About The Round Earth Company, a professional theatre company in Strahan, Tasmania

Other Round Earth Company Productions


Prisoner of War - Sketch

1942


22,000 young Australians.
We sent them to fight the Japanese.
They became Prisoners of War.
They were made slaves.
One in three of them died.
We brought back the survivors
and cheered them
through the streets of Sydney.
We sent them home.

And we forgot about them.


A Bright and Crimson Flower


by Richard Davey

The fascinating and inspiring story of Australian Prisoners of War under the Japanese 1942-45.

On tour throughout Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and Queensland from July 24th to Sept 25th 2009.
Click here for more details about the tour.

A National Tour in Support of Legacy






A Bright and Crimson Flower


A Celebration of Survival
Crimson Flower logo

The captivity of 22,000 young Australians after the fall of Singapore and the battles of Timor, Ambon and Java in 1942 lasted for three and a half years under appalling conditions. One in three died but the others made it back home. It is the greatest feat of endurance in the history of modern Australia. Yet we have largely ignored this extraordinary story, or else have seen it as a sideshow to the 'real' war, remembered principally for its horror and cruelty, and therefore best forgotten.

Official interviews with survivors were geared to accounts of atrocities committed by the Japanese; the rest was disregarded. Families were advised not to discuss the experience with the men. The process of forgetting had begun. But the experience of the men and women was one of a stubborn will to survive, of wit and ingenuity, comradeship and care, even in the worst of times, qualities that never go out of fashion - and that's what this play is all about.

Six Aussie blokes, young and not so young - Doug, Blue, Wag, Ray, Snow and Spud - held prisoner by the army of a people whose language and customs they know almost nothing about: their world has vanished. To survive they have to re-invent themselves! They take classes in everything from advertising to vitamins, they scrounge, pilfer, improvise, build and conceal radios, and quite apart from building the Burma Railway under horrendous conditions, they organize sports carnivals, mount theatrical productions and create everything from false teeth to surgical instruments - and end the war by playing a cricket match!

Written by Richard Davey from interviews and writings, diaries and letters by Prisoners of War, published and unpublished.

The cricket match that ended the war

The cricket match that ended the war

They never bloody found it!!

They never bloody found it!!


This saga of survival of spirit among POWs, is a poignant and glorious tribute, a major contribution to the understanding, across generations, of an episode in Australia's history which helped shape Australia's nationhood.

Wayne Crawford: Hobart Mercury

It was a moving and memorable experience that rolled back the years. You captured just right the spirit of those dramatic times: the humour, the hardship, the mateship and the sadness. My thanks, and those of my family: it told them many things I never have or ever could.

Arch Flanagan, Ex POW

A powerful tribute to the ingenuity of the diggers.

Tim Lloyd: Adelaide Advertiser

I did not think that anyone could portray the prisoner of War experience successfully on stage. You have succeeded admirably.

Ray Parkin, Ex POW


NATIONAL TOUR 2009

FUNDRAISING FOR LEGACY

In most locations the play is being presented in association with Legacy Clubs and a proportion of all ticket sales will be donated to Legacy to assist families of ex-servicemen.

LEGACY DISCOUNT

You can also help Legacy raise additional funds by obtaining a Donation Voucher from Legacy for a discount on any one ticket purchased at the Box Office. You can also help to promote the Legacy Discount to family friends and co-workers. Contact your local Legacy for details.


TASMANIA


Fri July 24th


Mon July 27th


Tue July 28th



8.00 pm


7.30 pm


8.00 pm



Hobart


Burnie


Launceston



Theatre Royal
Bookings: (03) 6233 2299
www.theatreroyal.com.au

Civic Theatre
Bookings: (03) 6430 5850
www.burnie.net

Princess Theatre
Bookings: (03) 6323 3666
www.theatrenorth.com.au


VICTORIA


Fri Jul 31st & Sat Aug 1st


Mon Aug 3rd & Tues Aug 4th


Wed Aug 5th



7.30 pm


7.30 pm


7.30 pm



Hamilton


Bendigo


Benalla



Hamliton Performing Arts Centre
Bookings: (03) 5573 0429
hamilpac@ansonic.com.au

The Capital, Bendigo's Performing Arts Centre
Bookings: (03) 5434 6100
www.thecapital.com.au

Benalla Performing Arts & Convention Centre
Bookings: (03) 5760 4529
www.bpacc.com.au


NEW SOUTH WALES


Thur Aug 6th


Sat Aug 8th


Mon Aug 10

Tue Aug 11th


Thur Aug 13th


Fri Aug 14th &
Sat Aug 15th


7.30 pm


7.30 pm


7.30 pm

7.30 pm


7.30 pm


12.30 pm
2.00pm


Wagga Wagga


Cowra


Orange

Bathurst


Tamworth


Armidale


Civic Theatre
Bookings: (02) 6926 9688
www.civictheatre.com.au

Civic Theatre
Bookings: Cowra Visitor Information Centre
(02) 6342 4333

Orange Civic Theatre
Bookings: (02) 6393 8111

Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre
Bookings: (02) 6333 6161
www.bmec.com.au

Capitol Theatre
Bookings: (02) 6767 5300
www.capitoltheatretamworth.com.au

Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club
Bookings: (02) 6772 1366


QUEENSLAND


Wed Aug 19th


Thur Aug 20th

Fri Aug 21st & Sat Aug 22nd


Tue Aug 25th

Wed Aug 26th


Thur Aug 27th

Sat Aug 29th


Tue Sep 1st

Thur Sep 3rd


Fri Sep 4th


Sat Sep 5th



7.30 pm


2.00 pm & 8.00 pm

7.30 pm


7.30 pm

7.30 pm


7.30 pm

7.30 pm


7.30 pm

7.30 pm


7.30 pm


7.30 pm



Toowoomba


Brisbane

Nambour


Proserpine

Ayr


Townsville

Mackay


Rockhampton

Bundaberg


Maryborough


Caloundra



Empire Theatre
Bookings: 1300 655 299
www.empiretheatre.com.au

Roundhouse Theatre
Bookings: (07) 3007 8600

Nambour Civic Centre
Bookings: (07) 5475 7777
www.mve.org.au

Proserpine Entertainment Centre
Bookings: (07) 4945 2312

Burdekin Theatre
Bookings: (07) 4783 9880
www.burdekintheatre.com.au

Civic Theatre
Bookings: (07) 4727 9797

Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre
Bookings: (07) 4961 9777
www.mackayentertainment.com.au

Pilbeam Theatre
Bookings: (07) 4927 4111

Moncrieff Theatre
Bookings: (07) 4130 4100
www.bundaberg.qld.gov.au/moncrieff

Brolga Theatre
Bookings: (07) 4122 6060
www.brolgatheatre.org

The Playhouse at the Events Centre
Bookings: (07) 5491 4240
www.theeventscentre.com.au


NEW SOUTH WALES


Tue Sep 8th


Fri Sep 11th & Sat Sep 12th


Tue Sep 15th


Fri Sep 18th & Sat Sep 19th


7.30 pm


7.30 pm


8.00 pm


7.30 pm


Port Macquarie


Coffs Harbour


Newcastle


Wollongong


Glasshouse Arts Centre
Bookings: (02) 6581 8888
www.glasshouse.org.au

Jetty Memorial Theatre
Bookings: (02) 6652 8088
www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au

Civic Theatre Newcastle
Bookings: (02) 4929 1977
www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au

IPAC Gordon Theatre
Bookings: (02) 4226 3366


VICTORIA


Wed Sep 23rd


Thur Sep 24th

Fri Sep 25th



7.30 pm


7.30 pm

8.00 pm



Shepparton


Ballarat

Dandenong



Westside Performing Arts Centre
Bookings: (03) 5832 9511
www.riverlinksvenues.com.au

Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts
Bookings: (03) 5338 0980

Drum Theatre
Bookings: (03) 9771 6666
www.drumtheatre.com.au



PO Box 170, Strahan TAS 7468 Australia
Phone: 61-3-64717700
Email:
enquiries@roundearth.com.au




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