FROM JESUS TO JOHN FARNHAM!
27 April 26
Just as Australian powerhouse singer Michael Paynter is about to embark on his own “The Great Australian Songbook” national tour and release its companion EP, he has today officially been cast to play the legendary John Farnham in Sydney Theatre Company’s world premiere production, “Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical” at the Roslyn Packer Theatre in November 2026.
Following his 2025 award-winning turn as ‘Jesus’ in the blockbuster production of Jesus Christ Superstar, Paynter will now take on the most anticipated role in Australian theatre and the mantle of “The Voice,” bringing his signature range, power and finesse to the story and songs of an icon who defined Australia’s soundtrack.
“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,” says Paynter. “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. I only hope I can do my best, with what I have been given, to honour the man and his legacy.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON ‘WHISPERING JACK’
While preparing for the landmark production – produced by Sydney Theatre Company in association with Michael Cassel and Gaynor Wheatley – Paynter has already become the hottest ticket of 2026. With an initial run of sold-out solo shows across the country, more dates have been added in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, along with new shows in Geelong, Richmond (Sydney), Canberra and Perth. The “The Great Australian Songbook” tour has blossomed from an initial 8 dates, to now over 20 – many of which are already sold out.
Responding to the overwhelming demand and requests from fans, Paynter will also release the songs he will perform at these shows in a deeply personal new EP called “The Great Australian Songbook LIVE Vol. 1.” Recorded in the stunning Somerville Mechanics Hall near his childhood home of Frankston, the tracks eschew modern “studio trickery,” capturing the music in a single, raw take using only a piano, a guitar, and Paynter’s soaring vocals.
“I was blown away by the reaction from so many people wanting to come and see me play that I wanted to give something back – something for them to listen to and watch after the show is done,” says Paynter. “I wanted to capture the essence of what the live show is about: my interpretations of the songs that mean the most to me. There are no edits here. It’s just the room, the song, my voice, and the moment.”
Out on Wednesday, February 4th, the EP features powerful renditions of Working Class Man (Jimmy Barnes), Crazy (Icehouse), Chandelier (Sia), and a poignant “sneak peek” into his upcoming role with covers of Farnham’s own Age Of Reason and Burn For You. The EP was also filmed live for YouTube and marks the first in a planned series, with subsequent volumes to be recorded in unique locations across Melbourne.
