The play is ‘loosely’ based on two shocking WA murder cases which occurred in 2006. In both cases, young girls brutally murdered their so-called friends without motivation and flaunted a chilling sense of apathy when confronted with their actions. Written by Reg Cribb (Last Train to Freo, The Return, Boundary Street), and featuring mesmerising direction by Andrew Lewis, The Damned is a confronting yet unforgettable piece of theatre.
Set in the fictional WA town of Rainbow, the plot centres on two teenage outcasts, Natasha and Kylie. Natasha (Amanda Woodhams) is an infamous outsider and veritable livewire – she crackles with an aggressive energy that threatens to engulf all around her. Kylie (Sage Douglas) is a softly spoken and socially awkward loner who is picked on by her peers and longs for acceptance. She is drawn to the fiery Natasha and the two girls form an instant bond.
Together they become further withdrawn and disconnected from their surroundings; they drop out of school and move into a run-down house to lead a life fuelled by drinking and hard drugs. When the two girls meet Melody (Claire Lovering), a young girl who has run away from home, they believe they have met a kindred spirit and allow her into their private world. But soon their loyalties are tested and their destructive bond twists into something even more sinister and disturbing.
The Damned is fronted by a skilled and fearless cast. The three female leads are unwavering, and all too convincing in their performances. In particular, Woodhams and Douglas create an authentic dynamic as Natasha and Kylie – with Natasha’s volatile energy driving forward the submissive and impressionable Kylie. Veteran actors Polly Low and Greg McNeill tackle multiple characters with great skill as they portray the older generation who have failed to reach out to the youth.
Cribb’s script, which has already been shortlisted for the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award and is being reworked into a movie script, is accessible and gripping. He manages to blend dark humour into the tragic story without undermining the seriousness of the issues being examined. The dialogue is sharply observed and the characters believable. Direction is tight and cinematic – utilising a large screen on which the girls’ texts and Facebook messages are projected, which highlights the potential role social media plays in youth alienation. Set/lighting design and soundscapes captured the bleak atmosphere of a small town. Even before the horrendous crimes take place the town seems to have given way to a sense of hopelessness.
Although the play may garner criticism for drawing on such recent crimes, The Damned does not seek to sensationalise the events or excuse the perpetrators of the crime. Rather, by shedding light on these baffling and unnerving crimes, The Damned provokes debate over the broader issues of youth alienation, drug abuse and isolation. This is a frightening and important piece of theatre; a must-see for those who are unafraid of being challenged.
Rating: Four and a half stars out of five
Black Swan State Theatre Company presents
The Damned
Written by Reg Cribb
Directed by Andrew Lewis
Set/Costume Designer: Alicia Clements
Audio Visual Designer: Mia Holton
Sound Designer: James Luscombe
Lighting Designer: Joseph Mercurio
Cast includes Wade Briggs, Sage Douglas, Claire Lovering, Polly Low, Greg McNeill, Amanda Woodhams
Duration: Approximately two hours 20 min (including interval)
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA
October 14 – 30
