Finding Murdoch is ex-journalist Margot McRae's account of the media storm and controversy that engulfed sporting legend Keith Murdoch when in 1972 he became the first and only All Black ever expelled from the team. Murdoch punched a security guard in a Welsh bar just hours after scoring the All Blacks' only try in their victory over Wales. He was sent home in disgrace from the tour by All Black management. The world premiere of Finding Murdoch kicks off at Downstage in June.Finding Murdoch is ex-journalist Margot McRae's account of the media storm and controversy that engulfed sporting legend Keith Murdoch when in 1972 he became the first and only All Black ever expelled from the team. Murdoch punched a security guard in a Welsh bar just hours after scoring the All Blacks' only try in their victory over Wales. He was sent home in disgrace from the tour by All Black management. The world premiere of Finding Murdoch kicks off at Downstage in June.Avoiding the media maelstrom laying in wait for him in NZ, Murdoch went into hiding, quitting his home and his sport and moving to the Australian outback where he has lived ever since.

In 1990 McRae, then working on the rugby series Mud and Glory, tracked Murdoch down in rural Queensland and was able to speak to him for 45 minutes.

"I tried to get as much information out of him as I could, which was like getting blood from a stone," says McRae "But he was absolutely affable and pleasant. He was very happy in himself, it seemed to me."

"Meeting Murdoch had quite an effect on me," McRae adds. "It was the need to tell his story and to also express my increasing disillusionment with the direction of television that propelled me to write the play. I wanted to describe the process of getting a story and the toll it can take on people."

The season line-up includes Paul McLaughlin, Simon Vincent, Alistair Browning, Jed Brophy, Julian Wilson and Steven Ray. The coach for the series is Geraldine Brophy and chief reporter is Danielle Mason.

When: 16 June - 14 July 2007
Where: Downstage Theatre, Wellington
Bookings: Online or phone 04 801 6946