Earlier this year, John Richards (co-creator of ABC1’s Outland and doyen of podcasts Boxcutters and Splendid Chaps) asked me if I’d like to write a short play about Eurovision with him for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Having absolutely no time to spare, as well as no real interest in Eurovision, I immediately said yes.

The true events that the story he was pitching was based upon were too extraordinary to turn down, so, before absconding to Sydney for a couple of months, I co-wrote the script with John and then left it in his capable hands.

The play we wrote forms one half of Songs For Europe: Two Short Plays About Eurovision (the other half was written solely by John), and it is produced by Ben McKenzie, directed by Lucas Testro, and features Marta Kaczmarek, Nicholas Colla, Angus Brown, Noah Moon, Jack Beeby, Chris Broadstock and Petra Elliott.

It’s a strange feeling to know exactly what will happen and yet have no idea what to expect, but that’s what I’m in for when I head along to the Melbourne Fringe Festival to see the production.

The play opens tonight, and runs until September 29, so make sure you go here to book your tickets.

And since we’re talking Fringe, I also heartily recommend you see…

Julius Caesar, the first production from Proper Villains Theatre Company. One of my all-time favourite Shakespeare plays as adapted by David Lamb. Dave’s understanding and interpretation of Shakespearian texts never fails to excite me, so I’m really looking forward to this one.

If you’ve never heard Adam Rudegeair play, then you’ve got to get down to Game of Themes, in which the jazz maestro reinterprets popular science fiction and fantasy themes. This one’s going to be a lot of fun.

Check out the rest of the program here.