Tim Minchin On His New Show “Upright” and Finding Meaning in Life

"How do you live a meaningful life in a meaningless universe?"

Six years ago, Tim Minchin was awarded an honorary doctorate by The University of Western Australia. In his unflinching address to the crowd, he proposed nine life lessons to follow. The third: "Remember, it’s all luck. You are lucky to be here. You are incalculably lucky to be born."

It is a strange and nihilistic concept that most of us don’t care to think about, yet Minchin is deeply intrigued by it. So, it’s only fitting that the ever-striving composer, musician, comedian, actor, writer and director is playing a character named Lucky Flynn in his new Foxtel series Upright.

The eight-part dramedy is the kind of show that smacks you in the face with humanity. It’s uncomfortable at times, yet remarkably vulnerable. You feel like you’re intruding on the lives of ordinary people, who are simply doing their best to survive. After all, as Minchin tells Student Edge, that is what we are all trying to do.

"We grew up thinking most people are happy and some people are not," the 42-year-old Perth-raised star says.

"But I think most people have to consciously work on being all right.

"I reckon what I’ve done right in my life, is to always be aware to not take my mental health for granted. I just don’t want to be up and down. I’m not willing to sacrifice stability for massive highs."

The same can’t be said for his character, Lucky, whom we meet driving across the Nullarbor Plain to see his dying mother, towing a worn-out upright piano. At first encounter, it’s obvious that Lucky is despondent.

Minchin can relate, having had his own fair share of professional disappointments over the past couple of years. He played Friar Tuck in the 2018 Robin Hood reboot, which was met with an underwhelming response, and Larrikins, the animated musical he had been working on in Los Angeles was scrapped in March 2017.

"I was kind of in the state that Lucky is in when you meet him," he says

"I was irritated by everything.

"I was in a pretty miserable place in my life, just because a few things had gone wrong with my work, and I was trying to get myself back on the horse."

If Upright is anything to go by, Minchin has undeniably succeeded in that goal, bringing unexpected warmth to his self-loathing character. The actor cleverly coexists with Lucky, pulling off his broody musician persona with ease.

One might even draw the conclusion that Minchin is simply playing himself, especially considering the character’s ties to Perth. However, he points out there is one fundamental dissimilarity.

"The difference between Lucky and I is that Lucky is who I might have been if I hadn’t been lucky; if I’d made a mistake," he says.

It's true: Minchin has been lucky, and it’s a theme that is central to the show. Although, it is also largely about family, forgiving yourself and finding meaning in life.

"I’m obsessed with the question: How do you live a meaningful life in a meaningless universe?" he says.

"Everything I write is informed by the fact that I don’t believe things happen for a reason. All those stories we tell ourselves to create meaning are less profound than finding meaning in the hay bale rolls of life."

This search for meaning in Upright is what makes it such a profound series. Of course, with the stellar team behind it, the show’s emotional depth is to be expected.

The Chaser’s Chris Taylor came up with the original concept, while Matthew Saville (Please Like Me) directed the project. Plus, Minchin worked alongside writer-actors Kate Mulvany (Lambs of God) and Offspring’s Leon Ford.

Nevertheless, the heart of the series is undoubtedly the unlikely relationship between Lucky and teenage runaway, Meg, who is portrayed with electrifying intensity by rising star Milly Alcock.

As Minchin says, they weren’t sure whether a young person would be able to pull off the complicated character.

"The whole show depended on us finding an amazing actress; she had to be funny and gutsy, and strong and vulnerable," he explains.

"Even when we cast Milly, we thought she was good, but there’s no way of knowing whether a kid can come into it."

Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of Upright is that it ignores perceived rules. Despite Lucky and Meg’s pairing being unconventional, it proves incredibly moving.

"We just wanted to write a story about a man and a teenager driving across the desert, imagining nothing but what that might be like," Minchin says.

"It’s a story about mutual need."

Well, one thing’s for certain: the world needs more shows like Upright.

Upright lands on Foxtel on 1 December at 5.30pm (AWST). You can stream all episodes on Foxtel or watch the double episode premiere on Fox Showcase.

Header Image: Foxtel