THEATRE 180 in collaboration with WA Museum tells the incredible true story of the greatest prison break in Australian history: the escape of six Irish Fenians from the fortress of Fremantle Prison in 1876 on board the American whaleship CATALPA.
Known as a living tomb, Fremantle Prison was a place of hellish imprisonment and far from the green fields of Ireland and the land of birth for these freedom fighters seeking independence from centuries of crippling British rule. Two ears in the planning, involving espionage, secret letters, undercover operatives who travelled from Boston to Western Australia to enact the plan, a love affair, a rescue ship masquerading as a whaleboat, a desperate boat chase and the threat of war against the might of America – this story has all the hallmarks of a major Hollywood movie and all the heart of an Irish ballad.
With its sprawling storyline, cast of thousands and epic landscapes from the high seas to 19th century Western Australia, the daring and audacious CATALPA rescue is a dramatic and gripping tale of hope and adventure not to be missed!
WRITERS Stuart Halusz and Myles Pollard
DIRECTOR Stuart Halusz
CAST Myles Pollard, Tadhg Lawrence, Taran Knight
DRAMATURG Jenny Davis
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Myles Pollard
VISUAL DESIGN Josephine Jay (Gneiss Design)
VISUAL PRODUCTION Sunburnt Films
SOUND DESIGN & PROGRAMMER Ben Collins
COSTUME DESIGNER Ingrid Zurzolo
LIGHTING DESIGNER Aaron Stirk
STAGE MANAGER Craig Williams
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Aaron Stirk
We’re also offering two special Friday experiences:
Friday 5 June – 2pm
Open Bump-In Viewing
Come and watch the transformation of York Town Hall as lighting, staging and sound are installed. A rare opportunity to see how professional theatre comes together.
Friday 5 June – 6pm
Acting Workshop (16+) FREE
Work with the Theatre 180 creative team behind CATALPA: Flight to Freedom in an engaging workshop designed for aspiring actors and anyone curious about performance.
Places for the FREE workshop are limited – register here https://events.humanitix.com/theatre-180-the-fundamentals-of-acting-workshop
