Tim Finn Brings Musical Ladies In Black Home

A musical written by New Zealander Tim Finn is heading to Sydney for the very first time as part of the Sydney Festival, which takes over the city from 7-29 January.

Finn wrote the music and lyrics for Ladies in Black, which was inspired by Sydney writer Madeleine St John’s 1993 book The Women In Black.

The show premiered in Brisbane in 2015, going on to win best New Australian work at the Helpmann Awards.

Finn, 64, lived in Sydney for many years.

“I married a Sydney girl and our first child was born here,” Finn said.

Coincidentally, his mother in law Evangeline until recently worked in the fragrance and makeup section of David Jones.

“She was quite amazed that I was able to get inside the heads of these women,” he said.

Finn, who now lives in Auckland, has been “dying” to bring the show to the city of its inspiration.

“You don’t have to be from Sydney to enjoy the show, but we thought it was enhanced by all the references to the northern beaches and Chatswood and Lindfield and the Manly Ferry and all the rest of it. It feels so lovely to be doing it here.”

Original article by Elizabeth Fortescue, The Daily Telegraph, January 4, 2017.