Rupert Murdoch Has Left the Headlines and Has Gone on Stage

He was known as the man who owned the news. And also for going any lengths to get the story, including hacking the phone lines of celebrities, royalty and public citizens.

Now, after taking up endless inches on various newspapers with his own scandals, Murdoch is taking to the stage in the play Rupert. Well, not Rupert Murdoch himself, but an actor playing Murdoch. Prolific playwright David Williamson has reimagined the native Australian's life into an exposé of media, money, power and politics - essentially Australasia's very own Wolf of Wall Street situation (replacing stocks with sentences).

The cabaret-style play follows the story of the man born into old money but who forged enough street smarts to see him become a global media giant.

Rupert premiered in Melbourne Theatre Company's 2013 season, before going on tour to Washington DC and Sydney. It was also scheduled for a West End run, however, in late 2014, the news broke that they were having trouble casting the lead role as many British actors were too scared to play the powerful press king. Luckily, in New Zealand no such issues have arisen, with Auckland Theatre Company's Stuart Devenie and Damien Avery playing the older and younger Ruperts respectively.

Rupert will be performed at Q Theatre from 25 June until 19 July.