PIP Theatre is showcasing the debut production from Cut & Run Productions, the strange, surprising and darkly funny The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek. This new play blends satire, suspense and shock value in equal measure, pulling no punches as it explores the collision of science, politics, and personal morality.
In a remote Tasmanian cabin, nowhere near civilisation, the worst and best traits of society rise to the surface. Wildlife warriors Dr Georgina ‘George’ Templeton (Michaela Faux) and Harris Robb (Jett Robson) work to protect the local Tasmanian Devil population from extinction.
When George witnesses a hunter kill a protected family, she shoots him dead in an impassioned burst of anger. But everything comes undone when the hunter Mickey O’Toole (Mathew Filkins) seemingly comes back to life. By the time Destinee Lee (Malika Savory), a lost girl scout, stumbles into the cabin, chaos has already erupted.
Authored by Brisbane-based playwright Kathryn Marquet, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek is a story that traps its audience with its many twists and turns. Like her other play, The Pale Blue Dot, Marquet humorously ventures into controversial territory. An intense debate between scientific reasoning and hateful misinformation, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek will challenge audiences’ ethical code.
For their debut show, Cut & Run Productions digs deep into the issues of modern Australian politics and society. Michaela Faux’s well-crafted stage design feels like we’ve trespassed into the cosy remote cabin. Cut & Run’s commitment to sustainability is evident in their use of pre-owned and recycled materials, which enhance the set’s authentic, lived-in feel. A computer monitor, used to show the comings and goings outside of the cabin, is not only a clever narrative tool but also helps to situate the cabin in the wilderness.
Darcy Jones’ direction shines throughout the play. From the tension-built plot twists and his humanising of the deeply flawed characters, Jones’ direction is masterful.
Michaela Faux plays the righteous wildlife scientist George with an air of unapologetic honesty. Faux pushes the do-gooder stereotype to show that George is passionate to a fault. Her long, reproachful monologues and justifications of murder are spoken in the confident tone of someone who is always right.
Comic relief is found in Jett Robson’s charming portrayal of the goofy stoner and park ranger Harris. Functioning as a mediator between George and Mickey, Robson carefully treads the terrain of both sides. His excitable and quirky acting leads to many laugh-out-loud moments.
Playing the dislikable Irish felon Mickey, Mathew Filkins is constantly switching from fiend to friend. One moment he’s the picture of menace, baiting the others into a fight, and the next he’s candidly giving advice. Yet with Filkins’s expertise, these swift transitions seem natural.
As Destinee, Malika Savory does an incredible job balancing the innocence of a scared teenage girl with the hatefulness of a devoted One Nation member. Her peppy attitude makes the girl’s outrageous opinions seem funny and childish.
Not for the faint of heart or the easily queasy, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek has some confronting scenes. This includes vomiting, depiction of a graphic murder and finding out what chicken nuggets are really made of.
A wild journey from start to finish, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek will hold audiences captive. It’s a wickedly clever, uncomfortably timely, and outrageously funny night at the theatre. Playing for a limited season, don’t miss your chance to witness this bold new voice in Australian playwriting.
Cut & Run Productions’ The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek runs to 12 July at PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road Milton Qld 4064.
Tickets: https://piptheatre.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/149143
Website: https://piptheatre.org/2025-the-dead-devils-of-cockle-creek/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/cutandrun.productions/
Photo credits: Jasmine Prasser
