Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical will premiere in Sydney in November next year, as the blockbuster album celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Set between 1980 and 1986, Whispering Jack tells the story of Farnham's comeback, from struggling former pop star to the voice of the all-time highest-selling album by an Australian artist.

It is also the story of the people who believed in Farnham: from his wife Jill; to his manager Glenn Wheatley and his wife, Gaynor, who mortgaged their house to fund the album.

The musical's writer Jack Yabsley ( ABC TV's Gold Diggers ) describes the period as "zero to hero" — and that's what makes it so compelling.

"What does that mean when you've had success as a [teenager] to be 35 and down and out?" Yabsley says.

"And to have the strength to take

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