...about transporting a piano across the Australian desert

Tim Minchin is to make a new ‘sharp-tongued and touching’ drama series for Sky.

In Upright, the comic and musician plays a gifted but self-destructive pianist trying to transport a battered upright piano 2,500 miles across the Australian desert to bid farewell to his dying mother.

And on his journey he pairs up with Meg (Milly Alcock), described as ‘a hilarious, tough-as-nails teenager who has plenty of scars and secrets of her own’.

Minchin wrote the eight-part series with its creator Chris Taylor,  a member of The Chaser comedy team, as well as Kate Mulvany and Leon Ford. The comic will also write the music and act as one of the executive producers.

He said: ‘From the moment I heard about the idea for Upright, I knew it was the show I’d been waiting to make. I like stories that make me laugh and think and cry, I adore the landscapes of outback Australia, and I love music, and homecomings, and characters full of flaws.

‘It’s awesome to be writing with this extraordinary team, and I’m looking forward to acting alongside Milly Alcock, who I think is a really special talent.’

The show, which will air next year, is being made in conjunction with Sky’s Australian sister company Foxtel, Lingo Pictures and Screen Australia, whose head of production Sally Caplan said: Upright is a project that will appeal in Australia and to the international market, with the hugely talented Tim Minchin on board.

‘What attracted us to this series was the well-crafted young female protagonist and the work of the strong writing team. I have no doubt this moving and quirky comedy will resonate with audiences.’

Production will begin in South Australia and Western Australia in October and the series will be directed by Matthew Saville, whose credits include the Josh Thomas comedy series Please Like Me.

Published: 23 Jul 2018