Let’s get straight to it, what is Borderless about? “In essence it’s a story about a family, in particular 2 step-brothers who come from opposite sides of the world and their experiences whilst on deployment in the Australian Army during the Afghan war in 2011. But as the story progresses we (the audience) start suspecting that there’s something more sinister and ultimately more tragic which gradually, piece by piece, is revealed. I’m sensing that you’re trying your best not to say too much about the ending? “You are spot on! My lips are sealed”. I am intrigued.
OK so what was it that inspired you to create the piece? Was it one thing in particular or multiple? “It was a few things, actually. I think the seed of the idea came years ago when a work friend of mine, who had come back from Afghanistan a few years earlier was watching a news report playing on tv. It showed footage of a violent riot occurring in, I think it was in Egypt at the time and while he watched it playing out he made a remark which to be honest shocked me. I don’t want to say what it was but it wasn’t pleasant to say the least. And I was shocked because it seemed so uncharacteristic of the person I knew or at least the type of person I thought he was. It left me with this unanswered question that sparked my imagination of what happened to you over there? What did you see? Then as more reports about veteran suicides came out I felt drawn to it and bit by bit a story formulated”.
One set of statistics you can’t ignore – 46 soldiers died during the entire Afghan/Iraq conflict. Over 700 have committed suicide since returning home.
I take it you interviewed a few Afghan veterans about their experiences? “I did. I could never have created the piece without their help. The time they provided me with sitting down and listening to their stories over a beer or coffee was invaluable. I’d be sitting there at least a couple of hours in absolute awe at some of the stories they’d tell me. They gave me so much material to work with that I could’ve created several different shows on the subject. So there will be a sequel? “Haha! Let’s get through this one first”.
Given how much time you spent speaking and listening to veterans about their real experiences. How much of the story is true and fiction? “It’s a fictional piece. However there are many events, places, things that are referenced that are actually true. It’s very much grounded in truth. Which makes it that much more shocking and heart-breaking when you hear about how our veterans are treated after their service”. Would you say that’s the biggest take away the audience will have when seeing the show? “I think so. We are so used to hearing these stories about how the government didn’t give a shit about Australian Vietnam veterans but this it’s literally happened again and the Australian public need to know”.
Why a one man show and how have you found the journey? “Very lonely to be honest. Haha! I thought while writing it, it would be great to be able to have a sole connection to a piece. As well as having total accessibility with where and when I can perform it. It has been great! But on the flip side it really has made me value and appreciate being able to connect to another actor in a scene and bounce off them”.
How have you found working with Christie Koppe (Director)? “It’s been a blast! I first worked with her in 2019 when she directed David Lindsay-Abire’s play ‘Rabbit Hole’ at the Chippen Street theatre, which is also where we are going to be staging ‘Borderless’. It’s always a pleasure working with Christie, she has such a great vision for her work and as a writer to be able to give her your baby and see how and where she takes it is always really exciting”.
How has the feedback been about the play so far? It’s been great so far. I think the story itself is very strong. It had a great result in a few script writing competitions that I submitted it into, which is a great relief. Now it’s just up to me as an actor not to screw it up! (touching wood as he says it).
Now it is up to us to head into the Chippen Street Theatre and see it.
