AUSTRALIA wasn't always the land of sunshine and opportunity we now see it as.
For the first British settlers, deported there as convicts by the government, it was a place of harsh conditions, dangerous wildlife and unknown terrors.
This is the background to the Nuffield theatre's latest production. But the themes of the play, directed by Georgia Bance, have little to do with the hazards of making landfall in a new country.
A theatrical piece about the power of theatre, Timberlake Wertenbaker's play - based on Thomas Keneally's novel The Playmaker - follows the efforts of a group of convicts as, with the help of a liberal-minded officer, they stage the first ever play performed on Australian shores.
The play was first staged at the Royal Court Theatre, London in 1988 and went on to win a Laurence Olivier Play of the Year Award.
Nuffield Theatre, Southampton, October 31 - November 16. Tickets: from £12. Box office: 023 8067 1771.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article