THE SHIP THAT NEVER WAS

The Ship That Never Was

Imagine a story with “daring, humour, adventure, pirates, romance, betrayal and a fantastic twist in the tale”.

Like all frontiers, Tasmania's wild west has its share of legends and colourful characters. At a theatrical performance of The Ship That Never Was, discover the real-life and little-known tale of the Frederick, a ship built and stolen by the runaway convicts of Sarah Island, set in the most inhospitable place imaginable on Tasmania’s remote west coast.

Get swept away in the drama and humour of a creative recount of this twisted tale of redemption. Marvel at the convicts’ cunning ingenuity, share in their daring adventures, and possibly even join in the action on this epic virtual voyage into local history.

Don’t let this ship sail without you! Catch all the exciting antics and action at daily performances of The Ship That Never Was. Performances occur at 5.30pm from September to May at the Richard Davey Amphitheatre in Strahan. Tickets can be purchased at the box office.

Australia’s longest-running play

Welcome to a fascinating episode in Australia’s convict history. The Ship That Never Was is a classic pantomime-style production performed by the Round Earth Company in the small harbourside town of Strahan on Tasmania’s west coast.

The theatre company has performed the play continuously for nearly 30 years since it was founded by the late Richard Davey, making it Australia’s longest-running play. Richard’s daughter Kiah Davey is now the manager and director of the Round Earth Company.

Since the play’s debut in 1985, more than 100 actors have appeared. Many of them have also conducted guided tours of Sarah Island.

Every performance is slightly different – in a joyous atmosphere, audience members are invited to play minor characters and bring their own energy.

The Round Earth Company’s guided tours of Sarah Island are included in full-day cruises on the Gordon River. Although not as well preserved as the Port Arthur Historic Site, Sarah Island contains the remnants of the penitentiary, bakehouse, tannery and the commandant’s slipway, giving an insight into the cruelties of convict life. It’s made all the more stark by the beauty of the harbour, the surrounding Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the natural calm so often experienced along the nearby Gordon River.

The play

This swashbuckling adventure portrays a unique Tasmanian history from the perspective of convict James Porter. Be transcended on a thrilling voyage across the globe as historical characters come to life, galivanting across a remarkably constructed stage.

The set is designed to replicate a traditional ship. Ropes crisscross above a raised wooden deck, painted orange and maroon and featuring a classic ship’s wheel. The stage is multi-tiered to suggest the scale of the boat and its various levels. Masts jut towards the ceiling, draped with sails, and an artistic, black-and-white sketched backdrop depicts the distant Tasmanian coastline.

The characters are animated, and oftentimes comedic, wearing fun costumes such as apricot shirts and patched-up pants layered with striped navy vests, long scarves, scruffy beanies, buckled belts and old-timey sailors’ hats. One character’s colonial costume is depicted rather imaginatively in the form of a two-dimensional cardboard cut-out, featuring a painted, white-powdered wig, royal blue waistcoat and white breeches.

The performances are captivating and amusing, with children and adults sitting in the intimate amphitheatre sure to get a kick out of the down-to-earth nature of the play and the opportunities for audience interaction. The story itself is riveting, educational and thought-provoking, with a surprising twist.

The Plot

This action-packed adventure begins at the notoriously harsh Sarah Island Penal Colony, during its time of operation back in the 1830s. Inmates on the isle face bleak prospects, imprisoned by colonial guards, rugged remoteness and wild weather.

Sarah Island was a penal colony for the worst of the worst – convicts who had reoffended after being transported to Australia. Located off the western shore of Macquarie Harbour, the island had no fresh water and was incapable of producing food. Yet it was briefly the home to Australia’s largest shipbuilding operation. Under harsh conditions, convicts built 113 ships in 11 years – 80 of them in just four years.

The heist of the Frederick began in 1834, just before the colony was closed, when a group of 10 convict shipwrights managed to hijack the last ship built at the notorious island, just as it was about to set sail for the Port Arthur penal settlement. They set course for Chile and, incredibly, they arrived six weeks later.

The escape artists enjoyed their freedom for two years before being caught by the British Navy and returned to Hobart. Back in Van Diemen’s Land, the convicts successfully argued in court that the ship had never been completed, had never been officially launched and had no official paperwork. They proved, in fact, it wasn’t really a ship at all.

Ride the waves of adventure in this unlikely true account of courage and cunning!

Accessibility

The Richard Davey Amphitheatre is in the village centre on the Esplanade, an easy walk from most Strahan sites, and situated next to the West Coast Visitor Information Centre. The amphitheatre is walker, wheelchair and mobility scooter accessible. The venue is outdoors and undercover, so ensure you dress warmly.

The play runs daily in the afternoons from September to May (excluding Christmas Day) and is sometimes performed in June and July subject to demand. The performance runs for about an hour and 15 minutes. Tickets are available at adult, concession, student and family prices, and carers assisting patrons carrying companion cards enter for free. Group bookings for 10 or more people can also be arranged. Book your tickets by calling or emailing ship@roundearth.com.au ahead of your visit, or at the box office on-site. Further details can be found on the website at roundearth.com.au.

Strahan is a 300-kilometre drive north-west from Hobart and a 226-kilometre drive south-west from Devonpor. Public transport runs between Strahan and Hobart via Devonpor and Launceston seven days a week, but note that Redline’s public transport route from Hobart to Strahan requires some stops and takes upwards of 10 hours. The 747 Tassielink bus transports people between Burnie and Strahan daily, stopping at the Esplanade and Harold Street stop, within very short walking distance of the Richard Davey Amphitheatre. Find more public transport information at transport.tas.gov.au.