A murder. An interrogation. A clouded world of fantasy and fear.
Scorched Earth is part crime-drama, part psychological thriller — piercing into a dark but fundamental question of the Irish psyche. What right do we have to the land beneath our feet? What are we willing to do to keep it? Or take it.
Inspired by John B. Keane's The Field, the work draws audiences into the stark world of an interrogation room, where a detective and suspect dredge through the ghosts of an unsolved murder long thought forgotten.
Blurring the lines of dance and theatre, Luke Murphy — creator of the flawless multi-award-winning Volcano, a hit at Brisbane Festival 2024 — weaves story, striking visuals, and visceral movement into a tapestry through which five international performers sear a picture of wanting, striving, deserving, and resenting.
A poetic final chapter of reaching and failing leaves no doubt about the cost of success.
Dates & Times
17 - 20 Sep
Duration: 80 mins
Venue
Powerhouse Theatre
Prices & Ticket Info
$79.90 to $89.90
A booking fee of up to $7.20 will be applied.
Accessibility
- 50% Visual Content
- Audio Described
- Wheelchair Access
- Assistive Listening
- Auslan Interpreted Event
For accessible tickets, please contact the Box Office at Brisbane Powerhouse by calling 07 3358 8600 or emailing boxoffice@brisbanepowerhouse.org
Important Info
Ages 12 and up are recommended for this performance. No one under age 5 will be admitted. Use of Haze and Strobe Machines
Credits
Direction, Writing and Choreography Luke Murphy
Rehearsal Direction Stephen Moynihan
Set and Costume Design Alyson Cummins
Lighting Design Stephen Dodd
Composition and Sound Design Rob Moloney
Costume Design Assistant and Specialty Fabrication Valentina Gambardella
Set Build Adam Fitzsimons and Triangle Productions Ltd
Cast Luke Murphy, Ryan O’Neill, Sarah Dowling, Tyler Carney-Faleatua, Will Thompson
Voiceover Artist Eavan Gaffney
Production Management Simon Bird
Audio Engineer Aidah Sama
Chief Electrician Alan Mooney
Audio Visual Design Patricio Cassinoni
Stage Management Carolyn Boyd, Iain Synnott
Marketing & Communications Associate Emer Casey
Producer Gwen Van Spÿk
Associate Producer Miles Harrigan
Australian Tour Producer - Lee-Anne Donnolley
Supported By
Scorched Earth is a Co-Production with Dublin Dance Festival and Galway International Arts Festival and is supported by a 2025 Arts Council of Ireland Arts Grant Award and Culture Ireland. Created with additional support from Dance Cork Firkin Crane; Shawbrook Residential; Cork City Council; Town Hall Theatre/Black Box Theatre, Galway; Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, and Bathway Theatre at University of Greenwich. This project is supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC, and Shaun and Suzanne Kenny.
More tickets available on Ticketek
Reviews
The Arts Review
RTÉ Arena
The Irish Times
Irish Examiner
Artists
Luke Murphy
Luke is an Irish writer, director, choreographer and performer, working at the intersection of theatre and dance. Through his company Attic Projects, he has created and produced over twelve dance theatre works for stage, film, installation and site-specific/immersive contexts. His pieces have been presented throughout Ireland, the US, UK, Germany, Australia and Hong Kong. As a performer Luke worked with Punchdrunk from 2009-2022, originating roles in Sleep No More (New York) and The Burnt City (London), and with Wim Vadkeybus/Ultima Vez from 2014-2018. In addition Luke performed in projects with Pavel Zustiak/Palissimo, Martha Clarke, Kate Weare Company, Janis Brenner, Sean Curran, John Kelly, Alexandra Waierstall, Jonah Bokaer, Liz Roche, Ben Duke and others. He lives in Cobh Co. Cork and is currently Cork city Dance Artist in Residence at Dance Cork Firkin Crane.