A biblical stage rock musical based on the Gospels, Man of Sorrows was first produced in Melbourne under the title The Jesus Christ Revolution. The name was changed to Man of Sorrows, for the Sydney season, which began in June 1972. Under this title it also played in New Zealand (1932 and 1973) and in Edinburgh, Scotland (1972).
Although the 1971 production predated the arrival in Australia of Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell, and was described by at least one reviewer, Michael Symonds of the The Sydney Morning Herald, as 'the most likeable of the three Jesus musical's [currently] in town' (13 June 1972), Man of Sorrows nevertheless succumbed to the publicity hype surrounding the two international productions. The Melbourne season lasted only three weeks. The musical fared well in New Zealand, however,. It still considered one of the country's most popular rock musicals of the 1970s. Man of Sorrows also won the award for best new musical at the 1972 Edinburgh Festival.
The cast of the 1971-72 Melbourne season included John Paul Young (later one of Australia's most successful pop singers of the 1970s).
The 1972 New Zealand production featured 22 year-old Rob Guest in his first lead role. Another high profile New Zealander associated with Man of Sorrows was composer/musician/ music director and conductor Gary Daverne
1971: Comedy Theatre, Melbourne; 29 December 1971- Jan. 1972 [3 weeks]
1972: Pitt Street Congregational Centre, Sydney; 6 June -
1972: Auckland, New Zealand; ca. November-December.
1972: Edinburgh, Scotland
1973: Auckland, New Zealand (revival); ca. December.