Whilst Louisa’s Walk will always be the core and flagship of our Live History business, a glance at the pages of our web site will reveal that we can be commissioned to research,script & perform any historic event at a chosen venue. Last year we received just such a commission from Hydro Tasmania to script and perform a play portraying the history of the Hydro in this State for the National Trust Heritage Festival this month. The theme for this year’s Festival is ” Water- Our Island’s Life Force” a gift for the Hydro and a gift for us! Last year, Hydro Tasmania launched a book entitled “Ticklebelly Tales” written by Heather Felton. This is an excellent book for anyone with an interest in the history of the development of hydro-electric power in Tasmania. It’s also a huge tome & took Chris (the author and playwright of Live History) many hours unpacking and scrutinising its pages for stories and anecdotes that he felt could be dramatically re-lived.
Last Saturday saw the Premiere performance of “Ticklebelly Tales” (we decided that such a delightful quirky title deserved to be re-used, in fact it’s the name for the married men’s quarters at Tarraleah, one of the early power stations). This was actually performed at Tarraleah, a fitting site given the content of the play! This old Hydro village has now been converted into a prestigious tourism complex. It’s luxurious yet completely preserves the integrity and feel of the Village. With our cast of four - we had to employ a couple of male actors as Chris found it too difficult to write about such a blokey history just using he and I - we performed the World Premiere of “Ticklebelly Tales” in the old Highland Church (now beautifully converted to a conference centre).
We had been unsure about what houses we would receive as Tarraleah is a good two hours from Hobart but, we played to two nearly full houses. Our audiences were so appreciative and gathered around the “Stage Door” afterward or spoke to us whilst we were on the Power Station tour which followed, all saying how informative and entertaining they had found the show.

As we drove home through the highlands of beautiful Tasmania, through the bush and along the winding road to Hobart we realised that we would never again take switching on an electric light for granted. Now we had seen the surge towers, the penstocks, the canal. We had seen the huge pylons marching down the valley bringing power to the people and because of Heather Felton’s book and our play we now understood some of the hardship endured by those early workers to bring about this great power scheme.

We have six more performances: four in Hobart on the 14th & 15th of May and two right over on the West coast on the 23rd May.

Bringing history to life in this way is fascinating for us and our audiences. We have learned so much.

With the horror of the Bush Fires in Victoria leaving the rest of the country reeling last month, Chris and I thought about how we could best help. Individually, we thought we could send some cash but then - inspiration, why not a Louisa’s Walk Fire Fund Raiser? We decided to do it sooner rather than later and on Saturday February 21st that is what we did. I spent the week sending emails out to as many networks as I could and also publicised it in our local paper and on the radio. So many locals have still not experienced Louisa’s Walk, like all of us, we don’t value or have a lot of interest in, what is on our doorstep.

However, I am happy to report that on the day we got twenty people, a mixture of visitors to our State plus many locals. It didn’t matter where they came from, all ticket sales went through to the Fund Raiser. We had a great Show and knowing that it was going to this cause made us all feel good. The next day when I attended my Uniting Church they were joining in the National Day of Mourning for the fire victims. As we stood shoulder to shoulder singing “The Great Southland” there were few dry eyes. Many people came and gave me further donations and afterwards the leader of the Service decreed that there would be a plate at the door for further donations. All together we raised $ 855.00 for the Appeal. Someone told me that if I donate it through Rotary then the Tasmanian State Government will match it dollar for dollar. This I have done.

We may be small but every little bit helps. If everyone does what they can and gives what they can we can change the world!

Yesterday it was 34 degrees here in Hobart -no big deal for some of Australia’s mainland but hot for us here in Tassie! We start Louisa’s Walk outside the Cascade Brewery in South Hobart which is usually quite cool and breezy with winds blowing off Mount Wellington. As we walk along the rivulet sharing Louisa’s story it’s cool and shady BUT when we enter Yard One of the Female factory the heat really hits! The high sandstone walls, that are all that is left of the Yard, really trap the heat and we always advise, when people book during hot weather, sunhats and water. We have developed strategies over the three and a half years we have been performing Louisa’s Walk to place the audience in the little shade patches offered by the Yard. With a welcome breeze yesterday, we all felt quite comfortable.

Equally so, the cooler weather presents a challenge but we think the cold weather gives more of a reality to “The Shadow of Death Valley” as the Female Factory was sometimes known. High stone walls and roofs, meant that no sun penetrated that grim interior. The women were given few clothes and no underclothing - imagine the cold of the Crime Yard as they waded through inches of freezing water when that Yard flooded! As I have said on a previous post, I love taking young girls, in their teens say, so that they can appreciate the freedom won for them by these courageous women of the 19th century. We also have to remember however, that this freedom is not a reality for many in the world today; we are fortunate to have been born into a developed country. For so many, in third world countries, slavery, malnutrition, even starvation, is the norm.

Many who experience Louisa’s Walk are grateful that we are showcasing the plight of the women and helping to lift the profile of the site. We are passionate about what we do. We feel privileged to tell their story but let’s not forget this hard won freedom is not the case for so many in the rest of the world. Come & experience Louisa’s Walk, visit the other Yards on the site and the Visitor Centre run by the Female Factory Historic Site then pause and remember the inhumanity that exists today.
It’s not over.

After Louisa leaves the grim clutches of “The Shadow of Death Valley”, she walks her audience back up to the top of the Cascades. We intentionally make this a time with plenty of room for reflection and silence. There is so much to absorb. So much to digest. As one slightly dazed person said “It’s like coming out of a very powerful film and having to face the daylight”. However, as Louisa promises, we do stop at a few places of interest along the way. One of these is at the top of Degraves Street where, it is thought, that some of the twelve hundred convict babies who died at the Cascades Female Factory lie buried. Here, we pause and have a few “respectful moments” in memory of these poor little souls. It’s always a very poignant time and again, Louisa and William are sensitive to the need for silence afterwards. Remembering that the majority of these infants died of marasmus (malnutrition) or diarrohoea (almost certainly due to a total lack of hygiene) it may not be too strong to use words like “infanticide”?

We were both very keen to visit the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) recently to see Anne Ferran’s mixed- media exhibition The Ground, the Air showcasing the women and children who were transported to the Colonies. Having such a strong background in the topic we were, of course, fascinated by Anne’s work; the stark paddocks at the Ross Female Factory could only be there, I recognised them immediately. It is hard to say what most resonated with us. For me, perhaps, it was the “soft caps” mounted on tall images which so spoke of faceless ones, or the actual artifacts; small mounds of soiled clothing and rags. The death register strewn with slips of copperplate writing on which the names of the deceased were written. The woven hangings, depicting the diseases which carried off so many; tuberculosis, marasmus, whooping cough, dysentery, the list goes on. For Chris, it was to see a photograph of those dividing walls which we paint with our words on Louisa’s Walk. Anne Ferran has succeeded in mounting a very powerful and moving exhibition which leaves you thinking about what you have seen for a very long time - just like Louisa’s Walk.

The Ground, the Air uses photography, installation and video to explore how the past haunts the present. Louisa’s Walk uses, words, drama and interpretation to bring history to life. So long as artists like Anne Ferran and Christina Henri ( whose ongoing project to obtain 25,566 convict bonnets from anyone who wants to sew and contribute one - this number represents the number of women who were sent to the Colonies during the years of transportation- see my post on “Convict Bonnets”) are committed to showcasing this shameful period of our history, the profile of our Female Factories will be lifted. Let us not forget either, the ongoing work of the many volunteers who work for the Female Factory Historic Site Inc.

Incidentally, when I first arrived in Tasmania over thirty years ago, no-one owned their convict heritage. That has all changed now and those who have convict ancestry are proud to own it. I used to think it was because they were ashamed of what their ancestors did. Now I think it is because we should all be collectively ashamed of what the British Colonial system inflicted on poor, helpless human beings whose only crime, often, was poverty. This is not to sanitise or romanticise the convicts, of course many were thugs and murderers but so many others were just victims of circumstance. Let us hope that bringing to light the horrors of the past, by whatever medium, we can help to build a more humane world.

On Louisa’s Walk we take our audiences right through Louisa’s Story from arrest,sentencing & conviction. Yes, we keep parts of the transportation deliberately lighthearted at times (rowing across the “road” into Degraves Street is always good for a few laughs as the “frigates”, “cutters” and “whaling ships” (cars & trucks!) whizz by). Or then there’s the “Odd One” that Louisa always puts on the tiller! Remember, we are story-tellers and we know the necessity for highs and lows, light and shade. BUT, as soon as we cross those grim gates at the Female Factory (Women’s Prison) the mood becomes sombre. This is intentional. To pretend that life within those walls was anything other than a miserable hell-on-earth would be doing those fifteen thousand poor souls who passed through those awful gates a grave disservice.

The change of mood is palpable; as Louisa is curtly told she may not keep the treasured quilt she has counted on to bring her solace and luck, the audience become stilled - you can hear a pin drop. We have become used to the looks of disbelief and horror as we tell of daily life in the “Shadow of Death Valley”. Tears in the Nursery Yard are not uncommon.

Therefore, it was with great interest that we took a large group of women out on Louisa’s Walk recently, who had all come to Hobart for the Women in Corrective Services Convention. They had spent the morning visiting the Facility for Women at Risdon Prison - the modern version of the Female Factory. They were fascinated by the nineteenth century prison model: tales of solitary confinement in Dark Cells and Iron Collars worn for minor infringements could hardly compare with the relative “luxury” of today’s prison. Questions flew thick and fast at the end and Chris was kept on his toes answering them. It was fulfilling and satisfying for us to have an audience with such a background in, and knowledge of, women’s corrective services.

These women came from all sorts of backgrounds: some had been in prison themselves, others worked in corrective or social services. It would have been fascinating to have a discussion with them at length to see how they saw the differences that two hundred years have brought to prison reform. Is it better? Hopefully! Does it reform? Hopefully! Is the deprivation of freedom ever the answer ………………..?

All these questions are way too big for this forum but if you have an opinion why not reply to this blog? Better still why not visit Louisa’s Walk next time you are in Hobart & discuss it with us afterwards?

Last week Tottenham Central School from N.S.W. visited Louisa’s Walk as part of a five day excursion to Tasmania. The teachers told me that the students had been fundraising for a long time to raise the money needed for the trip - well done everyone. It’s great for students to work to achieve goals and to understand that rewards, such as travel, come as a result.
They were a great audience and, even though the majority of the class of 23 was made up largely of boys, they were attentive and supportive of our performance. Even though Louisa’s story is, naturally about a woman we find that it appeals equally to both male and female simply because it is a mesmerising story. Right back as far as early man, human beings have communicated using storytelling. Louisa’s Walk communicates factual history in such a way that by the end, the audience has absorbed almost by osmosis, heaps of historical information. We like to compare experiencing Louisa’s Walk with reading a well researched historical novel whereas the guided tour is like a history text book.

I felt a real moment of “YES!” when, walking along the road as Louisa heading for the Female Factory, I heard a group of girls talking behind me, one said “Imagine what it would have been like to have lived then and put up with all this. I would rather have been tipped over the side (of the transportation ship)”. If we can achieve “imagine whats” from an age group that is traditionally not very interested in our past, I think we are succeeding in, at the very least, stimulating an interest in our history. I particularly like showcasing Louisa’s story to teenage girls just so that they can appreciate the hard won freedom that woman (in some parts of the world) enjoy today.

The teacher organising Tottenham Central’s excursion was kind enough to email us to tell us that Louisa’s Walk had been one of the best activities on their trip to Tasmania. Thanks Guys!

Another mainland school to have visited Louisa’s Walk is Somerset College from Queensland who come over for a trip, to experience the winter cold of June in Tasmania, every year.. They discovered us two years ago and have booked in for their third visit next June already - we look forward to meeting the students and taking them on Louisa’s journey.

Louisa’s Walk has been going for three years without any sort of a break so, Chris and I decided that, this Southern Hemisphere winter, we would close the business down for a couple of months during July and August. We are both English born, with Chris’s mother & six brothers between us to go & visit, so, accommodation over in UK, is never a problem!

We had a wonderful time and, apart from catching up with all those family members (plus sundry cousins) we also wanted to see what the tourism scene is up to over there. Specifically we really wanted to see if anyone is doing anything like “Louisa’s Walk” over there. Well, admittedly we didn’t go everywhere & see everything (you’d need a lifetime for that!) but we didn’t find anyone who is interpreting history using the medium of Strolling Theatre as we do on “Louisa’s Walk.” There were plenty of dressed up tour guides taking tourists around stately homes and very lovely they were, but nowhere could we find a play-on-the-move like ours. The nearest thing we found to “Louisa’s Walk” was “Bizarre Bath” which, interestingly, is one of the top recommended things to do in Bath on the TripAdviser site as is “Louisa’s Walk” for Hobart on the same site. It just happens that Chris’s mother lives just 25 minutes drive from Bath so, we were determined to do “Bizarre Bath” before we left. It was described as “a Comedy Walk” and I have rarely laughed so much! Stu. the Rabbit (or should that read “Stew”) will always remain in my memory as he floated limply on the murky waters of the River Avon. The precious ring, belonging to some luckless punter, floating up into the sky, later miraculously returned by a resurrected Stu. the Rabbit. Then oh!- then - the poor punter (ME!) marched off to the stocks to have carrots thrown at me and my head (almost) cut off! “Bizarre Bath” deservedly earns its “best activity to do in Bath” ticket, as decreed by Tripadviser. So, it is with some pride to see that “Louisa’s Walk” also features very highly on the “Best Things to do in Hobart” TripAdviser Site. If we can equal “Bizarre Bath’s” professionalism and entertainment value we are more than happy - they have been operating for 17 years!

Apart from “Bizarre Bath” what were our highlights? The wonderful city of York (where I was born) and the Undercroft of its Minster, Derbyshire and the High Peaks District, Bath itself, glorious hanging baskets, the thatched cottages of Bratton or Stonehenge seen through the morning mists as we drove to Heathrow on the morning of our departure? Who knows? All I do know is that it’s wonderful to be home, on the most beautiful island in the world, Tasmania, where Louisa is once again showcasing our convict women’s history.

I was thrilled this morning to receive a phone call from Leanne McKenzie of Coffs Harbour. Leanne and her husband Kevin, came on Louisa’s Walk last November. The purpose of Leanne’s call was to tell me that she is going to make a small, replica of the famous Rajah Quilt and she would like to donate it to “Louisa” to carry in her basket! I was quite overwhelmed at such a generous offer and naturally I enthusiastically accepted.

Leanne is visiting the upcoming Sydney Quilting Exhibition where she is hoping to purchase some replica fabrics of the era. I told her that in my research I had discovered that twenty of the pieces were sewn in the wrong way round. At first, experts were puzzled by the fact that twenty pieces had faded in contrast to the others; on closer examination it was discovered that those twenty pieces had been sewn in reverse side up indicating that this work had been executed in poor light. I should imagine that, except during the times when the women were allowed up on deck, the light would always have been very poor which makes the intricacy of the quilt all the more amazing. I also reminded Leanne that on the reverse side of the quilt tiny pinpricks of blood can be seen where the women had pricked themselves with the motion of the boat. I am sure that Leanne will replicate these in her desire to be authentic. However, she did tell me that the original quilt is not lined so, on the reverse, there are a lot of raw seams. We both agreed that, in order to survive life at the bottom of Louisa’s basket, it should be lined, so that will be one compromise to practicality we will allow. For updates on the progress of the quilt - watch this blog post. If anyone has comments or questions to make about Leanne’s project please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will pass them on to her.

I am not sure how long it will take Leanne to make her miniature, replica Rajah Quilt but all those of you who are yet to come on Louisa’s Walk will have the privilege of seeing it when she has!

On another related topic. Chris and I went down to the Mawson Pavilion on Hobart’s waterfront, after the afternoon performance of Louisa’s Walk today, to visit Christina Henri’s “Roses From the Heart” bonnet display. Christina, a local artist and historian has undertaken to mount a display of 25,566 convict bonnets by the year 2010, representing each of the women sentenced to transportation to the Colonies. Despite a broken leg, Christina had mounted a beautiful display of some of the thousands of bonnets she has received so far, some skillfully embroidered and decorated with lace. All bear the name of a convict woman who was transported to the Colonies all those years ago.

Naturally, this project has appealed to Australians who have a female convict ancestor but it is not limited to them. If you enjoy sewing and want to feel a link with these brave, enduring women who form the backbone of our nation, why not contribute a bonnet and be part of this unique tribute? A pattern can be downloaded from Christina’s web site @ www.christinahenri.com.au or email Christina to find other ways to support the project: cjhenri@iinet.net.au. Louisa will also be carrying copies of the pattern to give out after Louisa’s Walk. Perhaps someone could do a Louisa’s Walk bonnet?

Louisa’s Walk starts at the top of the beautiful Cascade Gardens in South Hobart. At this time of year the plane trees are dropping their huge leaves and there is a carpet to crunch through! Yesterday, I was waiting to make my entrance as Louisa behind one of the big evergreen trees when I heard a Dad calling excitedly to his children “Quick, kids there’s a platypus!”. It was all I could do not to break ranks and rush over to have a look too but my cue wasn’t far off and I knew I didn’t have the time. I have always wanted to see a platypus in the waters of the Hobart Rivulet which run alongside the Cascade Gardens and were responsible for flooding parts of the Female Factory when it was in operation. I had heard that the shy and gentle monotremes lived in the waters higher up but never dreamed we would see them so low down nearly in the centre of Hobart!

However, it was time for Louisa to make her entrance and get nicked for stealing her loaf of bread so the sight of a platypus was reserved for another occasion. There was something special about yesterday’s performance though. When it came time for Louisa to cradle her baby and tell of the trauma of losing her (often a place where the hankies come out) it became really emotional for me. Words flowed and so did tears, expressions I had not used before. Louisa’s Walk seems to have a life of its own and this was so just then. Our audience was with us at every step, laughing, crying - we feed off you and your response and energy gives a different life to each performance. People often ask us if we get sick of performing the same thing every day? No way! Every performance is different and it all depends on you, our lovely audiences, the ones who seek us out. The ones who are looking for something different to do in Hobart.

As we finished and came out of our characters at the end of Louisa’s Walk, underneath the same plane trees from which we started, the wind whipped that carpet of leaves into a flurry. They were whirling everywhere in a display of nature’s force. The children were still there who had seen the platypus. I asked them if he was still in sight? “He’s hiding” they said “But we know where he lives”.

Next time perhaps?

What a week it’s been, with NSW school holidays, we have taken so many families out on Louisa’s Walk. One day we had two family groups plus a lady in a wheelchair travelling with her husband. A big range of ages and mobility presents a bit of a challenge but we are more than able to rise to it. I used to teach speech and drama so am able to include the children in lots of interactive ways. Not only does this make it more interesting for the children but their parents and other adults enjoy watching the interaction.

When the group is large enough, we line everyone up in the Assignables Yard. We all stand straight and tall as Chris, in one of his many roles, walks up and down choosing which “woman” to hire as a servant. I will have pre-warned everyone not to pick up the scarf (which is how the masters would indicate their selection) without first looking at me (Louisa). There is lots of tension as he makes his choice. Again in the Chapel, Chris always gives his little bell to a primary age child and they ring it on his nod as he explains the daily routine of the Female Factory. Older boys love being posted as the guard who will warn me when the overseer is returning in the Crime Yard, “psst- Louisa -he’s coming!”

What a working bee we had doing the wash this week as I got the girls to help me at the tubs and the boys to haul water. Whilst I am not at all gender biased you have to understand it was the girls who did the washing! I love the fact that, once the children have got used to our minimalist theatre they go along with the mime. There is hardly any infrastructure left at the Cascades Female Factory just imposing sandstone walls. But we paint the yards with our words…………. The prison becomes so real as the audience is drawn into our story. Again and again we hear the comment “You really take us there”. Our theatre is minimalist and powerful.

Our week culminated today with some passengers from the “Sapphire Princess” the huge cruise ship that has been making regular calls into Hobart this season (and this is her last one before returning to the United States for their summer season). They had found us because they had seen good reviews on Trip Advisor. They had just typed in “Things to do in Hobart” and there we were. We love people who find us this way, individuals looking for a different experience in Hobart. Something memorable and unique;the very antithesis of being herded onto a coach and just being part of a crowd. I learn everyone’s names on Louisa and treat our audience members as friends!

A TAFE student commented last week, “As Louisa’s Walk came to an end, it was like coming out of a very powerful movie - you are not ready for the real world”.

I’m happy with that.