The Modern International Dead

Winner of the 2011 Perth Theatre Trust Equity Guild Award for Best Production

Winner of the 2011 Perth Theatre Trust Equity Guild Award for Best Director (Chris Bendall)

Winner of the 2008 Sydney Theatre Award for Best New Australian Work

Winner of the 2008 WA & NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Best New Australian Play

True stories from the frontline.

Following hundreds of hours of interviews with international peacekeepers, aid workers and UN weapons inspectors, author Damien Millar has constructed a dynamic, engrossing and surprisingly funny new work.

Focusing on three people who have dedicated themselves to putting their lives at risk in aid of others, we visit the world’s most dangerous hotspots, from Rwanda to East Timor, Cambodia to Iraq.

This devastatingly powerful new play sees a cast of three playing over forty different characters in rapid-fire transformation. We are proud to bring this bold, fiercely intelligent and highly original new work of theatre to Western Australian audiences.

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Press Reviews

“it’s a powerful and thought-provoking night of theatre that should not be missed.” Australian Stage Online

“I RARELY start a review by praising the actors, director and production crew above all else. But Deckchair’s production of Damien Millar’s much-lauded The Modern International Dead, under the energetic and empathetic direction of Chris Bendall, deserves foregrounding….The three actors, Michelle Fornasier, Stuart Halusz and Steve Turner, flexible and thoroughly dedicated, handle dozens of roles between them… each actor brings subtlety and power to the roles.” John Kinsella, The Australian

“All three actors are impressive, dropping in and out of a myriad of characters, but always coming solidly back to the heart of their main roles. The swift action is laced with flashes of farce…But Compassion provides the heart of this ambitious play that explores international stories from a uniquely Australian perspective. It’s Deckchair back to its best.” Subiaco Post

“the quality of the production [is] anchored by Turner’s distinguished performance… His characterisation was entirely convincing, completely lacking either artfulness or histrionics and his modulation of emotion was impeccable.
Halusz and Fornasier also delivered noteworthy performances. Chris Bendall pilots a crisp, tightly paced handling of the action, using the three ominous military packing crates that dominate Bryan Woltjen’s clever design to good effect. The [production] deserves praise for bringing a terrible darkness to the light and for a performance that alone is worth the price of admission.” The West Australian