The Ship That Never Was is Australia’s longest running theatre show. You can watch it every night at 5:30pm in Strahan. The play is performed by The Round Earth Company and was written by historian Richard Davey about the fate of The Frederick. This was the last ship that was built by convicts in the shipyards at nearby Sarah Island. Historic? Yes. Boring? No way! I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time! This play is a masterpiece.
I thought that a historic story would be a little dated, perhaps even snooze-inducing, but our convicts were entertaining rapscallions. In the hands of a gifted writer, their lives are a comedic tragedy. The Ship That Never Was is a poignant, laugh-out-loud tale that simultaneously allows you to experience part of Macquarie Harbour’s history. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, waiting to hear what happened to our intrepid crew.
I found the actors highly entertaining. A two-person troupe, they engage the audience at every step. You never know – you might even be one of the stars of The Ship That Never Was! One of the two actors was our guide the following day on our tour of Sarah Island (as part of the Gordon River Cruise) and showed us the shipyards where part of the play is set.
You’ll be amazed by the set of The Ship That Never Was. We walked past the Richard Davey Amphitheatre earlier in the day, peered in and couldn’t really make sense of it. I would tell you what happens but it’s rather lovely to watch it coming together (and breaking apart) for yourself.
Getting There
The Ship That Never Was is performed in the Richard Davey Amphitheatre in summer (September to May) and runs as a film at the Risby Cove Theatrette in winter (June to August). Both venues are located on The Esplanade in Strahan and are a few minutes’ drive apart. There are coverings over the bleachers in the amphitheatre so you’ll be perfectly comfortable in the outdoor arena, even if the weather isn’t great. There is free parking at Risby Cove but paid parking only near the Richard Davey Amphitheatre (unless you’re happy to take a short walk uphill).
Cost
To see the summertime live performance, you’ll pay $25 per adult, $20 per concession, $12.50 per student and $2.50 per child (4 – 12 years old). Prices are much cheaper to see the film in winter. You can find up-to-date pricing here. You may think that this is expensive but it really isn’t. I would be VERY surprised if you didn’t want to go back the following night for a second viewing! I wanted to. Bring cash to purchase one of the interpretive booklets at the end of the play. It was wonderful to be a small part of Australia’s theatre history for an evening.
Staying a while? Read more about my adventures in Strahan and on the west coast.