Six woman are sentenced to transportation to Australia in this gritty tale of 19th century justice, set entirely within the ship that will deliver their fate.
The Sewell Barn’s stage has been transformed by John Dixon’s set design, with a scaffold over one wing of seating representing the upper decks, while the women’s spartan cell is on the stage below, with one of the auditorium staircases joining the two.
Despite ostensibly being focused on the women, Steve Gooch’s script dwells less on their development than that of the ship’s surgeon (played by William McKinnell), whose hypocrisy breaks through his slightly leaden dialogue. The story and topic is shocking, but the writing leans a little too heavy on exposition and surface moralising.
The ensemble cast and director Jess Hutchings do their best to bring it to life though. The women are lively individuals, particularly Becks Clayton as the sexually powerful Charlotte, Hollie Harrington as the dangerously brash Nance, and Katie Smith as the subservient Winnie.
Their clashes and collaborations, along with their three cellmates (Hannah Jones, Alison Utting, and Rachel Carney) and jailer (Julian Newton) provide the meat of the play, with engaging portrayals of somewhat caricatured individuals.
It’s a sometimes brutal exploration of a dark part in our history, in a retelling that keeps the attention more because of the performances than the script.
- Female Transport continues at Sewell Barn Theatre, Norwich until 2 May 2026. Tickets £12-13.
