A bonus at Port Arthur is a four-strong group of actors who during the summer season stage half a dozen 15 minute "plays" at various points around the area.
We saw two of them, one inside the Separation Prison and the other (pictured) outside the main, older Penitentiary.
All the items are written by Tasmanians and are based on particular inmates' experiences. One dealt with a guy who went on hunger strike and died in the prison in the 1830s. His crime? As a protest against his pension being withdrawn after losing a leg while serving with Lord Nelson, he went to Ascot Races and threw a coin at the King's hat. Punishment? Transported for 15 years. The other play illustrated warders' readiness to resort to the cat o' nine tails. Both excellent. Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment