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 maybe she’s not real.

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.


Running time 70 minutes, no interval

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

Role
Playwright

Premiere Season
MKA S2 (MKA Pop-Up Abbotsford)
Melbourne December 2011

National Play Festival
in association with Playwriting Australia
Malthouse Theatre
Melbourne, January 2012

MKA S4 (MKA Pop-Up Nth Melbourne)
Melbourne, July 2012

Edinburgh Fringe
in association with C-Venues
Edinburgh, August 2012

World Theatre Festival
Power House Theatre
Brisbane February, 2013

Green Room Award Nominations
BEST ENSEMBLE
BEST DIRECTOR

The Stage – Edinburgh Nomination
BEST ACTRESS

BRISBANE 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

EDINBURGH REVIEWS

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

“RAW, PASSIONATE AND DARING.”
THE TIMES

★★★★★ “EXCEPTIONAL THEATRE… LEFT ME SHAKING”
THREE WEEKS

★★★★★ “NOT TO BE MISSED”
THE SKINNY

★★★★★ “ACCOMPLISHED SCRIPT…FAULTLESS ENSEMBLE”
A YOUNGER THEATRE

★★★★★ “RAW AGIT-PROP THEATRE AT ITS MOST DARING”
PUBLIC REVIEWS

★★★★ “UNCOMPROMISING THEATRE.”
BROADWAY BABY

★★★★ “HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL.”
FRINGE BISCUIT

★★★★ “A STUNNING AND IMAGINATIVE SCRIPT.”
FRINGE GURU

MELBOURNE REVIEWS

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

“poor theatre at its 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

“★★★★… 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

“★★★★…these guys are on the money…a highly engaging, energetic piece.”
THEATREPEOPLE ANGUS CAMERON

“masterfully directed… lead actor Zoe Dawson is 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

“★★★★★…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

“Scintillating writing…A spine tingling climax…Theatre that is bold and unique.”
PROMPTSIDE EUGYEENE TEH

2011 Green Room Award Nominations (Theatre – Independent)
BEST DIRECTOR & BEST ENSEMBLE

see more at http://mka.org.au/the-economist/