Morning Post, July 13, 1797, Issue 7905. Advertisement for The Busy Body in Botany Bay.

This copy of a playbill from Botany Bay, reported as a news item, illustrates attitudes about the civilizing function of theatre, a strong counter-current to anti-theatrical discourse. Timberlake Wertenbaker’s 1988 Our Country’s Good, based on Thomas Keneally’s novel The Playmaker, tells the story of a group of transported convicts and officers who stage The Recruiting Officer in New South Wales. Robert Sideway, a character in that story, is mentioned below.

THEATRICALS.

BOTANY BAY

The following is a copy of a Play Bill just arrived from Botany Bay. Here, it seems, Plays are now performed by the Convicts:
By Permission of His EXCELLENCY.
For the Benefit of H. GREEN,
On SATURDAY, July 23, 1796, will be performed
THE BUSY BODY.
Marplot, W. FOKES.
Sir Francis Gripe, L. JONES.
Charles, W. CHAPMAN.
Sir Jealous Traffic, H. GREEN.
Whisper, R. EVANS.
And Sir George Airy, J. SPARROW.
Isabinda. Mrs. GREVILLE.
Patch, Mrs. RADLEY.
And Miranda, MRS. DAVIES.

To which will be added,
THE POOR SOLDIER.
Patrick, H. LAVELL.
Fitzroy, R. MOMDY.
Father Luke, H. GREEN.
Dermot, R. EVANS.
Darby, W. FOKES.
Kathlane, H. WYNN.
And Norah, Mrs. GREVILLE.

Front Boxes, 3s. 6d. Pit, 2s. 6d. Gallery, 1s.
Doors to be opened at half past five; begin at six.—
Tickets to be had of R. Sidway; of R. Evans; and on Saturday at the house adjoining the Theatre.

H. Green was transported for picking pockets.
Sidway for returning twice from transportation: he was one of the first that went out to Botany Bay, transporter for a Burglary, and was appointed Baker to the Colony, in which situation he has realized upwards of three thousand pounds; his time of transportation has been long expired; but he does not chuse to leave the settlement, where he has a great prospect of encreasing his wealth.

Mrs. Radley was convicted of perjury, in attempting to screen her husband from being convicted of a robbery.