"I think everyone's got expectations, but you just do the best you can and hope it all falls into place. That's what I love about rehearsals, just getting into it," says Abi Tucker, who ought to know a thing or two about rehearsals. With a resume which includes roles in 'The Secret Life Of Us', 'The Wogboy' and 'Angst', Tucker is a relative newcomer with a very familiar face, who will be in Adelaide from this week for her role in 'Everything's Fucked', a new musical being staged as part of the Festival Centre's 'In Space' program.

"Yeah, yeah. It's great," she enthuses of the script, and then dries up. This is a worry. Maybe she hasn't read the script. Maybe she doesn't have anything to tell me about the evocatively titled 'Everything's Fucked'. Surely, you'd think, with a show of that name some explanation would be in order.

"I know Sean quite well," she says of writer (and composer) Sean Peters, out of the blue. "We've met quite a few times and he's great. The vibe of the actual script was interesting and a bit unique and I just liked the feel of the actual characters," she confesses, her voice sounding a little husky from early morning weariness. That's okay then: I'd mistaken it for detached disinterest.

"It's a very character based thing as well, and obviously I love playing characters, so… ummm… that really appeals to me. My character's quite interesting - there's four central characters in the piece - I don't want to give too much of the story away…"

'Everything's Fucked' is the story of the fears, stress and challenges of a group of young people growing up as part of Generation Y in a contemporary world where (in Peter's words) "when the things we believe in are shown to be false". Sound familiar? It doesn't give too much away to say that 'Everything's Fucked' the musical is unusual in that there are only four main characters, and that Abi Tucker's character Belle is a phone sex caller, and that she and the others want more from their lives. Jack works in the corporate world at NeansTalk.com, Adam is an online cowboy and Red books world cruises for retirees. Along with Tucker in the cast are other well known actors Rodger Corser and Andre Eikmeyer, and musician Abbie Cardwell, who was recently 'unearthed' by Triple J, despite having a wealth of experience both here and interstate.

I wondered if there was anything in particular which attracted Tucker to the feisty character of Belle. "She's quite a tough character really," she agrees. "She's got a lot of ups and downs and turns along the way, and you know, sort of lives… she's a sex caller… it's just the meat of the character really. I always warm to chunky characters and I've been really lucky to have some really wicked characters to play." She laughs nervously; "I've never actually done a musical before, either, so I'm really looking forward to the challenge."

The question, then, is whether Sean Peter pitched it to her or write her part in 'Everything's Fucked' with her in mind? "Interesting story," she responds, and proceeds not to tell me one. I guess that means she liked the interesting storyline. "I love things that have a real edge to them," she responds. "I think what he's done is edgy - but appealing - it includes a lot of different elements. Obviously with my work on 'Secret Life' and different characters I've played throughout the pieces I love really getting my teeth into particular people - into the roles that I play.

"Plus I love the music side as well, and it's a chance to get up and have a belt," she adds, sounding animated for possibly the first time. Having a 'belt' at some songs must be an inducement for an actor who's also a singer - and Tucker is currently putting together her own set of music for performances later this year. There are not many new musicals under development - it seems not to be a thriving art form - unless your name happens to be Lloyd-Webber or Rice. "With that in mind - and this is the development period we're coming down for," she says quickly, "it's a very significant period for it. It's just got some great tunes in it."

The cast, along with Director Geoff Crowhurst, go into an intensive two week rehearsal and development phase for 'Everything's Fucked', which is followed by a short season of three performances. In this first unveiling of the structure, it's important to emphasise that 'Everything's Fucked' is a project under development. "That's the beauty of it. I'm just interested to do it because I think he {Peters] has done a fantastic job. When I think about getting to know the script and the character - throughout rehearsals is when I'll get to grips with it.

"Obviously I'm quite excited by it because I like taking on projects which are a bit of a challenge, anyway. I guess in saying that, it's not worry, but more excitement, the essence of getting stuff down. I'm not one for sticking to something I know," she assures me. "I love just getting something up and running and saying "Fuck it", let's get out there and do it. I love that whole grit - yeah, there might be a few bumps along the way…"

Alex Wheaton