The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek balances true grit and jet-black comedy
When it comes to climate change, we’re living in a particularly interesting (and increasingly worrying) time in history. Between armchair experts starting heated debates on Facebook to a leader of the free world who literally doesn’t believe that the earth’s climate is in trouble, more of us are actually being inspired to stand up and take action. Time is running out, after all. So what would you do if your beliefs were called into question and you were forced to act accordingly? If push came to shove, would you stand up and fight? The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek poses this very question, making its bold and bloody debut at La Boite Theatre from February 10 to March 3.
Coming at you fresh from a co-production with new-writing incubator Playlab, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek tackles the pressing issue climate change and the reality of living in a post-truth world. Our story takes place in the harsh and unforgiving Tasmanian wilds, where we are introduced to George – an environmental scientist with a heart of gold who is hell-bent on saving the world, one Tassie devil at a time. She shares her cramped living quarters with Harris, a chicken nugget-loving ranger who has been tasked with bringing a feral dog plague under control to help George’s work with the wildlife. Things come to a head one evening when two uninvited guests set events in motion that will change the lives of everyone involved.
The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek is brought to life with a stellar cast of four individuals commanding the stage, taking playwright Kathryn Marquet’s poignant material to a level where it can be enjoyed, analysed and appreciated all at once. Playlab Artistic Director and CEO and Dead Devils director Ian Lawson has gathered some seriously top-shelf talent for this world premiere production. Rising star and multi-Matilda Award winner Emily Weir makes her La Boite debut as George, while Aussie legends and all-rounders John Batchelor (Sea Patrol), Julian Curtis (The Glass Menagerie and True West) and Kimie Tsukakoshi (The Family Law and Hanako) complete the small but mighty cast.
Tickets to the premiere season of The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek are available now through QTIX – step on it!
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