For an artist whose voice once stopped a nation mid-chorus, it’s fitting that John Farnham’s life story is finally being told on stage – and that the man chosen to embody “The Voice” is one of Australia’s most formidable singers.
Michael Paynter has been cast as John Farnham in Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical, a world premiere production from Sydney Theatre Company, presented in association with Michael Cassel Group and Gaynor Wheatley. The show will open at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in November 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of Whispering Jack, the highest-selling Australian album of all time.
For Paynter, the role arrives at a remarkable moment. Fresh from an award-winning turn as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2025, and about to embark on a sold-out national solo tour, he now steps into what is already being described as one of the most anticipated roles in Australian theatre.
“To be asked to help tell the story of the greatest voice this country has ever produced is an honour that is very hard to put into words,” Paynter said. “For me, John Farnham is the absolute zenith of male singers in all of history. The gold standard.”
Whispering Jack charts Farnham’s extraordinary second act – the years leading up to 1986, when a once-teen idol, approaching middle age and struggling to keep the lights on, retreated to a suburban Melbourne garage with a new band and manager Glenn Wheatley. What followed was You’re the Voice, an album that transformed not just Farnham’s career, but Australian popular music itself.
Released against industry expectations, Whispering Jack went on to sell more than 1.7 million copies, spending 25 weeks at number one on the Australian charts. It remains a cultural landmark – an album so embedded in the national psyche that its opening synth line can still raise goosebumps four decades on.
Written by acclaimed playwright Jack Yabsley (Gold Diggers) and directed by Sydney Theatre Company Artistic Director Mitchell Butel, the musical is described as a celebration of Farnham’s life, mischief and musical genius – not a tribute act, but a story of persistence, reinvention and belief. Alongside the hits – Pressure Down, Age of Reason, Two Strong Hearts and That’s Freedom – the show explores the friendships and family bonds that sustained Farnham through the long road to “overnight success”.
Paynter’s casting feels especially apt. A vocalist renowned for his range, control and emotional precision, he has long been regarded as a singer’s singer. His recent success has also made him one of the hottest tickets of 2026, with his solo tour The Great Australian Songbook expanding rapidly due to demand.
What began as eight shows has now grown to more than 20 dates across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Geelong, Canberra, Perth and regional centres – many already sold out. The tour celebrates the songs that shaped Australian music, performed in an intimate, stripped-back style that places the voice front and centre.
In response to fan demand, Paynter is also releasing a companion EP, The Great Australian Songbook LIVE Vol. 1, recorded at the Somerville Mechanics Hall near his hometown of Frankston. Eschewing studio polish, the recordings were captured live in single takes, using only piano, guitar and voice.
“There are no edits here,” Paynter said. “It’s just the room, the song, my voice, and the moment.”
The EP, released on February 4, features powerful interpretations of Working Class Man (Jimmy Barnes), Crazy (Icehouse), Chandelier (Sia), alongside a poignant preview of what’s to come, with Farnham classics Age of Reason and Burn For You.
As anticipation builds toward the November premiere, Whispering Jack promises to be more than nostalgia. It’s a reminder of what happens when talent meets timing, when perseverance outlasts fashion — and when one voice, finally heard at the right moment, becomes part of a nation’s folklore.
For Michael Paynter, it is, as he puts it, “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”. For Australian audiences, it’s a chance to relive – and re-examine – the story behind the album that changed everything.
THE GREAT AUSTRALIAN SONGBOOK IS TOURING NATIONALLY TICKETS VIA MICHAELPAYNTER.COM
“WHISPERING JACK: THE JOHN FARNHAM MUSICAL” PREMIERES NOV 2026. DETAILS: SYDNEYTHEATRE.COM.AU
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