In Conversation with Evan Rickman – So It Comes To Dust
In this edition of In Conversation, we shine a light on So It Comes To Dust, a new play by Evan Rickman, premiering at The Blue Room Theatre from 28 July – 15 August. Forced into a war they don’t want to fight, in the middle of a desert that never seems to end, a group of conscripts guard a checkpoint that no one ever crosses. Late one night a stranger appears, warning of potential catastrophe. Where did he come from? Can he be trusted? Does he know the other stranger running down the dunes towards them… We caught up with Evan Rickman to dive into the creative process behind the work and what audiences can expect from this thrilling new production.
What motivated you to apply to be part of The Blue Room Theatre’s 2026 season, and what drew you to this project?
The Blue Room Theatre is the heart of Boorloo’s independent theatre scene. When developing an experimental piece like So It Comes To Dust, it’s imperative you’re working with an institution that fosters and promotes experimentation such as The Blue Room Theatre.
How has the creative journey been so far, from concept development to rehearsals?
It’s always exciting to work on a new piece. Seeing it progress from messy additional stages to a finished product is incredibly rewarding for all involved.
What has stood out to you during the rehearsal process, any unexpected discoveries or moments of growth?
Working with actors of different ages is a beautiful chance for intergenerational learning. In this case seeing ex-students and teachers work together in a professional theatre setting and expand their relationships beyond that of a school setting was incredibly interesting and I believe made the actors more playful and open to experimentation.
How has the collaboration with your cast, crew, and creatives shaped the work and your vision for it?
Having an in-process script allows for feedback and input from all cast and crewmembers. It allows you to see the work from different perspectives and to some extent mould it with the creatives around you.
What does having your show programmed in The Blue Room Season mean to you as a lead creative?
Being programmed at The Blue Room Theatre is always fantastic. It allows you to work with both emerging and veteran arts workers, and allows you to explore in exciting ways that more conservative companies often restrict and avoid out of fear of failure.
As you move closer to opening, what are you most excited, or even nervous, about sharing with audiences?
It’s always great to get audiences in a room. I’m excited to see what resonates with people, which aspects of the play may be too confusing, what confronts people ect. In an experimental piece it’s hard to tell what reactions will be from people not involved in the project and these outside eyes allow for further development.
What is your show bringing to the Perth arts scene, and what do you think would help strengthen the local arts ecosystem?
Almost all of Boorloo’s new theatre work is being produced through group devising, and while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing I think we are overloaded with it currently. So It Comes To Dust is a text-based work (written rather than devised), and I think will help breath fresh air into Boorloo’s independent theatre scene as new written plays are rare.
Image by Reese Horne