The latest offering from Griffin Award playwright Damien Millar is a kaleidoscopic story of Australians aid workers as they draw unique moments from a backdrop of violence and human excess.
Drawing on interviews with around 50-60 Australians who work in international aid, The Modern International Dead weaves through Cambodia, Rwanda, Iraq and East Timor as they risk their lives to bring relief to those caught up on the world's front lines.
But the storytellers begin to question how change can come about while they see politics impede progress and stark reality squash hope.
So why do they return to risk they lives time and time again?
Through personal testimony a stellar cast, including Belinda McClory, Ian Meadows and Colin Moody, expresses the fears, intentions and momentary delights of Australians caught up on the frontier of global change - 'witness theatre' at its most compelling.
Nick Marchand, Griffin's Artistic Director said Millar perfectly balances personal stories and dramatic narrative.
"I've always been fascinated by the use of personal testimony and differing approaches to its representation on stage."
"In Damien Millar, we have a theatrical storyteller who can bring a vibrant imagination and profound understanding of the medium to play."
