ABC celebrates Muriel’s Wedding

Making Muriel is being produced by In Films

Australian pubcaster the ABC has commissioned an hour-long documentary that follows director PJ Hogan as he adapts his 1994 box-office hit Muriel’s Wedding into a stage musical.

In Films is producing Making Muriel, which will examine the enduring popularity of the movie starring Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths and the creative process in the lead-up to the world premiere of Muriel’s Wedding The Musical in Sydney in November.

ABC Commercial has the international rights to the doc, which is co-funded by Screen Australia and produced and directed by Nel Minchin with producer Ivan O’Mahoney.

The film will include archival footage and interviews with Hogan, the film’s producers Jocelyn Moorhouse and Lynda House, and the musical’s cast.

The Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures (Strictly Ballroom The Musical, King Kong The Musical) are staging the production.

Liz Stevens, senior manager for documentary at Screen Australia, said: “Muriel’s Wedding is a quintessentially Australian story that launched the careers of Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, PJ Hogan and Jocelyn Moorhouse, and gifted us with countless one-liners that have become embedded in our cultural lexicon.

“Supporting Nel Minchin to make her solo directing debut was a no-brainer for us and we know audiences will cherish the opportunity to reconnect with this classic story.”

Alongside Rhian Skirving, Minchin co-directed the ABC documentary Matilda and Me, which looked at the Royal Shakespeare Company production of her brother Tim Minchin’s musical based on Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

Mandy Chang, head of ABC Arts, added: “Nel and In Films have amazing access to the behind-the-scenes casting and rehearsals process and already the story promises to make exciting viewing, not only for audiences who grew up loving Muriel’s Wedding but for anyone who enjoys watching the creative process unfold.”