Our Country's Good at Wirksworth Town Hall

Set in the late 1700s, in the yet-to-be-named Australia, this gritty comedy-drama follows the officers and convicts in the first penal colony as they come to grips with their new realities. When one of the officers makes a request to put on a play using the convicts as actors, it creates turmoil amongst the officers. Should prisoners be punished or given the chance to act in a ‘frippery play’? But the play transforms both the officers and convicts in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Women in particular, from desperately impoverished backgrounds and battling with the brutal convict regime, find their voices and self esteem through performing in the play. They become ‘Ladies’ and even ‘Gentlemen' acting in The Recruiting Officer.

​In fact, the convicts in New South Wales did stage The Recruiting Officer under the direction of 2nd Lieutenant Ralph Clark. The characters in the play are all based on real people whose letters and journals recorded these events, maybe not exactly as they will be portrayed, but certainly close enough to make the point - can theatre be a humanising and rehabilitative force?

Our Country's Good is covered in accolades, including the 1988 Laurence Olivier award for Play of the Year, a 1991 Tony Nomination for Best Play, and a 1991 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Foreign Play. Chatsworth Players' production, directed by Maggie Ford, will be a gripping and thought-provoking evening.

Chatsworth Players will be raising money for Rideout, Creative Arts for Rehabilitation during these performances. Rideout (Creative Arts for Rehabilitation) was established in 1999 in order to develop innovative, arts-based approaches to working with prisoners and staff within U.K. prisons. We are delighted to be able to support them, and hope that our performance sheds some light on the importance of their work.

Age guidance 16+

Tickets £15 General Admission