First Casualty
“First Casualty is a work of technical innovation and impressive scale”
– LIMELIGHT
In the rugged terrain of Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province in 2011, “First Casualty” portrays Australian soldiers stationed at Combat Outpost Mirage. Captain Trent Kelly and his comrades navigate mentoring Afghan forces, facing Taliban threats, and engaging with local leaders. Penned by a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, the play offers an authentic glimpse into soldiers’ lives—triumphs, tragedies, and the camaraderie forged amidst sacrifice. Not anti- or pro-war, it focuses on the individuals who’ve given much for their nation—sons, husbands, fathers—depicting their challenges, bonds, and the human side of warfare.
Producers
Queensland Theatre
SEASON
Bille Brown Theatre, Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Australia (2022)
Creative Team
PLAYWRIGHT – Christopher Johnston
DIRECTOR – Lee Lewis
MUSICAL DIRECTOR – James Dobinson
CHOREOGRAPHER – Dan Venz
DESIGNER – Renée Mulder
LIGHTING DESIGNER – Paul Jackson
SOUND DESIGN – Brady Watkins & THE SWEATS
VIDEO DESIGNER – Craig Wilkinson
ASSOCIATE VIDEO DESIGNER – Jake Lodder
INTIMACY AND FIGHT DIRECTOR – Nigel Poulton
STAGE MANAGER – Lucy Kelland
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER – Bridget O’Brien
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
MILITARY CONSULTANT – Matt Cardinaels CSM
DARI LANGUAGE CONSULTANTS – Arwin Arwin, Reza Momenzada
PASHTO LANGUAGE CONSULTANT – Masood Ehsan
CAST
CAPTAIN TRENT KELLY – Mitchell Bourke
SERGEANT JACK HUNTER – Steven Rooke
SAPPER “THOMMO” KENT – Reagan Mannix
ALI – Reza Momenzada
CORPORAL NICK “WOODSY” WOODS – Will Bartolo
MALIM KHAN – Amer Thabet
BRIGADIER MICHAELA CAIN / LUCY / PSYCHOLOGIST – Christen O’Leary
MOHAMMED – Arwin Arwin
BUCKO / CHORUS / DANCE CAPTAIN – Trent Owers
AHMED / JOURNALIST / ENSEMBLE – Adam Kay
JOURNALIST / ENSEMBLE – Kevin Spink
ABDUL / ENSEMBLE – Silva Pearce
PRODUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY – Brett Boardman
REVIEWS
““First Casualty” is landmark world premiere production, quite unlike anything typically seen on stage. This hard-hitting tale, may be an imagined account informed by authentic experience”
BLUE CURTAINS BRISBANE
“Craig Wilkinson’s video design easily taking us into the mountains and also beautiful valleys of the Afghanistan setting, where village goats roam around the place.”
BLUE CURTAINS BRISBANE
“The stage and its story are wrapped in a tight grip, as if the environment is an ever-present reminder of isolation, difference, and danger.”
THEATRE HAUS
VIDEO
Development featurette
Boot Camp featurette
PRODUCTION IMAGES
