Courage… tenacity… daring and a shipload of adventure! The incredible true story of the most audacious prison break in Australia’s history.

THEATRE 180 in collaboration with WA Museum tells the incredible true story of the greatest prison break in Australian history: the escape of six Irish Fenians from the fortress of Fremantle Prison in 1876 on board the American whaleship CATALPA.

Known as a living tomb, Fremantle Prison was a place of hellish imprisonment and far from the green fields of Ireland and the land of birth for these freedom fighters seeking independence from centuries of crippling British rule.

Two years in the planning, involving espionage, secret letters, undercover operatives who travelled from Boston to Western Australia to enact the plan, a love affair, a rescue ship masquerading as a whaleboat, a desperate boat chase and the threat of war against the might of America – this story has all the hallmarks of a major Hollywood movie and all the heart of an Irish ballad.

With its sprawling storyline, cast of thousands and epic landscapes from the high seas to 19^th century Western Australia, CATALPA: Flight to Freedom is the latest in THEATRE 180’s successful and immersive CinePlay genre.

The daring and audacious CATALPA rescue is a dramatic and gripping tale of hope and adventure not to be missed!

The Team

WRITERS Stuart Halusz and Myles Pollard
DIRECTOR Stuart Halusz
CAST Myles Pollard, Tadhg Lawrence, Taran Knight
DRAMATURG Jenny Davis
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Myles Pollard
VISUAL DESIGN Josephine Jay (Gneiss Design)
VISUAL PRODUCTION Sunburnt Films
SOUND DESIGN & PROGRAMMER Ben Collins
COSTUME DESIGNER Ingrid Zurzolo
LIGHTING DESIGNER Aaron Stirk
STAGE MANAGER Craig Williams
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER Aaron Stirk
THEME SONG COMPOSER Craig Skelton
THEME SONG LYRICS Stuart Halusz
THEME SONG VOCALIST Tadhg Lawrence
THEME SONG MUSICIANS Ian Simpson, Guitar/Banjo, Phil Waldron, Bazouki,  John Clare, Bodhran, Chris Gibbs, Electric Guitar, Josephine Hayes, Fiddle, Fiona Doyle, Irish Whistle, Craig Skelton, Bass Guitar, Elliot Jebb, Drums
THEME SONG RECORDING ENGINEER Kieran Kenderessy
THEME SONG MIXING ENGINEER Ben Collins
THEATRE 180 MARKETING MANAGER / PUBLICITY Limelight Consulting
PHOTOGRAPHER Stewart Thorpe

Proudly supported by the WA Government

Tickets & Venue Info

  The BREC Box Office is open on Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri from 10am to 4pm.

  If you experience any difficulties booking tickets, please contact our Box Office Team on 1300 661 272.

  ACCESSIBILITY For accessible bookings please contact our Box Office Team on 1300 661 272.

  Are you colour blind? Experience more colour during your visit to BREC with the EnChroma Colour Accessibility Program!

  Tickets purchased through the BREC Box Office are subject to our Terms Of Sale.

 BREC ACCESS

A doorway to the arts that’s always open!

We want everyone to have the opportunity to see this show at BREC.

So here’s our offer. Through BREC Access we are making some seats available for those who need a good night out but who can’t manage full price at the moment and we invite those who can to ‘pay it forward’ and choose a higher price.

$15.00 OPEN – I need a good night out but the cost of living is starting to bite!
$25.00  ENTER – I need a good night out but can pay a bit more
$70.00  FLING – I want to pay it forward and fling open the doors for someone else

* Limited BREC Access Tickets available