The Economist

by Tobias Manderson-Galvin

TEETH HIGH GLOSS WHITE. SKIN BANK NOTE CRISP. EYES LASER BEAM BLUE.

Andrew has been having nightmares. He’s been doing everything to stop them. World of Warcraft. Plastic surgery. Neo-Fascism.

When the girl next door starts coming around it seems like maybe they’ll stop. But then again…

MKA’s The Economist is the first play written in response to the massacre on Utoya Island, Norway. Inspired by Anders Breivik’s journal, blogging, his 1500 page manifesto, his online gaming avatars, and the world media’s response to the killings; this disturbing, insightful and entertaining play offers a snapshot into the human psyche, humanity and society at its worst.

GREEN ROOM AWARD NOMINATIONS
BEST ENSEMBLE
BEST DIRECTOR

THE STAGE.CO.UK EDINBURGH NOMINATIONS
BEST ACTRESS

Running time 70 minutes, no interval
Strictly No Latecomers

Warnings: Contains coarse language, simulated sex, violence and drug use

Reviews

“New theatre at its most exciting: uncompromising, fearless and unrelentingly, disturbingly human.”
– TheMusic.com.au

“unsettling in the best possible way”
– Critical Mass

“MKA is creating theatre to change the course of theatre. It’s disturbing on a level that goes far beyond any traditional thriller, leaving us cold, and wondering about the future of the human race.”
– XS Entertainment

“RESPECTFUL & THOUGHT PROVOKING. A MUST SEE SHOW” THE STAGE

“RAW, PASSIONATE AND DARING.” THE TIMES

5/5 STARS “EXCEPTIONAL THEATRE… LEFT ME SHAKING” THREE WEEKS

5/5 STARS “NOT TO BE MISSED” THE SKINNY

5/5 STARS “ACCOMPLISHED SCRIPT…FAULTLESS ENSEMBLE” A YOUNGER THEATRE

5/5 STARS “RAW AGIT-PROP THEATRE AT ITS MOST DARING” PUBLIC REVIEWS

4/5 STARS “UNCOMPROMISING THEATRE.” BROADWAY BABY

4/5 STARS “HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.” FRINGE BISCUIT

4/5 STARS “A STUNNING AND IMAGINATIVE SCRIPT.” FRINGE GURU

“incisive theatrical technique, fine ensemble performance and brilliant direction… a potent and clinically performed work.”

THE AGE CAMERON WOODHEAD

2011 Green Room Award Nominations (Theatre – Independent) 

BEST DIRECTOR & BEST ENSEMBLE

“poor theatre at it’s best…a wicked take on political delusion…Highly recommended…Get booking!”

THEATRENOTES ALISON CROGGON

“ the kind of mind f*ck that leaves you wobbly and wanting more”

AUSSIETHEATRE.COM.AU ANNE-MARIE PEARD

“the actors run a tour de force.. the skill of Manderson-Galvin and Badham create a thrilling spectacle.” 

IL GLOBO DANIELE ZINNI

“Four Stars… Zoe Dawson does a terrific job with presence and complexity…a powerful, astute piece of of theatre.” 

ARTSHUB.COM.AU LIZA DEZFOULI

‎”more interesting political theatre than anything I’ve seen in Australia in a very long time…. Something akin to The Sound of Music (in Zizek’s reading)…. a work wrapped up in multiple ironies, far and far beyond anything that was happening when David Foster Wallace was writing about irony.” 

GUERILLA SEMIOTICS JANA PERKOVIC

“Four Stars…these guys are on the money…a highly engaging, energetic piece.”

THEATREPEOPLE ANGUS CAMERON

“masterfully directed by Van Badham…Zoe Dawson- first rate… an exceptional performance” 

INPRESS ALICE BODY

“Good theatre was once defined as work that holds a mirror up to society to reveal its flaws. By that, and any other definition, this is good theatre.” 

RHUM.ORG.AU LIAM PIEPER

“Five Stars…Pure Genius… An incredible piece of political satire.” 

RUSHCROWDS BEN GETTLER

“the play is fascinating… script poetic and thoughtful…direction keeps the whole thing moving like a freight train.”

KEITH GOW.COM KEITH GOW

“Scintilating writing…A spine tingling climax…Theatre that is bold and unique.” 

PROMPTSIDE EUGYEENE TEH

Talent

PREMIERE PRODUCTION CREDITS 

PLAYWRIGHT TOBIAS MANDERSON-GALVIN
DIRECTOR + DRAMATURG VAN BADHAM
FEATURING 
ZOEY DAWSON
MARCUS MCKENZIE
CONOR GALLACHER
JAMES DEETH
SARAH WALKER
& PETER PALTOS
STAGE MANAGER STEPHEN MOYLAN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MARK PRITCHARD
STAGE DESIGN DAVID SAMUEL
COSTUME DESIGN CHLOE GREAVES
LIGHTING DESIGN JULIA KNIBBS
SOUND DESIGN NICK MCCORRISTON

THANK YOU

Penny+Kerith as we rehearsed in your lounge room, Ben+Hunter+Hot Brad stars of the trailer, the authors of ‘On Utoya’ for telling the story without fiction, Anniene & Anthea for helping build flat pack furniture at Van’s Apartment, Malthouse Theatre, Yvonne at Monash, Alex at Uni High, Soren+Michelle+Scott for the workshop of inception, Peta Coy for her advice and provocations and Kate Wolfe for her insights into her life as an au pair in Norway.

Trailers

Resources

FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT

This is the fictional story of Andrew Berwick; a man very similar to Anders Breivik, who killed 92 people in Norway on July 22 2011. He first detonated a bomb in central Oslo killing 8 people and then used the subsequent chaos as a tool and a distraction while he captured and killed mainly youths at a Labour Party Youth Camp on the small island of Utoya. The playtext owes some debt to the source material of Anders Breivik’s extensive diaries, his 1500 page manifesto, his and others’ blog entries on conservative websites, his World of Warcraft characters, media commentary, the book ‘On Utoya’, discussions between the playwright with cast, crew, family, friends and conversations overheard in the playwright’s local Japanese restaurant. 

http://www.promptside.net/2011/12/mka-the-playwright-and-the-economist/

http://guerrillasemiotics.com/2011/12/rw-the-economist/