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Essence Productions presents the 2018 Victorian Tour of

Point of No Return
Written and directed by Alaine Beek

Based on the fascinating true story of Australia’s first boys’ prison, Point of No Return is a riveting, energetic new Australian drama about a group of youths struggling to survive in Tasmania’s Point Puer Boys' Prison.

Established in 1834, Point Puer Boys' Prison is located next to Port Arthur Prison and was the first of its kind for the British Empire; an experiment that aimed to rehabilitate young offenders. On opening, there were 68 boys aged from 10 to 20 years old. The inmates were given the opportunity to learn a trade, read, and write, but this was sporadic and depended on the skills and attitudes of the guards, many of whom were once prisoners at Port Arthur. Living conditions in the prison were rough, and punishments were often brutal.

Centering around a group of young convicts, Point of No Return is a journey of boys becoming men - of youths desperately seeking a place to belong. A powerful exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and gang mentality, this important new work also explores rehabilitation versus punishment in the prison system - a topic still heavily debated today. Littered with struggle and hardship, Point of No Return is also a unique tale of hope, as many of these boys left Point Puer to become Australia’s first colonists.

An award-winning production written and directed by Alaine Beek, the 2018 Victorian Tour of Point of No Return offers theatre lovers a rare glimpse into a little known corner of Australian history. 

Written and Directed by Alaine Beek
Performed by Will McDonald, Alex Roe, William Farnsworth, Jeremy Withers and Phil Cameron-Smith
Sound design by Michael Withers
Costume Assistant: Vicky Withers
Stage Manager: Ness Harwood
Assistant Producer: Alan Thompson

Dates and Venues:

Bendigo Capital Theatre - 50 View Street, Bendigo
17 July, 7:30pm
Tickets: $35 Full, $30 Concession, $16 Student
Bookings: 03 5434 6100 or online at www.thecapital.com.au

The Potato Shed - 41 Peninsula Drive, Drysdale
20 and 21 July, 8pm
Tickets: $38 Full, $34 Concession, $30 Grps 20+, $20 Students
Bookings: 03 5251 1998 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.geelongaustralia.com.au/potatoshed

Wyndham Cultural Centre - 177 Watton Street, Werribee
27 and 28 July, 8pm
Tickets: $35 Full, $30 Concession and Grps 8+, $25 Student under 25, $15 Under 15
Bookings: 03 8734 6000 or online at www.wyncc.com.au

The Melba Spiegeltent - 35 Johnston St, Collingwood
1 - 11 August, 2018
Wed - Sat, 8pm
Tickets: $32 Full, $27 Concession, $17 Students
Bookings: online only at www.pointonr.com
Enquiries: 0439 690 091

Frankston Performing Arts Centre - 27 to 37 Davey St, Frankston
17 August, 12pm
Tickets: $30 Full, $25 Concession, $18 Grps 10+ and Students
Bookings: 03 9784 1060 or on line at www.artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au

www.pointonr.com

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