Three Summers is his first directing job in 15 years

Ben Elton is directing his first film in more than 15 years.

Shooting has just begun on Three Summers, a love story which he also wrote, in th  Peel region of Western Australia.

It is set  at a fictional music festival, based on the Fairbridge folk and world music festival, of which Elton is patron.

The writer-director, who lives in Western Australia, said 'this is a film I've been wanting to realise for a long time.

'I married an Australian and I’ve lived in Freo [Fremantle] on and off since 1986. When I first went to Fairbridge, I knew this is where the story should be told.The setting in the wonderful green hills is very inspiring.

'The story I’m telling is a multi-stranded tale with a love story at its core and it embraces our newest Aussies – our refugees – and our oldest Australians – our indigenous brothers and sisters.’

Told over three years and two festivals, the story focuses on the romance between Roland, a cynical, uncompromising theremin player, to be played by Misfits actor Robert Sheehan, and Keevey, an Irish singer and dancer, played by former Home And Away star Rebecca Breeds. 

Other characters include a widowed morris dancer, his Aboriginal friend and a teenage refugee who clash about who is more Australian.

Elton added: 'Festivals are the great levellers. We’re all equal in the queue for the Portaloos and no one looks cool dancing in a swamp. Stories collide, cultures clash and romance blossoms beneath the glorious Australian sun. Then it rains. Whoever said music was the food of love didn’t play the theremin.

'I have always wanted to make a film set in an iconic Australian landscape that speaks to audiences around the world. To see Three Summers come to life and go into production and to have such an extremely talented ensemble cast attached really is a dream come true.’

Other stars include Australians John Waters, Magda Szubanski and Michael Caton

Producer Michael Wrenn of Invisible Republic said: We are delighted to be able to bring together such an amazing cast for Ben Elton’s first Australian feature Three Summers.  It is a testament not only to his talent and script but also to the respect we all share for Ben’s political spirit, genuine sense of community and his comedic work.’

The film, which is  the first feature to be entirely shot in the Peel region, is Elton's first behind the camera since 2000's Maybe Baby, which starred Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson, and was based upon his novel Inconceivable, about a couple struggling to get pregnant. Reviews were mixed and it took £800,000 at the UK box office.

Elton's only other directing work has been the sitcom Blessed, which starred Ardal O'Hanlon as a record producer struggling to raise two children, alongside Mel Giedroyc and Robert Webb, which aired on BBC One in 2005.

A second series of Elton's Shakespeare sitcom, Upstart Crow, starring David Mitchell as the bard, will air on BBC Two next year.

- by Jay Richardson

Published: 8 Sep 2016