical tour Australia?
There has been no official announcement that Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical will extend to other cities beyond its seven-week run in Sydney.
The production is a collaboration between Sydney Theatre Company, Michael Cassel Group and TalentWorks, the company run by Gaynor Wheatley, who has managed Farnham’s career and legacy since the death of her husband, Glenn. A passionate advocate for taking the musical on the road, Wheatley is keen to see the production reach audiences well beyond Sydney.
“Everyone just looks at me like I’m completely mad,” Wheatley tells The Australian. “But I want to take this show everywhere. It should do regional. Because I think a lot of people who come to see this aren’t necessarily theatregoers, and I want to get to them. They’re happy in tents and smaller places.”
Director Mitchell Butel also weighed in on the future of the musical, but emphasised that, for now, success in Sydney is the main goal.
“There’s lots of talk about where it might go in ’27 and beyond, which is exciting,” he told The Australian. “One of my desires here is to bring brilliant world theatre to Sydney, and take brilliant Sydney theatre to the world – and if this can get on the road, that will be a really great achievement for STC, as well.”
Will John Farnham be at the premiere?
It is highly unlikely that John Farnham will attend the premiere of Whispering Jack on Sunday, as the 77-year-old singer has been battling health issues since undergoing surgery for mouth cancer in 2022.
His family released a statement in September stating that Farnham requires continuous oxygen support, uses a wheelchair for mobility and receives 24-hour nursing care at home.
His family were confirming that Farnham would not be attending a recent Melbourne concert that was held in his honour. The statement read,
“We have kept these matters private while our family has adjusted to John’s changing needs,
“However, we now feel it is important that John’s fans and supporters understand his circumstances and why he cannot be there this weekend …
“As a family, we have decided it is best for John to remain at home, where he can be safe and comfortable.”
Gaynor Wheatley told The Australian, “I know he’s not going to come to the opening; he promised me he would come to the opening, but that was a while ago, and I think now the reality is that it would be too hard for him to travel.”
On a more positive note, she also stated that Farnham’s grandson Jett “is bringing the joy” and that the icon is “pretty stable at the moment, and I want him to stay stable, comfortable and happy”.
While it’s sad news that Farnham will be absent from the opening, the musical offers a timely opportunity to celebrate his extraordinary career and the lasting mark he has left on Australian music and culture.
Book your tickets to Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical here.
