Overview
Lust, Envy, Pride, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony and Greed. Familiar concepts receive the Benajmin Teh treatment as the playwright explores the darker side of humanity. Teh has become known for his commitment to the macabre with his sinister productions Meat and Where The Monster Are. Zeroing in on the humanity behind the sin, seven strange characters recite their tales of woe with a startling take on what behaviours and experiences might manifest the definition of deadly sin.
The content is challenging and boundary pushing. Social commentary on what it means to be human, the humour and soul which can be found in the controversial and heavy. "We need to explore our vices to understand ourselves as a species," suggests Teh.
In an interesting twist on casting diversity, director Borni Tukiwaho chose to eschew Teh's given character descriptions in favour of a 'blind casting' – an initiative not normally taken in the casting process unless advocated by the writer. In the case of Seven Deadly Monologues, the production team felt that the content lent itself well to a more progressive approach. The monologues will be performed by seven hungry young actors, each appointed a role as a reflection of what they could bring to each segment outside the bounds of gender and ethnicity.