This production was where I finally realized how hopeless it is to worry about criticism. We toured UK and Australia and got these glowing, 5-star reviews, many of which made a big fuss of my Judas, but about one in five of them would just HATE IT. Some people would say it was transformative, and others found it laughable. It’s hard to figure out what to do with that shit, especially when every night, everyone on stage is almost literally tearing themselves to shreds trying to make it amazing. And I get why some people find it hard to swallow. Superstar is a miracle of creativity: it’s almost a parody (and sometimes is absolutely meaning to be), and it’s incredibly camp and funny, and it’s atheistic as fuck, and yet it manages – I think – to absolutely flatten you with emotion, and eventuality is almost transcendent. Totally bonkers… and written by a couple of guys just out of their teens.
It remains my favourite musical.
Well, other than Groundhog Day, of course. (Tickets on sale now 😂).
I feel like I forgot to tell you guys I met Eddie Redmayne. I thought I loved Eddie Redmayne, and then I met him, and now I’m sure.
I was a long way away from @eltonjohn. But then I got (swipe) a bit closer.
And then (swipe) a bit closer.
😍
I was a long way away from @eltonjohn. But then I got (swipe) a bit closer.
And then (swipe) a bit closer.
😍
It is so nice to have a PM who can speak the truth.
Oh, and congratulations @chrisminnsmp.
@albomp #nswelection
I’m sorry I’m only posting Judas bits… it’s what I have access to. @thebenforster and @melaniecmusic and @chrismoylesofficial and every single person in this production was so kind and hard-working and good. And the band, led by Louise Hunt… just absolutely cracking. Sigh.
Still one of the most bonkers and brilliant experiences of my life. And I made lifelong friends doing it.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live Arena Tour. It’s on YouTube and lots of other places.
I might just keep posting these all Easter. 🐣✝️✡️💟🙏
Hey kids, if you want to sing like this, my advice is… don’t. 😂😬
#JesusChristSuperstar
Homeless Dude With a Gym Membership is a pretty niche fetish, but I wager it’s not for nobody.
A few months ago, Brian Walsh and I had a disagreement about the editorial direction of the first couple of eps of Upright season 2. As head of Drama at Foxtel, he was the lead commissioner of the show, so in the end, what he says goes. And it goes without saying, he’s hugely experienced and had very good reasons for asking us to cut the show a certain way.
But rather than overrule me, he agreed to let the amazing @lana.greenhalgh set up a coffee meeting, and we sat for an hour and a half in a cafe, discussing our different points of view.
Those who know me will be unsurprised to learn that I banged on in my relentless way, and had several printed pages to back up my pitch. (Brian perhaps didn’t know me so well, because he was a bit surprised that he’d walked into a courtroom drama!)
Anyway. After 90minutes of mutually respectful debate, he still disagreed with me! But he took my documents and said he’d go away and think about it. I was sure that meant he would reject my plea.
A couple of days later, as I was standing at a baggage carousel in Perth, he rang me (personally, mind you), and with real joy in his voice told me he’d decided that even though he still disagreed with me, he wanted to honour my passion (obsessiveness?!) and let me have my way.
I still don’t know if he was right or if I was. I suppose, being art, we both were… or both weren’t.
But those of you in the industry know that this is not a common story. You don’t get the head of drama of a major streaming service giving 90 minutes of their time to listen to the point of view of a massively less-experienced artist. It’s incredibly rare. And I was so impressed and so grateful.
Brian knew how to talk the talk, but he genuinely walked the walk. He tearily loved Upright from the moment we pitched it to him, and was a passionate ally until his dying day.
A big, big loss to our industry.
Brian Walsh 1955-2023.
Looking for something to binge-watch over the weekend?
Both Seasons of #UPRIGHT are available to watch in:
Australia on FOXTEL and BINGE.
UK on Sky Comedy and NOW TV. (Available on DVD in the UK too)
Canada on Super Channel Fuse and CBC GEM .
Flanders, Belgium on Streamz.
USA on Sundance Now.
New Zealand on TVNZ.
More coming soon. Details via link in bio.
Looking for something to binge-watch over the weekend?
Both Seasons of #UPRIGHT are available to watch in:
Australia on FOXTEL and BINGE.
UK on Sky Comedy and NOW TV. (Available on DVD in the UK too)
Canada on Super Channel Fuse and CBC GEM .
Flanders, Belgium on Streamz.
USA on Sundance Now.
New Zealand on TVNZ.
More coming soon. Details via link in bio.
It’s good to have a @damianbennettphoto in your life.
The excellent @matthumphreyimages sent me this pic from a few years ago, when we had just received Best Musical for Groundhog Day at the @olivierawards. I had the massive thrill of receiving it from our games’ gentlest genius, @lin_manuel, and genuine living legend @audramcdonald.
Was a special, special night… clearly enhanced by the fact that I was absolutely rocking my Friar Tuck facial hair.
Anyone else at the O2 for EJ? 😍
Very excited.
Mornin’.
It’s A Sign.
South Coogee. (Taken on iPhone a couple of hours ago. No filter)
Go to YouTube and search for the Aeroplane feat Asmara Feik. It’s rather sweet, despite the moustache.
This is the world’s longest – and perhaps prettiest – life insurance commercial. (In joke for Punx)
I’m quite enjoying making a few home vids of Groundhog Day songs.
Groundhog Day is the Best Musical Olivier Award-winning show I wrote with Danny Rubin (who also wrote the original screenplay) about 7 years ago. It re-opens in London in May 2023, and in time will tour the UK and beyond. Go see it if you possibly can because it’s very fkn cool. Funny and intricate and sad and romantic and joyous. If I do say so myself.
LYRICS:
On and on and on, you stumble on
Towards the evening sun
She waits for you with open arms
You stare right through her
On and on, you fall towards her
Cold embrace in shadowed doorway
Offers nothing, still she draws you
Ever to her
On and on and on, you stumble on
Towards the sinking sun
Turn a blind eye, fight or run
Rest assured, the night will come
On and on you grasp and guess
And search for patterns in the mess
Of what has been, and what is left
To yet endure
The jester shrugs and plays his part
The fearful see only dark
The pious with their hope-filled hearts
Sing Hallelujah
On and on and on, you stumble on
Towards the cooling sun
Turn a blind eye, fight or run
Rest assured, the night will come
All the love, and all the gold
All you’ve built and all you’ve sold
All the power you may hold
You won’t evade her
All the steel, all the bricks
All the math and magic tricks
All the carrots, all the sticks
Will not dissuade her
On and on and on, you stumble on
Towards the fading sun
Turn a blind eye, fight or run
Rest assured, the night will come
As for that, the rest is just a test of your endurance
You gotta love life
You gotta love life
You gotta love life
The new version of The Aeroplane featuring Asmara Feik is out now. Links in bio. #timminchin #theaeroplane #upright
• The Aeroplane •
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✨Design 2/2
✨Digital drawing made in Procreate
✨25-30h of work
✨ Original photo from the Tv Series Upright S2
✨ Comment, share and like this artwork to support my art
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This design is called The Aeroplane. The aeroplane design was made for Tim’s single with the same name. That song was made for the Tv Series Upright S2. The meaning of this design is for me deeper and more special. (Spoiler alert) The whole series Lucky is waiting for Billie to get of off that plane and get to him. This drawing illustrates how he (and Meg) looks up in the sky searching for that plane, wondering if they will be there in time…
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🏷️ @timminchin #timminchin #upright #uprighttvseries #theaeroplane #aparttogether #aparttogetheralbum #timminchindrawing #fanart #artwork #art #digitalart #procreateart #procreateportrait
Matthew Warchus (director) and @timminchin (music & lyrics) on how they first joined forces and went on to bring us Matilda The Musical, and – of course – #OVGroundhogDay
Attention Revolting Children: the soundtrack to Netflix’s Roald Dahl’s #MatildaTheMusical is now available to preorder on vinyl!
Link in bio.
