Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker

November 2009

Synopsis

In the twenty-eighth year of the reign of King George III, the British Government sent a fleet to colonise Australia. Eleven ships, carrying almost 1,500 officers, seamen and convicts, travelled for eight months before reaching New South Wales. The vast majority of the 736 convicts had been convicted of a minor theft and had been sentenced to seven years’ transportation.

Our Country’s Good is the story of the convicts and officers as they prepare to put on a play. These characters really did exist, and the events are based on the letters and journals of several of the First Fleet officers.

Director Steph Hamer said: “The 1789 convict production of Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer is a matter of historical record. But it is more than that. By the accounts of these First Fleet officers, it is also a remarkable tale of the power that theatre has to transform and humanise - even those whom society considers unredeemable.”

Cast List

Capt. Arthur Philip and John Wisehammer - Brian Perrett
Capt. Davey Collins and Robert Sideway - Bob Pugh
Capt. Watkin Tench and John Arscott - Mark Hebert
Midshipman Harry Brewer and Capt. Jemmy Campbell - Chas Riddell
Second Lt. Ralph Clark - Andrew Spackman
Maj. Robbie Ross and Ketch Freeman - Ronald Stevenson
The Aborigine - Richard Morley
Mary Brenham and Lt. Will Dawes - Lizzy Elliot
Duckling Smith and Lt. George Johnstone - Amanda Rogers
Dabby Bryant and Second Lt. William Faddy - Christine Marriott
Liz Morden and Reverend Johnson - Caroline Harbord
Meg Long - Pam Nicholls

Directed by Steph Hamer

Winner of the RAFTA Best Production award for 2010