Ishmael – Dead Puppet Society

Dead Puppet Society brings their reimagined Moby Dick tale – Ishmael to Brisbane Festival

ISHMAEL – A Dead Puppet Society production
Written by David Morton

A dead earth
A climate refugee
A voyage to the outer solar system

On the resource-depleted earth of a not so distant future, a young climate refugee named Ishmael is given the chance to build a new life, provided she can survive a voyage to the outer solar system aboard the MV Pequod under the command of the obsessive Captain Ahab.

Moby Dick reimagined as a contemporary space saga, Ishmael recasts earth’s no-longer-vast oceans with the immensity of the universe, and the endless possibilities and terrors it holds. In weaving the story to life, this boundary pushing production melds live film making with live action, miniature sets, puppetry and an original score by indie pop musician Bec Sandridge to tell a captivating story about individual hope and collective redemption.

Don’t miss the world premiere season of Ishmael as part of Brisbane Festival.

Ishmael is the latest work by the internationally acclaimed Dead Puppet Society (Laser Beak Man, The Wider Earth) who lend their trademark magic to Herman Melville’s beloved classic Moby Dick.

“The company’s strength is their ability to create an entire realm for their audience to inhabit… they are nothing short of amazing.” Time Off Magazine

Director and Designer David Morton
Creative Producer Nicholas Paine
Associate Director Matt Seery
Composer Bec Sandridge
Projection Designer Justin Harrison
Sound Designer Tony Brumpton
Lighting Designer Christine Felmingham
Co-Designer (props and locations) Jennifer Livingstone
Costume Designer Nathalie Ryner
Dramaturg Louise Gough
Cast List Ellen Bailey, Patrick Jhanur and Barb Lowing

The Ishmael script was commissioned by Dead Puppet Society. The production has been commissioned by Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Dead Puppet Society, and Brisbane Festival.

Hero artwork by Dean Hanson.