The Golden Age - Sydney Theatre Company

Overview

At some point in the 1800s, a group of convicts escaped Port Arthur. For nearly one hundred years, they survived in a wild, remote part of Tasmania, completely isolated from the island's growing European presence, until, in 1939, they were found. This isn't just the basis of Louis Nowra's The Golden Age. It's a true story.

Drawing on a blend of history and folklore, Nowra imagines the culture — and dialect — that this group might have developed. His play depicts their attempted re-entrance into European society, plagued not only by their decades in exile, but also the physical debilitation of old age.

The Golden Age first hit Australian stages in Melbourne in 1985, then premiered in Sydney the following year, under Neil Armfield's direction. This time, it's the STC's resident director Kip Williams (Suddenly, Last Summer) who'll be taking charge, alongside a cast starring Sarah Peirse (Switzerland), Ursula Yovich (Love and Information) and Brandon McClelland (The Present).