Catalpa

A classic of modern Irish theatre, Donal O’Kelly’s Catalpa, with live music by Trevor Knight, is the story of the daring 1876 whaleship rescue of six Irish prisoners from the British Fremantle penal colony in Western Australia - all in the imagination of a rejected screenwriter, 150 years after the historic escapade.

Moby Dick meets Gone With The Wind with a passing glance at The Great Escape, Catalpa is a subversive epic that celebrates courage while challenging traditional concepts of heroism.

30 years after Fringe First Award Edinburgh and Best Event Award Melbourne International Festival.

“A masterpiece .. searingly satirical, comic, tragic, profoundly sensitive”
 The Scotsman

“Rollicking, absorbing epic *****” Washington Times

“Wonderfully varied and passionate” Herald Sun Melbourne

Written and performed by Donal O’Kelly with live music by Trevor Knight.